Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle | Netherlands)

Live at 4 am Monday NZT (6 pm Sunday Dutch time)

Stay up & watch it after celebrating the Phoenix win over Melbourne City or catch some sleep (my option) and set the alarm.

Will be streams here (choose the best one):

http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/307368_zwolle_gronin...

http://cricfree.sx/football-live-stream

http://www.hahasport.com/c-1.html

http://ifirstrow.eu/sport/football.html

http://www.oleoletv.ws/

Zwolle go down 2-0 in the final.

And Ryan played bloody well!

Extended highlights of Dutch Cup Final:

Ryan is #30 on the left wing.

He has Zwolle's best chance of the game on 55 mins when he bursts into the box only for his fierce shot to be saved by the Groningen goalie.

Chance to avenge their cup final loss earlier in the week, again taking on FC Groningen who sit in 8th in the Eredivisie.

Just a thought though, if Zwolle finish the season 7th (the final Europa league spot based on final league positions) and with FC Groningen winning the KNVB Beker, will Zwolle be usurped from their current spot for the Europa League playoffs? 

I've had a look through the Qualifying tables and the UEFA co-efficient, and from what I understand Zwolle will miss out unless they manage to finish 6th, but I'm sure someone would be able to shed some light on the situation.

Revenge for the Cup final loss with a 1-0 away win over Groningen which assures Zwolle of a Europa League play-off spot:

http://www.peczwolle.nl/nl/nieuwsarchief/pec-zwoll...

"PEC Zwolle took a little revenge for the lost cup final. FC Groningen were defeated in their own Euroborg stadium 1-0. Tomas Necid was fifteen minutes before the only goal of the match. This increases the team to an excellent sixth place in the ranking and it is definitely sure of the playoffs for European football."

Ryan played the full 90 minutes.

Highlights:

Sweet

Delayed Tits&Bits from Nederland.

Special edition/collectors item from nationwide weekly Voetbal Magazine, featuring a so-called 'switch cover', only available and on sale in Zwolle and close periphery; to mark entering the Dutch Cup Final 2015:

En route to Rotterdam:

So close and yet so far....

My verdict:

In spite of having been denied a 2,5 mio euro bonus, coinciding with straight participation at group level in Europe for the 2015 cup holder, I do not regret our demise in Rotterdam. At this stage, we gain more from stability off-the-field and from a gradual step-by-step progress. 

Meanwhile  and however, The BlueFingers have secured their play-off countdown to qualify for preliminary-Europe after their victory in Groningen and there is still all to play for the final ranking of spots 4/5/6/7, determining the final play-off ties.

Final showdown:

Ryan prominent in 3-0 win over Feyenoord: an assist and won a penalty. Blue Fingers now have a playoff game for spot in Europa.

Cool

Play-off round one for entry to Europa League qualifying vs. Vitesse on Friday am NZT:

http://www.peczwolle.nl/nl/nieuwsarchief/voorbesch...

"Last year, qualified PEC Zwolle himself for the preliminary rounds of the Europa League by winning the KNVB Cup. This time Blauwvingers must first beat Vitesse over two games to get into the finals of the playoffs. Then Feyenoord or Heerenveen is the opponent. During the recent league season played PEC Zwolle twice against Vitesse. In the home game Zwolle won in the last minute by a goal from Stef Nijland (2-1). The away game was in exactly the same position won by the people of Arnhem. PEC Zwolle was still the lead through a header from Mustafa Saymak. Bertrand Traore and Davy Pröpper eventually led to the Arnhem win (2-1)."

Europa playoffs. Zwolle lost first leg at home, to Vitesse. Had a half time lead but conceded 2 2nd half goals, either side of Ryan's 72' substitution, if I'm reading the google translation of twitter feed correctly. In the other match Heerenveen beat Feyenoord 1-0.

Zwolle and Feyenoord out of Europa playoffs this morning.

Ryan Thomas, along with Winston Reid, is one of two Kiwis to feature in "World Soccer" magazine's "The 500 Most Important Players on the Planet" special edition in April.

He features along with all the usual big names and some lesser known talents.

p. 87

Not bad having two Kiwis make it.

There's only three Aussies (Cahill, Jedinak, Ryan).

Totaldutchfootball.com has named Ryan #29 on list of top 50 prospects in Dutch football. Twitter #TDFTop50

https://twitter.com/totaldutchfb/status/630680141723795456 Injured in training hope it's not serious.

Ouch. Lets hope it's just a knee sprain and not an ACL

Back in the squad today (Phew!) coming off the bench on the hour mark replacing decently named Queensy Menig.

Currently leading 2-1 at home to FC Twente, and if Zwolle can hold on they'll shift to the top of the league after a solid start to the season.

Top of the league (at least until Ajax and Feyenoord play later). Still a great result and great to see Ryan back in the team.

August 29: Same tactic successful for Zwolle again with Ryan starting the second half in the 1-1 draw away to Herenveen and influential in turning things around after the side's poor first half performance:

http://www.peczwolle.nl/nl/nieuwsarchief/pec-zwolle-pakt-verdiend-punt-in-heerenveen2015-08-29

"Led by substitute Ryan Thomas, Zwolle was in the second half a lot more threatening."

Zwolle fifth on the table after four games (two wins, two draws). Ahead of PSV.

Two league games before an unfortunately tough KNB Dutch Cup game away to Feyenoord on morning of Friday September 25 NZT

Really bad luck to draw such a tough opponent in the Cup so early on.... 

Pete I keep seeing your updates on players and its really appreciated. I am sure others have said this to you as well, please keep at it, its great.

Good day, hope you're all enjoying PEC Zwolle's succesfull start to the season. Haven't been active on the net whilst moving home; which is an extremely lame excuse of course..

This weekend PEC Zwolle eased to a 3-0 home victory over Excelsior from Rotterdam, with lethal striker Lars Veldwijk netting a hat-trick against his old club. The Bluefingers had a great opportunity to extend the lead six minutes before the final whistle but  off-target Steph Nijland squanderd a penalty sitter.

Lars Veldwijk scored 30 goals for Excelsior in their 2013/14 promotion campaign.

PEC Zwolle are currently enjoying a record-breaking unbeaten sequence of eight matches on top flight level.

Here's an appreciation monitor of last Saturday's home match, extracted from an independent source:

Next week PEC Zwolle are at home to ADO from The Hague:

Current Table;

Lars Veldwijk’s hat-trick against his old club Excelsior coincided with the birth of his son. Subesequently Ron Jans adviced his players to go straight home after the next training session to start a family and practice hormonal pole-vaulting to become a father.

Ron Jans was also quoted as saying:"This was ars Veldwijk's match."

Further praise from coach Jans for 22 year young Ouasim Bouy who has a reputation of ‘ have fallen from grace’. He left Ajax Amsterdam four years ago as the most promising and talented Dutch youngster. He had spells with Brescia, Panathinaikos, Hamburger SV and Juventus; and now on loan in Zwolle from the grand old Italian lady.

Habitually, Jans benches new players to ‘ prepare and familiarize’. Not Ouasim Bouy though, distributing delicate passes by nature and talent.

From Pirlo to PEC.Midfielder Ouasim Buoy: ‘training with the high-calibre ‘ fine fleur’ at Juventus is inspirational and a learning experience of biblical proportions. Pirlo still practices free kick sessions after training…’

Personal note: this PEC Zwolle 2015 edition is another promising blend to mark a high spot in the table.

"hormonal pole-vaulting"

Wow. Will keep that one in my back pocket for future use.

David Browne of Auckland City has signed for PEC Zwolle.

He's playing in the u-21 (reserve) team.

Scored on his debut for them on August 10 in the 3-1 win vs. Helmond Sport:

http://www.peczwolle.nl/nl/uitslagen_1/vvvhelmond-sport-2015-08-10

Can't see him mentioned in youth league match reports since - maybe he was playing on a trial and now has to wait for his international clearance.

This seems backed up by the fact he played in a friendly for Zwolle's youth team in late August (scoring again):

http://peczwolle.nl/nl/laatste-nieuws_1/beloften-fc-twente-verslaan-blauwvingers-in-oefenduel2015-09-01

PEC Zwolle u-21 (reserve) schedule with links to match reports:

http://www.peczwolle.nl/nl/uitslagen_1

"Jong PEC Zwolle" stand atop their youth league equal on points with Jong Feyenoord and are unbeaten so far.

David Browne: Aged 19, turns 20 in December.

English father, Papua New Guinean mother.

Not eligible to ever play for NZ because he played in competitive games at u-17 level for PNG and has no NZ heritage.

His dad who died not long ago, was PNG's greatest political cartoonist and settled in PNG as an adult.

 

https://translate.google.co.nz/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=https://twitter.com/forzapeczwolle/status/624505327527063552&prev=search

ForzaPECZwolle‏

@ ForzaPECZwolle      Jul 24

 . David Browne from New Zealand will play next season, probably in the youth team of PEC.  The 19-year-old striker comes from Auckland City.

View translation 2:04 AM - 24 Jul 2015 

Also mentioned here:

 

http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/navy-blues-pre-season-set/

https://translate.google.co.nz/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Browne_(futbolista)&prev=search

Can we not ask for an exemption.... was he here for over 5 years?

Similar case to Tim Cahill playing for Samoa?

Played for PNG while he was not eligble for NZ. Same as Vinnie Lia (who did not play for PNG)

He is 100% ineligble

Intermezzo.

Although PEC Zwolle have been refreshing parts other Eredivisie clubs haven’t been able to reach in the past two seasons, they would be having a Dutch mountain to climb to eventually being tagged as an established ‘subtopper’ in the category of AZ, Vitesse and FC Twente; and Heerenveen and FC Groningen to a slightly lesser extent. As far as I’m concerned clubs the likes of FC Utrecht and ADO Den Haag are also potentially bigger than PEC Zwolle.

Having said that; Ron Jans is a ‘didacticus pur sang’ and ‘blender’ with a refreshing vision & focus with a limited budget. Ron Jans really has taken things a step further. He is in his third season and is coaching his third almost completely different squad. It takes a coach of not inconsiderable talent to constantly mould a new, entertaining, effective and successful team with next to no money each season and Jans has it.

He has an uncanny knack of picking up loan signings with something to prove. In the last couple of seasons, Mateusz Klich and Thomas Necid to name two who were very successful. This season he has picked up Lars Veldwijk from Nottingham Forest and Ouasim Buoy from Juventus. Veldwijk was languishing in the Nottingham Forest reserves after falling out with Dougie Freedman. He scored a hat trick for PEC last weekend. Ouasim Buoy has never held a consistent starting place for Juventus after arriving from Ajax and had an excellent debut last week for PEC.

Jans is an alchemic genius, and there I fear is the problem. I’m pretty sure this will be his last season (he is in a one year contract extension). Whoever takes over cannot possibly maintain this level of success with the budgetary constraints imposed.

Dutch football clubs are financially graded Class I, Class II or Class III by the licensing commission of the Royal Dutch Football Association. Every club that partakes in professional Dutch football needs to have a professional football license.

This license is given to a club by the KNVB’s own licensing commission after a long and hard procedure, in which the club has to prove it can self-sustain through multiple financial reports. During the possession of the license, the licensing committee has the right to randomly check upon the club’s financial position. This check-up results in a graded report, with points given for every aspect of the club’s finances. Based on the total of points a club receives, they are then placed into financial Categories I, II or III. Category III contains the healthiest sides, Category I contains the clubs that have a sub-par score.

Publishing this categorization creates transparency about the financial position of Dutch professional clubs. The KNVB believes that transparency contributes to efforts to ensure the continuity of Dutch leagues because it leads to more attention and commitment to sound financial management.

Clubs in Category 1 must focus on financial recovery. They are responsible for getting their finances in order and must determine themselves how they go about doing this. Category 1 clubs are to draw up a plan of action detailing specific measures that will take them to category 2 or 3 within a period of three years (measurements will be made three times a year). During this period, the KNVB licensing commission will monitor strict compliance with the action plan. Any deviation from it without prior permission from the licensing commission can lead to sanctions ranging from reprimands to points deduction.

In other words:

Clubs that fall under Category I are considered to be in direct danger of bankruptcy and are put under a strict regime, meaning they have to provide the KNVB with financial status reports more often and have to set up and follow through a plan of action to improve their financial position. This usually includes downgrading wage-scales, letting go of expensive personnel and sign free agents only. If a club does not act by their own plan of action without permission from the KNVB, they are penalised. Penalties can vary from a warning to a points deduction, depending on the severity of actions. Each club gets a 3-year time-frame to realise their plan and return to Category II. Failing to do so will result in a direct loss of the professional football license, which will result in a direct bankruptcy and end of the football club.

The current classification is based on the budget figures submitted for the 2015-16 season. PEC Zwolle failed to meet their financial requirements and have therefore now ended up in category 1, having allegedly resorted to ‘creative bookkeeping’.

Thats not a good sign. 

I don't have any knowledge of the level of transfer fees between Dutch clubs. 

What sort of figure do you think that Thomas might fetch if PEC decided to sell him?

Our lads from Zwolle climbed to third spot in the Dutch table after coming from behind to beat ADO from The Hague at home.

Some crisp passing play saw Den Haag take the lead when Mike Havenaar’shot was beyond the reach of the Zwolle goalie Begois.

In the second half ADO came very close to extending Den Haag's lead from a free kick but the effort cannoned off the bar.

However, Zwolle scored an equaliser 20 minutes from time as Becker shot from just inside the box, lifting the ball from a difficult angle over the goalkeeper and into the top corner.

PEC Zwolle completed the comeback with 11 minutes remaining with Lars Veldwijk smashing the ball home after an assist from Becker.

Big Pete wrote:

David Browne of Auckland City has signed for PEC Zwolle.

He's playing in the u-21 (reserve) team.

Scored on his debut for them on August 10 in the 3-1 win vs. Helmond Sport:

http://www.peczwolle.nl/nl/uitslagen_1/vvvhelmond-sport-2015-08-10

Can't see him mentioned in youth league match reports since - maybe he was playing on a trial and now has to wait for his international clearance.

This seems backed up by the fact he played in a friendly for Zwolle's youth team in late August (scoring again) 

Answer:

I no longer live in Europe and subsequently not in a 'de luxe position’ to contact the club directly without my cell phone refreshing parts other intercontinental mobiles cannot reach.

However, I have set out a ‘search warrant’ for David Browne through ‘local channels’. He was not part of the squad who drew with Heerenveen on 14 september 2015, although he was still with the club at the start of September 2015.

Stop Press, just as I’m playing my qwerty-harpischord real-time.

Inmiddels zekerheid: hij speelt nog gewoon bij Jong PEC Zwolle.

In your parlance:  he's still there.

Auckland Phoenix wrote:

Thats not a good sign. I don't have any knowledge of the level of transfer fees between Dutch clubs. What sort of figure do you think that Thomas might fetch if PEC decided to sell him? 

Answer:

What can I say? Up for grabs if you allow me a derogatory reference. Ryan Thomas carried a € 5 mio price tag in the transfer window tombola and rumour mill in August 2015.

Perspective alert. This summer the transfers of Jody Lukoki (Ludogorets,Bulgaria), Jesper Drost (FC Groningen, The Netherlands) en Ben Rienstra (AZ,The Netherlands ) amassed € 4,2 mio.

Stop Press:

PEC Zwolle travel to Rotterdam for their cup tie with Feyenoord tomorrow without Ryan Thomas who has picked up a hip injury.

Rotterdam 3-0 Olé Olé

(Bad) luck of the draw:

Second loss away to Feyenoord in four days last week with Monday morning's (NZT) 2-0 league loss in Rotterdam:

http://www.peczwolle.nl/nl/nieuwsarchief/pec-zwolle-opnieuw-kopje-onder-aan-de-maas2015-09-27

Full 90 for Ryan (substituted at end of normal time)

Croud of 47,500

Dirk Kuyt scored one for Feyenoord.

An Ouasim Bouy free-kick just before half time earned PEC Zwolle all three points in a 1-0 win against Willem II in Tilburg.

Lars Veldwijk wasted a good opportunity after Sheraldo Becker played the ball to the striker inside the box but the Dutchman hit his close range effort straight at the Kostas Lamprou.

PEC Zwolle then took the lead through Bouy, who's free kick took a deflection off the Willem wall to wrong-foot the goalkeeper and fly into the back of the net. Lars Veldwijk came close again at the start of the second half but his effort was saved well by Lamprou before Becker saw his long-range effort also stopped by Greek goalkeeper.

Willem II saw two Nick van der Velden attempts go wide before Funso Ojo had his attempt in added time saved well by Mickey van der Hart. The victory moves Zwolle into fifth in the Eredivisie.

Appreciation Monitor:

And now for something completely different, pending international duties and the Dutch Eredivisie currently and temporarily hybernating.

Semi-aristocrat Pim Mulier, born in 1865, is the founding father of Dutch Haarlemsche Football Club (Royal HFC since1959) from 1879, the oldest Dutch football club in existence.

They started life at the ‘Koekamp’ in municipal ‘Frederikspark’, part of the ‘Haarlemmer Houttuinen’ in Haarlem, in white tops, blue shorts and blue socks with blue and white trimmings. One of their traditional local ‘rivals’ are working class HFC EDO from 1897, clad in red shirts, black shorts and matching hooped socks in their maiden years, also having had a spell at the aforementioned ‘Koekamp’ until 1918.

In August 2015, commemorating Pim Muliers 150th birthday, the ‘Koekamp’ came back to life, staging an encounter between Royal HFC and HFC EDO in a historical setting.

And now for some Dutch retro with pictures refreshing parts stories cannot reach. Even the pitch does justice to so many earlier fields conjuring visions of a debilitating acne attack rather than a venue for top class football.

Loved the pics. I once saw a tv show about the evolution of football and they got current professionals to pass/shoot/juggle the ball while wearing old leather boots, long shorts, and of course old fashioned balls and it was hilarious. They looked so inept. 

Now this is football

PEC Zwolle suffered their first home defeat since February 2015 agains on-fire Vitesse.

Vitesse have moved into fifth place in the Eredivisie after a thumping victory away to 10-man PEC Zwolle. The Arnhem outfit took the lead inside seven minutes at the IJsseldelta Stadion when Chelsea loanee Lewis Baker slotted past keeper Micky van der Hart, but PEC levelled after a quarter of an hour through Thomas Lam.

Lam's foul presented Vitesse with a penalty midway through the first half, which another Chelsea youth product, Dominic Solanke, converted to restore the visitors' advantage. With the interval approaching, Georgian forward Valeri Kazaishvili netted a third as Vitas looked to be cruising to victory, with plenty to spare.

Zwolle hopes of a recovery were dashed when Vitesse were awarded a second penalty for Ouasim Bouy's rash challenge, which earned the midfielder a straight red card.

Denys Oliynyk dully stepped up and sent Van der Hart the wrong way too all-but seal victory for the visitors. With 11 minutes left, Milot Rashica added a fifth for Vitesse, who leapfrog PEC Zwolle in the table.

Once again thanks for the updates. Like most here I expect I don't post much in this thread but I enjoy your updates, I just don't have much to add. :)

Keep up the good work.

Hello PECZwolle, what is the financial situation at the club? What are the chances of them trying to sell Ryan in the January window?

Second home defeat in a row 1-2 vs. Utrecht on the weekend, the side immediately below PEC on the table.

http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/10/23/nether...

Zwolle's goal came from a Ryan Thomas assist on 14 minutes.

Zwolle missed a penalty attempt when the scores were 1-1 in the second half, while Utrecht won it from a penalty in the 3rd minute of injury time.

PEC Zwolle remain 6th on the table.