https://www.whitecapsfc.com/wfc2/post/2017/03/15/w...
Finally official. A good step for his young career, especially as it looks like the club wants to develop him.
And another quality CB to add to the ever growing All Whites depth in the position.
Francis de Vries (Eastern Suburbs | NZ)
Always good to read those kind of stories. Hopefully he can buckle down and work his up to the first team and play MLS regularly in a couple of years. Good for him - good for the AWs!
de Vries an unused sub as Whitecaps II lose 0-2 away at La Galaxy II. Ben McKendry played full 90 mins for Whitecaps.
In a sign of how highly he is regarded in Vancouver, Francis was named captain for the All-Whitecaps 2 in their latest match. (They lost 0-1). Deklan Wynne, Myer Bevan and the still-eligible-but-not-really-a-kiwi Ben McKendry were also all involved.
Wynne & De Vries both starting, Bevan suspended
In a sign of how highly he is regarded in Vancouver, Francis was named captain for the All-Whitecaps 2 in their latest match. (They lost 0-1). Deklan Wynne, Myer Bevan and the still-eligible-but-not-really-a-kiwi Ben McKendry were also all involved.
Would be great to see all those kiwi boys persuade Ben to don Black and White instead of Red and White. Not an AW starter but would definitely add depth.
Let's say Reid is out of the All Whites...
I guess Brotherton is probably next cab off the rank, BUT he hasn't even been playing for the U23s at Sunderland. I think this is a good a time as any to get de Vries into the fold.
Sorry nothing to do with the current fold but players being good enough - Did de vries play for us at age group? I'm curious as to how he got to where he is today. I heard he was at FC Basel once in Switzerland. Pretty impressive if he got there by himself. But correct me if I am wrong, but I don't remember him playing for NZ at age group
Let's say Reid is out of the All Whites...
I guess Brotherton is probably next cab off the rank, BUT he hasn't even been playing for the U23s at Sunderland. I think this is a good a time as any to get de Vries into the fold.
Yes is concern that Brotherton not yet cracking U23 match day squad at Sunderland. Is he injured?
I think a match fit player is a better option. Happy with either de Vries (regularly captaining Whitecaps II - so must be rated in Vancouver), Adams or Tuiloma (with Musa as the CB backup).
Old started in League 1, or Boxalls brother are better picks IMO
Sorry nothing to do with the current fold but players being good enough - Did de vries play for us at age group? I'm curious as to how he got to where he is today. I heard he was at FC Basel once in Switzerland. Pretty impressive if he got there by himself. But correct me if I am wrong, but I don't remember him playing for NZ at age group
Was Canterbury United youth prior to going to Switzerland. He wasn't there long http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/88196261/ne...
This one has a little video of his college highlights. He takes freekicks, and scored from a few. third one is insane http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/88418534/Young-Kiwi-footballer-drafted-by-Vancouver-Whitecaps-in-second-round-of-MLS-Super-Draft
Wynne & De Vries starting for Whitecaps 2 again today
Finished 1-0 to San Antonio
Old started in League 1, or Boxalls brother are better picks IMO
Old is League Two with Morecombe and Nikko is playing DM rather than fullback or CB
whitecaps II seem to be losing a lot with all those kiwis ( more then any club outside NZ me thinks). I hope that's not a bad omen.
De Vries and Wynne playing right now, must be the last game for Bevan's suspension?
Finished 2-1 to Whitecaps II. De Vries & Wynne both played 90 mins.
Yes Bevan finished his 3 game suspension now.
Ended up wearing a lucky head bandage after a head clash at 38m15s
de Vries playing for Whitecaps II this morning verus Tulsa. Not surprising that neither Wynne or Bevan playing for Whitecaps II.
De Vries and Bevan start for Whitecaps 2, Wynne dropped to the bench. The game is at 11am, I'll add the youtube stream when it starts.
Wynn injured? I thought he was one of their better players plus he's scored a couple goals for a team that has done very little at that end of the pitch this season.
Whitecaps II is basically a development team, with little chance of making USL playoffs. Could be all sorts of reasons as to why he was on the bench for this game
Both Bevan and De Vries in starting lineup for Whitecaps II this morning versus Phoenix Rising. No Wynne
Heavy 0-4 home loss for Whitecaps II.
Only Tuiloma's Timbers II are below them on the Western Conference table
Signed for Canterbury United yesterday, meaning his overseas journey is over.
Not definitely.
Sounds like still a chance Fresno FC (team replacing Whitecaps II in USL), may sign him. He was captain alot for Whitecaps II this USL season after all.
Not definitely.
Sounds like still a chance Fresno FC (team replacing Whitecaps II in USL), may sign him. He was captain alot for Whitecaps II this USL season after all.
Recent interview with de Vries here after returning to NZ to sign for Canterbury United.
It seems that all Whitecaps II players are off-contract like de Vries now the team has folded.
Fresno FC will be an independent team affiliated to Vancouver Whitecaps who will loan them some players:
https://www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2017/11/17/vancou...
"As part of the agreement with Fresno FC, Whitecaps FC will have the ability to assign players to USL contracts to play at the California club, while all players on the roster will be monitored and evaluated for MLS opportunities, as well as call-ups on the USL Short Term Agreement.
Announcements will be made in the coming weeks regarding players from the 2017 USL roster."
Has a new gig in the 1st Division, 3rd Tier of Swedish football with Nyköping. A great move for him https://www.svenskalag.se/bissarnaherr/nyheter/118...
Can someone help me out with the level of this league? Above or below NZ national league?
Top 2 leagues Allsvenskan and Superettan (Tyler Lissette playing in this) have 16 teams each. Next tier has 32 teams (division 1; split north/south?) and I see francis’s club has a ground capacity of 1,000.
Can someone help me out with the level of this league? Above or below NZ national league?
Top 2 leagues Allsvenskan and Superettan (Tyler Lissette playing in this) have 16 teams each. Next tier has 32 teams (division 1; split north/south?) and I see francis’s club has a ground capacity of 1,000.
You would think it would be very average. Third tier (and with 32 teams) in a country, that probably at a wild guest, has it's best 100 players playing in higher European leagues or elsewhere like the US (a number of Swedes in MLS).
And yes the crowds are tiny. Joel Stevens in the same league with Husquvarna, gets to play usually in front of 100-150 folks.
Still there must be some money in the league (maybe they also have a rorted pokie money scheme) - and yes is in Europe so could open some doors.
Though only Kiwis that come to mind who have currently agruably moved onto higher levels of football, from the Scandinavian leagues are Nikko Boxall (Denmark Div 2 - and yes still Scandinavia) and Steven Old (League 2 in England). Like I said agruably higher levels.
Can someone help me out with the level of this league? Above or below NZ national league?
Top 2 leagues Allsvenskan and Superettan (Tyler Lissette playing in this) have 16 teams each. Next tier has 32 teams (division 1; split north/south?) and I see francis’s club has a ground capacity of 1,000.
You would think it would be very average. Third tier (and with 32 teams) in a country, that probably at a wild guest, has it's best 100 players playing in higher European leagues or elsewhere like the US (a number of Swedes in MLS).
And yes the crowds are tiny. Joel Stevens in the same league with Husquvarna, gets to play usually in front of 100-150 folks.
Still there must be some money in the league (maybe they also have a rorted pokie money scheme) - and yes is in Europe so could open some doors.
Though only Kiwis that come to mind who have currently agruably moved onto higher levels of football, from the Scandinavian leagues are Nikko Boxall (Denmark Div 2 - and yes still Scandinavia) and Steven Old (League 2 in England). Like I said agruably higher levels.
Thanks Coochiee, that provides a bit of insight. Pro/rel means some owners will always invest. Myer Bevan didn’t get many minutes in his loan spell in Sweden either. I would love to know what the quality is like though. Maybe for Francis it’s just a paying gig and HOPE someone spots him. No point coming back to nz national league to miss out on pre season there though. That’s when he might be able to cement a spot, which is what he needs to do.
The Scandy leagues tend to have a pretty long off season (winter up there is pretty brutal of course) - and I had naively wondered whether some Kiwis playing there, could also have short summer stints in the Handy. Which is sort of what Chris James did I guess.
But yeah no doubt their clubs, want them back in plenty of time for the pre season - even if that means running around in the late winter/spring snow.
The Scandy leagues tend to have a pretty long off season (winter up there is pretty brutal of course) - and I had naively wondered whether some Kiwis playing there, could also have short summer stints in the Handy. Which is sort of what Chris James did I guess.
But yeah no doubt their clubs, want them back in plenty of time for the pre season - even if that means running around in the late winter/spring snow.
And I hear Handy clubs really hate the disruption of players leaving in Feb to go back to pre season in Scandinavia. My view is they should commit fully to Scandinavian club rather than halfway trying to do both.
Made his debut in a 2-0 loss
Highlights here: https://www.facebook.com/Ettanfotboll/videos/vb.20...
Starting line up here: https://www.facebook.com/Bissarna/photos/p.1650468...
Next game is in the Svenska Cup against Allsvenskan (tier 1) team GIF Sundsvall on Thursday NZ time.
de Vries has played 10 games, and he seems to have become pretty much a regular starter not long after his arrival.
Provided Nykoping don't end up in the relegation playoff position (they definitely can't be automatically relegated), their last match is this weekend.
They would need the 3 teams all immediately below them, to all win this weekend to be shunted into the relegation playoff spot. So look pretty safe.
Nykoping finish season with a 4-0 win to avoid any possibility of relegation.
De Vries 90 mins.
From this week's Flying Kiwis.
Can one of the mods please update de Vries's club to IFK Värnamo.
Phillip Rollo@ByPhillipRollo
Francis de Vries, the former Vancouver Whitecaps II and Canterbury United defender, has transferred to Swedish club IFK Värnamo where he will likely partner fellow Kiwi Tyler Lissette in defence.
Scores 1st goal of the match and the 1st for his new club in a 3-1 away win over Skövde AIK.
Full 90 for both de Vries and Lissette
