It’s a bit dull up in Europe at the mo, on the Kiwi male footballer scene
Matt Garbett (NAC Breda | Netherlands)
It’s a bit dull up in Europe at the mo, on the Kiwi male footballer scene
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/03/01/netherlands/eerste-divisie/nac-bv/jong-utrecht/4097486/
FYI - Darije Kalezić's ADO Den Haag are 3rd in the Eerste Divisie, 3 points off the 2 automatic poromotion spots. He actually won this league with De Graafschap back in 2010/11.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/03/08/netherlands/eerste-divisie/jong-ajax/nac-bv/4097493/
Breda 7th but 9 pts behind Roda in 2nd, so realistically best they can hope for is the promotion playoffs again
Important win for Breda over a promotion playoff rival in VVV.
Garbett with 2 sub apperarances since his injury return. Likely not match fit to start for the AWs? Old to play that box to box midfield role in the Cairo cauldron?
Can see Bazeley starting with a back 5, and then seeing how the game panes outs.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/03/23/netherlands/eerste-divisie/roda-jc/nac-bv/4097519/
Playoff spot, but would be an away tie knockout. They will want to finish higher up the table to give themselves a better chance of promotion.
Sounds like Breda had a pen saved, Garbett reacted quickest and sent in a cross with a team mate heading home.
Sounds like Breda had a pen saved, Garbett reacted quickest and sent in a cross with a team mate heading home.
Continues a busy weekend for Kiwis amongst the goal mouth action. Sounds like the assist came from a free kick, but I can't find any video from the game.
For those that enjoy the statistical side of the game, I found this tweet as well. Looks and sounds like he had a good game.
Match Dashboard FC Groningen - NAC Breda#GroNAC #xG #KKD pic.twitter.com/DOd785qkq3
— Eerste Divisieplots (@EersteDivPlots) April 7, 2024
5 games left in regular season. Next another big game hosting Dordrecht (4th)
https://www.nac.nl/nieuws/strijdbaar-nac-neemt-punt-mee-uit-groningen
Shortly after halftime, NAC launched a good attack, with the ball eventually reaching Boyd Lucassen. The right back cut into the penalty area and was knocked down by defender Peersman. The referee pointed resolutely to the spot: penalty! Dominik Janošek took aim and shot, but Hidde Jurjus managed to save the ball. Yet NAC did take the lead. The falling ball fell at the feet of Matthew Garbett, who had a fantastic cross. He placed the ball perfectly on the head of Manel Royo, who headed in: 0-1!
Matt Garbett added another assist to the haul this week, bailing out his bros after a missed penalty #FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/N8SBWGVuvB
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) April 9, 2024
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/12/netherlands/eerste-divisie/nac-bv/bvo-fc-dordrecht/4097546/
With 5 regular season games left, Breda likely can't finish 3rd or 4th (teams straight into playoff semis with a week off). Aiming to be 5th or 6th (home game for one off Elimination finals) is more achieveable.
The Eerste Divisie playoffs system is a bit complex. From Wiki
At the end of each season, the champion and the runner-up of the Eerste Divisie are automatically promoted to the Eredivisie.
Six other clubs enter the Nacompetitie [ˈnaːkɔmpəˌti(t)si], a promotion/relegation playoff that includes the 16th-placed club in the Eredivisie. The following teams qualify for the Nacompetitie:
- The club with the best record in the "first period" of the season (after 8 rounds).
- The club with the best record in the "second period" of the season (rounds 9–16).
- The club with the best record in the "third period" of the season (rounds 17–24).
- The club with the best record in the "fourth period" of the season (rounds 25–32).
- The two remaining spots are filled at the season's end by the highest-placed clubs that have not already earned automatic promotion or qualified for the Nacompetitie.
Usually, the clubs that qualify for the Nacompetitie turn out to be the 3rd- through 9th-placed clubs in the final table. Clubs in the Nacompetitie face each other in a knock-out system with the number 16 of the Eredivisie for one place in next season's Eredivisie.
1000 - Matthew Garbett's goal after 42 seconds for @NACnl was the fastest as well as the 1000th goal this @1e_Divisie campaign. Bang. pic.twitter.com/mwZA2FM4JE
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) April 12, 2024
Nice stat for Matthew Garbett there. Just a bit of a shame his NAC Breda side ended up getting pumped 4-1.
Surpassed his output from last season (1G + 5A) with today's goal - Taking him to (4G + 3A) for the current season. (0.41 G+A per 90 v 0.55 G+A per 90 this campaign)
Would be curious to see the numbers he could have been hitting had he not missed 14 games through injury or other niggles so far this season.
Also while I'm here, happy 22nd birthday to the lad as well.
Pity it was all down hill after that. Breda (7th) had to change their keeper in the 32nd min (1-1) so that may have rattled them.
But based off this result, little chance you'd think they can negotiate the playoffs (if they make them) to get promoted. The Olympics his window to play at a higher level than Dutch 2nd tier?
Matt Garbett scored after 42 seconds for NAC Breda. They went on to lose 4-1… but those first 42 seconds were pretty great
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) April 16, 2024
That’s consecutive games with a goal or assist for Garbs, starting to find that consistent end product again#FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/I5XAB1jRsq
Looks like there is still no relegation between the Dutch 2nd tier (professional) & 3rd tier (amateur?). So teams like Den Bosch little to really play for??
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/19/netherlands/eerste-divisie/fc-den-bosch/nac-bv/4097551/
Breda stay 7th, which realistically is the best they can do with 3 games left.
There is still the risk they miss the playoffs, a couple of teams only 2 points back. Though one of those AZ II/Jong, I don't think are eligible for the playoffs, ie can't be promoted.
Garbett on the bench and comes on at 69 mins (1-0).
Breda (7th, 54 pts, +7 GD) 4 pts clear of MVV (9th), and so looking good for a playoff spot.
2 rounds lefts, teams 3rd-8th in the playoffs.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/28/netherlands/eerste-divisie/nac-bv/jong-psv/4097569/
Edit - actually Breda looking even stronger for the playoffs as AZ II (8th) I'm pretty sure can't be in the playoffs as a Jong team. Emmen (10th, 48 pts, -6 GD) stand little chance of overtaking Breda. Though Emmen do have a game in hand.
With a win Breda should lock in a playoff spot.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/05/03/netherlands/eerste-divisie/nac-bv/hfc-ado-den-haag/4097575/
Breda (7th, 55 pts) could still miss out on the playoffs to MVV (9th, 53 pts) with 1 game left.
If Emmen (8th, 54 pts) & MVV (9th, 53 pts) both win, and Breda lose - Garbett & Co will miss out on the playoffs (spots 3rd-8th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/05/10/netherlands/eerste-divisie/bvo-top-oss/nac-bv/4097589/
Regardless Breda will be longshots to be promoted. Having to negotiate playoffs as one of the lower ranked teams, plus then beat the 3rd last team in the Eredivisie in a further playoff.
Breda (8th, +7 GD) limp into the Playoffs and will play Roda JC (3rd) over 2 legs.
Breda edged MVV (9th, +4 GD) on GD for 8th & last playoff spot. Meanwhile Roda JC were 19 pts clear of Breda and only missed out on automatic promotion to Eredivise on GD to Groningen (2nd). So Breda will be longshots.
In the Playoffs, it's 3rd vs 8th, 4th vs 7th & 5th vs 6th.
Playoffs winners join team 3rd last in Eredivisie (currently Excelsior) in Playoff semis.
https://us.soccerway.com/national/netherlands/eerste-divisie/20232024/regular-season/r75770/
Wonder if there are any Eredivisie teams looking at Garbett. He's better than the Dutch 2nd tier you'd hope.
Breda (8th) host Roda JC (3rd).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/05/13/netherlands/nacompetitie/nac-bv/roda-jc/4357248/
Breda finished 19 pts below Roda JC on the table, and Roda missed out on automatic promotion only by GD
Playoffs can be cruel sometimes. Anyway Breda now in the box seat for the 2nd away leg
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/05/17/netherlands/nacompetitie/roda-jc/nac-bv/4357249/
Complete guess but maybe Garbett is a chance of starting the 2nd leg.
Presumably Breda's best chances in this game will come from counter attacking, and box to box Garbett does that better than most, aka Ben Old like.
They missed automatic promotion by the barest margin. They even had a pitch invasion at full time of their penultimate league match, believing they were up, however third-placed Groningen had a 90+5' equaliser versus Telstar in the simultaneous kickoff that meant it was down to the last day. That last day fixture was, of course, Groningen vs Roda JC, which Groningen won 2-0 to go level on points and promote with better goal difference.
After coming that close, to then lose 1-8 to the lowest ranked playoff side, who finished 19 points back and equal on points with tenth, is pretty poor, so maybe not super surprising if their fans got the match suspended briefly. Dutch fans love a match suspension.
Garbett came on at 56 mins (2-0) and 3 mins later had the assist for Breda's 3rd.
Breda have been up & down all season, scrapping into the playoffs on GD. Garbett in & out of the team. But maybe they do genuinely have the talent to get themselves promoted??
Next Breda will play the winner of Emmen (4th) vs Dordrecht (7th) over 2 legs. Dordrecht travel to Emmen tonight for their 2nd leg, being 2-2 after their 1st leg.
On the other side of the playoff draw, the winner of De Graafschap (6th) vs ADO Den Haag (5th) will play the 16th ranked Eredivisie team (either RKC Waalwijk or Excelsior)
https://us.soccerway.com/national/netherlands/nacompetitie/20232024/2nd-round/r77450/
Looks like after that 3rd goal, many of the home Roda crowd, starting leaving at 60 mins! By then behind 6-1 on aggregate
Matt Garbett with a sumptuous assist as NAC Breda stunned Roda JC in the promotion playoffs
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) May 17, 2024
A 5-0 away win for an 8-1 victory on aggregate against a team that finished 19pts ahead of them 🙌#FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/080nalfw24
They missed automatic promotion by the barest margin. They even had a pitch invasion at full time of their penultimate league match, believing they were up, however third-placed Groningen had a 90+5' equaliser versus Telstar in the simultaneous kickoff that meant it was down to the last day. That last day fixture was, of course, Groningen vs Roda JC, which Groningen won 2-0 to go level on points and promote with better goal difference.
After coming that close, to then lose 1-8 to the lowest ranked playoff side, who finished 19 points back and equal on points with tenth, is pretty poor, so maybe not super surprising if their fans got the match suspended briefly. Dutch fans love a match suspension.
Meanwhile here are Roda fans celebrating promotion two weeks ago, unaware that Groningen had scored a 90+5th minute equaliser in the other game
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) May 17, 2024
Roda then lost to Groningen and missed out on promotion by goal diffo… before getting smoked 8-1 by the lowest ranked playoff team 😬 https://t.co/T3fBc7KK87
Emen won 1-0 at Dordrecht for a 3-2 win on aggregate.
After their crazy form turnaround in the previous 2 legged tie against Roda JC (Breda a 8-1 win on agg) Breda probably go in as favorities in this tie.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/05/21/netherlands/nacompetitie/nac-bv/fc-emmen/4357265/
In the other 2 legged pro/rel platoff semi it's the Eerste Divisie's ADO Den Haag verus Excelsior from the Eredivisie. Excelsior finished 16th (3rd last) in the Eredivisie, on GD from RKC Waalwijk (15th)
since reaching full health, he's started 6 of a possible 10 games - i wouldn't call it much of a worry, just a reshuffle (likely for tactical purposes)