Matt Garbett (Peterborough United | England)

Breda host Heerenveen (Rojas's old Dutch club who are 8th in the top tier) in a last 16, KNVB Beker (Dutch Cup) tie.

Hopefully Garbett gets a debut.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/02/07/netherlands/knvb-beker/nac-bv/sportclub-heerenveen/4021205/

Unfortunately no Garbett in match day squad. Is 1-1 at HT

coochiee

Unfortunately no Garbett in match day squad. Is 1-1 at HT

Ends as a 1-2 defeat for NAC and a round of 16 exit from the cup.

Just a couple of useless trainspotting facts to go with, why not: two of the nine named substitutes for NAC are Curacao internationals, both of whom started the match against the All Whites in 2021 when Garbett made his senior debut. Jarchinio Antonia started on the wing that day and was a 66th minute sub today, while Cuco Martina started at centre-back but was unused today.

Both Heerenveen goals were scored by 22-year-old Bologna loanee Sydney van Hooijdonk, born in Breda and who made his senior debut at NAC, scoring 23 goals in 70 games. He is also the son of 46-cap Dutch international Pierre van Hooijdonk, who infamously went on strike and refused to play for Nottingham Forest for a few months in their last Premier League season before the current - 98/99. During his strike, Pierre kept fit by training at NAC, having himself scored 81 goals in 115 while there. The last name even means 'from Hooidonk' after a town down the road from Breda, in the same state of Noord-Brabant.

Apparently Garbett has a niggle which he is getting over. Breda have a game  10th (Saturday morning our time), and then the 20th. Hopefully he’ll be ready for some minutes Sat morning, or worse case match on the 20th.

Breda (11th) host De Graafschap (14th). Sounds like Garbett is still out with his niggle.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/02/10/netherlands/eerste-divisie/nac-bv/bv-de-graafschap/3798868/

Breda with a 2-0 win. No Garbett 

Breda (10th & 8 pts off playoff spots) travel to Jong Utrecht (20th & last). Might hopefully be a Garbett debut, if he's got over his niggle.

ex Nix gaffer Darije Kalezić in charge of Utrecht II.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/02/20/netherlands/eerste-divisie/jong-utrecht/nac-bv/3798883/

He got some game time in friendly run around last week. Breda with a number of unavailable injured apparently.

De eerste minuten van Matthew Garbett in het Geel-Zwart 💛🖤#NACpraat #NAClom pic.twitter.com/Pcz1nO0wer

— NAC Breda 💛🖤 (@NACnl) February 16, 2023

NAC Breda 💛🖤
@NACnl
The first minutes of Matthew Garbett in Yellow-Black

So makes his Breda debut, but not a great game for his club.

One of 3 subs brought on at HT (2-1) as Breda lose 4-1 at last placed Utrecht II. Hard to see Breda pushing for a promotion playoff spot after a result like that.

Anyway hopefully Garbett made an impression, and can crack the starting lineup soon.

coochiee

So makes his Breda debut, but not a great game for his club.

One of 3 subs brought on at HT (2-1) as Breda lose 4-1 at last placed Utrecht II

Anyway hopefully he made an impression and can crack the starting lineup soon.

 A pretty chastening introduction to Dutch football for Garbett. Though to be fair, he played more senior, competitive club minutes today than in the previous 633 days combined. Take the small victories etc.

It must be said, if there's one thing you'd bet your house on, it'd be New Zealanders wearing black-and-yellow getting comprehensively beaten in a match overseen by Darije Kalezic. It's just his forte. As is being last I suppose.

It's Carneval time in Breda - the Noord Brabant region and neighbouring German cities like Düsseldorf and Köln as well really - so the away fans in the largely empty Utrecht ground were dressed up, so hopefully that result doesn't put too much of a dampener on the Rose Monday celebrations. 

Breda (11th) host Dordrecht (16th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/02/24/netherlands/eerste-divisie/nac-bv/bvo-fc-dordrecht/3798887/

2-2 at the moment with 65 mins played. Garbett's making his first start and provided the assist for Breda's second goal.

Breda with a 3-2 win to keep their slim promotion chances alive. 

Garbett off at 67 mins (2-2). Good to see him get the start and assist

Looks like a good showing by Garbett.

image.png 206.74 KB

Match highlights. About 45 seconds in is the Garbett (no 26) assist. A cross from the right back across the box, met on the volley. Seems there is a few Garbett lookalikes in the Breda team. Just good to see him playing.

Breda are 9th now, 6 pts off the promotion playoff spots. Effectively 8th, as AZ II (7th) can't be promoted. Hopefully Breda can make a late season charge. 12 games left. 

https://keukenkampioendivisie.nl/samenvatting-nac-breda-fc-dordrecht-24-02-2023/

Breda (9th) travel to Jong PSV (14th).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/06/netherlands/eerste-divisie/jong-psv/nac-bv/3798902/ 

Breda win this and they will be 5 pts off the promotion playoff spots, giving themselves a sniff. Especially with 2 winnable home games to follow - before a tough trip away to Thomas's Zwolle after that.

Also a handy opportunity for 20 yr old Garbett to catch the eye of the scouts at big clubs like Ajax, PSV, AZ etc by playing against their Jong sides in the Dutch 2nd tier. Impressed in his first Breda start last week apparently, so keeps that up, and he could be in the Eredivisie next season regardless of whether Breda get promoted or not.

Another start for Garbett in an important 2-1 win for Breda. He came off at 77 mins (2-1). Picked up a yellow.

Sofascore gave him a 6.6, about average for the Breda lineup. So not a standout this week like his first start.

Breda (9th) host MVV (7th). Another critical game for Breda in the race for a playoff spot. They are currently 5 pts off the playoff spots.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/10/netherlands/eerste-divisie/nac-bv/stichting-mvv/3798909/

Garbett starting and with the assist as Breda lead 1-0 after 25 mins

That’s one heck of a ball.

YoungHeartHM

Who likes Matt Garbett assists? Because he just got another one #FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/QDCFD8ONqX

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) March 10, 2023

Finishes 4-1 Breda, Garbett off at 69 mins (3-1)

Breda up to 7th

Breda (7th) host Jong Ajax (17th). Breda win this and they will climb to 5th or 6th, just below the playoff spots (3rd & 4th). Admittedly some teams around them with a game in hand.

They have a tough game on the weekend travelling to Thomas's Zwolle. So a win over Ajax II is crucial re their playoff hopes.

Breda have won their last 3 games, coincidentally Garbett has started all 3.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/13/netherlands/eerste-divisie/nac-bv/jong-ajax/3798927/

Garbett starts

Edit - unfortunately Jong II lead 4-0 at HT!

He's got another assist as Breda pull one back 5-1.

coochiee

Garbett starts

Edit - unfortunately Jong II lead 4-0 at HT!

Annihilation on the cards (5-1 now, 60th min) but Garbett is yet again a standout. Him and Icelandic striker Elias Omarsson are the only ones coming out of this with glory according to NAC fans - Garbett again playing a big part in NAC's only goal

Finished a 2-6 hiding! A big blow to Breda's promotion chances, at home against a team lower than them on the table. I guess with the Jong sides it can be somewhat a bit, hit & miss depending on who is released from the first team squad for games.

Garbett off at 63 mins (1-5). Nice to see him continuing his record of assists.

If Breda don't get promoted hopefully a Eredivisie club notice him. Helps that he's still young himself at 20. Ajax II not a bad side to shine against, re the scouts watching.

Next the Kiwi matchup against Thomas's impressive Zwolle this weekend. Maybe Ryan can persuade Zwolle (promotion almost certain) to sign a fellow Kiwi midfielder for next season.

Is that 3 assists in four games?

If he keeps that up, he will get noticed... not that might matter if there is a buy clause in his loan contract already.

Most important thing is he plays. The level is decent and will fill him with confidence for the future.

Good to see him come straight into the fold at NAC Breda and look so comfortable. Their fans seem to rate him as a brilliant pickup given a relatively up/down sort of season for the club thus far.

Agree completely with the sentiment from others though, he just needs to be playing. 

His assist in yesterday's rout.

Matt Garbett doing the assist thing again, just don’t look at the score 🫣 #FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/o6VOOaPf0v

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) March 14, 2023

Great driving run by him.

Feels like he's come out of nowhere to be one of our highest potential players. Non-playing reserve for an age group side to this in a couple of years is impressive and with runs like that he's only going to keep getting noticed. 

coochiee

His assist in yesterday's rout.

Matt Garbett doing the assist thing again, just don’t look at the score 🫣 #FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/o6VOOaPf0v

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) March 14, 2023

Looking forward to seeing this kind of heads up, positive play against China. 

Great to see a young Kiwi lad get his head up and make those types of runs and looking positive, excellent vision to find the winger on that left hand flank too. 

Kids going to be an absolute ⭐

Breda (8th, 43 pts) travel to VVV (4th=last playoff spot, 52 pts).
Must win for Breda to make promotion playoffs with 8 rounds left.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/31/netherlands/eerste-divisie/vvv-venlo/nac-bv/3798939/

Garbett 84 mins (3-1) in a 3-1 win. 

Top away result for Breda who close the gap to VVV (4th, last playoff spot) to 6 pts. Breda are going to have to keep winning, and then still need some luck to make the promotion playoffs.

coochiee

Garbett 84 mins (3-1) in a 3-1 win. 

Top away result for Breda who close the gap to VVV (4th, last playoff spot) to 6 pts. Breda are going to have to keep winning, and then still need some luck to make the promotion playoffs.

Assuming I haven't misunderstood it, NAC can have their spot confirmed in the playoffs on Tuesday morning. Due to the 'period' system used in the division, where the league is split into four (two of 9 nine games, two of 10), qualification can be confirmed as early as ten games into the season.

Heracles won the first period, Thomas' PEC won the second and NAC could 'win' the third which was supposed to finish on the 10th of March. They are second on goal difference behind PEC - but the ticket goes to the highest team yet to have won one - so that is currently NAC (table here). 

Due to a postponement, one match remains in that period - Almere City against Jong Utrecht which is being played on Tuesday morning. Almere sit two points below NAC in the period, so a win against Jong Utrecht (second to last in the period, only above Jong Ajax) will put them outright first. So there will be a few crossed fingers in Breda, as it'll be tight to win the fourth period given they lost the first two matches and getting the last league spot could be tough with teams around them. 

Yes seems you are correct Carlind. Weird system indeed. Explained about halfway down this Wiki page, with league table at end of each Period explained. And yes Period 4 is 2 games in, but Period 3 not yet completed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E2%80%9323_Eerste_Divisie

I had been going off Soccerway which showed only teams 3rd & 4th in the playoffs. But will actually be 6 teams in the playoffs, just not neccessarily teams placed 3rd-8th. Added complication is I don't think the Jong teams can participate in the playoffs. But Breda should remain in the mix until season end, and have been in mostly improved form (6-2 spanking at home from Ajax II aside) since Garbett arrived.

But in short term they will yes be cheering on Darije Kalezić's Utrecht Jong on Tuesday.

carlind

coochiee

Garbett 84 mins (3-1) in a 3-1 win. 

Top away result for Breda who close the gap to VVV (4th, last playoff spot) to 6 pts. Breda are going to have to keep winning, and then still need some luck to make the promotion playoffs.

Assuming I haven't misunderstood it, NAC can have their spot confirmed in the playoffs on Tuesday morning. Due to the 'period' system used in the division, where the league is split into four (two of 9 nine games, two of 10), qualification can be confirmed as early as ten games into the season.

Heracles won the first period, Thomas' PEC won the second and NAC could 'win' the third which was supposed to finish on the 10th of March. They are second on goal difference behind PEC - but the ticket goes to the highest team yet to have won one - so that is currently NAC (table here). 

Due to a postponement, one match remains in that period - Almere City against Jong Utrecht which is being played on Tuesday morning. Almere sit two points below NAC in the period, so a win against Jong Utrecht (second to last in the period, only above Jong Ajax) will put them outright first. So there will be a few crossed fingers in Breda, as it'll be tight to win the fourth period given they lost the first two matches and getting the last league spot could be tough with teams around them. 

Almere with a late (87th min) goal for a 1-0 win over Utrecht II. So Almere lock in a playoff spot. Breda (8th) can still grab a playoff, by finishing amongst the top 8 sides on the table 

18 yr old Josh Rawlins (ex Perth Glory) with 20 mins for Utrecht Jong.

Breda (8th) host Den Bosch (18th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/07/netherlands/eerste-divisie/nac-bv/fc-den-bosch/3798949/