Kiwi Players Elsewhere

Francis de Vries (Auckland FC | A-League)

190 replies · 47,728 views
almost 7 years ago

IFK Varnamo are Swedish 2nd tier and their manager's first name is Roar.

Peoples Republik of Aucklandia

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almost 7 years ago

PROAK wrote:

IFK Varnamo are Swedish 2nd tier and their manager's first name is Roar.

Relegated to third tier I think. Div 1 south. 

Kotahitanga. We are one.

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almost 7 years ago

Global Game wrote:

PROAK wrote:

IFK Varnamo are Swedish 2nd tier and their manager's first name is Roar.

Relegated to third tier I think. Div 1 south. 

In the 3rd tier (Division 1) which consists of 32 teams over 2 regional North/South splits.

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almost 7 years ago

Has played in all 11 matches of the season so far, assuming alongside Tyler Lissette. Varnamo currently sit 4th to last on only 11 points. 

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over 6 years ago

With 2 games to go in Division 1 (Swedish 3rd tier), Värnamo are mid table 8th - no promotion, no relegation.

After the league finishes they have a big Cup game, when they host Malmö FF from the top flight.

Malmo currently 2nd in the Allsvenskan, and involved also in the Europa League.

De Vries has played 27 of 28 league games, with two goals.

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over 5 years ago · edited over 5 years ago · History

Scores first goal in a 4-2 win over Tvååker (11th)

Full game for de Vries, and Joel Stevens subbed at 57 mins.

Värnamo stay 7 points clear in top spot
.

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over 5 years ago

Another win for Värnamo yesterday. 1-0 at last placed Karlskrona.

Full game de Vries.

Stevens subbed on at 62 mins with score 1-0.

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over 5 years ago · edited over 5 years ago · History

Another win for Värnamo 3-1 over Skövde AIK.

Full game de Vries.

Stevens subbed on at 75 mins with score 3-1.

Värnamo now lead comp by 14 points.

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over 5 years ago

Full game in a 2-1 win over Linköping City (9th).

No Stevens in match day squad.

Värnamo lead by 13 points with 8 games left.


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over 5 years ago

Rare loss for Värnamo, 2-1 at Torns (5th).

De Vries with the goal for Värnamo from the penalty spot.

Stevens an unused sub.

Värnamo remain 10 points clear in top spot, with 6 games left. Only 1st gets automatically promoted.

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over 5 years ago · edited over 5 years ago · History

Consecutive losses, this time 0-1 to Oskarshamns AIK (14th).

Full game De Vries. Stevens not in match day squad.

Värnamo, still comfortably 9 points ahead in 1st spot with 5 games left. But as only the top team gets automatically promoted, they will want to avoid any late season nerves over the next few weeks.

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over 5 years ago · edited over 5 years ago · History

Season unraveling somewhat for Varnamo. 3rd loss in a row.

3-1 loss at Lund.

They still top the league by 6 points with 4 games left. But with only 1st being automatically promoted they need to be very careful.

Full game de Vries. No Stevens

They had one of their Brazilians sent off at 78 mins with a 1-1 scoreline.

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over 5 years ago · edited over 5 years ago · History

Wow Värnamo is choking big time.

4th loss in a row. This time to 3rd placed Utsikten

Varnamo’s lead now slashed to 3 pts with 3 games left. Shouldn’t finish lower than 2nd (playoff spot) but only top spot is automatically promoted.

Full game De Vries. Stevens subbed on at 63 mins, just prior to their keeper being sent off, and going 2-1 down from the resulting pen.

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over 5 years ago

Tough run in too. 

2nd place Landskrona up next week, 4th placed Lindome afterwards and 5th place Assyriska IK up last. Surprising really that it's become so close after Varnamo had been bossing the league up until the past 3-4 games. 

Sensational bottle job if they if they drop it from where they were...

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over 5 years ago · edited over 5 years ago · History

Varnamo with a 0-0 draw against 2nd placed Landskrona to stop the losing rot.

They remain 3 points ahead with 2 games left.

Full game De Vries. Stevens subbed on at 69 mins

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over 5 years ago

Varnamo with a 1-1 draw at Lindome (4th).

But as 2nd placed Landskrona lost, Varnamo clinch promotion with 1 round still to go.

Full game de Vries, and Stevens replaced after 77 mins.

Congrats to both Kiwis. Swedish 2nd tier next season.

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over 5 years ago
Värnamo finish their season with a 2-0 win over Assyriska Turabdin

De Vries an unused sub and Stevens not in match day squad. 

Swedish 2nd tier next season.

Next, 2 weeks in NZ MI?

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almost 5 years ago
Kiwi matchup in the Swedish 2nd tier. Värnamo (1st) with a 3-0 win at Garbett's Falkenbergs (13th).

De Vries full game for Värnamo, and Stevens subbed off at 68 mins (score 3-0).
Garbett 5 mins off the bench for Falkenbergs.

There are teams below Värnamo with games in hand, but nice start to the season for a side newly promoted.
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almost 5 years ago · edited almost 5 years ago · History
De Vries full game & Stevens 60 mins as Värnamo (1st), draw 0-0 at
Örgryte (15th - 2nd last).

Värnamo stay top for another week, and they also have games in hand on teams below them.

They remain a chance of back to back promotions, whilst Matt Garbett's Falkenbergs (play tonight) in last place (16th) are a chance of back to back relegations!

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over 4 years ago
Swedish 2nd tier restarts next week, after a mid summer break. Overnight Varnamo lost a friendly 0-1 to Garbett's Falkenberg.

De Vries started and Stevens on the bench. Garbett of course is in Japan.
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over 4 years ago
Värnamo (1st) with a 3-0 win at Jönköpings Södra (6th).

Stevens subbed on at 63 mins (score 2-0). De Vries on at 86 mins (3-0).

Värnamo still in line for back to back promotions, but tight at the top. 4 points separate first 4 teams at about half way mark of the season.
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over 4 years ago
Värnamo (drop to 3rd on GD) with a 2-0 loss at GIF Sundsvall (6th).

De Vries & Stevens both with full games.

Värnamo still in line for back to back promotions, with top 3 sides only separated by GD (all on 30 pts)
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over 4 years ago · edited over 4 years ago · History
Värnamo with a 3-0 win at 4th tier Ullared in the Swedish Cup.  

De Vries subbed on at 72 mins. No mention of Stevens.

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over 4 years ago
Värnamo grab a 92nd min 2nd goal, in a 2-1 win at Akropolis (12th). Värnamo remain top, and now have a 5 point buffer to Landskrona in 3rd. Only the top 2 are automatically promoted, with 12 games left.

De Vries full game, and 20 mins for Stevens (1-1 when he came on).
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over 4 years ago · edited over 4 years ago · History
Full game De Vries as Värnamo (1st) beat Jönköpings Södra (7th) 2-0. No Stevens in match day squad.

Perfect result for Värnamo earlier this week when the teams 2nd & 3rd, Helsingborg and Trelleborg drew 1-1. Dream of back to back promotions remains well alive for Värnamo, 3 points atop the Swedish 2nd tier with 10 games left.




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over 4 years ago · edited over 4 years ago · History
Full game de Vries as Värnamo (1st) draw 1-1 with Örgryte (9th). Joel Stevens subbed on at 84 mins (score 1-1). Formation in Flashscore actually had de Vries playing as a LB.

Bit of a missed opportunity for Värnamo (40 pts), as a win would have created a bit of a gap on Trelleborg (2nd, 37 pts) & Helsingborg (3rd, 36 pts with a game in hand). Big game this weekend as Värnamo travel to Trelleborg. 9 games to go. Top 2 teams automatically promoted, 3rd place into Playoffs.

Looks like Värnamo may have never played in the Swedish top flight (Allsvenskan). Or if they have it was a long time ago, so I imagine a few nerves around the team as they try achieve back to back promotions.

de Vries must be some chance of making the AWs squad for October friendlies. Maybe even as a LB/RB option. Suspect both MLS guys M Boxall & Tuiloma, plus Reid will be unavailable. If so de Vries, N Boxall, Stanger & Kyle Adams will all be in the frame. Smith, Pijnaker & Stensness all being CB shoe ins. 



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over 4 years ago
de Vries starting (as a LB), and Stevens on the bench as Värnamo (1st) travel to promotion rivals Trelleborg (5th).
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over 4 years ago
Värnamo win 3-2. De Vries with a full 90. Stevens didn't make it off the bench. De Vries must be a serious chance at getting a call up to AW's for the October window.

Four points clear at the top now, and a real chance at winning the Superettan, and gaining back to back promotions. Very favourable fixture list coming up as well - Västerås - 13th (1/10), Vasalund - 15th (5/10), GAIS - 11th (17/10), Falkenberg - 16th (26/10), AFC Eskilstuna - 10th (2/11). Helsingborg (2nd), Brage (14th) and Norrby (6th) to finish off.



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over 4 years ago
YoungHeart
Värnamo win 3-2. De Vries with a full 90. Stevens didn't make it off the bench. De Vries must be a serious chance at getting a call up to AW's for the October window.

Four points clear at the top now, and a real chance at winning the Superettan, and gaining back to back promotions. Very favourable fixture list coming up as well - Västerås - 13th (1/10), Vasalund - 15th (5/10), GAIS - 11th (17/10), Falkenberg - 16th (26/10), AFC Eskilstuna - 10th (2/11). Helsingborg (2nd), Brage (14th) and Norrby (6th) to finish off.



YoungHeart
Värnamo win 3-2. De Vries with a full 90. Stevens didn't make it off the bench. De Vries must be a serious chance at getting a call up to AW's for the October window.

Four points clear at the top now, and a real chance at winning the Superettan, and gaining back to back promotions. Very favourable fixture list coming up as well - Västerås - 13th (1/10), Vasalund - 15th (5/10), GAIS - 11th (17/10), Falkenberg - 16th (26/10), AFC Eskilstuna - 10th (2/11). Helsingborg (2nd), Brage (14th) and Norrby (6th) to finish off.




Yes a really good tight away win for Värnamo over one of their major promotion rivals. Is a tight race for promotion, top 5 sides separated by only 6 points with 8-9 rounds left.

And yes Värnamo do have a seemingly favourable run in. Though a lot of the lower table sides are also in a tight race to avoid relegation (incl Garbett's old team Falkenbergs), so playing those desperate teams won't be easy.

I really like this story of an unfashionable small Swedish club, with 2 lower profile Kiwi lads. I don't really understand the UEFA league coefficients, but seems Sweden is one spot ahead of Denmark. So if Värnamo get promoted, basically equal to Helsingor and it's Kiwi contingent making the Danish top tier?? Hopefully both happen.

https://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/country/#/yr/2022
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over 4 years ago · edited over 4 years ago · History
All looking promising for Värnamo (1st). A 3-2 win this morning over Västerås SK (14th, 3rd last), has them 6 points clear at top of the table. 7 rounds left.

Full game de Vries. Stevens an unused sub.

A trip to bottom side Vasalund this weekend. Garbett's old team Falkenberg 2nd last (15th).
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over 4 years ago · edited over 4 years ago · History
coochiee
All looking promising for Värnamo (1st). A 3-2 win this morning over Västerås SK (14th, 3rd last), has them 6 points clear at top of the table. 7 rounds left.

Full game de Vries. Stevens an unused sub.

A trip to bottom side Vasalund this weekend. Garbett's old team Falkenberg 2nd last (15th).

Perhaps if they get promoted he might finally put himself in contention for AW's? 

I reckon he can probably count himself a little unlucky with the latest squad to be honest. He's part of a team at Värnamo that's  conceded only 19 goals in 23 games. I know the level of competition isn't the highest, but the way they're tracking they'll be in the top tier next season. This could've been a good chance to at least have a look at him and have him learn/understudy from the likes of Smith/Boxall/Tuiloma.

Just my two cents of course.
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over 4 years ago · edited over 4 years ago · History
From afar would seem a bit of a toss up between him and Nikko Boxall. Both playing at a pretty similar level and both can slot in at RB in need. Though think de Vries has been playing LB of late.

Both really need guys like Reid & Tim Payne to be unavailable to get a look in. Though for sure if Värnamo get promoted, then do okay in the Swedish top flight in 2022, and de Vries remains a regular starter, he'll be in the coversations no matter what.

Given AWs have barely played under Hay, I'm assuming he's spent many You Tube hours looking to Finnish football, 2nd tier Swedish football, Serie C, the USL etc etc to see the level some of the lower profile Kiwis are at.
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over 4 years ago
Can't help but feel it should've been de Vries over Wilkins in the squad - one of them is playing, one isn't. Danny Hay does love the jobs for the boys approach though.

Valley FC til I die?

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over 4 years ago
Nelfoos
Can't help but feel it should've been de Vries over Wilkins in the squad - one of them is playing, one isn't. Danny Hay does love the jobs for the boys approach though.

Yes the more marginal AWs selections - Wilkins (barely played for over 12 mths), De Jong (same) and Kalua (bolter from NZ domestic football) were all with Hay at ES and back to Sacret Heart College with Kalua.

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over 4 years ago
All coaches have favourites... move on.

Also with limited time, I can understand bringing in players with an understanding of your structure. 


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