Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle | Netherlands)

On the night Ryan Thomas lost with PEC Zwolle to PSV Eindhoven.

Night show Studio Voetbal, analysing the Eredivisie weekend.

Fantastic PEC Zwolle and John van ‘t Schip harvesting full praise.

Ron Jans about ‘one of the best player in the Eredivisie: “Ajax, Feyenoord, PSV, bring them on”.

PEC Zwolle-midfielder Ryan Thomas is one of the most prolific and striking players of this edition of the Dutch Eredivisie. The New-Zealander travelled from The Netherlands via New- Zealand to Peru for the WC play-offs only to excel during PEC Zwolle-PSV as if it were ‘business is usual’.

The studio guests were simply astounded by his performance. The extremely critical and controversial pundit Pierre van Hooijdonk, winner of the European Cup 3 with Feyenoord, waxed lyrical.

"John’s team played PSV off the park. They were fantastic and a sheer lust for the eye. They were the moral winner and really belong in the position they are in the table”.

His current coach John van ‘t Schip, very impressed: : “Ryan arrived Friday morning, required fysio-treatment, and said: ‘I feel okay, coach’. On Saturday he trained with the entire squad and on Sunday he gave it all. He is of paramount importance for the team. He is só important as a link between defense and attack and he has an admirable mentality”.

Former PEC Zwolle coach Ron Jans who worked with Ryan: “He is one of the best players in the Eredivisie and has everything going for him. He has been struggling with coping with the game physically, but he has now reached his summit. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day he would end up with Real Madrid. For now I’d say, Ajax, Feyenoord or PSV, take your chances". Sorry, John”.

John van ‘t Schip: “You don’t have to be sorry, Ron, he is simply one of the best the Dutch league has to offer”.

Personal note.

Now I enjoy the privilege to see Ryan Thomas play on a regular base and I’d say he would perfectly blend in with one of the traditional top three teams of The Netherlands. It seems as if everything is going for him now and yes, his horizon vision is second to none.

But hey, let’s be realistic; we are still talking the Dutch Eredivisie, a far cry from the likes of their pendants in England, Germany and Spain. It’s tempting to get carried away but Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV are non-factors on European level, in spite of Ajax fluking its way into the Europa League last season.

I’m not in a position to question Ron Jans’ analysis skills (parenthetically, I played with him during our school days in Zwolle) but his flirtation with Real Madrid…

Yes, he is talented, yes he has a tremendous drive, yes he has a horizon vison, yes he is determined.His greatest asset though is 'nuchterheid', best translated as 'sobriety'. 

'grounded'

Thomas starting and Rojas on the bench for their clash starting at 8:45am

Should be a stream here http://wiz1.net/channel68

Zwolle come from 1-0 down to win it 1-2. Rojas never made it onto the pitch.

Really interesting to see JvS having a lot of success coaching Zwolle, he looked out of his depth at Melbourne City. Maybe the problem was with the club itself then?

Always thought he was a decent manager. Just goes to show that money doesn't always buy success. 

Good on him though, and good stuff from PEC Zwolle.

He also appeared  out of his depth when he coached in Mexico.

Maybe its a mixture of club, culture, league, and support staff

Surely it can't be the players?

Well, the players are part of the club really.

At heart I don't think he ever had a great budget but he did at City and still didn't do that well.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/99266913/ryan-thomas-leads-pec-zwolle-to-win-over-marco-rojas-heerenveen-in-dutch-eredivisie

The rumour mills will start soon with the January transfer window approaching. Exciting to think we he might end up.

hopefully Marco picks up some of the magic and can emulate his success

To continue to perpetuate this myth that the AWs have a top international quality forward, Rojas needs to have 1-2 quality years in the Netherlands. Needs to become a consistent starter for his club.

Up to him. Thomas has shown the way. Have doubts that Rojas had same drive and fearlessness. Hopefully he proves me wrong.

It always sems to me that the physicality thing is where Marco struggles

Surely he's better to stay put for the time being, don't you think? As fans we love it when players break through to the 'big' teams/leagues but I reckon Thomas is in the best possible position for his development right now. Performing well, competitive team, good league and looking likely to get a first taste of European football next season. Surely that's the ideal scenario for another year or so? 

On 24th November 2017, PEC Zwolle icon Dries Jans, father of former coach Ron Jans, passed away at the age of 90. He played for the BlauwVingers from 1945 until 1960 and scored the first goal for PEC Zwolle after the club turned professional in the mid-50’s.

John van ’t Schip: “these are the sweetest of victories”.

“We were very mediocre in the first half. Heerenveen kept us in the game by not capitalizing on the acres of space we offered. Nicolás Freire’s equaliser came out of nowhere and just in time. This tastes sweet after our immaculate performance against PSV”

Why is John van ’t Schip successful with PEC Zwolle?

John van ’t Schip is an advocate of ball possession, three attacking midfielders and penetrating backs. He’s a fervent scholar from the Johan Cruijff movement, a protagonist of attacking football.

In sharp contrast with last season, John van ’t Schip has a well-balanced squad at his disposal, less prone to injuries. He created a delightful mixture. Confidence, flair, swing, attacking instinct, dominance, ‘cocky attitude’. The way PEC Zwolle brushed aside PSV for longer spells was almost embarrassing, showing them every corner of the pitch.

He attacks, does not neglect defensive tasks, creates wingers who can outplay an opponent, employs penetrating defenders who close in on midfield with an urge to attack. He positioned Ryan Thomas in pivotal midfield role. Vision, paired with deadly precision passing.

He fails a prolific striker though. The club lost at Ajax, managed a goalless draw at Feyenoord and weren’t on target against PSV.

This coming Friday, PEC Zwolle are up against FC Utrecht in Zwolle.

Watched him live in Lima. Thought he was too ‘soft’ when he came on. Did he win or attempt to win a tackle? This why I think in some games he can seem AWOL. Realise he is far from the biggest bloke but neither is Thomas, and he doesn’t hold back.

Rojas has only just started his Dutch stint, and hopefully he goes on to make it a success - but in my view he needs to toughen up.

Definitely agree with the above. Rojas very light in both physique and approach to games. Think for example of Barbarouses, who worked his butt off in the series (especially in the first game) and was getting stuck in in attack and defense. 

Be great if Marco found some of that mongrel in him and you actually saw him give 100% every now and then.

Classy player, no doubt, but not that good that he can just cruise through games, especially if he wants to make it in Europe.

Totally agree with this. It’s up him to find a bit of inner ‘mongrel’ otherwise he’ll fail to fulfil that promise.

90 mins for Zwolle (remain 4th) in a 1-1 home draw verus Utrecht (remain 5th).

I know this is the Ryan Thomas thread but I find criticism of Rojas's form in recent AWs games to be harsh. He's clearly at his best as a winger in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 and Hudson's formation had no natural role for him. He's not suited to playing more centrally at all. 

Yet he always stays that being in the middle is his preferred position

Credited with an assist in a 2-1 win away over Excelsior.

Zwolle 4th on the table, equal on pts with Ajax who however have game in hand and far better GD.

47 seconds in

90 minutes for Ryan in a 1-1 draw against AZ this morning, PEC Swolle missing a penalty in the 88th minute (not Thomas though)!

PEC Zwolle vs AZ. Tuesday 12th December 2017. The two most attractive footballing sides of the domestic Dutch League meet. Forget PSV. Forget Ajax.

13th minute into the match on a freezing night in Zwolle’s Theatre Of Dreams. Ryan Thomas, the frail Kiwi, labeled as the best midfielder of the Eredivisie, intercepts in PEC Zwolle’s own half, encircled by three opponents.

A subtle flick and touch of the leather sends the trio awol with frightening ease. There’s a collective ‘aaahhh’ of appreciation and admiration rolling in from the terraces.

After the match the three players of AZ have been reported as missing persons.

Great penalty at the end. 

Sunday Night 17th December 2017. Fox Sports 1. Prime time. 20.30hrs local Dutch time.

‘Keep an eye on Ryan Thomas’ documentary.

Watch embedded video at

https://twitter.com/FOXSportsnl/status/941664655507726337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/FOXSportsnl/status/941664655507726337/video/1

Any way to watch the full documentary here in NZ?

Or in the Netherlands? I don’t have fox sports...

Zwolle are signing another Kiwi:

http://theniche-cache.com/football/2017/12/19/flying-kiwis-december-19

Marcel @SOM038

Replying to @edge_declan and 4 others

Thank you for sending him towards Zwolle Mr. Edge!

Declan Edge @edge_declan

I am sending you another player in the New Year. He is also very good.

10:34 - 18 Dec 2017

• 2 2 Replies
• 3 3 Retweets
• 13 13 likes

"Left-footed midfielder, 16 years old and also out of Ole. Gonna sign with the club in January and played at the U17 World Cup earlier in the year, so he says. Sounds suspiciously like Elijah Just, don’t you think? (He’s actually 17 but if all tweets were factually accurate then politics would be a different beast)."

Ryan started and played 77 mins as Zwolle beat NEC Nijmegen 2-0 at home in the Dutch Cup on Wednesday morning NZT:

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2017/12/19/netherlands/knvb-beker/bvo-fc-zwolle/nijmegen-eendracht-combinatie/2655534/

http://www.peczwolle.nl/nl/laatste-nieuws_1/pec-zwolle-verslaat-nec-nijmegen-in-bekertoernooi2017-12-19

Puts them through to a quarter-final vs. AZ Alkmaar.

Zwolle play again tomorrow morning (Saturday) NZT vs. Den Hag in the league.

Could well be Elijah Just - I thought that kid had a lot of heart with the U17s and by far the best attitude. Definitley a key player throughout the tournament for the 17s. If it is him, the dutch league suits his style of play. 

Not in match day squad for game today vs De Haag

Injured or a sign that a transfer announcement is coming?

Did wonder if a sign to a January transfer! But google has revealed no new gossip on Thomas.

Not listed as injured on Soccerway, but of course Zwolle only played 3 days ago in Dutch Cup - so may just be having a rest.

Without him Zwolle are getting thumped. Currently down 0-4 vs Den Haag.

Eredivisie goes into 1 month winter break post this game.