FA Cup

[druryfire]

I can't get excited about this draw.

It's got no feeling whatsoever to it.

[the_englishman]

4th round draw

Navy Rayong v BKK Utd
CHONBURI v Samut Songkhram
Army v PEA
Sisaket v TTM
BEC Tero v Nakhon Pathom
Rajpracha v SriRacha
Bang Phra v Osotspa
Muang Thong v Air Force Utd

Navy Rayong vs Bangkok United will be played august 11th.
Are all games being played that day?

Not possible as MTU and Rajpracha are currently groundsharing and I believe  Thailand will play against Singapore at our ground on the 11th.

[lokomotive]

Match days are 11 August and 25 August. I would wait a few hours or even days. Cause on 11 August there is the Singapore friendly.

[SriRachaShark]

You couldn't make this stuff up.

[SriRachaShark]

For what it's worth, these are the dates I have :

August 11th
Bang Phra v Osotspa
Army v PEA
BEC Tero v Nakhon Pathom
Muang Thong v Air Force

August 25th
Sisaket v TTM
Rajpracha v SriRacha
Navy Rayong v BKK Utd
CHONBURI v Samut Songkhram

I'm guessing (foolish, I know) that they may try and play them all the 25th - apart from Rajpracha v SriRacha. This would make more sense. Wouldn't it?

[Vinnie]

For what it's worth, these are the dates I have :

August 11th
Bang Phra v Osotspa
Army v PEA
BEC Tero v Nakhon Pathom
Muang Thong v Air Force

August 25th
Sisaket v TTM
Rajpracha v SriRacha
Navy Rayong v BKK Utd
CHONBURI v Samut Songkhram

I'm guessing (foolish, I know) that they may try and play them all the 25th - apart from Rajpracha v SriRacha. This would make more sense. Wouldn't it?

Play all cup ties on the same date?! Have you gone insane, sir?!?!
No, no, no. Far better to spread the fixtures over a six-week period for absolutely no reason whatsoever.

[SriRachaShark]

For what it's worth, these are the dates I have :

August 11th
Bang Phra v Osotspa
Army v PEA
BEC Tero v Nakhon Pathom
Muang Thong v Air Force

August 25th
Sisaket v TTM
Rajpracha v SriRacha
Navy Rayong v BKK Utd
CHONBURI v Samut Songkhram

I'm guessing (foolish, I know) that they may try and play them all the 25th - apart from Rajpracha v SriRacha. This would make more sense. Wouldn't it?

Play all cup ties on the same date?! Have you gone insane, sir?!?!
No, no, no. Far better to spread the fixtures over a six-week period for absolutely no reason whatsoever.

Sorry. I had a rush of blood to the head. Your idea makes far more sense.

[the_englishman]

Thailand, Muangthong, Rapracha...

What do those three have in common?

They are all booked in to play at the same stadium, same time, same day.

[Vinnie]

Thailand, Muangthong, Rapracha...

What do those three have in common?

They are all booked in to play at the same stadium, same time, same day.

 
Classic! You couldn't make it up!

[SriRachaShark]

An easy solution would be :

4:00pm Muang Thong v AirForce Utd
6:15pm Rajpracha v SriRacha
8:30pm Thailand v Singapore

This way, the MTU players who are also in the national squad would get a break. I'd be able to get there for 6:15pm to see SriRacha and then stay on for the international match. There would only be a problem if extra time is needed in the FA Cup matches.

But I'm sure that the authorities have already thought of this.

[lokomotive]

Steve Darby 20 Oct 2009 on his column at SRS website: The National team program and the TPL are working in harmony to work out what is best for the players and for the fans.  : 

[SriRachaShark]

Steve Darby 20 Oct 2009 on his column at SRS website: The National team program and the TPL are working in harmony to work out what is best for the players and for the fans.  : 

But this is a different beast altogether. This is the FA Cup. Others are pulling the strings.

[lokomotive]

You are right. Put I just wanted to put a finger on it. B'cause in any case, any involved party should try to avoid such things in advance. But I think we had this issue already a few times.

[SriRachaShark]

You are right. Put I just wanted to put a finger on it. B'cause in any case, any involved party should try to avoid such things in advance. But I think we had this issue already a few times.

He who pays the piper.

[lokomotive]

Fixtures fixed for 4th round

Thai FA Cup - 4th round draw held

@ SRS, I hope you can get easy on in the quarters ..making it two in one ...or would a final be better for you? 

[SriRachaShark]

I'd like to think we can go all the way. I just hope that we take this competition seriously this year. After all, it probably represents our only real chance of winning something. We've certainly been favoured by the draw so far.

[66svein]

Fixtures fixed for 4th round

Thai FA Cup - 4th round draw held

@ SRS, I hope you can get easy on in the quarters ..making it two in one ...or would a final be better for you? 

Navy Rayong vs Bangkok United looks like being moved to August 28th, becuse there is a D2-game at the stadium on the 11th. August 12th has also been mentioned, but most likely it will be moved to the 28th. And that`s the date for the 1st round of the league cup, and that one also has to be moved...

[SriRachaShark]

And any news of the full programme of league matches that are scheduled for the 28th and 29th?

[66svein]

And any news of the full programme of league matches that are scheduled for the 28th and 29th?

Pattaya United vs Bangkok United is moved to October 10th.

[lokomotive]

SRS, I just updated the schedule yesterday evening on my site. Dates are on only until end of September yet.

Sponsor Thai Premier League Results - 2nd Leg

Nearly the whole matchday 23, will be played on 9/10 October. Only Oso v Glass will be played on 5 Sept. 

[lokomotive]

Navy Rayong vs Bangkok United looks like being moved to August 28th, becuse there is a D2-game at the stadium on the 11th. August 12th has also been mentioned, but most likely it will be moved to the 28th. And that`s the date for the 1st round of the league cup, and that one also has to be moved...

Gamedays are now 11 Aug, 25 Aug, 26 Aug and 28 Aug.

[lokomotive]

Nakhon Pathom beat BEC by 3:2. 

[druryfire]

Nakhon Pathom beat BEC by 3:2.  

Is that right? I'm seeing BEC winning 3-2

I've also got Pattaya beat Ost 1-0

[lokomotive]

Yeah I was facing the same problem and was confused. But reports about the game, leave no doubt.

http://www.thaileagueonline.com/news.php?id_news=2488&page=1

[SriRachaShark]

You just know that Bang Phra are going to win this competition.

[the_englishman]

No chance Dale, either Thong or Raj will sort them out!

[SriRachaShark]

No chance Dale, either Thong or Raj will sort them out!

I'd prefer it was the latter but either will do.

[lokomotive]

You just know that Bang Phra are going to win this competition.

Once more octopus Dale? 

[lokomotive]

Haha, wanted to ask you the same by yesterday. But I was to lazy sending an email

[SriRachaShark]

Anyone know why BEC Tero v Nakhon Pathom was played at PAT Stadium?

Maybe they thought the Thailand v Singapore match would be played at Supachalasai?

[66svein]

Anyone know why BEC Tero v Nakhon Pathom was played at PAT Stadium?

Maybe they thought the Thailand v Singapore match would be played at Supachalasai?

It looks like BEC Tero are playing Police United @ PAT Stadium on Saturday. Again, not sure why?

Just a guess, but maybe it`s because of the queen`s birthday celebrations? Last year they had some market, or something, for a few days in the area between MBK and the National Stadium, so maybe they are doing that again.

[BKK_Mackem]

In my opinion it would be good to see a bit more ground sharing by teams who don't warrant enough support to play in bigger stadiums. The Police, Army, Bangkok United and TOT are good examples of Bangkok based teams playing in front of sparse home crowds. Would make sense to make better use of somewhere like the PAT, just as TOT use Muangthong's ground.

Hopefully Bangkok United and the army will go down along with either the police or TOT (unlikely) and the air force team won't win promotion. Bangkok/Nonthaburi/Pathum Thani doesn't need any more teams other than Thai Port, Muangthong and Bangkok Glass since there isn't enough support for any other teams. It's the provincial teams that stand to bring bigger crowds to the league when the likes of Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Korat have teams good enough to grace the top flight. Fingers crossed that's the way things will head over the next few seasons.

[the_englishman]

Not sure I agree with that. Air Force are a long standing team and they get decent turn out for home games and good away support. Their ground has a cool model airplane at the entrance, the crowd are friendly and they have activities outside.  BKU are getting low crowds at the moment but the way they are marketed and their catchment area means they could potentially do better. In fact I think most teams in the capital have potentially good support just as in London.  TOT only ground share with us for political reasons and we're not in Bangkok. Although it's far from ideal to have teams in too large stadiums, I'd rather that than lots of ground sharing as football teams represent their area and provide for a day out. At least with teams like police and army they can accommodate large away crowds from BG, MTU Chonburi and local matches.
I think Chiang Mai and Korat would first need to get promoted to D1 before they get promoted to the TPL :-)

[SriRachaShark]

After last season's boom a lot of clubs seized the initiative and started laying foundations for the future. Muang Thong and Thai Port are perfect examples of this. They expanded their grounds accordingly and now both have tidy stadiums. Bangkok Glass obviously have a long term plan, on which they seem to be progressing sensibly cautiously.

Other clubs probably got a bit carried away after the sudden upsurge in interest in Thai football and are floundering a bit now. BKK Utd are a case in point. Crowds are down this year and there has been a definite levelling out.

I agree with t_e about the Air Force. Also, the Army have a long history and are the only club in the TPL who still play at the same stadium they played at in 2006 when the league in its current form was born.

The top division is far more represntative of the country as a whole than it was even two years ago so there is hope for clubs like Chiang Mai and Korat but they'll have to sort themselves out with teams before they can be consdered good enough to join the elite.

Hopefully Khon Kaen will come up tis time.

[BKK_Mackem]

I think many of us will agree that until some of the teams adopt closer ties (including name changes) with their local communities, that the likes of Army, Police, TOT and to some extent BEC Tero, will struggle to compete in the long run with teams who are gaining much greater revenue from the gate receipts and merchandising generated by bigger crowds. Even with a rich benefactor, long term success and sustainability is difficult with minimal support from the local community.

[SriRachaShark]

I think many of us will agree that until some of the teams adopt closer ties (including name changes) with their local communities, that the likes of Army, Police, TOT and to some extent BEC Tero, will struggle to compete in the long run with teams who are gaining much greater revenue from the gate receipts and merchandising generated by bigger crowds. Even with a rich benefactor, long term success and sustainability is difficult with minimal support from the local community.

This what started to happen last year. Thai Port used to play all over the place until they returned to the PAT Stadium at the start of 2009.

BEC Tero used to be the biggest and richest club in the country even though they played at a "stadium" that only had one (metal) stand.

If Thai football keeps progressing as it has done over the past two seasons, it will eventually happen. You have to remember that until 2006 ALL the TPL teams came from in or around BKK and were predominantly forces and company teams. What we have now seemed impossible back then.

[BKK_Mackem]

Absolutely true. There was close to zero interest from foreigners in the Thai league before 2006. The first interest I took in the new league was probably around 2006 or 2007 when an African player we'd played against in the local farang league was spotted playing for Bangkok Bravo or United and immediately banned from the league as he was on semi-professional terms. Rumour had it that Pattaya's team in the farang league were paying him to travel down there from Bangkok on weekends to play for them. But they got away with it!

[SriRachaShark]

Absolutely true. There was close to zero interest from foreigners in the Thai league before 2006. The first interest I took in the new league was probably around 2006 or 2007 when an African player we'd played against in the local farang league was spotted playing for Bangkok Bravo or United and immediately banned from the league as he was on semi-professional terms. Rumour had it that Pattaya's team in the farang league were paying him to travel down there from Bangkok on weekends to play for them. But they got away with it!

I hardly saw any foreigners at Thai matches until last season. I'd see the occasional one at games in BKK but that was usually an agent or a reporter. Mind you there weren't many Thais at matches until last season either!

When I first starting watching Chonburi on a regular basis we'd struggle to get crowds of three figures. It only really picked up for us midway through the championship winning season of 2007.

[BKK_Mackem]

Yes, it's a snowball effect in many ways. Will be interesting to see if it continues in the next 2-3 seasons or if there is a rapid thaw in interest. I think a lot will depend on how greedy both players and owners become.

The ticket prices are about right at the moment, but if they were to be doubled for the start of a new season, then I could see attendances shrinking quickly. Once the bubble bursts, you might still get a number of foreigners going, but there will be a big drop in Thais attending games.

Anyway, trying to get this thread back on topic, hopefully the public still has some interest in the FA Cup to generate reasonable crowds. Slashing the ticket prices would help as is often the case now in the UK where the FA Cup in its earlier stages is about as popular as a weekend away in Skegness in mid-December.

[the_englishman]

In the case of BEC Tero, they seem to be run quite professionally. I think as long as they stay up this year they will take the logical step of adjusting their name to identify with their community and increasing their already decent home support.

[SriRachaShark]

In the case of BEC Tero, they seem to be run quite professionally. I think as long as they stay up this year they will take the logical step of adjusting their name to identify with their community and increasing their already decent home support.

One of the great things about Tero is their fan base. When we travelled up the other week the same thirty or so lads and lasses who I first met back in 2006 in Nong Jork were all in attendance. They may be a small band but they are probably the most loyal fans in the country.

[the_englishman]

We've gone off topic here, perhaps a mod can move us.

I think many of us will agree that until some of the teams adopt closer ties (including name changes) with their local communities, that the likes of Army, Police, TOT and to some extent BEC Tero, will struggle to compete in the long run with teams who are gaining much greater revenue from the gate receipts and merchandising generated by bigger crowds. Even with a rich benefactor, long term success and sustainability is difficult with minimal support from the local community.

Agreed. Police are taking some steps towards that, they are now Insee Police United and they offer discounts to Thammasat students and have a web site in English. Army have tried to beat the nationalist drum by presenting themselves as purists and using only Thai players. They were rewarded with apathy and lots of defeats. They've now changed tack.
TOT actually played in Kanchanburi - an ideal place to move to for a mid table TPL team - then moved back and decided to ground share with us without MTU getting much say in the matter. They have some very loyal and friendly fans but I think they deserve to go down.

[SriRachaShark]

The last time the Police played in the TPL (2007) they were based in Rachaburi. There's no way they'll ever fill their new stadium but I really enjoyed my trip there this season. Beer delivered directly to my seat.

[druryfire]

In the case of BEC Tero, they seem to be run quite professionally. I think as long as they stay up this year they will take the logical step of adjusting their name to identify with their community and increasing their already decent home support.

With regards to Tero, they were formed back in 1992 as Sasana Witthaya School, that is their routes. Anyone know the school??

They were then renamed Singha Tero Sasana due to sponsorship reasons. Fancy that eh? A school being rebranded by a drinks company.


Maybe being called simply Sasana is too much?

[Félix]

Last year, staff member told me that they wanted people from nong jok area to join as supporters, they are targetting this area, why? I don't know.
And you're right Dale, most of Tero supporters watch Thai League for many years now and are very loyal.

[druryfire]

Last year, staff member told me that they wanted people from nong jok area to join as supporters, they are targetting this area, why? I don't know.
And you're right Dale, most of Tero supporters watch Thai League for many years now and are very loyal.

It's where they are from and where the ground is isn't it?

[lokomotive]

Yes and they still use to do the training there.

[the_englishman]

Just back from a 3-0 win away to BKU. Report to follow.

[66svein]

Do someone know when the draw for the quarter-finals will be made, and when the games will be played?
Navy Rayong vs Bangkok United in the 4th round will now be played on September 7th, after being moved only 3 times.

[lokomotive]

I expect the draw just the following day after the last match. As usual.