?? Nando Pijnaker joins @1886_gc_zuerich ?? !! Big congrats!! ???? #elementwelve #gcz #nandopijnaker @beirelles pic.twitter.com/oj9IX0kxmp
— elementwelve (@ElemenTwelve) January 28, 2020
Same agent as Mata, Woud, McGarry and a couple other promising Kiwis. Really putting in the work to get em to Europe, kudos to Bruno Meirelles
that's great. Hopefully he establishes himself in the team and they get promoted to the first division soon!
GC Zurich U21
Liga gr.2
Fourth Tier
Switzerland
So Pijnaker has been signed to the U21 side not first team.
Grasshopper first team have struggled since returning from the winter break. A draw and 2 losses.
11 pts behind Lausanne Sport in top spot (automatic promotion), best bet for them now looks like trying to retain 2nd spot, and into promotion playoff.
Lost on Friday 4-1 and had a defender sent off, so maybe that could open a door for Pijnaker.
New owners at Grasshopper (Wolves connection)
Kotahitanga. We are one.
Season restarts in Switzerland as Grasshopper (3rd) host Aarau (8th).
Lausanne Sport (52 pts) are 15 pts clear in top spot and automatic promotion.
Vauz, Grasshopper (both 37 pts) and Kriens (36 pts) all look to be vying for 2nd, and the promotion playoff spot.
Neither Pijnaker nor Mata in match day squad.
From this week's Flying Kiwis.
"Translation: Nando Pijnaker’s been added to the Grasshoppers first team squad.
Which puts him in good company with his buddy Max Mata because while both of them had been working their way up from the U21 squad, with Mata also spending some time out on loan while Nando only signed at the start of the year... both of them also appear to be in the first team picture now moving forwards. At least according to reports anyway, haven’t found confirmed evidence of Mata’s first team permanence yet. Pijnaker’s been added to the list on their website but Mata’s still on the U21 page. Having said that he’s there wearing the #15 jersey on their Wikipedia page so you never know with these things.
https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a2...
Part of this development will be due to getting a new coach involved. Zoltan Kadar is now in charge there as GCZ try to push their way back up into the top flight with a strong close to the season. And an even bigger part of it is that the schedule is going to be brutal from here on out. Pijnaker has been added this week along with five of their other top prospects from the U21s in order to expand their squad to help them cope with having to play 13 games pretty much in a month and a half. They basically play every 3-4 days.
Grasshoppers are a bit of a sad case. They were once a powerful club in Switzerland, specifically back in the day when they had Wynton Rufer on the books, but they’ve fallen on hard times more recently and were relegated last time around. So now they’re in the second tier with the biggest stadium capacity in the division and trying to bounce back up. The Swiss Challenge League has been on the drop since late February with every team having played 23/36 matches and good news because it came back this very weekend.
GC Zürich were 15 points off top placed Lausanne as the pandemic came around, looking unlikely to catch them for that lone automatic promotion spot. But they’re only goal difference behind Vaduz for second and as long as they don’t mess around with the regulations because of all the weirdness that second place will earn a promotion playoff so there’s a heap to play for over these last thirteen games. Or, twelve now because they rocked back into the swing of things with a convincing 5-0 win over FA Aarau in Zoltan’s first match in charge. Neither of the two NZers were included in the matchday squad (although GC does have a striker on the bench called Ze Turbo, which is amazing) but that’s to be expected. Plenty more games where that one came from."
Grasshopper (2nd) with a 1-1 draw at Winterthur.
They go 1 point ahead of promotion rivals Vaduz (3rd) who play runaway league leaders Lausanne Sport (1st) later today.
Neither Pijnaker nor Mata in match day squad. As in Flying Kiwis above the Swiss 2nd tier, is now very condensed with games every 3-4 days. So both Kiwi boys could get a chance at some point.
Neither Pijnaker nor Mata in match day squad, as Grasshopper (2nd) beat Lausanne Sport (1st) 3-1.
Lausanne Sport are 10 points ahead and unlikely to be caught, but 2nd spot clinches a promotion playoff.
In a big result Grasshopper come back from 2-0 nil down at Vaduz, to win 3-2. Two late goals from 84 mins.
Vaduz & Kriens are their main rivals for the promotion playoff spot (2nd place).
Grasshopper now go 5 points ahead of Vaduz, and close the gap on 1st placed Lausanne Sport (who have game in hand) to 5 points also.
Neither Kiwi in the match day squad.
8 rounds still to go, over next 4 weeks.
Neither Kiwi in the match day squad, as Grasshopper (2nd) beat Stade Lausanne-Ouchy (7th) 4-0.
Was 1-0 until Stade Lausanne had a player sent off at 63 mins.
1st placed Lausanne Sport (5 pts ahead) and 3rd placed Vaduz (5 pts behind), also both won.
Amel Rustemoski a 20 yr old Swiss midfielder at Grasshopper has tested positive for Covid.
Today's game against Wil is now called off.
Hopefully neither Pijnaker, Mata or any of their other team mates test positive either.
https://www.gcz.ch/news/news/artikel/amel-rustemoski-positiv-auf-coronavirus-getestet/
Neither Kiwi in the match day squad, as Grasshopper (2nd) concede in the 91st min to lose 1-0 at 1st placed Lausanne Sport.
With 5 games left, Grasshopper are 4 points ahead of Vaduz (3rd), in the race to finish 2nd and the promotion playoff spot.
Grasshopper with a 4-4 draw against Kriens (4th).
Grasshopper stay 2nd (2 points ahead of Vaduz with 3 games left), but in their last 2 games have conceded 7 goals.
Imagine is a bit more challenging for some of the locals playing mid summer in Switzerland. Not something many would do often.
Neither Kiwi in match day squad.
Pijnaker promoted to the bench as Grasshopper (3rd) travel to Wil (6th). So will make his pro football debut if gets on. No Mata in match day squad.
Aleksandar Cvetkovic one of the first choice CBs tore a calf muscle last game, and is out for the season.
Big game for Grasshopper, who's problem of late has been their defence it would seem (conceding 7 goals in 2 games). They have now been overtaken on the table by Vaduz (2nd) who won yesterday.
Vaduz are only ahead by 1 point, and Grasshopper have today's game in hand.
Remembering 2nd spot grabs promotion playoff spot.
Two rounds to go after today's game. Going to be a tight finish to the season.
Vaduz get to host easy beats FC Schaffhausen in their next game, so that sort of info will be putting some mental pressure on Grasshopper.
Pijnaker promoted to the bench as Grasshopper (3rd) travel to Wil (6th). So will make his pro football debut if gets on. No Mata in match day squad.
Debut. Bought on as a 63rd min sub, with Grasshopper in trouble at 2-0 down.
Then bang bang they score at 65 & 67 mins. Currently 2-2.
Pijnaker promoted to the bench as Grasshopper (3rd) travel to Wil (6th). So will make his pro football debut if gets on. No Mata in match day squad.
Debut. Bought on as a 63rd min sub, with Grasshopper in trouble at 2-0 down.
Then bang bang they score at 65 & 67 mins. Currently 2-2.
Unfortunately Wil scored late in the 85th min, to grab a 3-2 win.
Around 30 mins for Pijnaker. Be interesting to know how he went.
Fellow sub Mychell Chagas who came on with Pijnaker, with both goals for Grasshopper.
They will now need Vaduz (1 point ahead) to drop some points in their last 2 games, to overtake them for that 2nd spot and promotion playoff.
Usual story another season in the 2nd tier, may actually increase chances of Pijnaker & Mata getting some game time, if some first team players move on.
This is completely off topic, but an intriguing question - if Vaduz get promoted, would they be able to qualify for Europe (particularly CL) through a placing in the Swiss top division?
This is completely off topic, but an intriguing question - if Vaduz get promoted, would they be able to qualify for Europe (particularly CL) through a placing in the Swiss top division?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Vaduz
Legal status[edit]Vaduz is one of several expatriate European football clubs, including Swansea City and Cardiff City playing in the English Football League, AS Monaco playing in France, San Marino Calcio playing in Italy and some other minor clubs doing likewise in different leagues.
The difference between Vaduz and the aforementioned clubs is that its status in Switzerland is a "guest club", and as such it does not participate in the Swiss Cup and cannot represent Switzerland internationally, which makes Champions League qualification from league football impossible under current rules other than by winning the Europa League or the Champions League itself.
Since Vaduz has never finished higher than 8th in the Super League and therefore could not be argued to have qualified, such a situation has not occurred.
From this week's Flying Kiwis.
In highlights video, he's on the field from about 4 mins in, just prior obviously Grasshopper's 2 goals.
Unfortunately involved in late mixup with his keeper & fellow CB, that sees Wil player sneak in and score the winner. Otherwise sounded like a tidy debut.
They do get into the Europa League qualifying rounds on account of winning the domestic Cup often (47 times) though not since 2011.
Liechtenstein doesn't actually have a league, just a cup
Obviously impressed as a sub with the last game, as now starting with Grasshopper (3rd) away to Aarau (8th).
Hoppers need to win.
On face of it promotion playoff rivals Vaduz (2nd) have a pretty easy home game against FC Schaffhausen (9th) today.
Looks like is no relegation this season from Swiss 2nd tier. So bottom sides nothing really to play for???
Obviously impressed as a sub with the last game, as now starting with Grasshopper (3rd) away to Aarau (8th).
One of 3 players replaced at HT, as another come back for Grasshopper from 2-0 down (1-0 at HT), this time to draw 2-2.
Sense of deja vu as another brace to Mychell Chagas in the comeback.
Unfortunately Vaduz also came back from 1-0 down, to win their game 3-1. Means they go 3 points clear of Grasshopper with one round left.
Hoppers (GD +23) need to win, and Vaduz (GD +26) to lose, plus hope GD goes their way now to grab that promotion playoff spot (2nd).
Grasshopper host Winterthur (4th) in their final game, whilst Vaduz are away to Kriens (5th)
Crunch time for Grasshooper.
Hoppers (GD +23) need to beat Winterthur (4th) in their final game.
Then hope Vaduz (GD +26) lose away to Kriens (5th). Plus they need to make up a 3 goal GD, to grab that promotion playoff spot (2nd on the table).
Pijnaker not in match day squad.
Crunch time for Grasshooper.
Hoppers (GD +23) need to beat Winterthur (4th) in their final game.
Then hope Vaduz (GD +26) lose away to Kriens (5th). Plus they need to make up a 3 goal GD, to grab that promotion playoff spot (2nd on the table).
Pijnaker not in match day squad.
Good game for Pijnaker to miss.
Grasshopper got caned 6-0 at home by Winterthur. That won't please the fans. Might be some fall out at the club after a result like that, with everything seemingly to play for.
Vaduz also lost (2-1), so a Hoppers win by a few goals would have given them a chance!
A few weeks back they were in pole position to grab that 2nd spot, but a very limp finish.
Another year in the Swiss 2nd tier. Could be a blessing re Pijnaker and Mata breaking into 1st team squad.
Pre season is underway in Switzerland.
Grasshopper with a 1-0 loss Türkgücü-Ataspor Munchen today, a side promoted to Liga 3 in Germany from the 4th tier Regionaliga.
Pijnaker was 'absent', which sounds better than 'battered' like some his team mates, who missed the game.
https://www.gcz.ch/saison/spielplaene/testspiele/spieldetail/action/show/match/3321/
Coincidentally Singh's Nürnberg play Türkgücü-Ataspor in a few days, in another pre season friendly.
Grasshopper have signed Christian Ponde a Portuguese ex youth international striker. That will probably affect Max Mata's future first team prospects. Doesn't look like he was involved in today's friendly.
Young man in a hurry. Maybe Grasshopper got a transfer fee for him, and possibly after failing to get promoted looked to bank some cash.
Rio Ave finished 5th in 2019/2020 season, one spot off European qualification.
Oliver Whyte was in youth system at Rio Ave for about a year.
Portuguese season starts 20th September.
amazing the length of that contract
Now we gotta follow the Belgian league AND the Primeira Liga? Young kiwis getting it done
That's such good news! Good on him. Let's hope he gets decent game time and exposure. The length of that contract certainly makes it look like the wasn't brought him just to sit on the bench..
Fifth place in Primeira Liga is Europa League 2nd qualifying round.
They gonna have 6 spots for 21/22 so Rio Ave need to try and keep their form which is usually quite hard in the league. 5th place tends to rubberband between seasons
From this week's Flying Kiwis. Never heard of David Yoo before. Agents ElemenTwelve seem to represent a few overseas Kiwis.
https://twitter.com/ElemenTwelve/status/1299840164...
"Interesting point about this club, they’ve had some genuine kiwi ties in recent years. Ollie Whyte spent the season before last with the Rio Ave U19s – Whyte and Pijnaker both played in qualifying for the 2019 U20 World Cup, though Whyte wasn’t in the final tournament squad – and he wasn’t alone as David Yoo also spent time there. Yoo is currently with Padroense FC in the third tier."
Up Next: It’s three weeks ‘til the proper season starts, fire up
Possible proud moment for Declan coming up.
If Rio Ave beat their Bosnian opponent Borac Banja Luka in Europa League Round 2 qualifying, they will play Boyd's Besiktas in the 3rd round qualifying.
Rio Ave beat FC Paços de Ferreira 2-1 in a pre season friendly. Pijnaker not listed amongst the 22 Rio players who got game time.
