Starting XI
6.7K
·
4.5K
·
over 9 years

Willem II 2 - 3 Emmen Highlights

One more point of criticism of yesterday's game: I am shark-sick of our "supporters" who are going to whistle their own players during the game (as with Michael Woud). That has never made a player better. My vision: you stand behind your team during the race. You give criticism afterwards.

But back to Michael Woud…. He is thrashed hard here by everything with a red-white-blue heart and I understand the frustration. I think it is badly wrong! The boy is 20 years old, his late father's inspiration and he wants to honor him by delivering top performances. And then he can participate once. He needs a lot of support from players and the public that he doesn't get (yet). So just start ... Good that he dares!

Just a few snippets from Willem II fans on Woud, these were from a couple of fans that stuck up for him which is heartening. There is a lot more but it's not exactly glowing. 

He's only 20 years old, it'll be a bit of a knock, especially hearing about the fans getting on his back with chants and whistling at him, but he'll bounce back, however he needs a season or two in the Eerste Divisie to get some experience and to get that confidence back. Willem II have 25 year old Mattijs Branderhorst on loan at NEC Nijmegen currently so will be interesting to see what happens when he comes back to the Willem II at season's end. 

Marquee
3.7K
·
5.4K
·
over 11 years

There aren't many 20 year old keepers starting anywhere in the world professionally. It is one position where top players generally mature later.

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

On the bench along with Mcgarry in a 0-1 home loss to Feyenoord.

Be flying out to Australia now you would think, to join up with NZ U23s.

Starting XI
3K
·
3K
·
almost 7 years

Sadly Willem II have signed a new young backup goalkeeper with a great CV so looks hard for Woud to break the matchday squad again

Getting paid to be here
700
·
970
·
over 6 years

mrsmiis wrote:

Sadly Willem II have signed a new young backup goalkeeper with a great CV so looks hard for Woud to break the matchday squad again

Who's the new guy? Eredivisie matchday squads can have two reserve goalkeepers.

Woof Woof
2.7K
·
19K
·
over 16 years

mrsmiis wrote:

Sadly Willem II have signed a new young backup goalkeeper with a great CV so looks hard for Woud to break the matchday squad again

Who's the new guy? Eredivisie matchday squads can have two reserve goalkeepers.

This guy?

Decent amount of experience in Greek top flight.

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

mrsmiis wrote:

Sadly Willem II have signed a new young backup goalkeeper with a great CV so looks hard for Woud to break the matchday squad again

Well Woud has been out injured for a few months now.

Soccerway lists it as a Thigh Muscle Strain.

https://us.soccerway.com/players/michael-woud/393834/

I think current 3rd choice keeper is only an 18 yr, who has had to step up as backup keeper in Woud's absence. He's been on the bench last 9 Eredivisie games.

So can't blame his club bringing in a more experienced keeper, if Woud is likely to be out for awhile longer.

The Kiwi is contracted out to 2022 with Willem II.

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

First time back in a match day squad for awhile.

Named on a typically large Dutch team bench - with 9 others including the Greek keeper & McGarry.

Willem II win 1-0 away at Twente.

Any good news that Woud recovered from injury. Expect both him and McGarry to both be named for AWs friendlies in Nov.

Starting XI
440
·
3.5K
·
over 14 years

coochiee wrote:

First time back in a match day squad for awhile.

Named on a typically large Dutch team bench - with 9 others including the Greek keeper & McGarry.

Willem II win 1-0 away at Twente.

Any good news that Woud recovered from injury. Expect both him and McGarry to both be named for AWs friendlies in Nov.

so two keepers on the bench?

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

maynardf wrote:

coochiee wrote:

First time back in a match day squad for awhile.

Named on a typically large Dutch team bench - with 9 others including the Greek keeper & McGarry.

Willem II win 1-0 away at Twente.

Any good news that Woud recovered from injury. Expect both him and McGarry to both be named for AWs friendlies in Nov.

so two keepers on the bench?

Not uncommon it seems with the way large match day squads are named in the Eredivisie.

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

Willem II with a 2-1 win over RKC Waalwijk

Up to 5th on the Eredivisie table.

Both Woud and McGarry unused subs. Two reserve keepers listed again, so unsure if Woud is now 2nd or 3rd choice.

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

More bench warming for Woud & McGarry, as Willem II draw 0-0 with Fortuna Sittard (13th).

Willem II slip to 4th, with PSV a point ahead in 3rd.

AZ (2nd but equal on points with Ajax) missed a great chance to put pressure on the reigning Dutch champs by losing 3-0 at Sparta Rotterdam.

Ajax play tomorrow.

After this weekend Everdivisie has a 3 week winter break - starts again 18th Jan.

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

On the bench for a 2-1 friendly loss to Hibernian. Game in sunny southern Spain.

https://twitter.com/WillemII?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Not sure if means much but McGarry not in large 22 man match day squad.

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

Eredvisie restarts with Willem II (3rd) upsetting 2nd placed AZ Alkmaar away 3-1. 

Came back from 1-0 down, continuing their excellent season, and go ahead of Thomas's PSV (4th) who play tomorrow.

Could be a real battle for that 2nd Champions League qualifying spot behind Ajax - Willem II with a real chance, if they can maintain their form.

Woud watches from the pine, McGarry listed as injured.

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

On the bench as Willem II lose away at Heerenveen (Rojas's old club) in the Dutch Cup, on pens (3-4).

Finished 2-2 end of NT & ET.

McGarry not in match day squad.

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

Watches from the pine as Willem II are held to a 0-0 draw at home by lowly Zwolle (16th).

Results like that will blow any chance they have of challenging for that 2nd Champions League qualifying spot.

Zwolle had player sent off at 79 mins.

If PSV win later today they will overtake Willem II & Feyenoord into 3rd on the log.

McGarry still missing from match day squad.

Starting XI
3K
·
3K
·
almost 7 years

Making a long-overdue appearance in the net vs. Heracles Almelo. 60 mins in, kept a clean sheet so far - 1-0

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

mrsmiis wrote:

Making a long-overdue appearance in the net vs. Heracles Almelo. 60 mins in, kept a clean sheet so far - 1-0

Clean sheet for Woud as finishes 1-0. Willem II consolidate 4th spot, 4 points ahead of PSV, who are about to play Ajax (Thomas on the bench).

Presume Willem II's first choice keeper Wellenreuther is injured. Not in match day squad.

McGarry returned from injury to be on the bench.

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

From this week's Flying Kiwis, some interesting comments on Woud, after his game on the weekend. The Olympics will be a good stage for him, as he continues his development.

"Woud didn’t have to make many saves. Heracles were competitive in the first stanza, hitting the crossbar straight after Willem II had scored, but they were comfortably the second best on the park in the second 45 with all that was missing being another goal for W2. There was a header that went close for Heracles but it was off target. Nothing out of Woudy’s wheelhouse... but that was the impressive thing. He looked comfortable as though he knew he belonged, a big boost since the last times he played for this team – something that he spoke about after the game to the microphones (watch the vid in the hyperlink below).

Michael Woud: “I look on that period [his four games last season] and I learned so much. I learned so much in those games and I knew that when I got another chance like today I’d be able to use those things I learned to help me and today I showed that I learned a lot of those in those games and I was more calm and more easy and yeah I’m happy with how I played. Those first for games were just me learning and getting used to the league, you know.”

It sounds like whatever malady laid Wellenreuther low was nothing too serious and he’s not expected to miss the game against Ryan Thomas and PSV next week, though it’ll depend how he comes through training. Speaking of PSV, Willem II are now four points clear of them and still in fourth place only behind Feyenoord on goal difference. Their 40 points is already more than they’ve accrued in 10 of their 12 completed top flight seasons. Also, James McGarry was an unused sub for this game same as he has been for every league game this season – playing once for six minutes as a sub against Emmen way back in August."

Starting XI
3K
·
3K
·
almost 7 years

As for that Greek keeper, heard the club want to keep Woud ahead of him for now at Strezos is an unknown quantity

Fudge me we’re stacked at keeper!

Marinovic, Woud, Tzanev, Sail, Moss, Crocombe, Jones, Searle, Paulsen, Hogg...

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

On the pine as Willem II draw 1-1 with Utrecht.

No McGarry listed on the bench, but seems Willem II (5th) named a smaller bench than usual.

During the weekend PSV have over taken them into 4th.

Starting XI
6.7K
·
4.5K
·
over 9 years

mrsmiis wrote:

As for that Greek keeper, heard the club want to keep Woud ahead of him for now at Strezos is an unknown quantity

Fudge me we’re stacked at keeper!

Marinovic, Woud, Tzanev, Sail, Moss, Crocombe, Jones, Searle, Paulsen, Hogg...

Mossy will be off that list in the near future mate. ?

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

On the pine as Willem II (5th) lose 2-4 at Emmen (12th).

Wheels have fallen a bit off Willem II's season, since returning from winter break. Only 1 win in last 6 games.

No McGarry listed on the bench, but not on the injured list either.

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

On the pine as Willem II (5th) beat Groningen 3-1 (8th).

Again no McGarry listed on the bench, and again not on the injured list either.

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

From this week's Flying Kiwis

http://theniche-cache.com/football/2020/5/7/flying-kiwis-curious-times-in-the-dutch-eredivisie

"Finally, we’ve gotta return to the fates of Willem II one last time now where the rollercoaster ride that’s been this whole Eredivisie yarn gets to take one last swoop... because starting goalie Timon Wellenreuther is also out of contract at the end of this season and by all reports is expected to leave the club. Willem’s technical director has been talking about contingency plans.

Wellenreuther, a former German youth international, has been one of their star players this season but he’s already rejected a new contract offer and as a pending free agent has been allowed to negotiate with foreign clubs since January. Thus Willem have been looking for his replacement since before the season was stopped but figuring that out during the coronavirus is not going to be easy and may well be impossible while travel bans remain in place. Which means that Michael Woud has a decent chance to start next season as the number one keeper at the club unless Wellenreuther changes course and re-signs."  

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

This week's Flying Kiwis.

"DUTCH EREDIVISIE

Got cancelled ages ago and nothing has changed since the last Flying Kiwis thing about that whole situation. Ryan Thomas is stuck in neutral having just gotten his PSV career really humming. 

James McGarry got the negative as his contract ran down and he negotiated an early release to come back to Aotearoa before the lockdown. 

And Michael Woud has landed in the positive as Willem II got a Europa League qualifying spot thanks to their finishing position (which they seemed unlikely to hold on to had the season carried on to its natural conclusion) plus what’s more is that their first choice keeper, Timon Wellenreuther, is leaving the club and a suitable replacement will be tough to find in this transfer market with travel bans and all that so ol’ Woudy might get very lucky indeed.

Wellenreuther has been the starting keeper for the last three years but he’s confirmed the rumours in an instagram post that he’s off to take that next step in his career." 

Starting XI
3K
·
3K
·
almost 7 years

Signed for second-tier Dutch side Almere City on loan. Bit disappointing if i’m honest but i’m sure he’ll be happy with regular first-team football

Groundskeeper Willie
700
·
7.5K
·
about 16 years

that’s a good move. Almere is a good club to gain experience

First Team Squad
1.5K
·
1.8K
·
about 13 years

Will be playing with former City loanee Shayon Harrison

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

TopLeft07 wrote:

that’s a good move. Almere is a good club to gain experience

Small club only founded in 2001.

Were sitting 9th in the Eerste Divisie (2nd tier) before season cancelled.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almere_City_FC

Main thing now is he will hopefully be playing regularly as starting keeper at a reasonable level. Still very young.

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

From this week's Flying Kiwis.

"Michael Woud: “It is good for my development to arrive at Almere City FC and play some more minutes. I need that experience to grow. I'm excited to show what I can do in Almere.”

Interesting move, this. Willem II did brilliantly to hang on to qualify for the early Europa League stages by virtue of their fifth placing at the time the Dutch league was abandoned for pandemic related reasons. Their top choice keeper, German Timon Wellenreuther, had long since been rumoured to leave though and sure enough he’s since signed with Anderlecht in Belgium leaving that number one gloveman role vacant.

Woud was the backup keeper for the entirety of last season (after an injury break at the start, at least) and a good chunk of the season before but has only made five first team appearances for Willem II so far. The club never lied about the fact that they preferred to sign an imported keeper to fill Wellenreuther’s boots but with the state of travel in Europe what it is at the moment that wasn’t necessarily a simple task. Which might have been a fortuitous fall of the dice for Woudy but nah turns out he’s going out on loan instead. Pretty much the standard plan for a player in Woud’s position. He’s spent two years learning as a backup but he’s 21 years old and will learn more from playing regular first team footy.

Thus Willem II won’t have their top two keepers next season, while Greek third-stringer Giorgios Strezos (who is coming off contract) and 19-year-old academy grad Connor van den Berg have never played for the senior team. Safe to say they must be confident they’ve got a transfer or two lined up if Woud’s being allowed to leave on loan. It’ll be a full season loan, by the way, with reports suggesting they considered loaning him out in January too.

https://t.co/W501pcHlvy

Almere City were ninth in the second tier when that all got canned... that’s one spot outside the promotion playoff spots. Their regular goalie was 27 year old Joshua Smits but he’s just left, confirmed literally a couple days before Woud’s arrival was announced, to have signed in Norway with 2019 runners-up FK Bodø / Glimt. Crazy thing is you’ll hear a little bit more about that club in a second. So that leaves the gloves free for Woudy to swoop in, although he will have competition for that spot.

More from Michael Woud: “This is a good step in my career. My goal is to become the first goalkeeper at Almere City FC and play many games. I want to get better here and fight with the team for promotion. That is the goal of Almere City FC and I would like to contribute to that.”

Almere City Technical Director Teun Jacobs: “Michael is a talented goalkeeper who has enjoyed part of his career at Sunderland and has already made his debut as an international. He is a physically strong boy, who therefore dominates in the penalty area and can also play well with his feet. We're glad we were able to capture him.”

Groundskeeper Willie
700
·
7.5K
·
about 16 years

There’s really not much of an issue with travel in Europe at the moment, or for a number of weeks for necessary travel (work) so it won’t have made much difference for Willem II’s search for a starting GK

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

In goal as Almere City start their Eerste Divisie (Dutch 2nd tier) season by hosting MVV.

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

coochiee wrote:

In goal as Almere City start their Eerste Divisie (Dutch 2nd tier) season by hosting MVV.

Starts with a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw.

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

coochiee wrote:

coochiee wrote:

In goal as Almere City start their Eerste Divisie (Dutch 2nd tier) season by hosting MVV.

Starts with a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw.

From this week's Flying Kiwis. Don't think he presided over too many 0-0 draws with the Nix.

"Funny story... the manager of MVV is a fella called Darije Kalezic, none other than the ex-Wellington Phoenix manager who once gave Liberato Cacace his club debut. ‘Tis a small world."

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

Goes from a 0-0 draw in week one, to a 10 goal thriller in week 2.

Luckily Almere prevail in a 6-4 win over Excelsior.

Almere up 4-3 at HT. Then a frantic finish with another 3 goals from 86 mins.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2020/09/06/netherlands/eerste-divisie/sbv-excelsior/fc-omniworld/3304818/

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

In goal, as Almere (2nd) beat TOP Oss (19th) 3-0.

Woud with 2 clean sheets from 3 games to date.

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

In goal as Almere win 1-0 at NEC (8th)

They go top of the Eerste Divisie

Woud 3 clean sheets out of 4 league games to date.

Lawyerish
1.7K
·
4.8K
·
about 13 years

listened to a pod with him on the other day - articulate and seems to have his head screwed on right

Legend
11K
·
21K
·
almost 9 years

In goal for another win, and another clean sheet.

2-0 over Helmond Sport.

Almere go top of the table again, though have played one more game than 2nd placed NAC Breda.

You’ll need an account to join the conversation!

Sign in Sign up