Exactly my thinking. Wouldn't have minded having him and James either side of Martial
Nicolas Pépé
- Thread starter LazyRed-Ninja
- Start date
Can see why we were interested
He runs like Ed from Ed, Edd and Eddy.
Gervinho-ish
Gravy.
Does he like buttered toast?
I can see why we didn’t go all in for him. Looks decent but lacking when it matters.
80m 
What an absolute nothing player.
Will do something brilliant 1/10 times and the other 9 he's an absolute waste.
Perfect for Arsenal.
Will do something brilliant 1/10 times and the other 9 he's an absolute waste.
Perfect for Arsenal.
Why judge a player so early in their transition to a new league? Henry looked like a bust early on and then he became arguably the best striker in Premier league history. Too early to say anything about what he's going to be as a player, although I would have never paid that much money for him.
Clearly hasn't adapted to the tempo of the league yet, wants too much time and too many touches. Sharpen it up, move the ball and focus more on off ball movement and he will be fine.
Has a good shot on him, can dribble, takes avg-good set-pieces, once he improves in decision making and adjusts to the league he might come good.
My thoughts too so far.
It's his 2nd start for us and playing a NLD and Liverpool is a difficult introduction to the league for any player. IIRC, he got around 20mins against Newcastle and played the 2nd half against Burnley. So far IMO he looks like he's lacking sharpness, his decision-making is off, and he holds on to the ball too long at times. But he looks difficult to play against for defenders, he carries the ball well out of tight spaces and he should link up well with Auba and Laca.
End product is clearly missing ATM, but one assist (he got one today for Laca) after 245mins of football in a new league and against 2 teams who have finished above us in recent seasons is not a bad start.
End product is clearly missing ATM, but one assist (he got one today for Laca) after 245mins of football in a new league and against 2 teams who have finished above us in recent seasons is not a bad start.
Daniel James looks a bargain and a half compared to this guy so far.
It's rare United fans get to say this so I'm going to enjoy it until it bites me on the arse
It's rare United fans get to say this so I'm going to enjoy it until it bites me on the arse
He's hit and miss, passing and end product lacking, but what he does have is skills and the ability to beat a man, which are harder to learn than the other two.
I'd put him similar to Salah a couple of years ago or Januzaj with us, he could improve or this could just be his level.
I'd put him similar to Salah a couple of years ago or Januzaj with us, he could improve or this could just be his level.
Oh c'mon, don't you think it's more than fair to judge a player after he moved to a different league/country and started in 2 matches, one at Anfield and the other a NLD?
Second start and he had an assist and forced a very good save from the keeper. Its clear you have weird agenda against this guy. Its like you are going out of your way so you can say i was the first one who said he would fail. The guy just came to the PL and a lot of players take time to get used to the tempo and their team mates. I see a player finding his feet in new league and hasnt fully adjusted to the league. But he is a player that makes things happen. Players like suarez and henry would be seen as flops after their first 2 games as well. Like I said to you earlier even if he doesnt have great season doesnt mean he will flop. he could take a season to get used to the league like drogba and bernardo silva. I see a player who even when he gets used to the league league will lose the ball a lot. But create havoc. He plays risky and always try to make things happen. Im not saying he will reach suarez level....but suarez was the same in that he always tried to make things happen.
Last edited by a moderator:
Decent performance but his end product has been really poor. Could be a confidence issue. He is very fortunate to be playing for arsenal and not for us. He would have been eaten alive by the media. Anyways too soon to judge.
I can see why we were not at that price. No way we were paying what Arsenal paid to be a back up. I found him a bit frustrating to watch today.
You can see why he would be dangerous, and how effective he could be with space and 1v1 due to his pace and trickery. He was quite wasteful though.
Salah and Mané can also be quite wasteful. If Pepe gets going you could see him catch a bit of that confidence and start scoring regularly.
Are people starting to see why I didn't want him here?
Frustrating footballer.
Frustrating footballer.
Always thought he is very raw. Glad we didn't go for him. Don't know how he'll develop, but he needs a lot of work.
I really don't want to sound rude, but can you read?
I've said on NUMEROUS (possibly as many as ten) times that I think Pepe will be a GOOD signing.
However, I've said I don't think he's worth nor going to be worth £72m, and that the hype about him on here during the window was ridiculous, especially considering most had never seen him play.
What's so hard to understand?
How is that me "going out my way to say I was the first one who said he'd fail?" If we'd have signed Pepe for £40 million, I'd have been delighted. If we're have bought him for £72m, I'd have been furious. I think Lozano went to Napoli for about £35m. I think he's a better player personally, yet went for half the price. They're certainly in the same price band ability wise.
Don't know what I can do when people are incapable of reading, to be honest.
Last edited:
He was crap yesterday but he's clearly not upto speed and Spurs clearly were doubling up on him knowing his ball skills. As the game was stretched he grew into the game a bit. He'll come good, he's got the ball skills, the final ball and the pace.
In truth Emery hasn't got the players linking up with him well enough. They kept playing it to feet when he'd obviously benefit from having the ball put in behind to run onto
In truth Emery hasn't got the players linking up with him well enough. They kept playing it to feet when he'd obviously benefit from having the ball put in behind to run onto
You make a good point, it's just that Pepe cannot do much about his price tag. The season he had + going to the PL was always gonna generate a much higher than someone like Lozano. It's crazy money I agree, we're at a point where what would have a world record at some point in time is seen as an investment that isn't sure to yield the proper results
People laughing and making fun of Arsenal for spending so much money on this guy should tone down a bit. He's clearly not yet adapted, but it's ridiculous to write him off, he generally seems like a quality attacker and it's only a question of time before he adapts and becomes a true asset. Great dribbler, fast and can match anyone physically by the looks of it.
Always give new signings 6 months to bed in, that clears away the honey moon period of players raising their game with the initial buzz (remember Matic first few games) and players taking time to settle (Vidic, Evra etc).
Yep.
More recently Firmino and Fabinho are good examples. Constant thread-checking week in week out until they bedded in and actually showed their quality.
Sure. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be discussed during that bedding in period. Otherwise we might as well close the Maguire/AWB/James threads.
I thought he was bang average yesterday. And every other time I’ve seen him play. Despite the relentless effort of the commentators to hype him up.
I just look at the fact Bayern passed on him when they're clearly in need of a winger.
I think Pepe has shown very promising flashes of talent in his first few games, but creating and finishing chances is all that really matters. Only time will tell if he becomes an elite PL player, or if he's merely a flashy player who doesn't contribute much.
I too do not understand the hype surrounding Pepe. When he was linked with Liverpool during transfer window, I checked out his youtube videos and TBH nothing in those videos excited me about his play but then I am just a fan and if Klopp or transfer committee has seen something in him then maybe he's got the potential.
At Anfield and yesterday during NLD, I again had a good view at him. I do not think he's anything special (at the moment) or 72m kind of player. Emery may help him develop and he may become superstar in future but at the moment he is average.
At Anfield and yesterday during NLD, I again had a good view at him. I do not think he's anything special (at the moment) or 72m kind of player. Emery may help him develop and he may become superstar in future but at the moment he is average.
Your view is fairly reasonable based on what's we've seen so far, which is, of course very little. So there's time, yet, for him to turn out to be a smashing player for them (let's hope not). What appears to be evident is that he's been tense and feeling the pressure/occasion of playing in a bigger league and at a bigger club.
I suppose there's also a sense of lack of activity for our own RW creating an additional interest in every possibly alternative out there. And I believe most here would rather we over pay for a good player (as you state he will be) at RW, than not sign anyone (as we have been doing) or go for a cheap punt.
Personally, for us, Sancho has to be the priority. But if not him, hopefully someone with a lower centre of gravity and more playmaking skills than Pepe, who appears a little gangly and appears to play with his head down.
They have Gnabry+Coman and were about to pull the trigger on Sané before the injury. Getting Perisic and go back for Sané is probably a better plan than blow 80m on Pepe and then 100m+ on Sané.
They scouted Pepe for a year and then passed on him, this was before Sane even became a possibility
Lacazette also.
He's been better than I expected so far TBH, so that's a little worrying.
I think he will be flying by the end of the year. Defenders are already scared of him.
I think he will be flying by the end of the year. Defenders are already scared of him.