Kiwi Players Elsewhere

Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle | Netherlands)

1846 replies · 587,290 views
04 Nov 00:20

Any one know if the reason he played was because of an injury crisis? Or has he forced his way into the first team?


The commentator said before the match that Stefan Nyland was sick so was unable to play.
10 Nov 14:58

Ryan played 82 minutes for Zwolle today as they drew 1-1 against Twente. Sitting nicely in 5th place in the League. Zwolle have a lovely little boutique stadium....crowd close to the action.....holds 12500. Would be great to have the Nix playin something like that in Wellington

10 Nov 19:03

Any word on how he did?

Good to see he is holding on to a starting spot. They're can't be too many 19yr old starters in the league.

10 Nov 20:01
MetalLegNZ wrote:

Any word on how he did?

Good to see he is holding on to a starting spot. They're can't be too many 19yr old starters in the league.

Played well, again didn't look out of place. Commentators were praising him quite a few times, saying he has a bright future etc...

wasn't involved too much in the second half but that was more due to Twente pushing for an equiliser..

exciting prospect, another year and he will be very handy for us in the AW setup.

10 Nov 20:14
Sanday wrote:

Any one know if the reason he played was because of an injury crisis? Or has he forced his way into the first team?


The commentator said before the match that Stefan Nyland was sick so was unable to play.


Is this the same Stefan Nyland that was loaned out to Brisbane Roar last season?
10 Nov 20:34
austin10 wrote:

Ryan played 82 minutes for Zwolle today as they drew 1-1 against Twente. Sitting nicely in 5th place in the League. Zwolle have a lovely little boutique stadium....crowd close to the action.....holds 12500. Would be great to have the Nix playin something like that in Wellington

Yeah. We had one in Auckland for a while. Newmarket Park.

"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...

I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...

Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...

Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."

10 Nov 20:47
Sackofspuds wrote:
Sanday wrote:

Any one know if the reason he played was because of an injury crisis? Or has he forced his way into the first team?


The commentator said before the match that Stefan Nyland was sick so was unable to play.


Is this the same Stefan Nyland that was loaned out to Brisbane Roar last season?
Yep. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stef_Nijland
10 Nov 21:06
Jerzy Merino wrote:
austin10 wrote:

Ryan played 82 minutes for Zwolle today as they drew 1-1 against Twente. Sitting nicely in 5th place in the League. Zwolle have a lovely little boutique stadium....crowd close to the action.....holds 12500. Would be great to have the Nix playin something like that in Wellington

Yeah. We had one in Auckland for a while. Newmarket Park.

Those were the days...

Grumpy old bastard alert

11 Nov 06:16
MetalLegNZ wrote:

Any word on how he did?

Good to see he is holding on to a starting spot. They're can't be too many 19yr old starters in the league.


there is actually quite alot, however it is impressive for a young kiwi to be holding down a spot in a solid european league.

yung thug

17 Nov 15:06

Played the first half of Zwolle Youth v Cambuur Youth Friday am NZT in a 4-1 friendly win:

http://translate.google.co.nz/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.peczwolle.nl%2Fnl%2Fhome

"Thursday played Young PEC Zwolle in Leeuwarden an exhibition game against Young SC Cambuur.Including Ryan Thomas, Stef Nijland and Diederik Boer in the starting eleven began the team, coached by Rene Hake and Gert Peter Grace, in the competition...."

Big Pete 65, Christchurch

24 Nov 10:23

Zwolle back in action at 2:30am Monday morning, if anyone wishes to keep an eye on him whilst watching the All Blacks game.

24 Nov 12:49

Great to hear he's started well over there. A very solid European league with some top teams. 

I think in comparison to the A-league, the Eredivisie team ability/quality is definitely far more diverse and uneven. In the A-league, all 10 teams realistically have a chance of winning the title. In the Eredivisie, only a handful of teams ever challenge for the title (A theme present in most football leagues without salary caps).

The top teams such as Ajax (24 Eredivisie titles), PSV (18 Eredivisie titles), Feyenoord (9 Eredivisie titles, 14th year spell since last title win though) and more recently the likes of FC Twente (First title win in 2010) and arguably AZ Alkmaar (2 titles, most recent in 2009) are very strong European competitors. Ajax and PSV are traditionally solid champions league teams and the likes of AZ, Feyenoord, FC Twente, FC Zwolle are definitely solid Europa league competitors. Ajax is obviously one of the most successful European teams in history and I believe and last season they reached their highest average attendance in history of over 50,000 people a game. So the league is probably growing and it is a great environment for Ryan to be in.

PEC Zwolle are a club that tends to yo-yo between the first a second tier of the Dutch leagues (promoted to the top flight 2 seasons ago). It's not the biggest club in the Netherlands and would probably be a similar standard to the likes of Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar. Stefan Nijland is at the same club and is supposedly ahead of Ryan in the pecking order, but if I recall correctly, he was pretty ordinary when he was at the Roar, so hopefully Ryan can get ahead of him. It's a great club for Ryan to establish himself in as it would be extremely hard for him to get a look in at the top Dutch teams. Hopefully Ryan can nail down a starting spot and get some regular game time. This would be terrific for him as it is a great league and if he has the potential that everyone is talking about, it's a great environment to grow in. PEC Zwolle are in 8th position at the moment, just inside the Europa league playoff, their highest every league finish was 8th position over 40 years ago and many people are saying that they are over achieving so far this season. So the team is in a very strong position at this stage and it would be great if they could hold onto 8th position so Ryan can hopefully experience some Europa football!


This turned into a novel, I wonder if anyone will bother reading haha..


Anyway I look forward with great anticipation to see how he goes! PEC Zwolle has just picked up a new Kiwi fan! For the meantime at least!

24 Nov 13:29

Zwolle are playing FC Groningen this morning away from home. Should be quite a tough game - Groningen is a good team, consistently pulls in over 20,000 spectators and typically finishes in the top 8 positions. However they've spent 48 years in Eredivisie and no titles. Although it's not easy when you're competing with Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord....

Hopefully Ryan gets some minutes.

24 Nov 13:34

Ryan starting.

24 Nov 13:46

Groningen all over Zwolle atm. Havn't seen Ryan on the ball yet.

24 Nov 13:46

Groningen all over Zwolle atm. Havn't seen Ryan on the ball yet.

24 Nov 13:48

Zwolle with their first chance - Thomas receives the ball on the edge of the box with his back to the goal, pivots, turns and unleashes a solid left footed drive straight at the keeper. Already a great touch for Ryan.

24 Nov 13:53

This is the first time I've seen Ryan and from what I've seen so far, he looks really really promising. Great technique and is receiving and controlling in tight areas and distributing the ball along the deck to team mates very nicely. 

24 Nov 13:55

Thomas picks up the ball with a bit of space in front of him in the final third, drives into the box with great pace, shouts of a penalty/freekick on the edge on the box. Thought he was taken out there. Referee not having any of it,

24 Nov 13:58

Groningen opening up Zwolle's defence with ease at the moment. Could be 3 up. Zwolle riding their luck at the moment

24 Nov 14:13

Nijland whips in a freekick from the half way line. Deceives everyone, Thomas gets a head on it but not troubling the keeper. 

Few seconds later Thomas beats a couple of players a drives a low cross into the box - no Zwolle players to latch onto it. Thomas receiving praise from the British commentator who says that he's been one of Zwolle's best and most dangerous players thus far. 

Promising signs. Pleased I stayed up for this one.

24 Nov 14:13

Better connection on the header and he would have scored.

Then beats two men and crosses.

24 Nov 14:15

"He's certainly one for the future".

24 Nov 14:47

Was watching the AB's so missed 10-15 minutes. Anything happen Sanday? Ryan still on?

24 Nov 14:49

Yes still on.Got the ball in the net but just offside.

24 Nov 15:11

Thomas subbed 80-85th minute (stream not showing exact time). Really solid game. Would give him a solid 7 out of 10. Impressive young player for sure. 

24 Nov 15:12

Subbed off on 84 mins.Had a good game.

24 Nov 15:21

Zwolle grind out a 0-0 draw. Great result for them - Groningen currently sitting in 4th in the Eredivisie and play some very nice football. They should have won probably by a few goals. Zwolle defence looked a bit shaky but scrapped and fought well to deny the Groningen attack. Zwolle showed enough in the final third to show that they are a dangerous team in this division though and they troubled the Groningen defence on a few occasions with Ryan Thomas involved in several key chances and plays. Zwolle now move up into 6th place above PSV and Feyonoord believe it or not! Two of the most successful clubs in Holland. Looking forward to following the Eredivisie and Zwolle a bit more. 

25 Nov 19:58
Seb wrote:

Zwolle grind out a 0-0 draw. Great result for them - Groningen currently sitting in 4th in the Eredivisie and play some very nice football. They should have won probably by a few goals. Zwolle defence looked a bit shaky but scrapped and fought well to deny the Groningen attack. Zwolle showed enough in the final third to show that they are a dangerous team in this division though and they troubled the Groningen defence on a few occasions with Ryan Thomas involved in several key chances and plays. Zwolle now move up into 6th place above PSV and Feyonoord believe it or not! Two of the most successful clubs in Holland. Looking forward to following the Eredivisie and Zwolle a bit more. 


Thomas definitely needs to be part of the 2018 WC campaign.
25 Nov 20:16

It is 2013. Put all thoughts of 2018 aside.
Let him play at PEC Zwolle where he has started well. Let him develop into a young professional. Let him just develop his game where he is, in that professional environment.

Kotahitanga. We are one.

25 Nov 20:35

Call him up for any future games from now.

As mentioned on the new tv3 footy wrap up - bleed in the younger generation now. get them familiar and match hardened for hte next campaign asap.

30 Nov 16:38

Anyone know if Thomas is starting? Can't find any info, plus my Dutch isn't too great.. I don't know a single word.

Zwolle play in one hour (if I got my time zone calculations correct..). Not sure I'll be able to stay awake but I'd definitely like to watch Ryan again. Too bad you can't mysky live streams.

30 Nov 16:56

Another start for Ryan.

30 Nov 17:56

Got a good link Sanday? I suck at finding links and the one I have is terrible!

30 Nov 18:10

Finding it hard to pick out Thomas with the stream quality. Nothing really distinctive to seperate him from some of the other players which are very similar in build + have similar boots.

PEC Zwolle camped in RKC's half. Zwolle would destroy the Nix, that is a fact.

30 Nov 18:15 · edited 30 Nov 18:15 · History

Just the booking that i have seen from him.

PEC giving the woodwork a work out.

30 Nov 18:23

sounds like Henderson and Thomas should really be pushing Marco and Kosta...



30 Nov 18:28
martinb wrote:

sounds like Henderson and Thomas should really be pushing Marco and Kosta...


Perhaps there is a way of incorporating all three. All of them have superb technical modern football abilities and styles of play. Looks like Thomas can play CAM. Marco and Kosta left and right wingers.