Comfortable win for the Dolphins 2-1 versus a lackluster Bangkok Glass side. Pattaya always looked in control and fully deserved their win against the supposed high flyers Glass. Goals from Ludo and Yamamoto (to be confirmed) were enough to beat a Glass side who scored from a free header after Narit made a horrible blunder and missed the ball completely. Ludo also hit the bar (we thought it was over the line but only tv replays will tell) with a wonder strike. Can't remember Glass even having a worthwhile shot on goal. They only got going once Byrne came on - how on earth can he not be in the team- different class- complete insanity that Glass can't find a slot for him!
Pattaya were missing Somphop and Arlindo through injury - See-Key did a great job as a makeshift right back.  Midfield were excellent - we played a 451 and completely dominated the Glass midfield - fully deserved 3 points. C'mon Dolphins!!!

Duh! The site has just announced we've signed Samuel Allegio - mystery over - 32 years old defender.

Years   Team   Apps†   (Gls)†
1997–2002   CS Louhans-Cuiseaux   110   (7)
2002–2003   La Roche VF   37   (7)
2003–2005   FC Metz   43   (0)
2005–2008   LB Châteauroux   65   (2)
2008–   Amiens SC   61   (0

Any name to the face???

That looks just like him!

Friendly match today: Pattaya 2 Air Force 0- comfortable win for the Dolphins which saw them keep the same 11 for nearly all the game which is different to previous friendlies when a lot of rotation happened. Pattaya's foreign legion look so much stronger this year. All our 3 new Japanese played today as well as Ludo and a mystery centre back who wore number 2 (Athanase's regular shirt) . He looked like a farang with  a shaved head and an "arab-esque" nose on him so maybe French??? Played very well indeed and looked classy - a footballing centre half with a good strong tackle. Let's hope he signs soon. The Japanese No 19 looks a really top class player, great feet and great passing.   Arlindo will reportedly miss the start of the campaign following an operation and OJ (see Loko's mail above) will join the squad on the 11th. All in all this will be a stronger Pattaya than last year - we'll miss Anucha but the foreigners we've signed look very classy indeed. We wopn;t miss fat lazy Santi. Our first 11 look capable of taking on the top teams though whether the squad will have the necessary depth is another matter. We also have to overcome the handicap of playing 64km away from home - probably in front of small crowds but we'll see. The remodelling on Nong Prue is underway and the rickety old wooden stand is no more and there were a few diggers around. When it will be completed though is another matter - official line is mid way through the season though many seem to think we will be playing in Chonburi for longer than that. All in all - a good season beckons - only worry was Ludo who looked overweight and well off the pace - hopefully he'll get fit soon. His partnership with OJ looks potentially awesome, particularly with No 19 playing in behind. Roll on Saturday!!!!

Regarding all the synchronised chanting and dancing - the locals really do grow up with it. From kindergarten to primary school to secondary school to university - every year they have "kilaa sii" which is their sports day. This event is even held by most companies annually, including my own. So from 4 years old to 60 they have the same thing every year, year in year out, in exactly the same format- a) the kindie/school/uni/company is divided into four colours; they have a parade with a pretty girl carrying a plaque in support of their colour, they sit in segregated stands, they make banners and wrap foil around tin cans they have the drummers (same as the football - the drummers play exactly the same rhythms as they do at the games - they do synchronised chants, they have cheerleaders, they learn the chants as one and practice for weeks before the event - the chants are very similar to the Muang Thong / Buriram ones.  The sports they play at Kilaa Siii are mindless ones like chairball, egg and spoon race - totally mindless sports that would bring the school to riot mode if they tried it in Europe. The kilaa sii fans really don't take any real interest in the sports or care who wins, they enjoy the fact that they can be in uniform colours , that they know the format, they believe it's completely sanook.  We would view it as mindless. They honestly love it and feel comfortable with it. 

"Thanks Vinnie, At the present time i am staying with some friend in Pattaya .Have not decided where to locate to just yet."

You're already in the best place - support the Dolphins- never a dull moment!! However our games for much/maybe all of this season will be played around 50km away - the other side of Chonburi. See told you it would be fun. However I have a lot of mates travelling from Pattaya and the club are running buses until they go broke which is usually half way through the season. Which ever team you decide to follow in the TPL- enjoy.

 Financially though a move up to Buriram makes sense  you'll get free shirts, free transport, free food and free dancing lessons!!!

Interesting: love to know how they are doing now.

"a Finnish international with nearly fifty caps, a player that's played in all 4 of England's top divisions,"

I honestly wouldn't get too excited about Kallio -in his career in England he played only 12 games in 3 years - at best he was a 2nd/3rd choice left back at Sheff Utd. At 33 he's not going to have much pace left though it sounds like he's a  good tackler. I think people are looking at the quality of previous MTU imports and that's why they feel they may not quite be up to last year. Only time will tell!!

"It strikes me that a group of moneyed and enterprising Pattaya based businessmen (or Natt or Bangkok City) could capitalise on this current situation and tap into the local community."

There were some discussions in the middle of last season about this - I imagine we'll discuss this again soon now this has happened. Despite what the kamnan's sons think - I don't think Pattaya people are happy to be Chonburi reserves. Expect dwindling crowds, protests and a lot of verbals.

I thought those pics looked familiar. It still looks the same to this date, except  a few more buffalo are now grazing on the centre circle. Anyway the guys at the shop said the whole season so who knows???

Pattaya could be playing in front of 200/300 people every week - the stadium is well past Chonburi - almost at Amata Nakorn. Complete insanity - tiny crowds in an enormous bowl of a stadium. Our fans are mainly working class lads with motorcycles - how are they going to get there? Even Chonburi fans looked lost in there last season apart from when PEA and Muang Thong came to town - what we will we look like?

Complete insanity by the most idiotic owners in Thai Football. We make TOT look well organised.

New BG Man outfit? Have you put on a bit of weight over the winter? Are you allowed to vet the Rabbit Girls??

On arrival at the airport, Leeds fans unfurled a huge banner ""hello hell, we are Leeds". Intimidating?  before the game the Gala filth murdered two Leeds fans on the streets, numerous other Leeds fans including women and kids were attacked. The perpetrators have never really been bought to justice. Loathe Gala with a passion. Good riddance to their shite stadium  and may one day we play them again.

Great stuff - look forward to it - I'll definitely give you a yell if I can spot you!!!!! (sometimes hard to tell you apart from the bunny girls!!

I'd tell you where my group stand but I don't even know which town or ground we're playing at - never mind which part of the stadium I'll be in.  Anyway whatever happens mate let's hope for a decent game.

Would I ever miss!!! 

Is that not the unbuilt stadium that we were supposed to move into middle of last year??

Anyway Saturday I'm off down to Pattaya and I'll sort out the mystery and I'll also visit the "new" Pattaya stadium down Jomtien way to see if they have done anymore to it. 

Nope still don't really like them but I think they'll win the title. Don't give a rat's arse about covering bases.

1. PEA (by a mile)
2. BG
3. MT (too many changes - mind you I said Man Utd would do well to finish 3rd this year in the EPL, and expected my team Leeds to be in the relegation scrap in the champo - so what do I know)
4. Chonburi
5. Port

My beloved Pattaya (aka Chonburi reserves) should hold a solid mid-table position I hope - 9th?

TOT, Tero, Navy, Pattaya .. join the homeless club.

Friend of mine went to the club shop the other day to ask about season tickets and vip tickets for the new season. They said we will definitely be playing all our home games in Chonburi (?) - he hadn't heard of the name of the stadium though he said he understood Chonburi played there before as the new stadium won't be ready till "next year".  I think I'll probably be in my grave before that particular stadium opens they've done no work at all on it for almost two years. VIP tickets include a bus ride over - at least until they run out of money anyway like they did last season. What a joke.  I wonder how many Loma Rangers will be making the trip over each week- we could be playing in front of smaller crowds than Sri Racha, Bangkok Utd or Tero - ok Nong Prue was a shit hole but the atmosphere was good and it was home.  Never mind that's one step closer to returning to Bang Phra certain of you may say. Our owners really are an utter disgrace.

 The new stadium will actually be nearer my home (now Bangkok resident) but I still wish we could go back to dear old Nong Prue.

Are any of you " more in the know " types aware of which stadium we'll be using?? The fans are being kept in the dark and being treated like shite yet again. At least I can pass the info on through the English section of the - website though doubtful many will be that interested. I reckon there will be serious protests about this. Pattaya fans aren't normally afraid to let their feelings be known and the owners have had to flee the scene on a couple of occasions in the past.  Maybe the family plan to re-name the side Chonburi reserves and have done with it.

ok, I presume he must have moved to Sri Racha as you say - I haven't heard of a 3rd Japanese signing. Cheers

Spot on Lokomotive and the official Pattaya site is now saying he's signed a 1-year contract - Miyake Fujitsu who is an attacking full back has joined the dolphins. Very pacey and a direct replacement for Anucha. Just need someone to play up front or in behind Ludo and we're there.

I think the issue that they have got carried away over is the gambling issue which caused all the trouble. The whole problem was caused by a big army guys massive bet going down the toilet.
This issue has been a poison running through Thai football's veins for so long and I think they are just terrified that it will destroy the booming premier league. If every time a big man's bet goes wrong referees are assaulted and games are stopped by his minions then we will see the league slip back to the dark ages (sorry Dale). I think the punishment is over the top but I can see the message they are trying to send out to these politicians and military figures who are behind the clubs - we welcome your investment but leave the corrupt nonsense out of it.

Yamamoto Hiroyuki is joining us from TTM Pichit - a defender - our third new signing and the fourth dolphins import joining existing foreign stars Ludo, Athanase and Arlindo. Apparently the fitness training is on a different level to previous years - we may have found ourselves a coach at last. We'll miss left back Anucha who moved upstairs to Chonburi but lazy Santi won't be missed at all apart from us enjoying having someone to scream at. The foreigners who left us rarely played anyway so the squad may be a bit stronger this year. With a fitter team we could again be fighting for top six. Keep the faith!!!

Stupid question maybe but is there any link now between Muang Thong and Tero - is Tero being set up as a feeder club for MT? Something like twelve players have moved back and forth over the last few months - both loanees and permanent. Excuse me if I've missed this on a different thread - haven't been on the board for a while and am far too lazy to do too much digging.

keep it in the family!!!!!

We've picked up a new head coach - he previously coached the Thai women's football team - is this as bad as it sounds? Does anyone have any information on our illustrious new coach. In other news - Athanase has really hit out at the previous coaching staff saying the team were unfit and just folded at the need of the season as the players simply weren't fit enough - old news to most followers of the dolphins. I've seen fitter pub teams in England. Ex-coach Wang is trying to steal Narit away to Police - I think he is the 3rd or 4th best stopper in the league so this would be a tragedy for us. As we have already let Santi and Anucha go because of lack of funds/ambition - the loss of Narit would be another sign that the owners are not the right ones to help the club progress. Losing players to Muang Thong and the family's main concern- the sharks is one thing  but losing a player to the police is entirely different. FFS Mayor Ittipol - let's see a little ambition.

Arlindo - one of our frequently injured players from last season is facing an operation and may not make the early part of next season. However this op is to clear up the problem that dogged him throughout last season so it may not be as bad as it sounds. The new stands are being extended and the ground development (or slum development)  is costing 15 Million Baht. No news on the half-built new stadium further down the coast - sounds like another example of  big plans but no cash. Pattaya are bull-ish about their U-18s team and four players have already been snapped up on contract for United's first team. However what's not clear is whether this is because they are good or because they are cheap. Let's hope for the former!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDmRcw_T4ak&feature=related

Looks bad, although the camera doesn't catch the lead-up to the fall. Typical "1 camera at the ground" coverage of the TPL.

It was a joke penalty but we also suffered the same at Muang Thong so what the hell -I think every club has their fair share of these. The season is over let's look forward rather than back.

Hi Binnsy yes I was one of the fans that visited the bar - great bar and good fun - the Buriram guys were pretty friendly to us - maybe the result helped!! Next year I'll fly up though - that is one hell of a drive.

Fantastic final - we were at the Chonburi end and enjoyed the game immensely - Chonburi fully deserved the win - the atmosphere was excellent and as usual Chonburi fans were most welcome of the support from down the coast. Thai Port had a huge following supporting the sharks too. It seemed to me like the Thai Prem at one end v Muang Thong at the other. Great day and the best team won.

""newin just spent 600,000,000 baht on a new stadium but maybe next year he will get bored.the only thing that is boring around here is these comments.(70% of their fans are totally clueless about football)well i could say that 100% of the farang that live in pattaya (sin city)are totally clueless about the country they live in.""

Sorry got to respond to this drivel. Do you honestly think Newin used HIS OWN MONEY to build the stadium - you are totally clueless. About "people" in Pattaya I have lived here for over 15 years and I work for an international company with 28,000 of the Thai people that I apparently know nothing about - probably 70% of them are issan people I expect -  I speak fluent Thai - I actually live in Bangkok. I lived in issan for four years and know the place well. Open your eyes to what is going on at Buriram - enjoy the football but don't be so naive about the reason behind the club - it is a political machine - do some research on your beloved leader.

Yes and good riddance.

"there heart's?" ?? - maybe you also need an eye test - or is it an IQ problem?

Benefit? - Not much at all - the fans arrived clutching their hard earned 100 Baht notes (7 hours on a bus) they weren't exactly throwing money around once they got here. Pattaya cruised to a 3-1 lead (should have been 6) but then PEA fought back well. Enjoyable game.

My eyes are perfectly fine thanks. So all those school kids, still in uniform, 40-50% girls rushed to the stadium to sit out in the blazing sun because of their devotion to football. Yeah right.

You'll tell me next that it was definitely a penalty when the PEA player fell over without anyone within 5 yeards of him him for your equalising goal!!

I don't particularly dislike Buriram the football club but I do dislike the practice of paying people to watch football - when they were paying all the school kids in the stand next to us at the PEA v Pattaya game that was the only time they showed any emotion at all - they couldn't care less about football. The dodgy decisions issue does seem to hang over the club but who can blame the refs with that amount of political clout hanging over them - let's not forget in order to settle a business dispute at the airport car park this guy was able to send in a large number of armed thugs to occupy the car park at an international airport -he was able to do this with impunity - imagine what he can do to a little referee. The dancing fans - sorry they just make me laugh  but it is the same with the MT Ultras with their songbooks and dance routines so I find it amusing / slightly annoying but that is the culture here (following the Japanese) so I can accept it.
Anyway can I say it's good to have another regular poster on the board. The more the merrier.

That's my point as well. The lopsided league means few teams i.e one this year and maybe two next year have a chance of winning the league - so why not give the rest of us also rans more football to see, in different parts of the country maybe more younger players coming through, create new rivalries.  Why not stretch the squads of the rich teams so so just possibly they cannot win everything year in and year out.

I quite like the expansion idea - more football and more parts of Thailand seeing Premier League football. The point about diluting the quality of the league doesn't hold up for me - the league is  desperately lopsided anyway - MT had the league wrapped up at half way - how many games have they lost in the last 3 years??

I saw the guys moving through the crowd at Buriram stadium in the stand behind the goal next to the away fans - they had satchels and were giving out money - I saw this with my own eyes. It was 100 Baht plus a small note from what I could see - maybe 120 or 150. The stand was full of school age kids, mainly still in uniform as it was a Wednesday afternoon when Pattaya played at Buriram. They showed little interest in the football to be honest.

I think we all know who is going to win the the league next year.

You mean unlike this year and last year??? 

That's correct - apparently he got the same money as MT were offering - however I suppose there won't be a transfer fee as presumably its just between the family.

Never would have guessed Afro-Asian cup in a million years. Hope that's referring to the continent not the hairstyle.
They were a good side TFB from what I remember of the distant past when I was a part-time armchair follower.

Expect Coach Tawatchai to join Police for next season and Muang Thong are signing both Santi and Anucha from Pattaya for next season - they've made offers that neither can refuse though insiders say Anucha is still wobbling. I'm sorry to lose Anucha who is a real prospect but delighted that lazy Santi is leaving. He was the one who punched Langley in the face at training and started Langley-gate - he is a poisonous little turd who thought he ran Pattaya. Good riddance to bad rubbish and MT are paying a lot for him as well. Roll on next season!!!

MT are signing both Santi and Anucha from Pattaya for next season - they've made offers that neither can refuse though insiders say Anucha is still wobbling. I'm sorry to lose Anucha who is a real prospect but delighted that lazy Santi is leaving. He was the one who punched Langley in the face at training and started Langley-gate - he is a poisonous little turd who thought he ran Pattaya. Good riddance to bad rubbish and MT are paying a lot for him as well. Nice!!!

Can you guess what they won??

Nope I've used up all my lucky guesses for the year..

Interesting point made by the commentator during the Port v Pla Tu game. He said that several of the overseas players were due to return home on Sunday so would miss the second leg. How will this impact teams a) for the league cup b) for the relegation play offs. At Pattaya we're used to playing with only one or two foreigners as ours were nearly all crippled but it will be interesting to see who fares best or more likely who is quickest to come to a deal with their overseas contingent.

Must be Dwight Yorke or Andy Cole only they would be desperate enough to play in Thailand. Honestly should  MT go down the "old galacticos path" -? surely that will be them screwed next year!!

lol nice thread - fair raised a titter or two. Still like the names - you have to admit though Wanderers and Rovers do apply to this league - PEA, TOT, Tero? they do their fair share of wandering and roving!!

I for one hope that Bangkok Utd make it through these play offs and find a  stadium to call their own. I think the stadium Tero used this year would be ideal for them but they need some stability. (I have a soft spot for them though maybe it's between my ears)

Pure Guess..Thai Farmer's Bank.

Thanks Shark - I'll try and get to a few Rovers games and send a few match reports. I love the names of the teams in the league - Wanderers, Athletic, Albion, Rovers - great stuff.