Michael Woud (Ventforet Kofu | Japan)

coochiee

Kyoto Sanga travel to Nagoya Grampus Eight. KO 8pm NZ time

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/02/25/japan/j1-league/nagoya-grampus-eight/kyoto-sanga/4025371/

Looks a bit grim for Woud at Kyoto if they sign a 30 yr Dutch keeper with a much better CV (7 seasons & 131 games in the Everdivisie), than 24 yr old Woud. They can't see much of a future for Woud at the club, if they have used a visa spot on another keeper??

23 yr old Japanese GK Wakahara started their first game last weekend, so unless Woud is injured he looks down the list. Wakahara and Woud shared the no 2 GK spot last season. Woud 17 times on the bench in J1, Wakahara 13 times on the pine in J1. The no 1 keeper last season Kamifukumoto has moved to Kawasaki Frontale.

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He's on the bench for this one - #32.

God it's a confusing situation with him - he's in the first team, he's out the first team, they get another keeper in as competition. Is this just part of Kyoto Sanga's plan to keep them all on their toes and make them work for a spot? Hard to tell from here I guess, but  honestly think he'd be better off finding another gig or working out a loan deal. Whatever happens he needs to start getting some minutes under his belt.

Would be interesting to know what made him decide to head to Japan in the first place. 

Yeah is an interesting one. Looks like Sanga have 6 foreigners. 3 Brazilians, 1 Nigerian, and their 2 keepers who have come via Dutch football.

30 yr old Hahn on face value has a stronger CV than Woud, with many more seasons in the Eredivise. Though I note the only time Hahn was at a big Dutch club in Feyenoord, he never played a game.
https://us.soccerway.com/players/warner-hahn/102913/

But seems odd to have 2 keepers like that, seemingly behind their 23 Japanese guy as 2nd & 3rd choioce.

Ironically the opposition keeper today for Grampus is an Australian (former Socceroo) of Dutch heritage in Mitch Langerak.

Edit - Grampus win 1-0

Kyoto Sanga (2nd last) host FC Tokyo (5th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/04/japan/j1-league/kyoto-sanga/fc-tokyo/4025378/

Woud rotated back out of the squad as presumably the 3rd keeper.
Edit - a 2-0 win for Sanga

Is a J League Cup game midweek. Woud played most of the Cup games last season as 2nd/3rd choice keeper.

Kyoto host Gamba Osaka tomorrow night in the J League Cup. Woud played many of these Cup games last season, but zero J League games. So be interesting to see if is the same pattern this season.

coochiee

Kyoto host Gamba Osaka tomorrow night in the J League Cup. Woud played many of these Cup games last season, but zero J League games. So be interesting to see if is the same pattern this season.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/08/japan/j-league-cup/kyoto-sanga/gamba-osaka/4024861/

Their next League Cup fixture is the same day as the second All Whites-China fixture, Sunday 26th. If he plays in that match tomorrow and/or is viewed as still very much in the reckoning to start cup matches, he might not be in the forthcoming AWs squad. It's probably more beneficial, in my eyes, that he plays the club match and hopefully impress to push into challenging for the league spot than if he sits on the bench for two matches against China. The goalkeeper he split the cup matches with last year has started the league season as first choice, and the new Surinamese keeper will possibly be away with the Suriname national team, who play Mexico on the 24th (NZ time). 

KS are away in Yokohama on the 18th, ahead of the first AW-China fixture on the 23rd, so to commute 2.5 hours back to Kyoto and then fly at least 14.5 hours one-way from Osaka for a couple of light training sessions under an interim coach could be a tough sell.

Yes that does all make some sense.

Though we need Woud, De Jong & Rojas picked to fulfil my dream of the AWs have a squad from 6 different continents!! 

I wonder if that has ever happened before in international football? I think likely not. Not many other nations would recruit from all of Sth America, Africa & Oceania

Oceania, Nth America (even if is just Adams from the USL) & Europe all givens.

I guess if Woud isn't picked, you could change it to players from all 6 FIFA Confederations, ie Aussie ALM players like Roux, Ingham etc technically playing in the AFC. Again a first I reckon.

Sorry I digress, and yes in this instance Woud could be excused for choosing club over country. Sail, Paulsen and Jamie Searle (riding the pine at Barnsley) would do. Big Stef only if he splits the 2 games with Sail. Or yes someone like Conor Tracey as 3rd keeper behind Paulsen & Sail.

Kyoto lost 1-3. The Surinam/Dutch keeper started in goal, and a 4th choice guy (32 yr old Japanese GK) was on the bench.

Who knows where Woud sits in their keeper hierachy!

coochiee

Kyoto lost 1-3. The Surinam/Dutch keeper started in goal, and a 4th choice guy (32 yr old Japanese GK) was on the bench.

Who knows where Woud sits in their keeper hierachy!

Sounds like he's about to be in the worst place on any footy team - Left right out...

Hopefully he's sorting out a potential loan/move away from the club over the next little while. I don't think i've ever seen a side switch up and rotate their starting, and reserve goalkeeper as much as Kyoto Sanga do.

Not in match day squad as Kyoto (8th) win 2-0 at Shonan Bellmare (10th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/12/japan/j1-league/shonan-bellmare/kyoto-sanga/4025390/

Not in match day squad as Kyoto (4th) win 4-1 at Yokohama (18th & last).
Japanese starting GK (last year's reserve keeper) & Dutch/Surinam keeper on the pine.

What to now for Woud?

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/12/japan/j1-league/shonan-bellmare/kyoto-sanga/4025390/

J League Cup tie tomorrow, Kyoto Sanga travel to Tokyo.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/26/japan/j-league-cup/fc-tokyo/kyoto-sanga/4024863/

No Woud in match day squad. The Surinam/Dutch keeper Hahn gets a start in goal this time.

Edit - Sanga lose 5-0. Can't do Woud's chances of future game/squad time any harm. 

Kyoto Sanga (6th) host Vissel Kobe (1st).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/01/japan/j1-league/kyoto-sanga/vissel-kobe/4025404/

No Woud. Japanese keeper starting plus another on the bench for Kyoto.
The Surinam/Dutch keeper not in the squad. 

So looks like Woud unless he is injured, is about No 4 in the club ranking. Time for him to get a loan deal somewhere

Edit - Kyoto lost 0-3. 
38 yr old Spanish legend & 2010 WC hero Iniesta an unused sub for Kobe. His 6th year in Japan.

J League Cup, Kyoto host Cerezo Osaka

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/05/japan/j-league-cup/kyoto-sanga/cerezo-osaka/4024865/

Kyoto Sanga a 4-0 win. 
No Woud. This is the comp where he made a number of starts last season.

Kyoto (7th) visit Avispa Fukuoka (6th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/09/japan/j1-league/avispa-fukuoka/kyoto-sanga/4025417/

No Woud (2 Japanese keepers), as Kyoto lose 2-1.

Kyoto Sanga (10th) host Gamba Osaka (16th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/15/japan/j1-league/kyoto-sanga/gamba-osaka/4025427/

No Woud. Again two Japanese keepers in the squad.
I've & others have said it before Woud should either be asking for an early release, or a loan deal somewhere. I'm sure those sort of chats have been happening for awhile. 

Ex Nixer 35 yr old Tando Velaphi I think is playing for a club in the Japanese 4th tier (Japan Football League). Hopefully Woud could do better than that.

He was doing OK in the Netherlands wasn't he? Has barely played in basically a year since moving to Japan. At his age this makes no sense

newzealandpower

He was doing OK in the Netherlands wasn't he? Has barely played in basically a year since moving to Japan. At his age this makes no sense

He was starting a lot of matches for Almere City in the 2nd tier. He copped a bit of flack from the fans and lost his starting spot after getting injured but it’s been such a weird progression.

Surely a move to a different Dutch club - even to sit on the bench - would’ve been a better idea.

he defeinately needs to move away from Kyoto Sanga FC. Cklearly not seen as #1 let alone #2 keeper in the squad, the guy needs game time to build confidence and maintain his skillset.
To be excluded from the gameday squad all together at 24 is disasterous.

Kyoto Sanga (7th) host Sagan Tosu (14th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/23/japan/j1-league/kyoto-sanga/sagan-tosu/4025432/

No Woud as Kyoto Sanga lost 2-3. They had 2 Japanese keepers in the squad again. So the Dutch Surinam guy & the Dutch Kiwi guy are both on the outer.

Kyoto (9th) travel to Kashiwa Reysol (17th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/29/japan/j1-league/kashiwa-reysol/kyoto-sanga/4025440/

time for Woud to make some decisions about his career, not even in the game day squad! Clearly behind to home based players - surely he could get  gig as a #2 somewhere. Maybe he gets lucky and the #1 gets injured, or he trains the house down and he earns his spot. Can't be good where his currently.

Unless he's injured looks like he's as low as no 4 at Kyoto Sanga. The Dutch/Surinam keeper who's also now not in match day squads, was getting picked of him earlier in the season.

I would have thought a loan deal to a J2 team would make some sense. But really he looks so far away from the playing for Kyoto he might as well, just get a permanent release.

Be interesting to see if he picked for AWs squad in June verus Sweden. Tzanev & Crocombe could rightly be pissed if he was picked ahead of them as the 3rd choice GK.

No Woud. Two Japanese keepers in match day squad.

A 1-1 draw.

Kyoto Sanga (11th) host Kawasaki Frontale (12th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/03/japan/j1-league/kyoto-sanga/kawasaki-frontale/4025446/

I wouldn’t mind him coming home and playing for the Nix. Him and Paulsen would be a decent young duo for us.

I'd be fine with Woud at the Nix. Feel like his name hadn't came up much in the past but that's because he always looked like he was on to bigger things in Europe. If he's not even making the bench in Japan he'd be a good back up or first choice (depending on form) at the Nix. 

siac

I'd be fine with Woud at the Nix. Feel like his name hadn't came up much in the past but that's because he always looked like he was on to bigger things in Europe. If he's not even making the bench in Japan he'd be a good back up or first choice (depending on form) at the Nix. 

An aleague gig might be the right level for him too - although he'd have to work pretty hard to get the #1 job given his lack of game time recently. Would be an interesting pre-season for nthe nix with two relatively untested keepers at Aleague level.

Woud played at a similar level to Kurto, did he not?

theprof

siac

I'd be fine with Woud at the Nix. Feel like his name hadn't came up much in the past but that's because he always looked like he was on to bigger things in Europe. If he's not even making the bench in Japan he'd be a good back up or first choice (depending on form) at the Nix. 

An aleague gig might be the right level for him too - although he'd have to work pretty hard to get the #1 job given his lack of game time recently. Would be an interesting pre-season for nthe nix with two relatively untested keepers at Aleague level.

I think it's key Paulsen can't just be given the No 1 role without some competition, ie you don't just have him and the Weenix Academy keeper (Kelly-Heald). And then of course you are in a bind if AP got injured.

Paulsen to start the new season with undertaking it's his spot to lose, but another hungry keeper like a Woud will be coming in to push him for GK role. Woud should be both pretty cheap & hungry. I think you go more a young keeper like Woud, than an older guy like Marinovic (still club less).

But you would need Woud's Japanese club to agree to release him, as he's still mid contract there. If not Woud, there's plenty of other youngest keepers around Aus/NZ keen to have a crack at the ALM, that the Nix could look to sign, to push AP for the no 1 role.

Napier Phoenix

Woud played at a similar level to Kurto, did he not?

theprof

siac

I'd be fine with Woud at the Nix. Feel like his name hadn't came up much in the past but that's because he always looked like he was on to bigger things in Europe. If he's not even making the bench in Japan he'd be a good back up or first choice (depending on form) at the Nix. 

An aleague gig might be the right level for him too - although he'd have to work pretty hard to get the #1 job given his lack of game time recently. Would be an interesting pre-season for nthe nix with two relatively untested keepers at Aleague level.

Woud spent most of his time in the Dutch 2nd tier with Almere City. He earlier had 5 games over a couple of seasons in the Eredivisie with Willem II, when the no 1 keeper was injured.

No Woud, as Kyoto Sanga (11th) host Kawasaki Frontale (12th). 2 Japanese keepers in match day squad.

Edit - Sanga lose 0-1

I knew that but thought Kurto had come from the Dutch second division too.

Edit: Got off my ass and actually checked, his 2 years prior to coming to us he was with Div 1 clubs with no appearences but the 3 seasons prior to that was playing in the Eredivisie. so, yes, a better cv that Woud for sure.

coochiee

Napier Phoenix

Woud played at a similar level to Kurto, did he not?

theprof

siac

I'd be fine with Woud at the Nix. Feel like his name hadn't came up much in the past but that's because he always looked like he was on to bigger things in Europe. If he's not even making the bench in Japan he'd be a good back up or first choice (depending on form) at the Nix. 

An aleague gig might be the right level for him too - although he'd have to work pretty hard to get the #1 job given his lack of game time recently. Would be an interesting pre-season for nthe nix with two relatively untested keepers at Aleague level.

Woud spent most of his time in the Dutch 2nd tier with Almere City. He earlier had 5 games over a couple of seasons in the Eredivisie with Willem II, when the no 1 keeper was injured.