Stu Holden

And I just didn't have the, like, I needed somebody to tell me in that moment, Stu, don't do it. No, it's not worth it. You need three more months. Your knee hasn't healed inside. Instead, I was like, Yeah, these doctors are telling me I'm good. I'm good. I think I'm good. Yeah. All right. I got to play. And then, you know, that was it.

And I just didn't have the, like, I needed somebody to tell me in that moment, Stu, don't do it. No, it's not worth it. You need three more months. Your knee hasn't healed inside. Instead, I was like, Yeah, these doctors are telling me I'm good. I'm good. I think I'm good. Yeah. All right. I got to play. And then, you know, that was it.

And I just didn't have the, like, I needed somebody to tell me in that moment, Stu, don't do it. No, it's not worth it. You need three more months. Your knee hasn't healed inside. Instead, I was like, Yeah, these doctors are telling me I'm good. I'm good. I think I'm good. Yeah. All right. I got to play. And then, you know, that was it.

My injury history is a lot more complex than what Christy's got going. But like, same emotions apply, you know?

My injury history is a lot more complex than what Christy's got going. But like, same emotions apply, you know?

My injury history is a lot more complex than what Christy's got going. But like, same emotions apply, you know?

Yeah, I long felt that Flo Baligan had the highest upside potential, I think, based on raw skill and athletic ability and all the other stuff. But you guys know as well as I do, and we've experienced this with the national team as well, it's who's in form and who wants that jersey. And look, to me, it's Pepe right now. Pepe deserves it. He does need to make... I think an important next move.

Yeah, I long felt that Flo Baligan had the highest upside potential, I think, based on raw skill and athletic ability and all the other stuff. But you guys know as well as I do, and we've experienced this with the national team as well, it's who's in form and who wants that jersey. And look, to me, it's Pepe right now. Pepe deserves it. He does need to make... I think an important next move.

Yeah, I long felt that Flo Baligan had the highest upside potential, I think, based on raw skill and athletic ability and all the other stuff. But you guys know as well as I do, and we've experienced this with the national team as well, it's who's in form and who wants that jersey. And look, to me, it's Pepe right now. Pepe deserves it. He does need to make... I think an important next move.

Now, he could stay where he's at. He's at a good level right now. And I heard you guys have this discussion on one of your previous pods about finding the right club. It has to be the right fit for you. Is MLS a better option sometimes? Do sometimes we fall in love with this idea of being in Europe? But what I would say for Ricardo Pepe, it's pretty obvious and evident.

Now, he could stay where he's at. He's at a good level right now. And I heard you guys have this discussion on one of your previous pods about finding the right club. It has to be the right fit for you. Is MLS a better option sometimes? Do sometimes we fall in love with this idea of being in Europe? But what I would say for Ricardo Pepe, it's pretty obvious and evident.

Now, he could stay where he's at. He's at a good level right now. And I heard you guys have this discussion on one of your previous pods about finding the right club. It has to be the right fit for you. Is MLS a better option sometimes? Do sometimes we fall in love with this idea of being in Europe? But what I would say for Ricardo Pepe, it's pretty obvious and evident.

He made the wrong move initially by going to Augsburg. But at the same time, that was the club that was going to pay FC Dallas the most money. And it was one of the best options for him in that moment. In hindsight, it wasn't because he was going to a team that was relegation battle. He's not getting chances. And then his development at that period in his career really, really faltered.

He made the wrong move initially by going to Augsburg. But at the same time, that was the club that was going to pay FC Dallas the most money. And it was one of the best options for him in that moment. In hindsight, it wasn't because he was going to a team that was relegation battle. He's not getting chances. And then his development at that period in his career really, really faltered.

He made the wrong move initially by going to Augsburg. But at the same time, that was the club that was going to pay FC Dallas the most money. And it was one of the best options for him in that moment. In hindsight, it wasn't because he was going to a team that was relegation battle. He's not getting chances. And then his development at that period in his career really, really faltered.

And he kind of just stood in neutral. But now I think what you're seeing, we always knew Pepe was a really good raw finisher. He has the tools to be that number nine, but he was lacking some of that confidence. But also I still felt like mentally and tactically, he wasn't at that next level. And I think he's learned some of that from being in Germany and then also now from being in Holland.

And he kind of just stood in neutral. But now I think what you're seeing, we always knew Pepe was a really good raw finisher. He has the tools to be that number nine, but he was lacking some of that confidence. But also I still felt like mentally and tactically, he wasn't at that next level. And I think he's learned some of that from being in Germany and then also now from being in Holland.

And he kind of just stood in neutral. But now I think what you're seeing, we always knew Pepe was a really good raw finisher. He has the tools to be that number nine, but he was lacking some of that confidence. But also I still felt like mentally and tactically, he wasn't at that next level. And I think he's learned some of that from being in Germany and then also now from being in Holland.

But the question to me is if he makes that next move and when he does make that next move, is he in a position in a team where he's getting chances consistently and scoring goals? Like that's the most important thing for a final. And then I'm totally fine with Pepe being in this starting nine for US men's national team. And then all of a sudden we got a bit of a

But the question to me is if he makes that next move and when he does make that next move, is he in a position in a team where he's getting chances consistently and scoring goals? Like that's the most important thing for a final. And then I'm totally fine with Pepe being in this starting nine for US men's national team. And then all of a sudden we got a bit of a