Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle | Netherlands)
https://www.destentor.nl/pec-zwolle/blessure-ryan-thomas-lijkt-mee-te-vallen-beetje-te-veel-geweest-laatste-weken~a8c051a5/
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/02/10/netherlands/eerste-divisie/bvo-fc-zwolle/jong-az/3798869/
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/02/17/netherlands/eerste-divisie/hfc-ado-den-haag/bvo-fc-zwolle/3798874/
Zwolle are now now 7 pts clear of Heracles in 2nd, and a whopping 15 pts clear of Almere in 3rd. Top 2 teams are promoted, so with only 14 games left things would have to go seriously wrong for Thomas not to be back in the Dutch top flight next season.
Edit - Zwolle lost 3-1. Hopefully just a small bump in the promotion drive
Edit - unfortunately it goes all wrong for Zwolle late on and they lose 3-2.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/03/netherlands/eerste-divisie/bvo-fc-zwolle/fc-den-bosch/3798898/
So Thomas got a breather and was replaced at the break, no need to risk him after his injury troubles.
Credited with assist for the 7th goal (after 31'). It's currently 8-0 after the hour.
I wonder what's Dutch for 'We want 12!' 😆
62' ⚽️ DOELPUNT PEC Zwolle! Lennart ̷T̷h̷y̷ Tien!
— PEC Zwolle (@PECZwolle) March 3, 2023
Thy, Tien, Thy, Tien, Thy, Tien!
PEC Zwolle - FC Den Bosch: 10-0! #pecdbo #peczwolle #desespereertnimmer pic.twitter.com/FGiTLQkB27
One of those games that you'd almost wish he'd stayed on for to get himself amongst the goals and assists.
It's 11!
74' ⚽️ DOELPUNT PEC Zwolle! Ook Thy met zijn derde: 11-0! #pecdbo #peczwolle #desespereertnimmer pic.twitter.com/pTx4hrLaOJ
— PEC Zwolle (@PECZwolle) March 3, 2023
Thomas 1 of 3 Zwolle players off at HT (7-0). Vellios had 4 goals after 27 mins! But didn't score after that. Thy a HT sub with a 2nd half hat trick.
With 11 games left Zwolle are 11 points clear of Almere City in 3rd. Promotion almost gteed now you would think.
Breda win & Zwolle win, Breda will be within 1 pt of Willem II.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/10/netherlands/eerste-divisie/sbv-willem-ii-tilburg/bvo-fc-zwolle/3798913/
Zwolle lead 1-0 after 25 mins. Thomas with the helping hand
Sadly no Jizz Hornkamp for Willem II
Result does Garbett’s Breda a nice favour
Crisp assist from Ryan Thomas in yet another PEC Zwolle win and the ultras all loved it #FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/XwWO9lnxEh
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) March 10, 2023
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/13/netherlands/eerste-divisie/bv-de-graafschap/bvo-fc-zwolle/3798926/
So well over his injuries now it seems
Edit - Zwolle lead 1-0 at HT
Zwolle (1st) now 15 points clear of VVV in 3rd. Top 2 teams automatically promoted.
Zwolle (1st) host Breda (7th & 6 pts off the playoffs)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/17/netherlands/eerste-divisie/bvo-fc-zwolle/nac-bv/3798919/
Slightly off topic, but Louis Fenton is 29 and Matt Ridenton was 26 until recently. How mental is that? Seemed like they had the longest Nix careers emerging under our first ever manager, and Ridenton also played for two other A league teams after that. And both could still be playing for 7-8 more years potentially!
Thomas off at 64 mins
Garbett off at 70 mins.
Zwolle up 1-0.
Edit- finished 2-0 Zwolle
Amazing photo. Ryan Thomas and Matthew Garbett went head-to-head in the Netherlands today. Thomas was the one wearing the PEC Zwolle shirt though. https://t.co/Zdbu7QCTiJ
— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) March 17, 2023
Ryan Thomas and Matt Garbett having a yarn after playing against each other this morning in the Dutch Eerste Divisie
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) March 17, 2023
RT's PEC Zwolle beat MG's NAC Breda 2-0 to remain six points clear at the top of the table 🤙#FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/tKZdHHGvfw
Amazing photo. Ryan Thomas and Matthew Garbett went head-to-head in the Netherlands today. Thomas was the one wearing the PEC Zwolle shirt though. https://t.co/Zdbu7QCTiJ
— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) March 17, 2023
Nothing wrong with owning your success, or part in other people's (if you made a genuine impact).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/31/netherlands/eerste-divisie/bvo-fc-zwolle/jong-utrecht/3798938/
Zwolle 19 points clear of Almere (game in hand) in 3rd with 7 games left. So Zwolle maybe able to confirm promotion (top 2 teams automatic) as soon as next weekend.
Hopefully Thomas is not injured.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/07/netherlands/eerste-divisie/fc-eindhoven/bvo-fc-zwolle/3798946/
Good news is Thomas started, and got 64 mins (2-2)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/14/netherlands/eerste-divisie/bvo-fc-zwolle/stormvogels-telstar-combinatie/3798958/
Almere (3rd, 16 pts behind Zwolle) travel to ADO Den Haag tonight. Almere lose and Zwolle can celebrate early promotion with 5 games left.
But in reality Thomas can already plan on a return to the Eredivisie next season, if he extends his short 6 month contract at Zwolle.
Zwolle actually travel to Almere this weekend. So no nicer way for Thomas and his mates to finalise promotion than with a win away.