Not in the squad for 1-1 home draw vs. Heracles last weekend. Must be injured?
Ryan played the full game in the 3-1 away loss vs Cambuur on 16 Feb.
Ryan's matches since the All Whites' Japan game:
84 mins in 3-0 away loss to Heerenveen 8 March:
Full game in 2-0 home win vs. go Ahead Eagles 16 March:
The local derby, so always one of the big games of the season:
DUTCH CUP SEMI-FINAL VS. NEC NIJMEGEN - WEDNESDAY MARCH 26 8.45 PM (THURSDAY AM NZT)
How exciting is that? A Dutch Cup semi-final in your first season - and likely to start....
A home semi - so good chance of progressing.
PEC drew 3-3 at home vs. NEC in the league on March 1.
Holders AZ Alkmaar play Ajax in the other semi the same evening.
The Final is April 20 (April 21 NZT)
In the league PEC are way to AZ Alkmaar (my cousins' local team) this Sunday 2.30 pm (Dutch time)
Ryan not in the squad for 2-1 away loss to AZ Alkmaar. Hope he's not injured and will play in the Dutch Cup semi (Thursday am NZT)
Zwolle wins their Dutch Cup semi 2-1
If Ajax beat AZ in the other semi, Zwolle will get a Europa League place according to Trent Sainsbury.
Did he play?
Would be awesome to have a kiwi in the one of the european cup competitions.
Did he play?
Would be awesome to have a kiwi in the one of the european cup competitions.
You betcha - started and played 73 minutes:
PEC opened the scoring on 29 mins, NEC equalized on 39 mins - winner by van der Werff on 81 mins
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PEC have immediately launched a new website especially dedicated to the Cup Final where fans can upload material too:
NZ fans can register and post videos, messages, make a poster/ banner etc. too - would be cool for us to wish Ryan luck from NZ.
PEC supporters would love it.
Uploading your own poster / banner functions will be added to the website soon.
Meanwhile PEC have created Facebook and Twitter accounts dedicated to the Final too where you can post messages:
https://www.facebook.com/finalepeczwolle
Ajax beat AZ in the other semi, meaning Zwolle will make the Europa League if Ajax wins the title (they have a 6 point lead & a game in hand)
82 minutes in 1-0 home loss to Groningen - goal scored by a former Zwolle player.
http://www.peczwolle.nl/nl/nieuwsarchief/treffer-botteghin-doet-pec-zwolle-pijn2014-04-04
Stadium sold out with interest in Cup Final building. Only in the Netherlands do clubs advise supporters to "travel by bicycle or public transport" to avoid traffic pile-ups.
Two weeks until the Dutch Cup Final v Ajax on April 21 NZT !!!
http://www.peczwolle.nl/nl/nieuwsarchief/treffer-botteghin-doet-pec-zwolle-pijn2014-04-04
Two weeks until the Dutch Cup Final v Ajax on April 21 NZT !!!
Queen's birthday. Hitler's birthday. My birthday.
Hello there Kiwi's.
I'd like to personally thank you for sending us Ryan Thomas. Lovely player, really enjoy his style of playing.
Still is a lightweight and has lots to learn, but he holds his own and deserved his place in the starting 11.
Ajax drew 1-1 in Arnhem against Vitesse today. This means they can not drop below 2nd place, and will play Champions League next year. Because of this Zwolle doesn't even have to win the cup final to go through to play in the Europa League. The UEFA is getting rid of this rule next season, so lucky for us to be the last to make good use of it. It's the first time ever Zwolle will play in a European League. Although it might just be the two 'qualifying' games, it's still pretty cool.
I'm not expecting we'll actually win the final against Ajax. But i know i'll be there, and i sure hope Ryan will play.
Greetings from Zwolle.
http://www.peczwolle.nl/nl/nieuwsarchief/treffer-botteghin-doet-pec-zwolle-pijn2014-04-04
Two weeks until the Dutch Cup Final v Ajax on April 21 NZT !!!
Queen's birthday. Hitler's birthday. My birthday.
Ha! And my birthday too!
But thankfully not Hitler's birthday - that is the 20th -as I've always been happy to note.
Some cool rock stars share our birthday - Iggy Pop, Robert Smith, Michael Franti, Michael Timmins (Cowboy Junkies)
A big one for religious leaders: The Prophet Muhammad and Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith
And Rome's birthday - traditionally founded April 21 753 BC by Romulus.
In football, Jack Taylor, England's most famous referee who reffed the 1974 World Cup Final. This is one of the funniest football stories:
"One of Taylor's favourite anecdotes: Taylor was hit by a flying penny thrown from the crowd as he left the pitch after one match at Kenilworth Road. It cut his face and he had to have six stitches. Fan and director of Luton Town Eric Morecambe went to see him to ask if he was OK and to make sure he wasn't going to report Luton. When Taylor confirmed he wasn't, Morecambe replied "Good, now can I have my penny back?"
Amongst players, Toninho Cerezo, the Brazilian midfielder who played against the All Whites at the 1982 World Cup is the only really world famous one sharing our birthday I think. Full list of prominent players born April 21: http://www.evi.com/q/soccer_players_born_on_21_april
Nice piece on Ryan by Sam Malcolmson in his regular column in the weekend's Herald:
He even took the trouble to phone him for a little Q & A:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/soccer-football/news/article.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=11232584
Were you from a soccer family?
Mum (Debbie) and Dad (Mike) played for Onehunga Sports.
Who has influenced you most?
Declan Edge - I spent eight years with him
Your favourite player?
Andres Iniesta (Barcelona).
You are a fan of ...
Dad comes from Manchester and I grew up supporting United. I now follow the better football and players ... Barcelona, Real Madrid.
What's your favourite position?
Attacking midfielder, but recently I've played left midfield.
Ambitions?
To play at the highest level possible. I grew up watching the English Premier League so that definitely interests me. Any top club - Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich wouldn't be too bad.
Injuries?
I am filling out but the body is tired from a hectic season and changes in lifestyle. I'm looking forward to coming home in May to refresh ... and being looked after by mum.
What's on the horizon?
Zwolle are in the Dutch Cup final this month facing Ajax. We have a great chance of playing in the Europa League next season which is very exciting.
On radiosport now
Listened to that. He said Zwolle were kind of like a Swansea or Wigan when they were in the EPL (when asked to compare his club to an EPL club) but when he described it I thought they sounded more like a Southampton.
He said they are a club who are held together by a few experienced guys with lots of exciting young talent coming through.
Thought it was a pretty bad interview to e honest. But good to get publicity out there for football
Exciting talent, with a great attitude. Was he a big 'blip' on the NZF radar before he moved to Holland?
Exciting talent, with a great attitude. Was he a big 'blip' on the NZF radar before he moved to Holland?
Ah... NZF have no radar. Fax machines, yes. But he was known to those who enjoy watching and developing rising talent.
Not even a ping?
Is this the kid from Ole?
RKC away starts in an hour, Ryan is in the starting line-up.
You can watch the game (with English commentary) here:
http://gofirstrow.eu/watch/253752/1/watch-rkc-waalwijk-vs-pec-zwolle.html
Great streams for watching the Eredivisie are:
http://www.janlul.com/stream1.html
http://www.janlul.com/stream2.html
http://www.janlul.com/stream3.html
etc.
If you don't mind Dutch commentary.
Usually yes, but FOX Sports wasn't broadcasting the whole Zwolle game today. They had a channel that was switching between games.
1-1, horrible game. Not a very nice rehersal for the final sunday. Ryan got substituted at half time, had some minor issues with his hip again, best not to take any chances. Did get the best opportunity Zwolle had first half, beautiful strike hit the cross bar.
Is this the kid from Ole?
Exciting talent, with a great attitude. Was he a big 'blip' on the NZF radar before he moved to Holland?
Exciting talent, with a great attitude. Was he a big 'blip' on the NZF radar before he moved to Holland?
Played in all four NZ u-20 qualifiers for the FIFA u-20 World Cup in Fiji last year and all three games in the Finals in Turkey.
Also a season or two under his belt for Waikato FC in the ASB Premiership.
So well known to NZF.
Farken hell 2 goals in 5-1 win over Ajax in the dutch cup final.
Amazing.
Haven't found highlights yet but super interested if someone can post them?
A couple of goals for Ryan and Ajax routed 5-1.
Found some
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThuNl9EduAw
Ryan's first a lucky deflection, the second a very nice volley from a rebound
This is great stuff.
Most prominent goals by a kiwi since Rufer's days at Bremen?
http://www.janlul.com/stream1.html
are still broadcasting celebrations and interviews. The complete cupfinal is re-broadcasted afterwards, 10PM (Dutch time), that's 1 hour from now.
Wow... get in.
Unbelievable result for Zwolle and Ryan.
2 goals in a cup final rout. Heard he had a good chance to get a 3rd too.
Looking forward to seeing him play against South Africa.
wow - bloody good stuff
This is awesome - well done Ryan!!
This isn't even sinking in just yet
What a result for a New Zealander, just awesome. 2 goals, fantastic, not to mention they were the equalising and lead-taking goals as well, the most important of the game. The 2nd in particular was very well taken, was that the outside of the right to finish that? impressive
Not to mention he will be playing Europa league next season
