Who!? The Rhys Burnett Story

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Season 4 – January Roundup


Winter break Friendlies, Mannhiem (a) & Meppen (a)

I took the opportunity to get away for a bit and concentrate on my Coninental C coaching badge studies so I left my assistant in charge of these 2 friendlies. We won both as expected and Wildshut’s injury is only minor so all good.

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Season 4 Game 21 – Eredivisie, Twente (a)

Maybe should have done better here. We went into the break all square and after the change I asked the guys to be slightly more attacking in an attempt to go for all three. It backfired a bit as Ola John scored but it was from a corner so I don’t think the mentality was to blame and it wasn’t as if we weren’t without chances of our own.

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Season 4 Game 22 - Eredivisie, Zwolle (h)

Great turnaround here off the back of the Twente game. We were the best side from start to finish and although Zwolle did have some shots that were mainly from range and never bothered us too much. We could have even won by more.

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Season 4 Game 23 – Eredivisie, Breda (a)

Amazing performance. Breda had come into this one sitting 5th​ so we were expecting a tough game so I asked the guys to be a bit more pragmatic in their approach today. It worked wonders as we held them well for the most part at the back and created some fantastic chances that we took. Great result.

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Season 4 Game 24 – Dutch Cup Qtr Final, Utrecht

We had just come off a tough run of games so changes were made for this one. It hampered us as we struggled to get into any real rhythm Utrecth were always the best in this one. Our cup run is over but not too disappointed as it allows me to concentrate on the league.

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We are now over halfway through the season and sitting nicely in 8th​ spot. I went back even further and looked at what points would have guaranteed safety and for the last 4 seasons it has always been around 30/31 points. We are on 30 points now so only a disaster will see Oss not in the Eredividise next season. That’s goal one complete, now is to put the cat amongst the pigeons and see how high we can finish!

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Sensational year so far! Was expecting a tough slog against relegation but you're making it look easy mate :)
 
Some nice league results, a little more consistency and you could get Oss playing in the Europa League! As for South Africa, what a way to qualify! A good showing there could easily open the door to top tier clubs across Europe.

Sensational year so far! Was expecting a tough slog against relegation but you're making it look easy mate :)

Thanks Gents! I am surprised too!!
 
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Season 4 – February Roundup


Season 4 Game 25 – Eredivisie, VVV (a)

VVV are exactly where I thought we would be – hovering just above the relegation zone so we expected this one was going to be tough. In truth it was anything but, we dominated from the first whistle and once Keskin put us ahead just before the half hour there there was really only ever one winner. VVV did makes things slightly tense when they pulled a goal back in the 2nd​ half but we went back on the front foot after it and Sarpong restored the deserved 2 goal advantage.

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Season 4 Game 26 – Eredivisie, Den Bosch (h)

This was a disappointment. We were by far the better side and had many, many good chances but we spurned most of them. This was a rivalry game and unfortunately only one team played like it – credit to Den Bosch as they defended with intensity and took their opportunities when they came.

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Season 4 Game 27 – Eredivisie, Cambuur (h)

Up until the goal this one was frustrating as heck! Actually, even after the goal this was a frustrating game. We need to start making the most of the chances being created. It is not as if our shot totals are being padded with efforts from distance. In fact, we are known for our preference to work the ball into the box, so the chances being created are good ones – we just need to start finishing.

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Season 4 Game 28 – Eredivisie, AZ (a)

Well, even though we lost this game, this was a good example to me of how far we have come as a club. When I took over Oss were expected to finish towards the bottom of the Jupiler league, this season we were tipped for the wooden spoon and now I am ****** that we didn’t beat AZ away. We took the game to them and should have won this.

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Season 4 Game 29 – Eredivisie, Heerenveen (a)

We stole a point here. Heerenveen are having a good season thus far and sit in 4th​ spot and they were the best side today. We defended resolutely early in the game but I feared that, after Drost scored following being picked out after making a clever run from deep, we would be overrun. To our guys credit they sucked it up and chased the game and were rewarded when a bullet header from Koubemba earned us a share of the spoils.

If we are being honest any chance of us finishing in the European qualification is over (to be fair I never even thought we would be contemplating this at the start of the year!) but we are still every chance of a solid, to half finish - something to be proud of.

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Nicely done! Are there any clubs you particularly want to manage during your career?
 
Nicely done! Are there any clubs you particularly want to manage during your career?

Not with this save - I actually want to stay away from my usual suspects and, if possible, manage completely new teams to me.
 
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Season 4 – March Roundup


Season 4 Game 30 – Eredivisie, Vitesse (h)

Prior to this one I finished off the remaining requirements for my Continental C Badge. Feeling like they owe me a bit I went straight in an requested they also fund my Continental B badge studies and I almost fell off my seat when they said yes.

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We hosted Vitesse next and got off to a terrible start… We found ourselves 2 nil and then 3-1 down in the first half. I wasn’t happy and I didn’t mind letting the team know it. To their credit following their bullocking they responded well and managed to gain a point here. Should have never come to me needed to lose it in the sheds though…

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Season 4 Game 31 – Eredivisie, Groningen (a)

Next up was Groningen and it was Appels first game back in goals for us after an injury layoff and boy did he look rusty. He was at fault for 3 off the Groningen goals so again credit must go to the other guys for not giving in and somehow snatching a draw.

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Season 4 Game 32 – Eredivisie, GA Eagles (h)

Another tight game. This time we ended up on the right side of the scoreline. We always looked the most likely to score but it took until the 53rd​ minute for Celik to break through as he sprung the offside trap and slotted in beating Kurton at his near post. Not a vintage performance but 3 points nonetheless.

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Season 4 Game 33 – Eredivisie, PSV (h)

There was unbelievable scenes at the Frans Heesion Stadion here as we lead the might PSV 4-1 at half time. I could, not even in my wildest dreams, have though such a performance possible when I first took over at Oss. The second half was a bit more dour as we played to hold the lead. Sinan Keskin was immense today with 2 goals and 1 assist.

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International Roundup

We played two international friendlies this month. We were missing a couple of key player so I took the opportunity to play some fringe squad members in the lead up to the World Cup. Thee conclusion I came too was that we struggle without some of our stars. The first game was a 4 all draw against Iran and although we looked good with the ball going forward we weren’t tight enough at the back. In the second game we posted a 3-2 away win against a solid Iceland side.

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Once you finish this season me and you would be at the same stage. You are about to hit the World Cup and manage in the Eredivisie but you didn't meet Monde Magadla so think I am ahead!!
 
Holy ****! 4-1 over PSV! Quite a performance that!

I've been really pragmatic in all my games against the big guns ao far this season but in this one I figured what the heck and went for it. Luckily it worked this time!
 
Once you finish this season me and you would be at the same stage. You are about to hit the World Cup and manage in the Eredivisie but you didn't meet Monde Magadla so think I am ahead!!

Haha - I really should bring him into the South African setup for the world cup shouldn't I!!
 
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Season 4 –April Roundup


Season 4 Game 34 – Eredivisie, Willem II (a)

Brilliant win here – we attacked hard in the first half and went two up through Celik. After the break we sat off a little more and just picked them apart with counter attacks that struck with surgical precision. We did conceded a couple as we invited pressure on ourselves but the 5-2 result shows our rope-a-dope routine worked well.

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Season 4 Game 35 – Eredivisie, Feyenoord (a)

Coming so soon after the PSV game I thought, “Hey, why not go for it against Feyenoord too??” Turns out that wasn’t the best approach for this one…

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Season 4 Game 36 – Eredivisie, Den Haag (h)

Den Haag came to visit for this match and we knew it would be a tough encounter as Den Haag was having themselves a very good season sitting in 5th​ so it was 5th​ v 6th​ for this. Neither team seemed to particularly willing to expose themselves at the back and the game was cagey for the full 90 minutes. Despite having, on the balance of play, the slightly better chance we had to settle for draw.

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Season 4 Game 37 – Eredivisie, Ajax (h)

Another fantastic result. Ajax haven’t been at their best this season and manager Henk Fraser’s job status has been the subject of speculation for some weeks now and this result wont help. If the Ajax job comes up this would be a job I would seriously look at, although I have no idea if I would be considered my profile is now probably highest in Holland. One match to go now this season and we are assured of at least a top 7 finish – A spectacular result given the pre-season predictions of us finishing last…

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Another great win but how the f@#k does Henk Fraser still have a job?! Burnett for Ajax!!!
 
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Season 4 –May Roundup


Season 4 Game 38 – Eredivisie, FC Utrecht (a)

A disappointing result but we won’t let it take the gloss of what has been a fantastic year. Unfortunately we will be losing a number of players this offseason as we don’t have the budget to re-sign them but hopefully that is something that will improve with time for Oss. Ajax had a win over AZ though meaning we finished this season in 6th​ which is good enough to put us in the European spot playoffs!!

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Ajax sacked their manager following them missing out on the playoffs and I have applied for the job. One of their Board members came out and said they were flattered by my interest – that has to be a good sign right??

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Season 4 Game 39 – Playoff 1st​ Rd, Den Haag (a)

We set our here to sit and absorb pressure and attempt to catch them on the counter. It worked extremely well until a well worked Den Haag move cut us to pieces at the back in the 76th​ minute. Still its only a one goal deficit and they have to come to our place next.

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Season 4 Game 40 – Playoff 1st​ rd 2nd​ leg, Den Haag (h)

We conceded a bad goal 14 minutes in that pretty much condemned us. It was too difficult to overcome the now effectively 3 goals we needed to make up and we couldn’t even find that one elusive goal to give us some impetus and infact Den Haag would add to their lead late but by then the tie was over. Unfortunately our season, in which we roared so much, finished with a bit of a whimper…

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I was given an interview with Ajax and felt it went well. I was also offered interviews with Groningen, GA Eagles, Partick Thistle and NEC but I declined those offers. In the end I would lose out in the Ajax job to club legend Clarence Seedorf which is a bit perplexing seeing as he was fired as Groningen boss for their poor finish just a week ago… Depending on what job interview invitations I get from here I may leave the search until the conclusion of the World Cup.

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As a final act this May I let FC Oss know I wouldn’t be renewing my contract and resigned with immediate effect. My reasoning is two-fold. First I know I am not going to be back next season. I feel that this is almost the ceiling for Oss without a number of years in the job working every inch out of their budget – something I have no interest in at this stage of my career. That being the case I have come to develop an affinity for the club and feel the most responsible thing to do is give the next boss enough time to put their stamp on the team. My second reason is so that I can fully devote myself to my South African responsibilities for the World Cup. After the World Cup I will look at my future both at a club and national level.

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Season 4 –World Cup Roundup

We had 3 friendlies to prepare for the World Cup. The games against Germany and Finland were useful as they somewhat represent what we will see from Norway and Spain but the Faroe Islands was a bit of a ridiculous choice by the FA. As a result I played a 2nd​ string side there as I didn’t want any injuries. I was happy though with the performances against Germany and Finland.

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Season 4 – World Cup Group F Game 1, Norway (n)

We knew this was a tough start against Odegaard, Ajer and Co. We had a glorious opportunity to get off to a flying start but Jali could only strike the bar when played through by Mahao on five minutes. We were made to pay immediately as a Berisha knocked home a rebound after Khune couldn’t hold an Ajer shot. We got on the board just after the half hour mark when Phala had a shot that deflected in off Odegaard and it was game on.

Norway re-established their one goal lead shortly after the break when de Lanlay again turned home a shot that Khune couldn’t corral. I was incredulous on 84 minutes when Jali was sent tumbling in the box. Instead of giving us the penalty the referee accused Jali of diving and awarded him his second yellow. Not only was it a terrible decision it will now cost Jali the chance to play in the next game of the World Cup – where do they get these bozos from!! Try as we might we couldn’t find the equaliser but it’s no surprise considering after the red we were effectively 10v12…

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Season 4 – World Cup Group F Game 2, Spain (n)

Our job didn’t get any easier as next up we faced the might of Spain. Things didn’t look good for us when Costa put Spain ahead but we sensationally levelled just after halftime. Unfortunately parity didn’t last long as Deulofeu took over. Scoring first with a shot that seemed to bamboozle Khune with it’s movement in the air and then again late on via a counterattack when we were pressing for a goal. We always knew this would be a tough ask and I really can’t fault the guy’s effort. Fortunately though, should Spain beat Norway in their last pool match we can still conceivably qualify for the next round. The Japan match is obviously a must win for that to happen.

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Season 4 – World Cup Group F Game 3, Japan (n)

We had to attack here plain and simple - there would be no rear guard actions today. Japan though had other idea. They were the ones playing spoiler like my FC Oss side had done so many time this season being content to sit deep and absorb pressure before exploding on the counter. After they got their goal they were then content to knock it around at the back whilst we became increasingly desperate to chase the goal. A disappointing result overall as I still feel this side could have done better against Norway and Japan. At the end of the day our finishing let us down – we had plenty of fantastic chances so I don’t believe the system was the issue.

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And with our exit from the World Cup I have decided to tender my resignation to the South African FA. I have enjoyed my 18 months in charge and again feel I have done the job I was brought in to do in getting South Africa to the finals. I now need to concentrate on finding the next job and making sure it is the right one for me. I didn’t have to wait long for my first offer and the wages they were suggesting were mind blowing but at this stage I want to concentrate on club football so I declined.

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No young man would say no to £20,000 per week to play a game or two every now and then?!

Unlucky with Ajax and the World Cup, could have gone the other way easily!
 
No young man would say no to £20,000 per week to play a game or two every now and then?!

Unlucky with Ajax and the World Cup, could have gone the other way easily!


This was another "put myself back in 25yr old me's shoes" situation. The Turkey offer came days after I quit the South Africa post. The World Cup hadn't finished yet so I figure there could be other, better offers potentially coming as resignations/firings happened off the back of the World Cup and I was also worried that, as in my club job interviews they kept asking about how I could juggle International and club management, it was costing me jobs so that is why I declined.

Now without spoiling anything it hasn't exactly worked out that way, just like it didn't always work out for 25yr old me!! :D
 
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