https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/09/22/ireland-republic/premier-league/sligo-rovers-fc/derry-city-football-club/4000751/
Nando Pijnaker (Auckland FC | A-Leagues)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/09/22/ireland-republic/premier-league/sligo-rovers-fc/derry-city-football-club/4000751/
You don't normally bring on CB at half time with the score 0 - 0.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/09/29/ireland-republic/premier-league/bohemian-football-club/sligo-rovers-fc/4000752/
Sligo 9 pts above drop zone with 4 games left
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/20/ireland-republic/premier-league/sligo-rovers-fc/dundalk-football-club/4000766/
3 games to finish the season. Pijnaker off contract then, so what next?
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/23/ireland-republic/premier-league/st-patricks-athletic-fc/sligo-rovers-fc/4000760/
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.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/28/ireland-republic/premier-league/sligo-rovers-fc/drogheda-united-football-club/4000771/
Sligo confirmed as safe from the drop. 1 LOI game left. A likely Irish farewell for Nando?
Nando played 32 (29 starts) of 36 LOI games. 0 goals.
Off contract. What next?
https://us.soccerway.com/players/nando-pijnaker/575170/
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.
He should ring up his old NZ U20s gaffer.
Don't quite know how I feel about this one to be honest...🙃
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/02/16/ireland-republic/premier-league/bohemian-football-club/sligo-rovers-fc/4282361/
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/03/01/ireland-republic/premier-league/sligo-rovers-fc/shelbourne-fc/4282374/
As we speak, Max Mata is doing more mean things for Sligo Rovers (credited with two assists in this game as well... and literally just scored a second as this was being typed)
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) March 4, 2024
Even better is that Nando Pijnaker got the assist for this one!https://t.co/CKqc8XRE3Z
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/03/16/ireland-republic/premier-league/sligo-rovers-fc/drogheda-united-football-club/4282390/
Pijanker a full game.
🎥 | GOAL!
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) March 16, 2024
Breakthrough at The Showgrounds and it's a lovely move from Sligo Rovers finished smartly by Max Mata 🔥
24' | SLI 1-0 DRO
📺 https://t.co/KTN7o8CjVn
📲 FAI Connect app for updates#LOITV | #SLIDRO pic.twitter.com/D3u2IRgEBx
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/03/29/ireland-republic/premier-league/waterford-united-fc/sligo-rovers-fc/4282394/
20 yr old Joseph Forde (ex Glory) on the bench for Waterford.
Player of The Month - March 🔴⚪️
— Sligo Rovers (@sligorovers) April 4, 2024
Congratulations to Nando Pijnaker who has been voted our Wehrly Bros Men's Player of The Month for March by our fans 👏
Nando has been absolutely outstanding in defence, helping our team pick up 4 clean sheets in 8 matches, leaving Rovers second… pic.twitter.com/f5rrFifNDK
We can confirm that Nando Pijnaker suffered broken ribs in the recent game v St Patrick's Athletic, which will see the defender out of first team action for an extended period
— Sligo Rovers (@sligorovers) April 5, 2024
Wishing Nando a speedy recovery 🔴⚪️#Bitored | #Since1928 pic.twitter.com/0eiu33gLQo
Mata has finished his loan deal at Sligo, but Pijnaker is hopefully near a return from his rib injury.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/05/17/ireland-republic/premier-league/sligo-rovers-fc/bohemian-football-club/4282440/