Thailand Division 2 Thread

[Vinnie]

Wrapped up my season by going to the Bkk v Loei game. Entertaining, even fixture, complete with floodlight failure. Bangkok deserved the win, carving out better chances thorugh the match, including hitting the bar twice in the first half before scoring the winner with about 15 minutes to go. Loei looked decent, but really had no bite up front.

Many turn up for this 'dead rubber'? Any away fans?

[wolfman]

About 30-40 folks in the Loei section, plus two guys in Chonburi shirts and one in a Si Saket shirt. Bangkok FC's section was maybe three-quarters full.

[wolfman]

Round 9, Group A:

Saraburi 4-0 Trang
Rangsit U. 1-2 Chiang Mai
Phichit 0-1 Buriram

Chiang Mai 22 (promoted), Buriram 20, Saraburi 18, Rangsit 9, Phichit 8, Trang 0

Chiang Mai will be in Division 1 next season. Buriram need a point at home to Rangsit (they have Saraburi 6-2 on H2H). Saraburi need to beat Chiang Mai away, and hope for a Rangsit win.
Phichit v Trang in the other fixture.

[BangkokGlassBunny]

Chainat are as good as promoted now, I think Rayong can just edge them on away goals if unlikely results go their way.
Rayong need to win in the final game (for auto promo) and hope Phuket or Chainat lose, both are at home.

A complete turnaround of fortunes for Rayong and Chainat in the last 2 weeks.

[wolfman]

Round 9, Group B:

Bangkok 3-0 Samut Prakan
Loei 1-3 Chai Nat
Phuket 2-0 Rayong

Points: Chai Nat 17, Phuket 16, Rayong 14, Samut Prakan 10, Bangkok 9, Loei 5

Top 3 all at home next week: Chai Nat v Bkk, Phuket v SP, Rayong v Loei.

Chai Nat need a point to be sure of promotion. If there's a 3 way tie on 17 points, it will be down to GD, as Chai Nat lead Phuket 3-2, Phuket lead Rayong 3-1, and Rayong lead Chai Nat on away goals. If the first step is to look at only these 3 teams, I guess that mean Rayong are out. Otherwise, currently CN have +10 overall, Phuket, +4, Rayong +3

[Vinnie]

Dear God! There could be as many as 87 teams next year (siamsport website today). If the current system is kept then we're looking at one promotion place for every 21.75 teams.             etc etc

[Vinnie]

Round 9, Group A:

Saraburi 4-0 Trang
Rangsit U. 1-2 Chiang Mai
Phichit 0-1 Buriram

Chiang Mai 22 (promoted), Buriram 20, Saraburi 18, Rangsit 9, Phichit 8, Trang 0

Saraburi would be top of the group and odds-on for automatic promotion if they were in Group B.

[wolfman]

I told you Group B was a tougher group. Then again, Saraburi might have struggled to get 18 points: there's no Trang in there.

[Vinnie]

Fair point.

Completely unrelated. What's this smiley doing? 

[Vinnie]

If I've read it right, all clubs to have facilities inspected. Criteria include home and away fan segregation, floodlights and car parking. All the teams that pass the inspections, and are therefore permitted to compete in the 2011 RL, will be announced on 21st January. Season to get underway on February 12th. It also says the RL has generated 1 billion baht in turnover since its inception in 2009.

http://www.siamsport.co.th/Sport_Football/101217_210.html

[Vinnie]

I just don't get it. After Chiang Rai Utd's promotion in 2009, Chiang Rai F.C entered the RL and, unsurprisingly, didn't do very well at all. Now it's the turn of Sisaket. Sisaket United are expected to join the RL for the 2011 season.

[druryfire]

I just don't get it. After Chiang Rai Utd's promotion in 2009, Chiang Rai F.C entered the RL and, unsurprisingly, didn't do very well at all. Now it's the turn of Sisaket. Sisaket United are expected to join the RL for the 2011 season.

I don't understand it either.

It doesn't concern me if more and more clubs want to join, but the clubs tht are joining seem to only be feeder clubs or at least clubs that are representing what we already have. It is a pity that clubs represent more or less a whle province rather than a town in that province.

[Vinnie]

I just don't get it. After Chiang Rai Utd's promotion in 2009, Chiang Rai F.C entered the RL and, unsurprisingly, didn't do very well at all. Now it's the turn of Sisaket. Sisaket United are expected to join the RL for the 2011 season.

I don't understand it either.

It doesn't concern me if more and more clubs want to join, but the clubs tht are joining seem to only be feeder clubs or at least clubs that are representing what we already have. It is a pity that clubs represent more or less a whle province rather than a town in that province.

It just seems to be another example of certain people trying to wring as much juice out of the domestic game whilst it's still popular. Local administrations are involved with most RL clubs, and the attitude, in Chiang Rai and Sisaket at least, appears to be "Quick! The first club was a success, let's set up another one while the going's good."

[Vinnie]

This is from the Samut Prakan webboard

The third and the fourth from Champions League 2010, Group A and Group B
will qualify to play off against the bottom teams from Division 1 by drawing as
home & away match on next Saturday of January 08, and January 15, 2011.

[lokomotive]

This is from the Samut Prakan webboard

The third and the fourth from Champions League 2010, Group A and Group B
will qualify to play off against the bottom teams from Division 1 by drawing as
home & away match on next Saturday of January 08, and January 15, 2011.

True.

[BKK73]

Final results and standings in the play-offs:

Group A:

Chaing Mai 0-1 Saraburi
Phichit 0-4 Trang
Buriram 3-0 Ransit Uni

Buriram 23 Chiang Mai 22, Saraburi 21, Rangsit 9, Phichit 8, Trang 3


Group B:

Phuket 2-1 Samut Prakan
Chai Nat 2-2 Bangkok
Rayong 3-1 Loei

Points: Phuket 19, Chai Nat 18, Rayong 17, Bangkok 10 Samut Prakan 10, Loei 5



Buriram, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Chai Nat are all promoted to division 1.

Saraburi, Rangsit Uni, Rayong and Bangkok all go into another play off against the 4 relegated sides from last season's division 1.

Congratulations to Buriram, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Chai Nat.

Saraburi and Rayong came so close to earning promotion and in my opinion they deserve to be automatically promoted with the other 4 teams.

Shock result of the day has to be Trang's 4-0 victory over Phichit to earn them their first points in the play-offs.

[Vinnie]

Samut Prakan fail in the play-offs for the second season running. Trang's win at Phichit was all the more remarkable because Phichit still had something to play for. All they needed was a point to get a bonus play-off place.

[BKK73]

This is from the Samut Prakan webboard

The third and the fourth from Champions League 2010, Group A and Group B
will qualify to play off against the bottom teams from Division 1 by drawing as
home & away match on next Saturday of January 08, and January 15, 2011.

I assume that the 4 relegated teams will be drawn against the 3rd/4th placed teams from the playoffs. Will the draw be seeded? If so, I'd like to see Saraburi or Rayong draw Narathiwat.

[Vinnie]

This is from the Samut Prakan webboard

The third and the fourth from Champions League 2010, Group A and Group B
will qualify to play off against the bottom teams from Division 1 by drawing as
home & away match on next Saturday of January 08, and January 15, 2011.

I assume that the 4 relegated teams will be drawn against the 3rd/4th placed teams from the playoffs. Will the draw be seeded? If so, I'd like to see Saraburi or Rayong draw Narathiwat.

I would guess so but I don't know the format.

I've just put my brain in a spin trying to work it out so can someone confirm that after these final play-off matches are played we'll be left with 18 teams in Division 1?

[BKK73]

Sisaket/Nakhon Pathom,
Air Force,
Bangkok Utd,
Songkla
Customs
Thai Honda
Raj
Chula
PTT
Chantaburi
Buriram
Chiang Mai
Phuket
Chai Nat
+4

It all adds up to 18. 

[Vinnie]

Sisaket/Nakhon Pathom,
Air Force,
Bangkok Utd,
Songkla
Customs
Thai Honda
Raj
Chula
PTT
Chantaburi
Buriram
Chiang Mai
Phuket
Chai Nat
+4

It all adds up to 18. 

Thanks 

It's interesting looking at that line up. I t clearly demonstrates how provincial clubs will dominate (numerically at least) the top two divisions in the future – out of 18 clubs just two are business teams and 12 are 'place-name' teams.

[Vinnie]

Saraburi and Rayong came so close to earning promotion and in my opinion they deserve to be automatically promoted with the other 4 teams.

Meanwhile, Bangkok F.C get a bonus play-off place and could still be playing in Div 1 next season despite winning only two of their ten play-off matches.

[Nigb]

here is the draw. Shame Samut Prakhan just missed out again.

January 8th
16.00  -  Prachinburi v Rangsit Uni     
16.00  -  Rattanabundit v Rayong               
16.00  -  Suphanburi v Saraburi         
16.00  -  Narathiwat v Bangkok FC

Reverse fixtures January 15th

[Vinnie]

here is the draw. Shame Samut Prakhan just missed out again.

January 8th
16.00  -  Prachinburi v Rangsit Uni    
16.00  -  Rattanabundit v Rayong                
16.00  -  Suphanburi v Saraburi          
16.00  -  Narathiwat v Bangkok FC
Reverse fixtures January 15th

I know it must sound as though I'm always criticising everything...but FFS!!

As if it wasn't bad enough to leave a month gap between the end of the season and the start of the play-offs.

As if it wasn't bad enough to announce these extra relegation play-offs after the season had finished.

As if it wasn't bad enough to have these play-offs finish just three weeks before the 2011 season starts!

And now, as they said on Blackadder "the crowning turd in the waterpipe". Bangkok F.C who, as I said above, won just two of their ten play-off games, get rewarded with the easiest tie of the lot. And they're at home second leg!
 

[BKK73]

     
16.00  -  Narathiwat v Bangkok FC

Continuing with the Blackadder theme, I'd like to say to Bangkok FC "You lucky, lucky bastards."

They sneaked in the playoff's playoff on the last day and now have drawn the easiest team.

[Vinnie]

here is the draw. Shame Samut Prakhan just missed out again.

January 8th
16.00  -  Prachinburi v Rangsit Uni     
16.00  -  Rattanabundit v Rayong               
16.00  -  Suphanburi v Saraburi         
16.00  -  Narathiwat v Bangkok FC
Reverse fixtures January 15th

I know it must sound as though I'm always criticising everything...but FFS!!

As if it wasn't bad enough to leave a month gap between the end of the season and the start of the play-offs.

As if it wasn't bad enough to announce these extra relegation play-offs after the season had finished.

As if it wasn't bad enough to have these play-offs finish just three weeks before the 2011 season starts!

And now, as they said on Blackadder "the crowning turd in the waterpipe". Bangkok F.C who, as I said above, won just two of their ten play-off games, get rewarded with the easiest tie of the lot. And they're at home second leg!
 

Sorry Charade. You were right to edit my post. They are, though.

[druryfire]

Whats wrong with everyone saying Bangkok have drawn the easiest side?

Not long ago, most people were saying that if you win the league then you should get promoted without having the playoffs. Bangkok won there league, maybe it's only fair that they get the team that came bottom of the 1st Division?

Maybe Rayong are the luckiest team as they came 3rd in their Central-East league yet still fight on to get promoted.

Oh, i love the Thai league system, at least we won't be getting a 5 month mid season break this year.

Any word on the promoted clubs final championship matches to determine the 'real' RL Champions? Could still be Hat Yai i take it?

[lokomotive]

Any word on the promoted clubs final championship matches to determine the 'real' RL Champions? Could still be Hat Yai i take it?

Will be played in BKK during the next weeks.

[Vinnie]

Whats wrong with everyone saying Bangkok have drawn the easiest side?

Not long ago, most people were saying that if you win the league then you should get promoted without having the playoffs. Bangkok won there league, maybe it's only fair that they get the team that came bottom of the 1st Division?

Maybe Rayong are the luckiest team as they came 3rd in their Central-East league yet still fight on to get promoted.

Oh, i love the Thai league system, at least we won't be getting a 5 month mid season break this year.

Bangkok won their division and so it was fair that they progressed to the play-offs. It was also fair that third place Rayong went into the play-offs because that system was at least settled and agreed upon before the start of the season.
Bangkok proved themselves too good for their small division full of university sides containing amatuer student players, but they've been shown to be nowhere near as good as the top sides in the RL.
Yes, in an ideal world I would have the champions automatically promoted which would include Bangkok F.C.
But under the system we have, Bangkok do not deserve to go up and do not deserve to be given the easiest tie. 

[the_englishman]

I know it must sound as though I'm always criticising everything...but FFS!!

I thought that was Drury?
:-)

BTW Nonthaburi have signed three new foreign players and seem confident for next season.

[druryfire]

I know it must sound as though I'm always criticising everything...but FFS!!

I thought that was Drury?
:-)

BTW Nonthaburi have signed three new foreign players and seem confident for next season.

It's christmas, I'll let you have that one ;-)

[druryfire]

here is the draw. Shame Samut Prakhan just missed out again.

January 8th
16.00  -  Prachinburi v Rangsit Uni     
16.00  -  Rattanabundit v Rayong               
16.00  -  Suphanburi v Saraburi         
16.00  -  Narathiwat v Bangkok FC

Reverse fixtures January 15th

So, i take it whoever wins over two legs goes into Div 1?

In that case, I'd like to see Rayong go up over the company team, Rattana Bundit, RBAC Mittraphap or whatever they are called this week.

I have a soft spot for Suphanburi, but the last 18 months or so they have been going down hill, I'd hate to see them stay up and struggle once again. Saraburi will bring something fresh me thinks and apply more presure on Osotspa ofr the Saraburi hearts.

I'd like to see Narathiwat stay up but it's a bit silly really that a club way out of their depth can stay up over the course of two games, they couldn't do it over 30 games so is it fair to give them two games to stick at it?

Prachinburi against Rangsit Uni, hmmm, in all fairness I think Rangsit would be out of there depth, but it would be interesting to see who they get on in Div1. It would also be interesting to see Prachinburi get relegated and come up against Prachinburi Utd, would one club get pulled if this happened?

[BangkokGlassBunny]

Yet more games as Phuket take on Buriram and Chainat take on Chiang Mai to see who finishes 1st - 4th overall.

Will this season ever end.

[BKK73]

Yet more games as Phuket take on Buriram and Chainat take on Chiang Mai to see who finishes 1st - 4th overall.

Will this season ever end.

They're playing at the Supasalasai. It does seem a bit pointless playing for positions but I suppose from the players' point of view, this is an occasion to play at the National Stadium.

[BangkokGlassBunny]

Yet more games as Phuket take on Buriram and Chainat take on Chiang Mai to see who finishes 1st - 4th overall.

Will this season ever end.

They're playing at the Supasalasai. It does seem a bit pointless playing for positions but I suppose from the players' point of view, this is an occasion to play at the National Stadium.

Buriram beat Phuket 1-0 and the other match was 3-3 and went to pens. I didn't see who won though.

Anyway, I guess that means Buriram FC are the overall champs of D2. Binnsy should be happy.

[BKK73]

Buriram beat Phuket 1-0 and the other match was 3-3 and went to pens. I didn't see who won though.

I think Chiang Mai won 9-8 on penalties

[lokomotive]

Yet more games as Phuket take on Buriram and Chainat take on Chiang Mai to see who finishes 1st - 4th overall.

Will this season ever end.

They're playing at the Supasalasai. It does seem a bit pointless playing for positions but I suppose from the players' point of view, this is an occasion to play at the National Stadium.

Buriram beat Phuket 1-0 and the other match was 3-3 and went to pens. I didn't see who won though.

Anyway, I guess that means Buriram FC are the overall champs of D2. Binnsy should be happy.

Yes, they are.

[druryfire]

So, we finally have a champion Buriram, wonder what Loei think of it.

[the_englishman]

Here's a D2 side that's not here to make up the numbers:
http://rajprachafc.blogspot.com/2010/12/nonthaburi-fc-mean-business.html

[BKK73]

Here's a D2 side that's not here to make up the numbers:
http://rajprachafc.blogspot.com/2010/12/nonthaburi-fc-mean-business.html

Nontaburi will have a very good chance of winning the Bangkok Region this season. It's possibly the easiest of all the 5 regional leagues to get out of.

Will Nontaburi still be playing at the stadium in Soi Samakkhi? If so, I'll try and get along to a couple of games this year. When I watched them last season there was one Thai player that looked very skillful. I think he was #27 or 28.

[druryfire]

Here's a D2 side that's not here to make up the numbers:
http://rajprachafc.blogspot.com/2010/12/nonthaburi-fc-mean-business.html

Nontaburi will have a very good chance of winning the Bangkok Region this season. It's possibly the easiest of all the 5 regional leagues to get out of.

I don't know about it being the easiest, the league has always been tight unlike for example the North where it does seem to be clear who's the strongest most of the time.

[the_englishman]

Will Nontaburi still be playing at the stadium in Soi Samakkhi? If so, I'll try and get along to a couple of games this year. When I watched them last season there was one Thai player that looked very skillful. I think he was #27 or 28.

That was probably Janewit, no.27. Former international I think.
AFAIK they will play at the Rama 9 Stadium again next season. The game you went to was probably the scrappiest game they played so I'm glad you're giving them another chance as they can play better. Let's hope the new players increase the goal tally, too.

[bon-nirnam]

I remember a while back during old Provicial League era, a friend who was coaching Chiangmai called me while he was drivving from Chiangmai for a game in Stul. My reactin upon tlod of his destination was 'and you guys call this a 'Pro-League? It doesn't sound like one to me from games arrangement standpoint'. It doesn't make financial sense and team spent valuable time for traveling instead of training. You can't expect visiting team fans to follow their team that obviously. Well, we all know how that went. It should be divided into conferences such as South, North, Northeastern, East and Central. You can also madate cross-conference pre-season friendlies to make it more interesting as teams normally won't meet each others during regular season.     

[BKK73]

Will Nontaburi still be playing at the stadium in Soi Samakkhi? If so, I'll try and get along to a couple of games this year. When I watched them last season there was one Thai player that looked very skillful. I think he was #27 or 28.

That was probably Janewit, no.27. Former international I think.
AFAIK they will play at the Rama 9 Stadium again next season. The game you went to was probably the scrappiest game they played so I'm glad you're giving them another chance as they can play better. Let's hope the new players increase the goal tally, too.

That's good to know. The stadium is quite easy to get to from where I live and the atmosphere at Nontaburi is a bit more lively than most of the other university teams in that league. It'll be interesting to see how the 3 new foreign players get on.

[bon-nirnam]

Thing may have changed a lot now but Nonthaburi has long been involved with Thai football. Irrigation Department of Nonthaburi is known to have been the only place in the country where youth players can develop through regular competition. They used to also have good pool of players as families who work for Irrigation Dept., are from all over the country. This was long before Chonburi appears on the map of Thai football.

[wolfman]

Dear God! There could be as many as 87 teams next year (siamsport website today). If the current system is kept then we're looking at one promotion place for every 21.75 teams.            etc etc

Will update this as I go, but it seems 79 teams have entered the 2011 RL, pending inspections/judgements up to Jan 17th, with a final announcemnt will be made in Hat Yai on the 21st

North (16 Teams): Phichit FC, Singburi FC, Prae Utd, Nakhon Sawan FC, Pitsanulok FC, Petchabun FC, Sukothai FC, Utaradit Modseng, Chiang Rai FC, Kamphaeng Phet FC, Lampang FC, Tak FC, Utai Thani Forest, Payao FC, Lampun Warrior (new), Nan FC (new)

I think Tak FC have to make some ground improvements before the 17th

North-East (16 Teams): Loei City, Yasothon Utd, Nakon Rachasima FC, Roi Et FC, Chayaphum Utd, Udonthani FC, Sakon Nakon FC, Mahasarakham City, Nongbualampu FC, Kalasin FC, Nong Khai FC, Surin FC, Ubon Tigers FC, Mukdahan City, Nakon Phanom FC, Amnat Charoen FC (new)

Central and East (18 teams): Ranong FC, Lopburi FC, Meuang Kan FC, Rachaburi FC, Samut Prakan FC, samut Sakon FC, Ayuthaya FC, Petchaburi FC, Pathum Thani FC, Prajinburi Utd, Chachoengsao FC, Ang Thong FC, Nakon Nayok FC, Kabinburi FC, Sra Kaew Utd, Supanburi FC, Prajinburi FC, Prajuapkirikan FC (new)

Sra Kaew have been inspected and their ground has failed, but I'm not sure whether they've still got time to put it right.

Bangkok, etc (18 teams): Bangkok FC, Rangsit University JW FC, Nontaburi FC, Rachawiti FC, North-Bangkok, Bangkok Christian, Samut Prakan Utd, Kasembundit Uni, Thai Airways-Luk Isan, Paknampo NSRUSC (formerly Rajabhat Nakon Sawan), Kasetsart Uni, Thanyaburi Utd (formerly Rose-Asia Utd), GongReuaYuttakgarn(new), Mapthaput Rayong(new), RBAC FC, plus the champion and runners-up from the Khor Royal Cup.

It appears North-Central have effectively been relegated.

South (13 teams): Trang FC, Chumpon FC, Ranong FC, Surat Thani FC, Nakon Sri Tammarat FC, Krabi FC, Satun Utd, Pattani FC, Pang-nga FC, Yala FC, Pattalung FC, Hat Yai FC, Naratiwat FC

It seems Satun and Yala have some work to do.
By my count that's actually 81 teams, but there a few that are still involoved in the Div 1/RL playoffs. Also, I think the Bangkok, and Central will only have a maximum of 17 teams.
 

[Vinnie]

It can't be confirmed yet, can it? Ground inspections were supposed to be carried out until the 21st and the line ups announced after that.

[wolfman]

Vinnie, here's the article I'm looking at:

http://www.thailandsusu.com/webboard/index.php?topic=148394.0

EDIT: You're right Vinnie - there's some sort of assessment on the 17th, and a final announcement on the 21st. That'll teach me to skip the first few paragraphs.

[Vinnie]

Vinnie, here's the article I'm looking at:

http://www.thailandsusu.com/webboard/index.php?topic=148394.0

EDIT: You're right Vinnie - there's some sort of assessment on the 17th, and a final announcement on the 21st. That'll teach me to skip the first few paragraphs.

Amnat Charoen trying again this year. They were rumoured to be joining for each of the past two seasons. Hope they make it this time round.

A little bit surprised that Loei are giving it another bash!  

[wolfman]

Vinnie, here's the article I'm looking at:

http://www.thailandsusu.com/webboard/index.php?topic=148394.0

EDIT: You're right Vinnie - there's some sort of assessment on the 17th, and a final announcement on the 21st. That'll teach me to skip the first few paragraphs.

Amnat Charoen trying again this year. They were rumoured to be joining for each of the past two seasons. Hope they make it this time round.

A little bit surprised that Loei are giving it another bash!  

I'd have thought it was time for NRFC to move over and give Korat FC a crack at getting to at least the playoffs