Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle | Netherlands)

Kid continues to impress. One of 2 Zwolle players selected in a team of the week recently.

^ Nice one. And he probably still doesn't shave yet.

You know a player is on the rise when he upgrades from the bicycle he used last season to a Mercedes A-Class:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c...

The new players' car as supplied by the club sponsor to all first team players:

hmmph....who would want to drive around in that with all of that signwriting?????

Not sure about the parking.

Does everyone in the phoenix get a Trekka?

I thought they all shared Siggy's old Mazda.

Public transport

If Terry Serepisos could still rustle up his "brother's jaguar" while bankrupt I am sure the phoenix players could at least pitch in for a mazda bongo together

That car is a pussy magnet for sure

Glad I chose a Sunday with no one at work to look at this thread haha

Full 90 for Ryan in an entertaining 4-2 home win vs. bottom side Heracles on the weekend:

http://www.peczwolle.nl/nl/nieuwsarchief/pec-zwoll...

Equal on points at the top of the table with PSV and Ajax who only lead on goal difference.

Table:

http://www.peczwolle.nl/nl/stand

Big clash next Monday am (NZT) away to Ajax!

Potential audition for him too according to some gossip columns...

I hope he stays, at least for another couple of seasons. 

Between his first team debut - December 14th 2013, and now he's played 34 times for PEC Zwolle - encompassing the Eredivisie, KNVB Beker, and the Europa League. He's more or less established himself as an important member of the first team setup.

If he were to move to Ajax like has been mentioned, sure he'd be going into a brilliant setup, world class facilities, the best coaches and a club with one of the best reputations for developing talent in the world (not to mention a back pocket stuffed with so many euro's the seams would rip!). However it wouldn't mean he would walk out as a first team starter and get the regular game time that he is currently enjoying. 

In no way am I advocating that competition for places isn't a good thing (and I'm sure he'd be right up there if he were to move). But there are a lot of pro's and con's to such a move that if something were to eventuate, I'm sure he would weigh up both options. If Ryan were to read this (doubtful), I'd be advocating to enjoy the game time and get as much exposure as you can - The money will come! He's playing in a very technically minded footballing country and gaining vital experience in one of the best leagues in the world. 

Sorry for turning this into a bit of a rant. I don't particularly want to see another bright talent go down the path of Marco Rojas.

Why stay if he's good enough to move to bigger and better things?

Although I think he'd still grow as a player where he is, i'd be encouraging him to play at the highest level possible in the best teams possible and to take those opportunities when they come.

Do you think McGlinchey looks back and goes, yup, I made the right choice turning down Man Utd. Those extra couple of years at Celtic really paid off!

from Soccer News Netherlands site: article about top 10 players most likely to get offers in January transfer window. 

01. Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle)

De kleine Nieuw-Zeelander wordt door directeur Gerard Nijkamp ‘het grootste talent in de Eredivisie’ genoemd. PEC Zwolle legde Thomas dan ook langdurig vast (2018) in de hoop hem ooit voor een flink bedrag te verkopen. De interesse zwelt aan en het zou zomaar kunnen dat er in januari een miljoenenbedrag op tafel komt.

Google translates as:

The small New Zealander named by director Gerard Nijkamp " the biggest talent in the Premier League ." PEC Zwolle also explained Thomas over a long period of (2018 ) in the hope ever for a considerable amount of money to sell him. The interest swells and it might just be that there are several million euros on the table in January. 

He's gone. Just a matter of where.

Got the full 90 against Ajax this morning. 0-0 it finished. Zwolle are 3rd on points difference.

no difference

Wouldn't this be a great sister club for the nix to establish a relationship with?

You mean goal difference. Equal points with Ajax but Ajax have a plus six goal difference compared to Zwolle's plus five.

http://www.peczwolle.nl/nl/stand

Team    W    D    L    F   A     Pts

PSV       6     0    2     22    7   18 pts

Ajax        5     1    2    16   10  16 pts

Zwolle     5     1    2    14    9   16 pts

Zwolle's first point at Ajax in 25 years apparently.

Though they have been beating them in cup games :)

ryan provided an assist to Zwolle's first goal but was subbed at 70' in a 3-2 loss at Go Ahead Eagles over the weekend

Ryan started and played 76 minutes in the 2-2 home draw with Heerenveen on the weekend:

http://www.peczwolle.nl/nl/nieuwsarchief/boeiend-d...

PEC have a KNVB Cup game vs. lower league HHC (Hardenberg Heemse Combinatie) on Thursday 8 am NZT

Hardenberg are from the same 'province' or 'county' of Overijssel and visited the capital of Zwolle with an astonishing 3,000 traveling army support.. They were no match however with Lam scoring a hat-trick and the encounter eventually finishing 6-1.

Started and played 66 minutes in 2-0 away loss vs. Feyenoord

http://www.peczwolle.nl/nl/laatste-nieuws_1/pec-zw...

Sixth on table but not far off second or third:

                                     P   W  D   L    F     A      GD    Pts      Form

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c...

Legend.

Also, he played 90 mins against Groningen as they won 2-0 to stop their 4 game winless streak.

ex-CCM defender Trent Sainsbury played 90 min too; getting an assist

This link gives an edited version. The article in my Herald also mentions Ryan's Merc parked outside the flat he now shares with his girlfriend - and flatmate Harry's bicycle parked in the hall.

God damn, does Ryan read this forum or what? 

Either that or I should become an agent!

Top lad Ryan, top lad.

Don't think its good that Declan Edge was suggesting a switch to England. Probably goes against the idea of developing future All Whites. Good decision in the end. 

The next home tie with in-form FC Twente from Enschede, third in the table, is an appetizing teaser to see where PEC Zwolle currently are.

Different article, Jerzy - two stories on Ryan within days in the Herald.

Here's the longer story which mentions Ryan's Merc vs. Harry's rusty bike you are referring to:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/football-soccer/news/art...

These articles / interviews are by Coen Lammers, until recently editor of the Ashburton Guardian - A Dutch immigrant (20 years or so in NZ now) who used to be sports editor and deputy editor of the Press in Chch. Guaranteed excellent football coverage down here when he and Tony Smith were working together in Chch!

Coen was a sports reporter in his native Netherlands before immigrating here.

Coen quit the Ashburton Guardian on the eve of this year's World Cup and went to Brazil for the tournament.

He's currently visiting his home country. Just the right man to interview Ryan, of course.

Leading article from October issue of weekly nationwide football magazine ‘Voetbal International’

Football Fairytale Thousands Of Miles Away From Home

Trent Sainsbury and Ryan Thomas having a go at each other:

roughly translates as sheepshaggers and lazy bastards

He opened the scroing for Zwolle this mroning in a 2-1 loss.

Updated into actual words.