PSV have also set to sign another midfielder from Heerenveen for €6 million, which is quite a high fee so you’d expect that means he’ll slot in first choice. So that leaves 6 midfielders for the 2 spots, which means Thomas could find it tough to get game time, and might be moved on. Though I suppose if he is seen as surplus to requirements he could be available for the entire OFC qualifying tournament in March.
Thomas still missing as PSV beat 2nd tier Telstar, 2-1 in the Dutch Cup (KNVB Beker) round of 16.
Huge clash in the Eredivisie this weekend, with PSV (1st) hosting big rivals Ajax (2nd). Ajax gave the Eindhoven outfit a 5-0 spanking back in October, but this will be a tighter affair.
Ajax are 5 pts ahead of PSV with 13 games left. So the real battle for the Eindhoven team may not be trying to win the title, but battling Feyenoord (3rd & 1 point behind) for 2nd and the UCL qualifying spot.
ED.nl: “At PSV, in addition to Ramalho, Maxi Romero (muscle injury) and Ryan Thomas (knee) are also out. Romero will return in April and there is no prognosis for Thomas yet. Schmidt hopes to see him in action this season, but is not sure if that will be possible.”
That’s... not good news. We’ve gone from hoping he’d be back soon after the winter break to hoping he’ll be back at all this season. Injuries have just been so savage for Thomas since he joined PSV.
Any further updates on Ryans injury? Likely to be able to play for us in OFC WC games?
There was something on Niche Cache the other week citing a Dutch paper saying they fear he could be out for the season, if not back close to the end. Either way, the first qualifier in the window (the third group stage game) is only 23 days away, so I wouldn’t expect him to be involved at all.
I haven’t seen him repost any team training from PSV’s Instagram, so I imagine he’s not yet doing that, but he was on teammate Noni Madueke’s Instagram story last week doing high intensity battle rope exercises, so he’s still able to do some stuff.
Not in match day squad as PSV travel to Go Ahead Eagles in the Dutch Cup.
1-1 at HT, with home team down to 10 men.
Edit - PSV go on to win 2-1. They are through to April 17th Final in Rotterdam.
Be great if Thomas was fit to make in appearance in that. Of course he made his name in 2014 final with PEC Zwolle. 8 years ago now!
Ajax travel to AZ (4th in Eredivisie) for other semi tomorrow. Fierce rivals PSV & Ajax don't meet in the league again this year, but a Dutch Cup Final matchup on the cards.
Any further updates on Ryans injury? Likely to be able to play for us in OFC WC games?
There was something on Niche Cache the other week citing a Dutch paper saying they fear he could be out for the season, if not back close to the end. Either way, the first qualifier in the window (the third group stage game) is only 23 days away, so I wouldn’t expect him to be involved at all.
I haven’t seen him repost any team training from PSV’s Instagram, so I imagine he’s not yet doing that, but he was on teammate Noni Madueke’s Instagram story last week doing high intensity battle rope exercises, so he’s still able to do some stuff.
Damn him and Sarpreet out, hopefully fit for the Concacaf play off games, assuming we do win OFC.
Thomas and his team mates will be watching the AZ verus Ajax Dutch Cup semi, about to kick off. PSV already through to the final April 17th.
AZ (4th, 9 pts behind Ajax) are unbeaten since 7th Nov, incl an away win over Ajax in the Eredivisie, so they will be tough at home. If they didn't start the season so slowly back in Sept-Oct, they would be seriously challenging Ajax/PSV for the title. Helps that unlike Ajax & PSV they are not juggling European commitments.
On a side note I see that the top scorer for PSV this season, Cody Gakpo (7 goals) is only 15th equal top scorer in the Eredivisie. Yet PSV still sit 2nd, only 2 points behind Ajax. No idea if that's an indication of squad rotation, the way they are setup, or their strikers like Israeli Zahavi haven't been in great form etc etc
Edit - Ajax beat AZ 2-0. So Dutch Cup Final PSV verus Ajax in Rotterdam. When one of them will likely be looking to do the League/Cup double. Hopefully Thomas is playing again by then.
Thomas and his team mates will be watching the AZ verus Ajax Dutch Cup semi, about to kick off. PSV already through to the final April 17th.
AZ (4th, 9 pts behind Ajax) are unbeaten since 7th Nov, incl an away win over Ajax in the Eredivisie, so they will be tough at home. If they didn't start the season so slowly back in Sept-Oct, they would be seriously challenging Ajax/PSV for the title. Helps that unlike Ajax & PSV they are not juggling European commitments.
On a side note I see that the top scorer for PSV this season, Cody Gakpo (7 goals) is only 15th equal top scorer in the Eredivisie. Yet PSV still sit 2nd, only 2 points behind Ajax. No idea if that's an indication of squad rotation, the way they are setup, or their strikers like Israeli Zahavi haven't been in great form etc etc
Zahavi has been injured a bit, he’s only made 13 starts from 24 Eredivisie games. He also wants to leave PSV because of a couple of home invasions that have occurred whilst at PSV, and is linked to a move back to Israel.
In May last year his house was broken into while his wife and four children were there, and they had their mouths duct-taped and were threatened with guns, before the men stole stuff. It was also speculated that it had anti-Semitic motivations as the burglars cut his wife’s hair. In December his house was broken into again, but luckily no one was home that time.
Blimey that is nasty stuff. Come to (mostly) peaceful NZ & the Nix Mr Zahavi, Alon will sort you out a visa.
Actually remember reading somewhere that him & Hemed (both age 34), had a big falling out in the Israel national team or something. He still plays for them. Tomer doesn't.
Zahavi will actually kill it in the A League… coochiee
Blimey that is nasty stuff. Come to (mostly) peaceful NZ & the Nix Mr Zahavi, Alon will sort you out a visa.
Actually remember reading somewhere that him & Hemed (both age 34), had a big falling out in the Israel national team or something. He still plays for them. Tomer doesn't.
PSV win 4-0 at Copenhagen, tie ends 8-4. Quite a score that.
Yes somewhat crazy 2 legged tie. Full house of 30,000 plus in Copenhagen as well. Zahavi with a double for PSV. They go through to the quarter finals, so still in the hunt for 3 trophies, with Eredivisie now a tight race plus Dutch Cup final in Apreil (verus PSV). Hopefully Thomas is playing soon.
PSV (2nd) looking to keep the heat on Ajax, thrash Fortuna Sittard (15th) 5-0. No Thomas.
Ajax (1st) came from 1-2 down against Feyenoord to win 3-2 (scoring in 78th & 86th mins) yesterday. 2nd week in a row they have came back late to grab a 3-2 win in the Eredivisie. So PSV (2 pts behind) are being given flashes of hope.
7 Eredivisie rounds left, but only PSV are now juggling Euro commitments (Ajax now out of UCL). They also face each other in Dutch Cup Final 17th April. PSV have drawn Leicester City, Euro Conference League quarter finals (1st leg in Leicester 7th April).
ED.nl: “[A return to fitness] is not yet the case for Ryan Thomas, but he is also on his way to be ready to play again in the coming weeks. The New Zealander trained individually yesterday.”
Right. Good. That’s what we wanna hear; Thommo on track to play again sooner rather than later as PSV continue to challenge for a couple of trophies. They recently beat FC Copenhagen 4-0 after a 4-4 draw in the home leg (thrilling tie) to advance to the Europa Conference League quarters where they’ll face Leicester City.
Plus they’ve gone on a winning streak in the Eredivise which has kept them only two points off Ajax in the title race with seven games remaining. They’re nine clear of Feyenoord in third so Champions League qualifiers are very much on the cards for next term barring something drastic. Also there’s a KNVB Cup final against Ajax to be played in three weeks. Hectic time at the business end of the campaign and a bit of Ryan Thomas magic sure would not go astray.
Edit - PSV came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3. A 94th min 3rd goal to save a loss. But it’s 2 dropped points and they are now 4 behind Ajax, with only 6 Eredivise games left. Title is for Ajax to lose, in a league where they don't lose much.
Hopefully PSV not too flat for the Dutch Cup final this weekend against Ajax. PSV's best chance of silverware now this season in a one off.
Ajax (GD +70) 4 points clear in Eredivise, and they have reasonably comfortable 5 game stretch to season end. They have already won 23 of their 29 games. AZ & Vitesse both away could be banana skins. But hard to see them dropping 5 points, and PSV (GD +39) grabbing 5 straight wins. https://us.soccerway.com/teams/netherlands/afc-ajax/1515/
From Flying Kiwis. I imagine Hay will bring him into a large 30 man squad late May, and then assess his fitness. But seems to be running out of time.
Ryan Thomas was back in individual training a couple weeks ago, no fresh updates on that other than the (outgoing) coach Roger Schmidt repeatedly confirming that Thommo won’t be available ahead of each game since. He did say at the start of the month that he still held out hope of getting him back before the end of the season though. With only Eredivisie games remaining that prospect is slimmer now than it was a week ago (should also mention that PSV were knocked out of the Europa Conference League quarters by Leicester City last week) but might as well keep the candle burning.
There’s also a frisky situation going on with Thomas’ contract. This is the third of three years that he signed for, having missed the entire first season and about two-thirds of this one now. There has been some chat as to whether PSV might decide upon an early release to that contract which is apparently something that they have the option to do so long as they trigger it before the end of April. Any such decision has not been made yet and would probably require the input of incoming manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Alternatively they could just, you know... re-sign him?
BD.nl on April 4: “We hope [Philipp Mwene] can still play this season. That also applies to Ryan Thomas, who we want to get fit again in the coming weeks,” [says Roger Schmidt]. Thomas' expiring contract has not yet been cancelled by PSV. According to PSV, if the club would like to do so, this should be done before May 1 and not before April 1 because he is still active with PSV under his first contract.
Up Next: A return to full training would be nice...
Ajax (1st, 75 pts) won yesterday at NEC, so PSV need to win to have any hope of grabbing the title.
At least they have their Dutch Cup win from last weekend this season.
Edit - a 2-1 win for PSV. Cambuur who took a 2nd min lead, had a guy sent off at 60 mins (score 1-1).
PSV close to within 4 points again of Ajax. 4 games left. AZ (5th) away in a fortnight & Vitesse (6th) also away in their last match, loom as a potential banana skins for Ajax. They will be keen to send ten Hag to Man U with another Eredivisie title.
PSV (2nd) hosting relegation threatened Willem II (16th, relegation playoff spot). No Thomas
PSV (already 1-0 up at 20 mins) again need to win to keep pressure on Ajax (1st) who will lead by 4 pts if PSV win. Ajax beat Zwolle yesterday 3-0, but travel to AZ (5th) next game in a toughie.
3 rounds left after today.
Edit - a 4-2 win for PSV to stay within 4 pts of Ajax. PSV have a tough game themselves next away to Feyenoord (3rd)
