Kiwi Players Elsewhere

Nando Pijnaker (Auckland FC | A-Leagues)

350 replies · 116,656 views
over 2 years ago
Pijnaker on at HT (0-0) in a 1-0 win. Lost his starting spot last 2 games.

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over 2 years ago
Needs to move on if he cant even start in this leagu  now. 
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over 2 years ago
Could be injury related. Rotation against the weakest team...

You don't normally bring on  CB at half time with the score 0 - 0.
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over 2 years ago
Full game in a 3-1 loss
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over 2 years ago
Score is 0-1 & Pijnaker off the bench at 70 mins (Sligo went down to ten men at 68 mins), in a 0-2 loss. 

3 games to finish the season. Pijnaker off contract then, so what next?
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over 2 years ago
Interesting that in the line-up announcement for the game, Sligo's official Twitter account called it the "strongest Rovers lineup of the season". Nando needs to get out, his form's tanked for club and country over the past couple of years
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over 2 years ago
Full game & a yellow in a 1-0 loss.

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over 2 years ago · edited over 2 years ago · History
I do love stats like these. Some insight into things more than just goals/assists etc.



Despite Sligo's woeful form to backend this season (pretty much since Max Mata went to England tbh) it turns out Nando is still amongst one of the better of his CB cohorts in the LOI, both in terms of progressive passing and progressive ball carries - getting the ball forward!

It probably doesn't help his cause that his side is running in the lower reaches of the league and defensively has only kept 5 clean sheets from 34 matches. But as we know in football, there are a lot of statistics floating about in the background that scouts and footballing people look at when assessing a player. 

In saying this, hopefully the transfer rumours of potential moves to England haven't completely dried up for Pijnaker. But you feel he has to make a move this upcoming off season to regain a bit of spark and invigoration that has perhaps drifted out of his game a wee bit this year.


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over 2 years ago
A 0-0 draw. Pijnaker off the bench at 69 mins.

Sligo confirmed as safe from the drop. 1 LOI game left. A likely Irish farewell for Nando?
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over 2 years ago


Could have seen that coming to be fair. Bit more background behind it though.

Seems Sligo Rovers took a page out of the Wellington Phoenix playbook of last season and underperformed on the pitch despite heavy investment in the squad. As a result, going in to 2024 it sounds like Sligo will have to cut an approximate 40% out of their budget across the playing squad for 2024. This is coming from the Sligo club treasurer David Rowe.

They started the season with something like €200,000 in the bank (which actually sounds quite healthy for a LOI club) But will start next season owing between €200,000-300,000. This iss despite the club selling Max Mata, who had his release clause triggered in a move to Shrewsbury Town - They will however make some money on the additional sell on clauses that were put into that deal though.

Sad old state of affairs really.
Not official as yet of course, but Pijnaker will definitely be hoping to have a strong International window in the hopes of picking up a deal elsewhere for 2024.
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over 2 years ago
The world is always more normal when the AWs squad has an Unattached FC player.

He should ring up his old NZ U20s gaffer.
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about 2 years ago
Maybe that is the level he has decided upon himself? Not sure what he had done before hand but might have seen enough to know his own level. What kind of coin would a reasonable LOI player make?
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about 2 years ago
Napier Phoenix
Maybe that is the level he has decided upon himself? Not sure what he had done before hand but might have seen enough to know his own level. What kind of coin would a reasonable LOI player make?

Surprised at the move to re-sign is all. But you may well be right.
Irish missus? Or the fact that he just likes living in Ireland could also come into it.

Found an article from last season which covers teams below those who are the wealthiest, or at least considered the wealthiest in the league - Shamrock Rovers, Derry City, Dundalk, St Pats...

Damien Duff made a salient point ahead of the League of Ireland’s return tonight. It’s always been a numbers game.

The legendary Irish winger turned Shelbourne manager spelled out the vast financial advantages Shamrock Rovers, Derry City, and arguably Dundalk and St Patrick’s Athletic, hold over perennial also-rans.

“A player with a lot experience in the league that has a bit of quality costs €1,200 a week,” said Duff, providing a rare glimpse of the bottom line. “I might be able to get one or two or three [players on that weekly wage] but a lot of the teams above us can keep forking that out, and I can’t.”

Would imagine he'd probably be about that €1200-€1500 a week (there or thereabouts) although they have let a lot of their more expensive signings go just recently - Including Max Mata's replacement, Pedro Martelo! And it does sound like they will be running with a younger, more inexperienced group this season, so Pijnaker might well hoover up some of the spare cash as a result?

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about 2 years ago · edited about 2 years ago · History
It's a disappointing & underwhelming re-signing lets be honest. An AWs regular, we now expect our national team players to be at a level above the LOI. Plus it seems like Pjinaker has been a 'promising, will play at a higher level' guy for quite some time now.

If Jack Iredale (LB/left sided CB) ever becomes available, to me Pjinaker drops out of the AWs. But until then he probably stays in the squad, given Tommy Smith's age. That left footed CB option is useful to have.

Optimistically maybe Nando has an Auckland ALM deal lined up, and playing in the LOI will at least keep him match fit until then. I'm sure any transfer fee would be a pittance to Foley. But yeah honestly it's unlikely you'd think to happen.
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about 2 years ago
coochiee
It's a disappointing & underwhelming re-signing lets be honest. An AWs regular, we now expect our national team players to be at a level above the LOI. Plus it seems like Pjinaker has been a 'promising, will play at a higher level' guy for quite sometime now.

If Jack Iredale (LB/left sided CB) ever becomes available, to me Pjinaker drops out of the AWs. But until then he probably stays in the squad, given Tommy Smith's age. That left footed CB option is useful to have.

Optimistically maybe Nando has an Auckland ALM deal lined up, but playing in the LOI will at least keep him match fit until then. I'm sure any transfer fee would be a pittance to Foley. But yeah honestly it's unlikely you'd think to happen.

Do we think he’s playing below his levels here? 
In any case, he’s a guy the Auckland team SHOULD be looking at, because he’s experienced and inexpensive. At the worst a squaddie. At best a quality A league CB, with the potential to earn a transfer fee.


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about 2 years ago
coochiee
It's a disappointing & underwhelming re-signing lets be honest. An AWs regular, we now expect our national team players to be at a level above the LOI. Plus it seems like Pjinaker has been a 'promising, will play at a higher level' guy for quite some time now.

If Jack Iredale (LB/left sided CB) ever becomes available, to me Pjinaker drops out of the AWs. But until then he probably stays in the squad, given Tommy Smith's age. That left footed CB option is useful to have.

Optimistically maybe Nando has an Auckland ALM deal lined up, and playing in the LOI will at least keep him match fit until then. I'm sure any transfer fee would be a pittance to Foley. But yeah honestly it's unlikely you'd think to happen.
Kyle Adams should be given a chance at the left sided CB role,  he’s consistently dominated in the USL
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about 2 years ago · edited about 2 years ago · History
Yes Adams is an option. Though Hay & Bazeley brought him in for the two Socceroos games Sept 2022, and then China games March 2023. Was discarded after that. So Baze & co have viewed him up close, and obviously still rate Pijanker & Smith higher as left sided CBs.

USL likely not much different to LOI. Simon Elliott seems heavily involved now as an AWs assistant, so Baze will get good intel from him on how the US based players are going. With time 18 yr old Lukas Kelly-Heald, could come into the reckoning. At 198 cm he's got the size.
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about 2 years ago
Might figure if he’s a good passer of the ball, that’s it’s much easier to coach him in improving his defensive work than his passing ability? We haven’t seen it yet, but.


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about 2 years ago
Many times clubs extend contracts to increase the sell on value huh? Also, from his point of view I guess job security is a real concern so maybe having some guarantees is better than chasing dreams.
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about 2 years ago
martinb
coochiee
It's a disappointing & underwhelming re-signing lets be honest. An AWs regular, we now expect our national team players to be at a level above the LOI. Plus it seems like Pjinaker has been a 'promising, will play at a higher level' guy for quite sometime now.

If Jack Iredale (LB/left sided CB) ever becomes available, to me Pjinaker drops out of the AWs. But until then he probably stays in the squad, given Tommy Smith's age. That left footed CB option is useful to have.

Optimistically maybe Nando has an Auckland ALM deal lined up, but playing in the LOI will at least keep him match fit until then. I'm sure any transfer fee would be a pittance to Foley. But yeah honestly it's unlikely you'd think to happen.

Do we think he’s playing below his levels here? 
In any case, he’s a guy the Auckland team SHOULD be looking at, because he’s experienced and inexpensive. At the worst a squaddie. At best a quality A league CB, with the potential to earn a transfer fee.
 i reckon (as above) the dates line up. Hes signed this then will be coming over to play for auckland. 
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about 2 years ago
Both AWs full games in a 0-1 loss
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about 2 years ago · edited about 2 years ago · History
Mata 2 goals and 2 assists. Pijnaker the assist for Mata’s first goal as Sligo rout Dundalk 5-0.
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about 2 years ago
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almost 2 years ago
Mata the assist and then immediately subbed off at 65 mins in a 1-0 win. Full game Pijnaker.

20 yr old Joseph Forde (ex Glory) on the bench for Waterford.
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almost 2 years ago
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almost 2 years ago
From Flying Kiwis, some bad luck for Pijnaker.

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