Its called no depth
Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle | Netherlands)
I wasn't advocating that he be picked for the AWs now, I was just a little surprised that there hasn't been more fuss about what he's achieved in a short space of time. Let's hope he kicks on.
Starting against PSV. Starting as a LW. Awesome stuff!!
Subbed off at the 90m mark. Set up a couple nice attacks in the 2nd half but also gave the ball away cheaply a couple times. Didn't look out of place tho. Game ended 1-1.
I wasn't advocating that he be picked for the AWs now, I was just a little surprised that there hasn't been more fuss about what he's achieved in a short space of time. Let's hope he kicks on.
Playing against PSV in front of 33,100 Eindhovens... that's one game more than Bill Tuiloma at Marseille - and RH has him in the All Whites squad. So what's the betting on Ryan being called up sooner rather than later?
Subbed off at the 90m mark. Set up a couple nice attacks in the 2nd half but also gave the ball away cheaply a couple times. Didn't look out of place tho. Game ended 1-1.
Declan! You reading this?
Jeez he is class... didn't look like a debut. excellent positioning and great link up play throughout. once (if) he bulks up a bit he should be a very handy player for the AWs.
He did get bumped off the ball very easily obviously because of his size, but his positives out weighed the negatives by far..
Looked good to me.Liked the way he beat the defender in the second half the layed it off for the chance.
Jeez he is class... didn't look like a debut. excellent positioning and great link up play throughout. once (if) he bulks up a bit he should be a very handy player for the AWs.
He did get bumped off the ball very easily obviously because of his size, but his positives out weighed the negatives by far..
Lots of kaas (cheese) , poffertjes (pancakes) and wortjes (sausages).
Jeez he is class... didn't look like a debut. excellent positioning and great link up play throughout. once (if) he bulks up a bit he should be a very handy player for the AWs.
He did get bumped off the ball very easily obviously because of his size, but his positives out weighed the negatives by far..
Lots of kaas (cheese) , poffertjes (pancakes) and wortjes (sausages).
I wasn't advocating that he be picked for the AWs now, I was just a little surprised that there hasn't been more fuss about what he's achieved in a short space of time. Let's hope he kicks on.
Playing against PSV in front of 33,100 Eindhovens... that's one game more than Bill Tuiloma at Marseille - and RH has him in the All Whites squad. So what's the betting on Ryan being called up sooner rather than later?
^ Agree on all points.
Well done, making his league debut so young is fantastic. Hopefully he will get plenty of more first team games this season. Looks like we now have another league to keep an eye on. Good stuff
Dutch football suits his talents and I think I would have preferred Marco to have gone there as well.
If only he was a left back ha
So he is a central attacking midfielder sitting just in behind the strikers is he?
Something like that. Versatile. Can kick with both feet
Played mostly on the left this morning.
He's playing top flight? Should at least be in the squad. I'm sure the Eredivisie has international windows right?
This is the first league he's playing in right? Or is it an age level side? Cos someone said something about amateur side on the last page. If he got an assist, goal and MOM for a team in the Eredivisie there can be no way he's not in the squad.
I mean Mexico can select a team mostly based on one club in the hope of getting through qualifying with a team that know each other, but we are thinking about selecting guys without teams who haven't played a high level for years and guys who are playing in a short amateur competition. It would be astonishing if we did that and didn't select a guy playing and achieving at the highest levels.
Excellent start for the young lad. Really positive signs getting a start so early in his pro career. What he needs now is to get regular starts and then get signed up on a long term contract.
Unbelievable how in such short space of time we have had an explosion of young kiwi kids getting picked up by European clubs. Howieson, Payne, Thomas and Tuiloma etc will form the backbone of a very good AW side in the future(add Wood, Rojas, Costa and we are chock full of talent). All we need now is a AW coach who can coach a style that will compliment these young guys. Bring it on.....long ball is dead!
Also nice to see the likes of Thomas, Rojas and Tuiloma playing on the Continent. The UK has been the grave yard for many kiwi youngsters over the years. I would love to see Howieson playing in Holland....would really suit his style
How about this AW team for the 2017 WC playoffs
basalaj
Roux Reid Smith Tuiloma
Payne McClinchy
Rojas Thomas Costa
Wood
Fenton, Rufer, boxhall, Gleeson
Wow. Well done Ryan! Great to have all these young Kiwi players popping up in leagues all over the world. Ryan in the Netherlands, Marco in Germany and Bill in France.
Answers in short to the questions on the previous page:
1) He's a left winger primarily. Very tricky player, immense technical skill, will struggle for a bit as he learns to use his smaller size to his advantage.
2) Yes, he's playing in the top league, for a professional club.
3) The time when he got the assist, goal and MOM was against a lower-league club in the cup
4) Having watched him for a good few seasons, I'd be hesitant to put him in the squad straight away. I'd be giving him all the experience I can in friendlies and the likes, but attack is actually a point of strength for the AW's, I wouldn't be throwing him into the fire this early.
So in short, he is potentially another Marco cloned? I assume he has a bit of pace? Any points of difference?
So in short, he is potentially another Marco cloned? I assume he has a bit of pace? Any points of difference?
It's tough to label players but they are similar. Marco probably slightly better for his age I would hazard, though if Ryan gets a regular berth and contributes, then I could take that back. Marco probably a better shooter, more direct, Thomas a better passer in the midfield.
So in short, he is potentially another Marco cloned? I assume he has a bit of pace? Any points of difference?
It's tough to label players but they are similar. Marco probably slightly better for his age I would hazard, though if Ryan gets a regular berth and contributes, then I could take that back. Marco probably a better shooter, more direct, Thomas a better passer in the midfield.
So in short, he is potentially another Marco cloned? I assume he has a bit of pace? Any points of difference?
It's tough to label players but they are similar. Marco probably slightly better for his age I would hazard, though if Ryan gets a regular berth and contributes, then I could take that back. Marco probably a better shooter, more direct, Thomas a better passer in the midfield.
That's a good point - Ryan is a fairly decent crosser, but to be honest in his time at Melville it was hard to tell how good he was at it as anything put in the air was discouraged - but his forte is usually beating players, getting into the penalty area and then squaring it to someone, he's much more likely to take a player or pass it along the ground then bomb one into the box.
So in short, he is potentially another Marco cloned? I assume he has a bit of pace? Any points of difference?
It's tough to label players but they are similar. Marco probably slightly better for his age I would hazard, though if Ryan gets a regular berth and contributes, then I could take that back. Marco probably a better shooter, more direct, Thomas a better passer in the midfield.
That's a good point - Ryan is a fairly decent crosser, but to be honest in his time at Melville it was hard to tell how good he was at it as anything put in the air was discouraged - but his forte is usually beating players, getting into the penalty area and then squaring it to someone, he's much more likely to take a player or pass it along the ground then bomb one into the box.
He's playing top flight? Should at least be in the squad. I'm sure the Eredivisie has international windows right? This is the first league he's playing in right? Or is it an age level side? Cos someone said something about amateur side on the last page. If he got an assist, goal and MOM for a team in the Eredivisie there can be no way he's not in the squad. I mean Mexico can select a team mostly based on one club in the hope of getting through qualifying with a team that know each other, but we are thinking about selecting guys without teams who haven't played a high level for years and guys who are playing in a short amateur competition. It would be astonishing if we did that and didn't select a guy playing and achieving at the highest levels.
Again, let him play some games first and then call him up. Knee jerk reaction to one performance
Agree. Diff when it comes to roux and tuiloma though given our def depth
If everyone is fit. If not and we're playing Butler, Peverly, Christie...etc it would seem a bit odd. If Marco isn't there, Smeltz isn't there, should James be there ahead of him? Playing in a lower league? Henderson as well? Sure he wants to get established.
But let me put it this way- I'd expect PSV to be a higher standard than America in the Mexican league. And he's played against them. Marco won't be in the top Stutgart team at the moment- they seem to have been scoring a lot of goals without him- at best he'd be on the bench.
If I've got my count right there are only 6 footballers playing in the top leagues in their country (not counting the A-league)- Reid, Henderson, James, Thomas, Marco and Fitzgerald. Does Finland rate higher than the A-league?
Fair enough letting him get established, but we're happy for Howieson, Tuiloma, Roux and Payne to get a look in, if we've got a lot of injuries in the front third...realistically Marco and Smeltz are going to have had no game time going in to this game...If Marco can't be playing the ball through for Chris Wood, I wouldn't mind Thomas having a chance. It's not that like Ken Rutherford is it?
Why are you comparing Thomas to players who are not in the same position? You know he is not a DM right? You may as well compare him to Moss for all it's worth. Thomas plays in the same positions occupied by Wee Mac, Marco and Kosta. Do you believe he should be in before them?
How about this AW team for the 2017 WC playoffs
Moss
Roux Reid Smith Tuiloma
Payne McClinchy
Rojas Thomas Costa
Wood
Fenton, Rufer, boxhall, Gleeson
fixed
Anyone else wish we could just let this kid get on with trying to establish himself as a pro? And focus on being the first Ryan thomas.
Anyone else wish we could just let this kid get on with trying to establish himself as a pro? And focus on being the first Ryan thomas.
I don't think what we say on this forum will make the slightest diff to RT establishing himself or to his focus. We're just having a bit of a goss on the internet SE. And expressing OUR selves. As usual.
Anyone else wish we could just let this kid get on with trying to establish himself as a pro? And focus on being the first Ryan thomas.
I don't think what we say on this forum will make the slightest diff to RT establishing himself or to his focus. We're just having a bit of a goss on the internet SE. And expressing OUR selves. As usual.
I know all that Jerzy. i just think it's an indicative knee jerk response of way too many on here - as soon as a kid gets a gig anywhere, he should be in AW contention. He's just staring out. If he does manage to establish himself in the Netherlands let's talk about AW in a couple of years. Meanwhile I'm just enjoying following his progress as a kid at PEC Zwolle. I'd prefer the focus of conversation - even on here - is around that for now. But hey, each to their own.
Anyone else wish we could just let this kid get on with trying to establish himself as a pro? And focus on being the first Ryan thomas.
I don't think what we say on this forum will make the slightest diff to RT establishing himself or to his focus. We're just having a bit of a goss on the internet SE. And expressing OUR selves. As usual.
I know all that Jerzy. i just think it's an indicative knee jerk response of way too many on here - as soon as a kid gets a gig anywhere, he should be in AW contention. He's just staring out. If he does manage to establish himself in the Netherlands let's talk about AW in a couple of years. Meanwhile I'm just enjoying following his progress as a kid at PEC Zwolle. I'd prefer the focus of conversation - even on here - is around that for now. But hey, each to their own.
You're right. Mine was to suggest what he should eat. Cheese, pancakes and snarlers. I hope he takes my advice and turns into Big Ryan.
Any one know if the reason he played was because of an injury crisis? Or has he forced his way into the first team?
Any one know if the reason he played was because of an injury crisis? Or has he forced his way into the first team?
Mainly it's that he's forced his way into the side from what I've read on Dutch sites - they had some injured midfielders but all returned to training last week. So even if he was initially selected due to injuries he's retained his place on form and ability.
A little piece on Ryan from a leading Dutch football website Oct. 16:
http://www.voetbalinfo.nl/nieuws/81162/pec-zwolle-voegt-nieuw-zeelander-19-toe-aan-selectie/
Ron Jans may have to use Ryan Thomas at PEC Zwolle immediately. The 19-year-old midfielder from New Zealand has been playing this summer at Young PEC Zwolle, but it made such a good impression that the youth is rewarded with a place in the main selection.
....The youth is in Zwolle in possession of a one-year contract, with an option for a second season. Technical Director Gerard Nijkamp is pleased with the attacking midfielder.
"He is quickly used to the level and conditions here. Ron Jans is very pleased with him," he told Voetbal International. PEC Zwolle is currently sixth in the Premier League.
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Apparently, from what I've read elsewhere, a stand-out performance for the first team in a behind-closed-doors friendly against fellow Eredivisie side Heracles three weeks ago lead the Zwolle manager to immediately promote him permanently to the first team. Thomas scored in a 4-4 draw. Match report:
http://www.soccernews.nl/news/213394/Veel_goals_in_geheim_treffen_tussen_Heracles_en_PEC_
Video highlights PSV Eindhoven v PEC Zwolle 1-1 and written report on Thomas on TV 3 website:
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Interview on official PEC Zwolle website:
Wednesday evening, in the cup match against Wilhelmina'08, Ryan Thomas made his debut for PEC Zwolle. With a goal, an assist and election to man of the match made the New Zealand player impressed the Zwolle supporters: "It's fantastic to have made my debut for PEC Zwolle. It was nice to stand between the good players on the field."
The 18-year-old Thomas, born in New Zealand Te Puke, also called 'the kiwifruit capital of the world', was at the beginning of this season told he could stay with the Zwolle club longer after a trial period: "Before my trial I did not know PEC Zwolle. Actually I only knew Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord, FC Twente and Roda JC in the Netherlands. I knew the name of that last team because my compatriot Ivan Vicelich played there. 
The young player, who is currently staying with a host family, says PEC Zwolle is a fantastic club to begin his career: "The team is playing good football. Everyone is very helpful and the atmosphere in the team is good" He also indicates that it's good to find that the Zwolle supporters on his debut chanted his name Thomas. "In New Zealand you do not have such fanatical supporters as here in Zwolle. "
Thomas describes himself as a hard-working, technically gifted footballer with a good shot. He gives play to the dearest as attacking midfielder but also the left side of the feet. The player says he owes a lot to former New Zealand international Declan Edge: "He has trained for three years with me and cared for me. I lived with him because the distance between my house and the football academy was too big, "I could not ask for more. '" 
This season, Thomas will continue to play well and will continue to develop: "I hope I can start regularly in the base at PEC Zwolle. In the future I hope to be called for the national team of New Zealand, that soon has two playoff games against Mexico for the World Cup in 2014, but I now focus completely on playing for PEC Zwolle. "