Kiwi Players Elsewhere

Francis de Vries (Auckland FC | A-League)

190 replies · 47,728 views
over 3 years ago


Joins Unattached FC 😢
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over 3 years ago
A little surprised by this - was a starter before his injury, even captaining the team. 
Hard to pick a gig somewhere else, especially coming off an injury like his. Teams will want to know he is back to full fitness. Not sure where to now for him.
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over 3 years ago
MetalLegNZ
A little surprised by this - was a starter before his injury, even captaining the team. 
Hard to pick a gig somewhere else, especially coming off an injury like his. Teams will want to know he is back to full fitness. Not sure where to now for him.

Share the exact same sentiment. Thought he'd might at least get an extension having been a decent servant for the club. 

Hopefully he can kick clear of his injury troubles and find himself a new club. Surely some Scandinavian club will take a punt on him, well hopefully at the very least they do.
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over 3 years ago
Should be close to halfway through his ACL rehab with luck. He did his knee early in the Allsvenskan season.

He's been in Sweden awhile now, so will be a known commodity there. Will all depend how his rehab goes, but new season in Sweden won't start until about March.


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about 3 years ago · edited about 3 years ago · History
See that he’s signed for ES in the Northern League.

Would be a very useful Mauragis replacement at the Nix. Could also switch across as a left sided CB if Laws leaves.

That’s all dependent on de Vries being the same player he was pre his bad knee injury. But interesting he’s chosen to return to NZ as a pretty established AW backup to Libby (pre injury), and after 3-4 years in Europe.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2023/03/14/eastern-suburbs-land-three-big-signings-ahead-of-new-northern-league-season/
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about 3 years ago
coochiee
See that he’s signed for ES in the Northern League.

Would be a very useful Mauragis replacement at the Nix. Could also switch across a left sided CB if Laws leaves.

That’s all dependent on de Vries being the same player he was pre his bad knee injury. But interesting he’s chosen to return to NZ as a pretty established AW backup to Libby, and after 3-4 years in Europe.

Maybe he's looking to get a season of competitive footy under his belt before trying for another pro gig? Obviously it's no where near as cut throat as it would be over in Europe, so perhaps just looking to get some good minutes back in his legs and giving himself a platform to work from. Would 100% be worth a look at for the Nix next season, that's if he's still wanting to go that route of course.

Cracking signing for Eastern Suburbs that is though.
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about 3 years ago
This season probably is more about getting himself fit again. Who knows, maybe he reached out to the NIX and this is what they suggested.
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over 2 years ago
Mods - could you update his club please. Nice free kick

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over 2 years ago
Thought he played for Suburbs.

Three for me, and two for them.

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over 2 years ago
Buffon II
Thought he played for Suburbs.

Whoops, that was my bad. It was early.
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almost 2 years ago · edited almost 2 years ago · History
Is it time to rename Kiwi Players Overseas? Auckland is on the same landmass as Wellington.

Edit: "Kiwi Pros Elsewhere" ? 
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almost 2 years ago · edited almost 2 years ago · History
imanixsupporter
Is it time to rename Kiwi Players Overseas? Auckland is on the same landmass as Wellington.

Edit: "Kiwi Pros Elsewhere" ? 

Properly weird to see Auckland|Australia. I've heard Yanks and Brits call my home city a part of Australia, but never seen us kiwis do it before.

Maybe a "Kiwi Pros Australasia/Pacific" with any pro kiwi, whether they be at Perth, Nix, AFC, Islands or the new Aussie second division.
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites

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almost 2 years ago
Marto
imanixsupporter
Is it time to rename Kiwi Players Overseas? Auckland is on the same landmass as Wellington.

Edit: "Kiwi Pros Elsewhere" ? 

Properly weird to see Auckland|Australia. I've heard Yanks and Brits call my home city a part of Australia, but never seen us kiwis do it before.

Maybe a "Kiwi Pros Australasia/Pacific" with any pro kiwi, whether they be at Perth, Nix, AFC, Islands or the new Aussie second division.

Well technically, both The Nix & Auckland are Australian clubs based in New Zealand. So I went with that for the country (and for the lulz). I probably should  just change it to A-League instead tbh.

Ideally, I would move all the A-League/NPL player threads into a sub forum of the Straya section but alas the custom forums coding doesn't allow for them. So they need to stay in the Kiwi's Overseas thread cuz that seems a more logical place for them to be.
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almost 2 years ago
Still playing for Suburbs
Scored the winner today against East Coast Bays in the Chatham Cup
Sumptuous free kick from about 25 years on the right hand side of the box into the same corner (keepers left)
Didn't really stand out but ordinary players around him
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almost 2 years ago
RR
Marto
imanixsupporter
Is it time to rename Kiwi Players Overseas? Auckland is on the same landmass as Wellington.

Edit: "Kiwi Pros Elsewhere" ? 

Properly weird to see Auckland|Australia. I've heard Yanks and Brits call my home city a part of Australia, but never seen us kiwis do it before.

Maybe a "Kiwi Pros Australasia/Pacific" with any pro kiwi, whether they be at Perth, Nix, AFC, Islands or the new Aussie second division.

Well technically, both The Nix & Auckland are Australian clubs based in New Zealand. So I went with that for the country (and for the lulz). I probably should  just change it to A-League instead tbh.

Ideally, I would move all the A-League/NPL player threads into a sub forum of the Straya section but alas the custom forums coding doesn't allow for them. So they need to stay in the Kiwi's Overseas thread cuz that seems a more logical place for them to be.

You can’t just make a new thread “Kiwis in the A-League / NPL”?

Or  “Kiwis in Australian Leagues”?

Seems limited.
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almost 2 years ago
Can always make new threads, no issues with that.

When it comes to the NSD in Aussie, any Kiwis playing in that would fit nicely under the Kiwis in Aus below the A-League thread. 

With A-League players, the existing player threads rarely get updated cuz we all pretty much know whats happening with them without coochiee's & YHM's updates. So dunno if its worth a thread for them? 
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almost 2 years ago · edited almost 2 years ago · History
I personally think the current system works really well. 
Sure, it's a bit weird to read "Auckland FC | Australia", but that's exactly correct. I would imagine we would be referred to in the same manner on a different forum.
And we  we would write "Vaduz | Switzerland" if a player signed with the Liechtenstein club...
Or we could just say "Auckland FC" and leave it at that..
No need to re-jig and add one more layer to the forum.
My two cents.

VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life

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almost 2 years ago
Agree is a bit odd having Auckland | Australia, but folk rarely comment on non Nix players in the ALM, as we sort of know what they are up to as RR noted.

Then if Jesse Randall gets gig in a Europe after a season in the 09, it's a natural switch.
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almost 2 years ago
The only issue is by the time AFC have made all their signings, there's going to be a lot of extra Kiwis to add to this 'overseas' list.



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almost 2 years ago
Wibblebutt
The only issue is by the time AFC have made all their signings, there's going to be a lot of extra Kiwis to add to this 'overseas' list.

A few will just be coming across from Unattached FC methinks. Or perhaps like T Smith & Rojas swapping one ALM club for another
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over 1 year ago · edited over 1 year ago · History
Interview with Francis on Piney's radio show today, can be listened to on the standard podcast places. Most genuine sounding interview with a footballer I've heard in a long time 
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over 1 year ago
Makes you wonder with the AWs if pushing Libby further forward like he has a bit recently at Empoli, and then FDV at LB is a serious option. Love Cacace but his crossing is often poor
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
Some good yarns here. Pro football you sometimes gotta start near the bottom and keep plugging away, especially if you don't go through a pro club academy pathway.

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about 1 year ago
Really hope that he makes the starting side with Libby slightly advanced ahead of him. His crossing has been remarked on a lot but his link up play with those ahead of him has also been super this season. Defense has been acceptable but does get found out on occasion with pace. Two left backs however playing one in front of each other you would think would help mitigate that a little.

Auckland will rise once more

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