On the night Ryan Thomas lost with PEC Zwolle to PSV Eindhoven.
Night show Studio Voetbal, analysing the Eredivisie weekend.
Fantastic PEC Zwolle and John van ‘t Schip harvesting full praise.
Ron Jans about ‘one of the best player in the Eredivisie: “Ajax, Feyenoord, PSV, bring them on”.
PEC Zwolle-midfielder Ryan Thomas is one of the most prolific and striking players of this edition of the Dutch Eredivisie. The New-Zealander travelled from The Netherlands via New- Zealand to Peru for the WC play-offs only to excel during PEC Zwolle-PSV as if it were ‘business is usual’.
The studio guests were simply astounded by his performance. The extremely critical and controversial pundit Pierre van Hooijdonk, winner of the European Cup 3 with Feyenoord, waxed lyrical.
"John’s team played PSV off the park. They were fantastic and a sheer lust for the eye. They were the moral winner and really belong in the position they are in the table”.
His current coach John van ‘t Schip, very impressed: : “Ryan arrived Friday morning, required fysio-treatment, and said: ‘I feel okay, coach’. On Saturday he trained with the entire squad and on Sunday he gave it all. He is of paramount importance for the team. He is só important as a link between defense and attack and he has an admirable mentality”.
Former PEC Zwolle coach Ron Jans who worked with Ryan: “He is one of the best players in the Eredivisie and has everything going for him. He has been struggling with coping with the game physically, but he has now reached his summit. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day he would end up with Real Madrid. For now I’d say, Ajax, Feyenoord or PSV, take your chances". Sorry, John”.
John van ‘t Schip: “You don’t have to be sorry, Ron, he is simply one of the best the Dutch league has to offer”.
Personal note.
Now I enjoy the privilege to see Ryan Thomas play on a regular base and I’d say he would perfectly blend in with one of the traditional top three teams of The Netherlands. It seems as if everything is going for him now and yes, his horizon vision is second to none.
But hey, let’s be realistic; we are still talking the Dutch Eredivisie, a far cry from the likes of their pendants in England, Germany and Spain. It’s tempting to get carried away but Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV are non-factors on European level, in spite of Ajax fluking its way into the Europa League last season.
I’m not in a position to question Ron Jans’ analysis skills (parenthetically, I played with him during our school days in Zwolle) but his flirtation with Real Madrid…
Yes, he is talented, yes he has a tremendous drive, yes he has a horizon vison, yes he is determined.His greatest asset though is 'nuchterheid', best translated as 'sobriety'.