FC Utrecht

This is episode 410.

This episode is with the under-23 and academy sports scientist at FC Utrecht, Neil Bont.

Neil came on and we spoke about making an impact as a young scientist.

We spoke about conducting research, publishing, and also presenting research.

And during my study I did some, um, yeah, work in boards and, um, committees, but that side, yeah, laid the foundation to learn to communicate, to work with other people, uh, to be leader in s- certain environment.

But I w- I wasn't learning the domain-specific exper- experience, working with athletes, um, understanding the people around you and, um, so when I started with my master's, um, yeah, I wanted to increase my experience in the- in the field.

So I, um, applied at some clubs in the Netherlands and luckily I was, um, allowed to do an internship i- in the first year of my master's at the FC Utrecht Academy, um, which is like two or three kilometers away from my parents and the place where I was raised.

So that was great.

All right, let's move on to Sunday's games.

So four games featuring a lot of teams in the bottom half of the table, um, on, on Sunday, starting with Utrecht beating Willem II three-one.

It was looking a bit iffy for Utrecht for much of the game.

Um, they, they...

I think it was nil-nil at halftime.

I've always really rated him, and I think he's got so much more to give.

That's, that's really good.

Uh, I did not, of course, watch the match, but I'm, I'm happy that, uh, Utrecht is finally finding their, their way, uh, after a very bad start.

We call him DSF to keep it simple and that as well.

So this is like a winger who's come from FC Utrecht, I think in the Dutch second division.

Didn't really, his stats aren't up to much, to be honest with you, but he's fast.

He's a very one-footed winger, but he's been a bit of our X Factor this year.

Do you have an example of a specific club?

FC Utrecht, uh, last year-

Dutch

...

So plenty to come in this episode with Sam.

Also, just before we jump into the episode, I'm absolutely delighted that Sam has agreed to join us at our networking event where we're going to be over at FC Utrecht again.

Following on from last year's event, I'm really pleased that we've managed to agree to come over to the Netherlands again this year for another event, which is on Wednesday, the 18th of November 2021. at the training ground at FC Utrecht.

So we've got Sam, who's going to be contributing to the evening, as well as the legend, Jerome Peters, who's previously been head of performance at a number of different clubs as well.

And we are going to be adding to that lineup as well.

Really enjoyed our conversation today.

Absolutely thrilled that he's agreed to be part of our networking event over at Utrecht.

So again, if you can join us Wednesday, the 18th of November, we're going to be over at FC Utrecht at the training ground for an evening of networking.

So they want you out in the shop window at all times to earn money off you, essentially.

So my club, FC Utrecht, when I was in the Eredivisie, was extremely supportive of me going to the national team and You know, even if there was an injury cloud, they were happy for the national team to assess me just to give me every chance to play.

So I only experienced the really kind of positive and the good side of that aspect.

But for sure, I can imagine, you know, when there's particularly this is a really unique break in the sense that it's a three week break so early on the season, which is pretty unprecedented.

AZ Alkmaar are top, 19 points.

Feyenoord on 17, Eindhoven on 16, Twente also 16, Ajax 14, Fortuna Sittard 13, Excelsior 11, Groningen also 11, Go Ahead Eagles on 10, Heerenveen on nine, NEC on eight, Sparta Rotterdam, Telstar, Cambuur, and Utrecht on five apiece, PEC Zwolle on four, ADO Den Haag on two, and Willem II on two.

Uh, top goal scorers, Zivkovic at Feyenoord, Tangie at Go Ahead, Anis Hadji Moussa at Feyenoord, and Artem Stepanov at Utrecht all have five apiece.

Uh, Nacho Ferry and Sven Mignard have the hat-tricks so far in the league this season.

Managerial changes, none.