Thailand Premier League

[the_englishman]

Match report to come on my blog when I've had more than one hour of sleep in 25 hours.

[charade_2010]

Chonburi turn up the heat on Muang Thong

Chonburi earned a fine 3-0 away victory against SCG Samut Songkhram yesterday to close the gap on Thai Premier League leaders Muang Thong United who suffered a 1-0 defeat to third-placed Buri Ram PEA .

Chonburi’s Ney Fabiano, left, takes control

A fine second-half hat-trick by Ney Fabiano saw Chonburi move to within two points of Muang Thong at the top of the table.

After a scoreless first half, Fabiano struck for the first time in the 70th minute after a poor clearance by Samut Songkhram goalkeeper Pinto.

Nine minutes later he was on target again and three minutes before the whistle he struck home a fine 35-yard free-kick.

The vital goal for Buri Ram came from Douglas Cardozo in the 46th minute, sending Muang Thong crashing to only their third defeat in 22 games.

At Phichit stadium, hosts TTM FC Phichit defeated bottom-placed Bangkok United 2-1. Phichit's goals canme from Valci Junior (44th) and Kraikitti Inutane (62) while United's goal came from Sarif Sainui (57).

Fourth-placed Thai Port had to be content with a 1-1 away draw against Si Sa Ket. Phairoj Anantanarong (41} put Si Sa Ket ahead 1-0 before Sompong Sorleb (54) equalised .

[SriRachaShark]

It's Suree Sukha in the above photo.

[the_englishman]

It's Suree Sukha in the above photo.

I gave him the good news last week, Dale. Do you want to do the honours this week? :-)

[BKK73]

It's Suree Sukha in the above photo.

I gave him the good news last week, Dale. Do you want to do the honours this week? :-)

The only similarity between Suree and Fabiano is that they appear to use the same barber. That's what must have confused him.   

[BKK_Mackem]

That's a 70 baht haircut from the local barber.

[66svein]

Guys, you should have a look at this!!!

It seems we will get 18 Clubs in the 2011 Season. As per my google understanding, the Top 3from Div1 will gain direct promotion. While the 3 bottom clubs from the TPL will play together with 4-6 ranked clubs from Div 1 in a play off round for the two additional spots.

http://www.thaipremierleague.co.th/teamIncrease.php

Is this still happening??

[SriRachaShark]

Guys, you should have a look at this!!!

It seems we will get 18 Clubs in the 2011 Season. As per my google understanding, the Top 3from Div1 will gain direct promotion. While the 3 bottom clubs from the TPL will play together with 4-6 ranked clubs from Div 1 in a play off round for the two additional spots.

http://www.thaipremierleague.co.th/teamIncrease.php

Is this still happening??

I haven't heard any more about it.

[lokomotive]

A few weeks ago, a big league meeting was held in Chonburi. There it was decided to leave it as it is. One of the reasons was, that Vijit worried about the quality of the league in total.

[BKK_Mackem]

It's been SEB (said elsewhere before) but I think as much as quality, the league will blossom with more provincial teams joining the TPL at the expense of the poorly backed (in terms of fans) teams in the league - Police, Army and TOT. 

Rightly or wrongly, PEA have shown what moving outside Bangkok to Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi and Buriram can do for boosting its fan base. Hopefully, if the likes of TOT wish to compete in this league, they should look to do the same too. There's seemingly little hope at the moment of them developing any kind of fanbase under their current name and structure in Bangkok.

The Police and Army will no doubt continue to flounder under their current guise with little hope of competing with more commercially viable clubs in the long run, unless they throw silly money at attractive signings in the future who pull support away from other teams or draw in new fans.

[SriRachaShark]

It's been SEB (said elsewhere before) but I think as much as quality, the league will blossom with more provincial teams joining the TPL at the expense of the poorly backed (in terms of fans) teams in the league - Police, Army and TOT. 

Rightly or wrongly, PEA have shown what moving outside Bangkok to Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi and Buriram can do for boosting its fan base. Hopefully, if the likes of TOT wish to compete in this league, they should look to do the same too. There's seemingly little hope at the moment of them developing any kind of fanbase under their current name and structure in Bangkok.

The Police and Army will no doubt continue to flounder under their current guise with little hope of competing with more commercially viable clubs in the long run, unless they throw silly money at attractive signings in the future who pull support away from other teams or draw in new fans.

I understand what you're saying about having more provincial teams in the league and we've all been agreeing on that on this mb over the years. However, it has to happen naturally. Buriram already had a club that was poorly supported but how much more respect would we (other than Vinnie ) have had if the money had been pumped into them and they'd achieved a place in the TPL by the old fashioned method of winning football matches.

When Chonburi blazed a trail back in 2005 it showed what could be done by provincial clubs building patiently and forging links with the local community. We have grown organically and this has always been a huge source of pride to me. Do you think that those PEA "fans" in Buriram get the same amount of genuine satisfaction that we do after a win? As football fans we can appreciate the good times because we've also suffered some hardships. It's not always been wine and roses for the Sharks.

I also like the fact that the Army are sticking around and annoying people. The two commentators at the match on Saturday bemoaned the fact that there were only 700 fans in the ground, especially as the AFC inspectors are either here already or due any time. They went on to say that Sunday's PEA v MTU was much more important because they'd get a big crowd. What short memories they must have - or maybe selective memories

I've seen plenty of clubs moving around over the years - both PEA and Thai Port have played at our current stadium - but it's not always the answer. TOT to Kanchanaburi was a complete *rude word* up. It's also worth remembering that Thai Port are now, quite rightly, regarded as a fine example of a community club but they've bounced around a fair bit - Chonburi, Thupadamee, Thai-Japanese - before returning to the PAT Stadium. I think that all clubs should stay put. If the fan base isn't big enough or the team struggles then so be it. They will eventually find their level. Meanwhile places like Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Korat etc will, hopefully, fluorish and we'll see a far more representative selection of clubs playing in the top flight who are there on merit and not by some quick fix method.

[wolfman]

I understand what you're saying about having more provincial teams in the league and we've all been agreeing on that on this mb over the years. However, it has to happen naturally. Buriram already had a club that was poorly supported but how much more respect would we (other than Vinnie ) have had if the money had been pumped into them and they'd achieved a place in the TPL by the old fashioned method of winning football matches.

When Chonburi blazed a trail back in 2005 it showed what could be done by provincial clubs building patiently and forging links with the local community. We have grown organically and this has always been a huge source of pride to me. Do you think that those PEA "fans" in Buriram get the same amount of genuine satisfaction that we do after a win? As football fans we can appreciate the good times because we've also suffered some hardships. It's not always been wine and roses for the Sharks.

I also like the fact that the Army are sticking around and annoying people. The two commentators at the match on Saturday bemoaned the fact that there were only 700 fans in the ground, especially as the AFC inspectors are either here already or due any time. They went on to say that Sunday's PEA v MTU was much more important because they'd get a big crowd. What short memories they must have - or maybe selective memories

I've seen plenty of clubs moving around over the years - both PEA and Thai Port have played at our current stadium - but it's not always the answer. TOT to Kanchanaburi was a complete *rude word* up. It's also worth remembering that Thai Port are now, quite rightly, regarded as a fine example of a community club but they've bounced around a fair bit - Chonburi, Thupadamee, Thai-Japanese - before returning to the PAT Stadium. I think that all clubs should stay put. If the fan base isn't big enough or the team struggles then so be it. They will eventually find their level. Meanwhile places like Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Korat etc will, hopefully, fluorish and we'll see a far more representative selection of clubs playing in the top flight who are there on merit and not by some quick fix method.

But Buriram FC have had money (and players and fans) pumped into them. Seriously though, I agree - I would much rather Newin had put his money into the RL side and helped climb up the leagues (in similar fashion to Elton John with Watford and the Madjeskis at Reading?) instead of transplanting a TPL team, especially in a season when an Isaan team had just achieved promotion the hard way.

What I'd like to see is these teams with history re-name themselves and create more of a local identity. Thai Port are doing fine, but wouldn't it be great to see them play as Klong Toey? Likewise, the Army or Airforce could play as Don Meuang  or something. I mean , who really wants to be identified as a Friend of the Police, apart from family and friends of the Police?

[SriRachaShark]

But if they rename and rebrand they will be cutting themselves off from all their history and tradition. If these areas want their "own" clubs then it's up to the local communities to act. There's no reason why it can't be done.

[BKK73]

When Chonburi blazed a trail back in 2005 it showed what could be done by provincial clubs building patiently and forging links with the local community. We have grown organically and this has always been a huge source of pride to me. Do you think that those PEA "fans" in Buriram get the same amount of genuine satisfaction that we do after a win? As football fans we can appreciate the good times because we've also suffered some hardships. It's not always been wine and roses for the Sharks.

I doubt the majority of the new PEA Buriram supporters will know or even care about the club's history. They appear happy to jump on the bandwagon and turn up at Thunder Castle to cheer for their team.

[SriRachaShark]

When Chonburi blazed a trail back in 2005 it showed what could be done by provincial clubs building patiently and forging links with the local community. We have grown organically and this has always been a huge source of pride to me. Do you think that those PEA "fans" in Buriram get the same amount of genuine satisfaction that we do after a win? As football fans we can appreciate the good times because we've also suffered some hardships. It's not always been wine and roses for the Sharks.

I doubt the majority of the new PEA Buriram supporters will know or even care about the club's history. They appear happy to jump on the bandwagon and turn up at Thunder Castle to cheer for their team.

That's one of the saddest aspects about it for me. Just think if they'd all got behind their true local team. There'd be far more satisfaction to be had when they eventually reached the TPL.

[wolfman]

I doubt the majority of the new PEA Buriram supporters will know or even care about the club's history. They appear happy to jump on the bandwagon and turn up at Thunder Castle to cheer for their team.

That's one of the saddest aspects about it for me. Just think if they'd all got behind their true local team. There'd be far more satisfaction to be had when they eventually reached the TPL.

I thought they were behind the local team now too - with appropriate incentives of course.

As for my earlier suggestion regarding the Army, etc, the re-naming/re-branding can be a gradual process. As for the team's history, a crowd of 700 (your earlier post) for a team in the top tier suggests that not many people care.

Looking at other models, the K-League has benefited from the corporate-owned clubs relocating to give the league a more geographical spread, and the big corpate owners' names are being used less often; Suwon Bluewings without Samsung, Ulsan Horangi and Jeonbuk Motors minus the Hyundai. There are also a few clubs without that sort of organisation behind them too.

The A-League is an example of a league that ditched history for the league's benefit. The FFA created new franchises, in an attempt to eliminate the ethnic-based clubs and the associated divides that came with them. A smaller, better run league has resulted, although given that is still finding its feet against the established Rugby League and Aussie Rules competitions. Even 7 years in, it still feels at times as though things could come crashing down very quickly.

[BKK_Mackem]

I can understand the support that has gotten behind Muangthong, which is kind of representative of that area of Nonthaburi, although I would imagine a sizeable number of their fans come from Bangkok.

PEA Buriram is something else, but shows what can happen quickly if you organize things well.

As for Bangkok Glass, I am curious to know what caused the boom in support there. I know they took Krungthai Bank's place in the Premier League in 2009 and existed as a team at a lower level dating back to 2006 (correct me if I am wrong), but where and how did the relatively large fanbase appear from? There's no link in the name to Pathum Thani, Krungthai Bank had a minimal following, so ... ? Quite an achievement really.

I find it more logical that a whole local community is getting behind their provincial team, like Sisaket when the team is clearly named after the area, but perhaps it matters not about the name as long as the foundations of the club look to be in place and there is a strong belief that the club represents the community and will be there for the forseeable future.

[wolfman]

Final game of Round 22

BEC Tero 0-0 Navy-Rayong

[lokomotive]

Sisaket - PEA from matchday 27 will played on 3rd September!!! TPFC is trying to pull in their league match vs PEA from 11 to 10 September because of the AFC Cup match.

[BKK_Mackem]

But if they rename and rebrand they will be cutting themselves off from all their history and tradition. If these areas want their "own" clubs then it's up to the local communities to act. There's no reason why it can't be done.

I disagree. Renaming clubs at this stage is a sensible idea if it helps them associate with a community.

Whatever happened to:

1. Newton Heath Lancashire & Yorkshire Railways F.C.?
.... they eventually became Manchester United F.C.

2. Sunderland & District Teachers A.F.C.?
.... they became Sunderland A.F.C.

3. St. Mary's Young Men's Association F.C.?
.... they became Southampton F.C.

4. Thames Ironworks F.C.?
.... they became West Ham United F.C.

5. St. Domigo's F.C. (named after the local parish church)?
.... they became Everton F.C.

Anyway, even if the Police, Army and TTM, PEA, etc. continue as they are, they will still fall short of some classic team names around the world which away fans would no doubt struggle to find on a map such as:

Total Clean F.C. (Peru)
Young Boys F.C. (Switzerland)
4.25 Sports Group F.C. (North Korea)
Go Ahead Eagles F.C. (Netherlands)
Grasshoppers F.C. (Switzerland)
Queen of the South F.C. (Scotland)
Italia Shooters F.C. (Canada)
Scottish Wanderers F.C. (Brazil)
Dandy Town Hornets F.C. (Bermuda)
SV Robin Hood F.C. (Suriname)
The Strongest F.C. (Bolivia)

And don't get me started on American names for football clubs. God forbid we end up with:

Jatujak Jaguars
Udon Unicorns
Pattaya Panthers

etc ...






, Ne

[BKK73]

2. Sunderland & District Teachers A.F.C.?
.... they became Sunderland A.F.C.

You might as well revert back. Sunderland & District Teachers A.F.C. have more chance of winning something this season. 

[druryfire]

But if they rename and rebrand they will be cutting themselves off from all their history and tradition. If these areas want their "own" clubs then it's up to the local communities to act. There's no reason why it can't be done.

I disagree. Renaming clubs at this stage is a sensible idea if it helps them associate with a community.

Whatever happened to:

1. Newton Heath Lancashire & Yorkshire Railways F.C.?
.... they eventually became Manchester United F.C.

2. Sunderland & District Teachers A.F.C.?
.... they became Sunderland A.F.C.

3. St. Mary's Young Men's Association F.C.?
.... they became Southampton F.C.

4. Thames Ironworks F.C.?
.... they became West Ham United F.C.

5. St. Domigo's F.C. (named after the local parish church)?
.... they became Everton F.C.

Anyway, even if the Police, Army and TTM, PEA, etc. continue as they are, they will still fall short of some classic team names around the world which away fans would no doubt struggle to find on a map such as:

Total Clean F.C. (Peru)
Young Boys F.C. (Switzerland)
4.25 Sports Group F.C. (North Korea)
Go Ahead Eagles F.C. (Netherlands)
Grasshoppers F.C. (Switzerland)
Queen of the South F.C. (Scotland)
Italia Shooters F.C. (Canada)
Scottish Wanderers F.C. (Brazil)
Dandy Town Hornets F.C. (Bermuda)
SV Robin Hood F.C. (Suriname)
The Strongest F.C. (Bolivia)

And don't get me started on American names for football clubs. God forbid we end up with:

Jatujak Jaguars
Udon Unicorns
Pattaya Panthers

etc ...






, Ne

We have been few this time after time Mackem, long before what we have now. I think we have now got to the point where we are happy with what we have got.

Over the last few seasons we have had the Royal Thai Navy renamed Rajnavy Rayong which is acceptable and then we have had the Royal Thai Air Force rename themselves Air Force United. Why? Seem's some teams just don't get it.

We have even had Tobacco Monopoly renamed TTM Samut Sakhon and now TTM Phichit. This club hasn't understood it either just moving from town to town until they hit it off.

I suppose these clubs in there current form do have some sort of fanbase and seem to be happy to live off these minimal numbers. Why, i'm not sure. I guess someone running them likes to tradition or doesn't want to be the 'guy who rebranded his fore fathers team'.

Of course we have slightly moved on from some names such as Thai Farmers Bank - our only ACL winners thus far.


But one thing that does trouble me, is that we have a few teams taking this TPL league somewhere, but are being dragged down by a few stragglers that just won't change.

The AFC have already warned AFC member nations that there is a criteria to aim for and they showed in 2008 that they aren't afraid to drop nations who don't hit that criteria.

The AFC are currently working with the likes of India and Pakistan and these nations are starting to change there football system. For example, if they don't become professional (for Pakistan at least) then the teams will get dropped from the leagues.

India has already told there current I.League members to become professional in everything, from stadia to players and if they don't make the grade they will be cut. What they are hoping for is that the teams that don't hit the criteria will be re-born as another team, slowly moving from company to a city franchise. But this in itself brings other problems.

But generally, many Asian nations have tackled the 'team identity' issue. Some are playing ball, others are holding back. But these teams that are holding back are also in turn holding the league back.

[wolfman]

Anyway, even if the Police, Army and TTM, PEA, etc. continue as they are, they will still fall short of some classic team names around the world which away fans would no doubt struggle to find on a map such as:

Total Clean F.C. (Peru)
Young Boys F.C. (Switzerland)
4.25 Sports Group F.C. (North Korea)
Go Ahead Eagles F.C. (Netherlands)
Grasshoppers F.C. (Switzerland)
Queen of the South F.C. (Scotland)
Italia Shooters F.C. (Canada)
Scottish Wanderers F.C. (Brazil)
Dandy Town Hornets F.C. (Bermuda)
SV Robin Hood F.C. (Suriname)
The Strongest F.C. (Bolivia)

My all time favourite,

Deportivo Wanka (Peru)

[BKK_Mackem]

2. Sunderland & District Teachers A.F.C.?
.... they became Sunderland A.F.C.

You might as well revert back. Sunderland & District Teachers A.F.C. have more chance of winning something this season. 

Which is rich coming from a team that had to merge from 2 teams to make one!

 

[Vinnie]

When Chonburi blazed a trail back in 2005 it showed what could be done by provincial clubs building patiently and forging links with the local community. We have grown organically and this has always been a huge source of pride to me. Do you think that those PEA "fans" in Buriram get the same amount of genuine satisfaction that we do after a win? As football fans we can appreciate the good times because we've also suffered some hardships. It's not always been wine and roses for the Sharks.

I doubt the majority of the new PEA Buriram supporters will know or even care about the club's history. They appear happy to jump on the bandwagon and turn up at Thunder Castle to cheer for their team.

That's one of the saddest aspects about it for me. Just think if they'd all got behind their true local team. There'd be far more satisfaction to be had when they eventually reached the TPL.

Buriram v Korat 2009. Spot the fan

[SriRachaShark]

Ha, ha. I've got a few photos like that lying around.

[Vinnie]

But if they rename and rebrand they will be cutting themselves off from all their history and tradition. If these areas want their "own" clubs then it's up to the local communities to act. There's no reason why it can't be done.

I disagree. Renaming clubs at this stage is a sensible idea if it helps them associate with a community.

Whatever happened to:

1. Newton Heath Lancashire & Yorkshire Railways F.C.?
.... they eventually became Manchester United F.C.

2. Sunderland & District Teachers A.F.C.?
.... they became Sunderland A.F.C.

3. St. Mary's Young Men's Association F.C.?
.... they became Southampton F.C.

4. Thames Ironworks F.C.?
.... they became West Ham United F.C.

5. St. Domigo's F.C. (named after the local parish church)?
.... they became Everton F.C.

Arsenal and QPR somewhat blow a hole in your argument.

[BKK_Mackem]

When Chonburi blazed a trail back in 2005 it showed what could be done by provincial clubs building patiently and forging links with the local community. We have grown organically and this has always been a huge source of pride to me. Do you think that those PEA "fans" in Buriram get the same amount of genuine satisfaction that we do after a win? As football fans we can appreciate the good times because we've also suffered some hardships. It's not always been wine and roses for the Sharks.

I doubt the majority of the new PEA Buriram supporters will know or even care about the club's history. They appear happy to jump on the bandwagon and turn up at Thunder Castle to cheer for their team.

That's one of the saddest aspects about it for me. Just think if they'd all got behind their true local team. There'd be far more satisfaction to be had when they eventually reached the TPL.

Buriram v Korat 2009. Spot the fan

I had a subbuteo stand that looked like that ... about 15 supporters inside it every game! If I had persevered and stopped my brother falling on the stand and crushing it, there could have been a bigger fanbase. Ahhhhhh ... memories.

[BKK_Mackem]

But if they rename and rebrand they will be cutting themselves off from all their history and tradition. If these areas want their "own" clubs then it's up to the local communities to act. There's no reason why it can't be done.

Is that why I never met that girl again who told me she lived in Queen's Park Rangers or got the money back off that bloke who gave me an address in Arsenal???

I disagree. Renaming clubs at this stage is a sensible idea if it helps them associate with a community.

Whatever happened to:

1. Newton Heath Lancashire & Yorkshire Railways F.C.?
.... they eventually became Manchester United F.C.

2. Sunderland & District Teachers A.F.C.?
.... they became Sunderland A.F.C.

3. St. Mary's Young Men's Association F.C.?
.... they became Southampton F.C.

4. Thames Ironworks F.C.?
.... they became West Ham United F.C.

5. St. Domigo's F.C. (named after the local parish church)?
.... they became Everton F.C.

Arsenal and QPR somewhat blow a hole in your argument.

I know. It was a crap argument! 

[Vinnie]

When Chonburi blazed a trail back in 2005 it showed what could be done by provincial clubs building patiently and forging links with the local community. We have grown organically and this has always been a huge source of pride to me. Do you think that those PEA "fans" in Buriram get the same amount of genuine satisfaction that we do after a win? As football fans we can appreciate the good times because we've also suffered some hardships. It's not always been wine and roses for the Sharks.

I doubt the majority of the new PEA Buriram supporters will know or even care about the club's history. They appear happy to jump on the bandwagon and turn up at Thunder Castle to cheer for their team.

That's one of the saddest aspects about it for me. Just think if they'd all got behind their true local team. There'd be far more satisfaction to be had when they eventually reached the TPL.

Buriram v Korat 2009. Spot the fan

Ha, ha. I've got a few photos like that lying around.

And just to prove I'm not biased, Korat v Samut Prakan, April 2008. There were about 150 Korat fans there and precisely zero 'Loyal Fortressians'.

http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/koratfc/photo_gallery.pl?album=45172

[SriRachaShark]

The lowest Chonburi away following I can remember during our time in the TPL was for the last match of the 2006 season. With absolutely nothing at stake, we had no more than 25 fans in the Ladgrabang Technical College Stadium to watch us lose 3-2.

BEC Tero brought the most to our place that year. There were probably about 100 of them.

[Vinnie]

The lowest Chonburi away following I can remember during our time in the TPL was for the last match of the 2006 season. With absolutely nothing at stake, we had no more than 25 fans in the Ladgrabang Technical College Stadium to watch us lose 3-2.

BEC Tero brought the most to our place that year. There were probably about 100 of them.

Some teams in our division that season brought an away support (Sakon Nakhon, Chiang Mai, Chachoengsao, Prachinburi, Songkhla) but Samut Prakan, Ratchaburi, Rajpracha and, unsurprisingly, Satun and Narathiwat didn't. And I mean zero; not one away fan. Of those that did bring fans with them, Sakon Nakhon were the most numerous...about twenty.

[BKK_Mackem]

The lowest Chonburi away following I can remember during our time in the TPL was for the last match of the 2006 season. With absolutely nothing at stake, we had no more than 25 fans in the Ladgrabang Technical College Stadium to watch us lose 3-2.

BEC Tero brought the most to our place that year. There were probably about 100 of them.

I think 25 is not bad considering the circumstances. There were a mere 12 or 13 Nonthaburi fans at BG last night behind the opposite goal. They got a real soaking in the second half!

I'm sure some English teams take less than 25 on their travels. Even clubs that have traditionally good away support fall on hard times at one time or another. Many a time I followed Sunderland away with the biggest following I remember being 12,000 at Manchester City in '91 when we needed to win to stay up. We failed! However, just 5 years before that I vividly remember being at the Hawthorns on a Saturday afternoon and counting just 218 Sunderland fans on the terraces there.

Anyway, be it 25, 12 or even just one ... away fans are all worthy of respect, even if logic challenges their sanity and loyalty!

[SriRachaShark]

As a life long Oldham fan I've been in some very small away crowds. It just makes it all the more satisfying when you win something.

Chonburi took 15 to Korat for the last match of the 2005 season when we won the Pro League title. We still see each other at the match and exchange knowing looks.

[SriRachaShark]

The lowest Chonburi away following I can remember during our time in the TPL was for the last match of the 2006 season. With absolutely nothing at stake, we had no more than 25 fans in the Ladgrabang Technical College Stadium to watch us lose 3-2.

BEC Tero brought the most to our place that year. There were probably about 100 of them.

Some teams in our division that season brought an away support (Sakon Nakhon, Chiang Mai, Chachoengsao, Prachinburi, Songkhla) but Samut Prakan, Ratchaburi, Rajpracha and, unsurprisingly, Satun and Narathiwat didn't. And I mean zero; not one away fan. Of those that did bring fans with them, Sakon Nakhon were the most numerous...about twenty.

"Not one away fan." Now, who does that remind me of?

[Vinnie]

The lowest Chonburi away following I can remember during our time in the TPL was for the last match of the 2006 season. With absolutely nothing at stake, we had no more than 25 fans in the Ladgrabang Technical College Stadium to watch us lose 3-2.

BEC Tero brought the most to our place that year. There were probably about 100 of them.

Some teams in our division that season brought an away support (Sakon Nakhon, Chiang Mai, Chachoengsao, Prachinburi, Songkhla) but Samut Prakan, Ratchaburi, Rajpracha and, unsurprisingly, Satun and Narathiwat didn't. And I mean zero; not one away fan. Of those that did bring fans with them, Sakon Nakhon were the most numerous...about twenty.

"Not one away fan." Now, who does that remind me of?

Who could you be talking about?
'Three years champs' (but one year fans).  Am I on the right lines?

[wolfman]

Anyone know where this guy might be going in the TPL?? The North-east limits it to Buriram-PEA, Si Saket, and possibly Khon Kaen or TOT-Korat

Any fans of these clubs heard anything?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/4105745/Kelly-chases-O-League-lure

[SriRachaShark]

My money's on PEA.

[SriRachaShark]

An interesting archived newspaper article about the state of Thai football in September 2008 can be read here
http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/chonburifc/club_bespoke.pl?page_select=6171

[wolfman]

Just to make us feel a little better, here is the Football Federation Australia getting a bollocking over their running of the A-League. The A-League has been running in it's current form since 2003-04. Almost all clubs are running at a loss, newbies North Queensland Fury almost went under at the end of their debut season last year, and Newcastle Jets are the latest side to need the league to step in and bail them out, after their players were reportedly not paid a couple of weeks back.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/news/1021907/FFA-blasted-by-Fraser

Former A-League boss Archie Fraser has launched a blistering attack on his former paymasters at Football Federation Australia (FFA) for ignoring the welfare of the national competition in favour of indulging its obsession with landing the 2022 World Cup.

Labelling the ruling body as reactive and bloated, Fraser, who quit his post as CEO of the national competition in frustration back in April, claims the A-League has become a basket case flagrantly ignored by FFA which he accuses of failing to promote the domestic game and unwilling to stick up for football's interests.

Fraser, who masterminded the regeneration and rebirth of North Queensland Fury on a consultative basis after quitting College Street, also denounced the short-term aid offered to the cash-strapped Newcastle Jets as unsatisfactory and insisted when he was at the helm he was stymied from making decisions by former boss, FFA CEO Ben Buckley.

Fraser told The World Game, at a time when the A-League has found itself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons with the diving debate and the Jets near crash landing, that the A-League is not a high enough priority.

“The only focus right now at the FFA is the World Cup bid and the A-League has been left to become a basket case, he said.


“The A-League is suffering. Hopefully it will still be there in December when FIFA decides whether we do or don't get the World Cup.

“The structure of the league is wrong. It needs more autonomy and to be separated from the FFA and allowed to look after its own affairs.

“There is no promotion of the game and no cohesive strategy. When I was head of the A-League I couldn't make any decisions, and no decisions were ever made until the last minute. Everything went through Ben Buckley.

"The organisation is purely reactive and never stands up for the game. We never take on the other codes and a lot of people within the FFA seem to be happy with that.

“The dire financial straits at Newcastle have been brewing for nine months. The FFA knew all about it. Nobody sat down and talked to them and offered to help until the very last minute. It’s really a disgrace.”

Fraser believes that a spate of departures from the top echelons of FFA tells its own story.

“Questions need to be asked over why (chief commercial officer) John O'Sullivan, (operations manager) Matt Phelan left, and why were (head of corporate and public affairs) Bonita Mersiades and (chief financial officer) Ian Lewis given the heave-ho," he said.


Fraser, who came to football after three years as CEO of St Kilda in the AFL, believes little has changed since his, and the other departures, at FFA, which has a staff of 106.

“The same situation has continued under my successor Lyall Gorman. He won’t be able to do anything, even if he wanted to. The A-League doesn’t need somebody to passively run a long with things the way they are," he continued.

“It needs some grunt in a competitive market at a critical time for the game. Right now the league is paralysed. The FFA has taken its eye off the ball and that's why I quit.

“The other codes must be looking at us and thinking how good is this? They will be saying, ‘Thank God they haven’t been able to get it right yet. Because when they do we will be in a bit of trouble’.

“My question is why are the directors not doing anything about it? Why is the FFA board sitting back and allowing this to happen?

"Only one director has spoken with me since I resigned. There was no debrief. I sent an email to one director detailing why I went and I was told he had never received it.

“You would think somebody on the board would want to know why I resigned after just over a year.”

Fraser is also convinced that the Sydney Rovers franchise, due to enter the competition in 2011-2012, is unlikely to see the light of day as the hunt for potential investors continues to come up empty.

“I don't think you will see them next season because the backing just isn't there at the moment,” he added. “There were other more deserving causes for an A-League licence.”

Fraser is also stunned at the FFA's handling of the recent high-profile incidents which saw Perth's Glory’s Michael Baird and Central Coast's Patricio Perez found guilty by the match review committee of diving and subsequently banned for two games, without the right of appeal.

“There is no way I would have allowed that to happen,” he said. “Unless there is clear footage which proves the players are guilty of simulation then you can't find them guilty and in the Perez case that was not the case.

“They also have to be able to challenge the ruling. The FFA should just change the rule overnight.”

He is also critical of the this season's fixture scheduling, using the example of the Melbourne Heart playing Fury at home last Saturday when the Western Bulldogs played Collingwood in the AFL.

“They only got 4,000 odd and the game should never have been played. The draw is nothing like the one that was under consideration back in April.”

[wolfman]

My money's on PEA.

I thought so too. However, the article says the deal is done, 'in principle' which I though might rule out Newin, as he has none of those.

[66svein]

We are killing Chonburi today (3-0 HT), just hoping we don`t throw it away in the 2nd half.

I`m in shock and sad I decided not to go to the game.

EDIT:
We won 3-1 and are 6 points away from safety with 7 games left. We have now played 2 TPL-games at our "new" home, 2-0 vs Buriram and 3-1 vs Chonburi (+ 7-0 vs Hat Yai in the league cup), so it looks like we should have been playing there all season.

Well, still believe we are going down, but we have shown that we can beat anyone on the right day.

[the_englishman]

We are killing Chonburi today (3-0 HT), just hoping we don`t throw it away in the 2nd half.

I`m in shock and sad I decided not to go to the game.

EDIT:
We won 3-1 and are 6 points away from safety with 7 games left. We have now played 2 TPL-games at our "new" home, 2-0 vs Buriram and 3-1 vs Chonburi (+ 7-0 vs Hat Yai in the league cup), so it looks like we should have been playing there all season.

Well, still believe we are going down, but we have shown that we can beat anyone on the right day.

Incredible! You have done us a big favour and at least you are in with a fighting chance.

[66svein]

We are killing Chonburi today (3-0 HT), just hoping we don`t throw it away in the 2nd half.

I`m in shock and sad I decided not to go to the game.

EDIT:
We won 3-1 and are 6 points away from safety with 7 games left. We have now played 2 TPL-games at our "new" home, 2-0 vs Buriram and 3-1 vs Chonburi (+ 7-0 vs Hat Yai in the league cup), so it looks like we should have been playing there all season.

Well, still believe we are going down, but we have shown that we can beat anyone on the right day.

Incredible! You have done us a big favour and at least you are in with a fighting chance.

Too bad we didn`t play Muangthong too at the university.
We still may need 4 or 5 wins from the last 7 games to stay up, so it will be a miracle if we can do it after what we have seen this season, but it`s clearly the team believes they can win games at the university, something they don`t at Thai-Japanese.

With 7 games left of the season these are the 6 teams fighting to avoid the drop to Division 1:

Police United 25 points
TOT 25 points
Navy Rayong 23 points
Army 20 points
Sisaket 19 points
Bangkok United 17 points

I think the teams on 28 points and more are safe.
Last season Sri Racha was relegated with 30 points, while Navy Rayong and Bangkok United, also on 30 points, stayed up because of better head to head in the games amongst those 3 teams.
If decided on goal difference Navy Rayong would have been relegated.

[lokomotive]

And I bet with you, that in case BU stays up, next year they will play at the Uni Stadium. You know ......all that superstition stuff.

[druryfire]

And I bet with you, that in case BU stays up, next year they will play at the Uni Stadium. You know ......all that superstition stuff.

Stay up or go down they will be there next year,  suddenly the team of bangkok that no one cared about are all cared by us - still going down in my opinion, too much work to do. Only other thing is that this weekend probably confirmed sisaket going down aswell, again too much to claw back for me

[66svein]

And I bet with you, that in case BU stays up, next year they will play at the Uni Stadium. You know ......all that superstition stuff.

Stay up or go down they will be there next year,  suddenly the team of bangkok that no one cared about are all cared by us - still going down in my opinion, too much work to do. Only other thing is that this weekend probably confirmed sisaket going down aswell, again too much to claw back for me

I also think they (we) will go down, and I`m worried that they will stay at the university next season too.
Next weekend`s big game: Sisaket vs Bangkok United

[druryfire]

maybe time to get behind bangkok if utd stay out of bangkok? could be a big game between the two next year.

Your comments about them staying at the uni come across as if you didn't recognise them when they were there before, almost like when they came utd they were a different club altogether.

[66svein]

maybe time to get behind bangkok if utd stay out of bangkok? could be a big game between the two next year.

Your comments about them staying at the uni come across as if you didn't recognise them when they were there before, almost like when they came utd they were a different club altogether.

I have only been a BU-supporter since september last year, and at that time I found a Bangkok-team to support. I won`t support another team if BU decide to stay at Rangsit next season, but I won`t see too many of their games either, and maybe I will go see other teams without supporting them. I don`t feel they`re my local team when the homegames are being played at least one hour away in a taxi.

But I`m still hoping Bangkok United will be a Bangkok-team next season, and if they are, I will be there whatever Division they`ll be in.

[druryfire]

maybe time to get behind bangkok if utd stay out of bangkok? could be a big game between the two next year.

Your comments about them staying at the uni come across as if you didn't recognise them when they were there before, almost like when they came utd they were a different club altogether.

I have only been a BU-supporter since september last year, and at that time I found a Bangkok-team to support. I won`t support another team if BU decide to stay at Rangsit next season, but I won`t see too many of their games either, and maybe I will go see other teams without supporting them. I don`t feel they`re my local team when the homegames are being played at least one hour away in a taxi.

But I`m still hoping Bangkok United will be a Bangkok-team next season, and if they are, I will be there whatever Division they`ll be in.

It does just seem a shame that the team can't see this and would seem to be happy to go to wherever they work best.

Of course the only clubs that will forever represent are the clubs that will forever stay as little clubs.

I guess bangkok is just too big a place to represent the whole of bangkok and most people would be suited to the littler clubs but having to put there dreams of progression to the side.

It would be good though to see you watch games at randoom rather than lose football if your team does get up and move