Michael Woud (Ventforet Kofu | Japan)

Sail & Marinovic in goal for OFC Tourney.

Then if Qatar drop their vaccine requirement for entry, Tzanev to push Woud for the 3rd keeper spot come June IC playoff and possible big dance appearance in Dec 

Not in match day squad as Kyoto Sanga (13th) lose 0-1 to Tokyo (4th).

Presumably still getting to know his team mates, getting settled etc after his recent Japan arrival

Sail/Marinovich are easily our two top keepers, Woud is behind both. It hasnt been one game when he's been questionable, its been the last 3 or 4 starts when he's had moments where we've all questioned his spot. He is just too inconsistent and seems to make one or two weird decisions in a game which cost goals. CAn't be doing that against decent opposition. He may not be the 5th but I cant see him getting game time for the AW's anytime soon. He'd be my third choice if a all.
At 23 he has time to improve, and you'd expect he would. Marinovich is 30 so has a few years before he'd be thinking retirement, Sail is only 26 so has at least a decade in his career. 

theprof

Sail/Marinovich are easily our two top keepers, Woud is behind both. It hasnt been one game when he's been questionable, its been the last 3 or 4 starts when he's had moments where we've all questioned his spot. He is just too inconsistent and seems to make one or two weird decisions in a game which cost goals. CAn't be doing that against decent opposition. He may not be the 5th but I cant see him getting game time for the AW's anytime soon. He'd be my third choice if a all.
At 23 he has time to improve, and you'd expect he would. Marinovich is 30 so has a few years before he'd be thinking retirement, Sail is only 26 so has at least a decade in his career. 

Someone mentioned that Qatar are likely to soon waive the need for folks to be vaccinated to enter the country. Of the 32 teams that will make the WC later this year, you'd wager there will be a host of unvaccinated players.

So that means Tzanev could be picked for the AWs again, by June. That's if his anti vax stance, hasn't polarised any members of the squad. But as Marto mentioned being unvaccinated is a bit meh now in the UK, and ditto here in Central America where I'm travelling around. It will eventually become that way even in NZ.

Dons are really struggling, but Tzanev (age 25) has been ever present, and though I don't consistently read Dons match reports or anything, haven't seen any mentions of any real keeper howlers from him over this season. Even though Woud & Hay go way back, if Woud can't at least be the reserve keeper for Kyoto Sanga, I can see Tzanev coming in as the 3rd keeper later this year.

FYI for what it's worth - Dons sit 21st on the table, but only 6th equal worst (equal 19th 'best') for goals conceded. Cheltenham who have also conceded 61 goals are 12th on the table, but they have scored 55 goals, compared to Dons paltry 40 (4th equal worst in the league). So attack slightly more of a problem for Dons that defence for what it's worth.
https://us.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/20212022/regular-season/r63612/

Tzanev could well be in line for a call up if that's the case, putting Would and Gould further down the pecking order. We are lucky to have had a good run of quality keepers, thinking of Moss, Paston, Sail, Marinovich, Tzanev and Paulsen in the wings.

Sanga's J-League Cup game against Consadole Sapporo, postponed.

Good news. Makes his first match day squad. On the bench as Kyoto Sanga (9th) win 3-1 at Vissel Kobe (17th) in the J League.

So maybe he's already 2nd choice keeper at Sanga now, at least.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/04/02/japan/j1-league/vissel-kobe/kyoto-sanga/3735913/

On the bench for a 1-1 draw against Gamba Osaka (8th)

Sanga 10th

On the bench for a 3-1 win over Sagan Tosu (9th).

Sanga 7th.

Looks like Woud is in for a spell as the no 2 keeper, like his time at Willem II in the Eredivisie.

Gets his first start today 

How's the bro going in tonight's match?

So far 2-2.  But been watching the nix so not sure how he has gone 

Won 3-2.  Not a league game.  It a cup game.  It actually has group stages and they are top of there group atm after round 4 of 6 

detoxin

Won 3-2.  Not a league game.  It a cup game.  It actually has group stages and they are top of there group atm after round 4 of 6 

J-League Cup which I presume is not as prestigious as the Emperor Cup? So some of the reserve players are given a run?

Still good to see him get a start
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/04/13/japan/j-league-cup/kyoto-sanga/consadole-sapporo/3735821/

On the bench for a 2-0 win at Kashiwa Reysol (4th). Kyoto Sanga up to 5th. 

Another Cup game in a few days, so hopefully Woud gets another start.

From Flying Kiwis. If unvaccinated folks can now enter Qatar, Tzanev must be a chance to upsurp Woud as 3rd keeper (behind Marinovic & Sail).

But Woud & Hay go way back, so can see Woud getting in, even if he is not regularly playing like Tzanev. He's fortunate that this J-League Cup comp with a number of pool games exists. Another Cup game tonight.

Pandemic travel yarns delayed Michael Woud’s entry into Japan by which time the season had already gotten well underway. That complication also meant he wasn’t able to take part in World Cup qualifying with the All Whites, although in the last couple of weeks he has been able to work his way onto the bench for Kyoto Sanga and now, finally, a League Cup group stage game last Wednesday NZT allowed him to make his club debut.

It didn’t start too flash as Woudy conceded twice inside twenty minutes against Consadole Sapporo. Made a good stop from a shot out in front for the first but the follow-up from his left side snuck under him in just the second minute. Didn’t have a hope at stopping the next one as an open header from a corner kick was guided inside a vacant far post.

But Sanga were back in it four mins later thanks to a thumping effort from Shimpei Fukuoka just within the area, a move begun by a Woud long ball forwards. That shrunk the match back into competitive areas. Then eventually they drew level when Quenten Martinus chipped one to the back stick for Keita Nakano to finish off in the 71st. And on 75’ Martinus curled in a beauty himself to put his team in front. What a comeback.  

Consadole did have one great chance to tie it back up again as one of their strikers broke the defensive line late on but Woud rushed out and did just enough to force the shot off target, Kyoto Sanga enduring for the 3-2 win. Coming from 2-0 down to take the three points and go top of their Group C standings at the halfway point. 

Naoto Kamifukumoto has been the number one keeper for Sanga to date, the 32 year old starting seven of their nine J-League games (including a 2-0 win over Kashiwa Reysol in the subsequent fixture) with 22yo Tomoya Wakahara filling in twice while Kamifukumoto was suspended after a red card.

The previous two League Cup games saw Wakahara as well as fourth-choice Gakuji Ota split the starts so it’s a pretty bloody crowded goalkeeping room at this club, that’s for sure. It does appear that Woud is the second choice for now but with a few more of these cup games he should keep getting opportunities to stake his claim for firsties.

As expected in goal for another J-League Cup game, a 4-1 loss at
Consadole Sapporo (who are currently 13th in the J League).

Sanga currently 5th in the J League.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/04/20/japan/j-league-cup/consadole-sapporo/kyoto-sanga/3735819/

Is another Cup game in 3 days, be interesting to see if Woud starts that one as well.

coochiee

As expected in goal for another J-League Cup game, a 4-1 loss at
Consadole Sapporo (who are currently 13th in the J League).

Sanga currently 5th in the J League.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/04/20/japan/j-league-cup/consadole-sapporo/kyoto-sanga/3735819/

Is another Cup game in 3 days, be interesting to see if Woud starts that one as well.

Three of the goals were a result of absolutely woeful defending, ending with unmarked headers or shots from point blank range - no fault of Woud's. The first goal conceded wasn't a mistake by Woud, but you'd hope a solid starting keeper would be saving those more often than not. Pulled off an excellent stop in the first half from a long-range hit, and almost had an assist as well. Had a pretty decent game tbh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTQdv78tew4&ab_channel=J.LEAGUEInternational

Got himself a big sleeve on his right arm by looks of it.

👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/sXpGfTtRbD

— Michael Woud (@WoudMichael) April 21, 2022

Not in the squad for todays game

detoxin

Not in the squad for todays game

Was another J-League Cup game, and Kyoto Sanga reverted back to their normal No 1 keeper starting. Couldn't stop a 3-0 loss at
Sagan Tosu though.

Action returns to the J League next time out. Be interesting to see if Woud keep his bench spot, ie no 2 keeper ranking at the club.

If he continues to ride the pine at Kyoto Sanga next few months (or even worse slips to no 3 ranking), and Sail leaves the Nix. If I was the Phoenix I consider trying to get Woud in on a loan deal. Was a 3 year Japanese deal he signed from memory. Sure he has had a few howlers since Tokyo Olympics, but he has the fundamentals of being a good keeper with time.

Big ask for 19 yr Paulsen to be Nix's starting keeper over a whole ALM campaign. What if he loses form/confidence at any point being so young. Or gets injured. Henry Gray who's like 17 years old from memory, ready to step up? Need another older keeper at the club I feel.

coochiee

detoxin

Not in the squad for todays game

Was another J-League Cup game, and Kyoto Sanga reverted back to their normal No 1 keeper starting. Couldn't stop a 3-0 loss at
Sagan Tosu though.

Action returns to the J League next time out. Be interesting to see if Woud keep his bench spot, ie no 2 keeper ranking at the club.

If he continues to ride the pine at Kyoto Sanga next few months (or even worse slips to no 3 ranking), and Sail leaves the Nix. If I was the Phoenix I consider trying to get Woud in on a loan deal. Was a 3 year Japanese deal he signed from memory. Sure he has had a few howlers since Tokyo Olympics, but he has the fundamentals of being a good keeper with time.

Big ask for 19 yr Paulsen to be Nix's starting keeper over a whole ALM campaign. What if he loses form/confidence at any point being so young. Or gets injured. Henry Gray who's like 17 years old from memory, ready to step up? Need another older keeper at the club I feel.

Zero benefit to not playing Paulsen. He's more than good enough. Rather bring in a backup

mrsmiis

coochiee

detoxin

Not in the squad for todays game

Was another J-League Cup game, and Kyoto Sanga reverted back to their normal No 1 keeper starting. Couldn't stop a 3-0 loss at
Sagan Tosu though.

Action returns to the J League next time out. Be interesting to see if Woud keep his bench spot, ie no 2 keeper ranking at the club.

If he continues to ride the pine at Kyoto Sanga next few months (or even worse slips to no 3 ranking), and Sail leaves the Nix. If I was the Phoenix I consider trying to get Woud in on a loan deal. Was a 3 year Japanese deal he signed from memory. Sure he has had a few howlers since Tokyo Olympics, but he has the fundamentals of being a good keeper with time.

Big ask for 19 yr Paulsen to be Nix's starting keeper over a whole ALM campaign. What if he loses form/confidence at any point being so young. Or gets injured. Henry Gray who's like 17 years old from memory, ready to step up? Need another older keeper at the club I feel.

Zero benefit to not playing Paulsen. He's more than good enough. Rather bring in a backup

Maybe he us good enough. He’s played I think 4 games and has done well.

But a big risk starting an ALM season with a 19-20 yr old as your starting keeper and a 17-18 yr old as your backup. 

Woud should be cheap if on loan deal, he’s a Kiwi, and hopefully better than most of the journeyman Aussie keepers you would otherwise be looking at

I would take Paulsen starting at 19 well before considering Woud, he's just not good enough to be a decent a-league keeper - just too many brain fades.

Taking Woud on loan to the Phoenix would be bad for his career in Japan. The J League has an opposite season to the A League, so if he comes in pre-season that’d be August or so, and season end around May 2023. 

At that point Kyoto Santa would have to have brought in another backup, yet Woud would still be there for majority of the season. Either that or you bring him in until January, but that would defeat the purpose of signing him. He’d miss a second J League pre-season, which is probably a big factor as to why he’s not starting now, not to mention it’d slow his cultural adapting to Japan and the language.

If Henry Gray is too raw, there are plenty of goalkeepers around New Zealand, and while they might not have A League experience, neither did Sail, every player has had to debut at some point.

carlind

Taking Woud on loan to the Phoenix would be bad for his career in Japan. The J League has an opposite season to the A League, so if he comes in pre-season that’d be August or so, and season end around May 2023. 

At that point Kyoto Santa would have to have brought in another backup, yet Woud would still be there for majority of the season. Either that or you bring him in until January, but that would defeat the purpose of signing him. He’d miss a second J League pre-season, which is probably a big factor as to why he’s not starting now, not to mention it’d slow his cultural adapting to Japan and the language.

If Henry Gray is too raw, there are plenty of goalkeepers around New Zealand, and while they might not have A League experience, neither did Sail, every player has had to debut at some point.

Yeah fair points. Though Kyoto already have 4 keepers on their books, so you think they could afford to lose Woud for a time, plus the whole idea of loan players is you can call them back when required.

But yeah it's just a far fetched idea I had. He did a few years on the pine at Willem II, so he's familiar with biding his time. A loan deal to a J2 side makes more sense, if after a year or so he's just getting splinters.

On the bench as Kyoto Sanga (7th) lose 0-1 at home to Avispa Fukuoka (11th).

So seems after those Cup games, he's still the no 2 keeper at Sanga.

Kyoto Sanga (7th) travel to Nagoya Grampus (15th).
Woud on the bench.

Edit - a 1-1 draw. Kyoto stay 7th. Fellow antipodean keeper, and part Woud look a like, Mitch Langerak in goal for Nagoya

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/05/03/japan/j1-league/nagoya-grampus-eight/kyoto-sanga/3735948/

Kyoto Sanga (8th) travel to Consadole Sapporo (11th)

Doesn't even make the bench as Kyoto Sanga go down 1-0.

Kyoto Sanga (10th) host Shimizu S-Pulse (14th).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/05/14/japan/j1-league/kyoto-sanga/shimizu-s-pulse/3735967/

Edit - Woud not in match day squad (0-0 draw). So looks like he may have fallen to no 3 in keeper rankings at Sanga, unless he's injured.

If unvaccinated people can now enter Qatar, Hay would have to very closely look at Tzanev as his 3rd keeper now.

Kyoto Sanga (9th) travel to Sanfrecce Hiroshima(6th).
Woud again not in match day squad

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/05/21/japan/j1-league/sanfrecce-hiroshima/kyoto-sanga/3735975/

Edit - a 3-1 win for Hiroshima. Kyoto down to 10th

Kyoto Sanga (11th) travel to Yokohama F. Marinos (3rd).

Everyone's favourite Australian Kevin Muscat in charge of Yokohama. Trying to do an Ange Pot by having some success in Japan as a coach. Ange was previously at Yokohama (where he won the J League), so 2nd time Muscat has followed coaching at him at same club.

Edit - 2-0 loss for Kyoto. Woud not in match day squad

Kyoto Sanga (13th) host Kawasaki Frontale (2nd).

No Woud.
Sanga win 1-0 and up to 9th

Kyoto Sanga host Kochi United in the Emperor Cup. Kochi United play in the 4th tier Japan Football League (presumably amateur?), where they are 11th from 16 teams.

If there ever is a game for Woud to at least be on the bench for Kyoto this is it.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/06/01/japan/emperor-cup/kyoto-sanga/kochi-united/3787017/

Kyoto Sanga require ET to beat Kochi United 3-1 (1-1 in NT) in the Emperor Cup.
Woud was in goal. Hopefully he impressed.

Battle of the Oceania keepers. Old mate, ex Nixer 35 yr old Tando Velaphi in goal for Kochi!! Tando Velaphi's mum is Japanese (Dad Zimbawean)

Kochi United play in the 4th tier Japan Football League, which if Velaphi is playing for them can't be totally amateur after all.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/06/01/japan/emperor-cup/kyoto-sanga/kochi-united/3787017/

Nagoya Grampus host Kyoto Sanga in the J League Cup playoffs. 1st of two legs

Being a Cup game maybe another start for Woud, though since Kyoto have made the business end of this Cup comp they may go with either of their no 1 or no 2 keepers. Assuming Woud is ranked no 3 at the moment.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/06/04/japan/j-league-cup/nagoya-grampus-eight/kyoto-sanga/3789051/

Woud not in match day squad as Nagoya Grampus hosted Kyoto Sanga in the J League Cup playoffs. 1st of two legs

Good one to miss as Kyoto got trounced 6-1. They were down to 10 men from 43 mins in (score Nagoya up 1-0).

Looks like Kyoto used their No 2 keeper (guy who has been on the bench of late in the J League) in goal. With their no 1 keeper for J League games on the bench in this Cup game. So seems Woud still no 3 in the hierarchy.

Kyoto Sanga lose 0-1 to Nagoya Grampus in 2nd leg of their J League Cup tie.

A 7-1 win for Grampus on aggregate

Woud on the bench
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/06/11/japan/j-league-cup/kyoto-sanga/nagoya-grampus-eight/3789057/

Looks like may have worked himself up to no 2 spot, in the club's keeper rankings.

On the bench for a J League game, as Kyoto Sanga (9th) lose 1-0 at Kashima Antlers (2nd).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/06/18/japan/j1-league/kashima-antlers/kyoto-sanga/3736002/