Reid's Going, who's coming in?

Ok, Ok, will he won't he, no matter what, Peter Reid has been looking for a way out. And it all happened on the day that the September issue of World Soccer had an intervew with the Thai coach and how he was liking it here.

So, who will take over?

Bar Steve Darby, who seems to have it sown (and why not, when qualifiers are not far around the corner).

In the future, we will see the likes of Tawan Sripan and Zico being out forward, but first of all they need to gain that experience and possibly even have a couple of years abroad learning different tactics and techniques. It possible wouldn't be bad to get on the coaching staff of an A-Legaue or J-League team.

The next best thing we can look for is a foriegn coach, but if this was to happen, then personally i would go for someone who knows the region well. Reid came in and had to adapt, would it benefit us if someone could just jump in and get up and running straight away? Thats not to say Reid did bad, but with games left, right and centre all the time, and with points at stake, people need to know what they are dealing with. Thats why it makes sense to hire Steve Darby as the next coach.

One other name i think highly of, is the Australian Scott O'Donnell, currently the coach of Cambodia for the SEA Games, how would he fair? Well, he knows the region and mentality, and has a bundle of enthusiasm for the game. He's young enough to get the lads motivated. So, ok, he's been in Cambodia, but he's moved the game single handly to be on a professional stance.

Another coach who could work short term would be Laos coach Alfred Riedl, again preparing for the SEA Games. Ok, he's old, and would definatly be short term, but he nows the game well and would more thnan likely jump at the chance to coach the regional powerhouse.

Phillippe Troussier, the Frenchman and former coach of Japan would come highly recommended, but the downfall would be that he would want full power from top to bottom, something that i don't think is needed in Thailand

Peter Reid set to resign

Peter Reid has reached agreement with the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) to leave his post as its national team coach to become Stoke's assistant manager, English media reported yesterday.

Peter Reid signed a four-year contract with the Thai FA last September. FILE PHOTO
"Once everything was sorted out with the Thai FA, which was important because I did have three years left on a deal there and I didn't want to upset anyone there, I was delighted to say yes and be part of it," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I enjoyed it there. The players are technically very very good. It's a great place to live in terms of the culture and the climate," the English coach said.
"But the Premier League is the greatest league in the world and I'm English through and through. Even though it was very difficult to leave, it was always my ambition to come back here and work."

The 53-year-old, who signed a four-year contract with the FAT last September, was expected to be in the dugout last night when Stoke took on Leyton Orient in the League Cup.

Reid insists he has no problem with taking on the role of a number two.
"I did the same thing at Manchester City and Everton, and the England Under-21s, so it's not a problem," he said.

"Anything to do with football I enjoy. I enjoy being involved with the players. The role is fine, it will do for me as long as I can have an impact here and help this club grow stronger."

The former Leeds and Sunderland manager added: "The club has done fantastic staying in the Premier League. We've got a battle on this season but it's important I can help the players and Tony Pulis to improve and make the club stronger - that's my job.

"Number two doesn't matter. As long as I can have some input into making this club stronger."

Stoke's interest in Reid stepped up a gear last week when Pulis contacted the former England midfielder to sound him out.

"I saw him on a social occasion and he flagged it up," said Reid.

"I was due to fly out to Dubai last Friday and I got a call in the morning (saying) could I get down here and we had a chat and we clicked. I've known Tony numerous years."

FAT secretary-general Ong-art Kosinkha said: "News from the BBC is often trustworthy."

He said the matter could become clear today after FAT president Worawi Makudi, who is in England as guest of the English FA, talked to Reid."We should get a conclusion tomorrow," Ong-art said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/22756/reid-confirms-he-leaving-for-stoke

Thailand U19 - Champions of ASEAN

Thailand Under 19's did it and lifted the Regional Youth Championship in Vietnam.

They did it the hard way, drawing 2-2 with Australia before beating them 3-2 on penalties.

On each occasion, Thailand took the lead with Australia replyign late into injury time.

Under 19's in Final action

The Thai Under 19 team take on Australia in the final of the AFF Youth Championship.

Australia are the defending champions after lifting the trophy last year in Bangkok.

Australia have lifted the championship twice, whereas Thailand have always tended to struggle.

Tomorrow in Vietnam, it could be a completly different matter. Both teams drew 1-1 in the group stage.

Should be an interesting final and good preperation for the upcoming AFC qualifiers

AFF Youth Championship

GREAT START FOR THAILAND AND VIETNAM


HO CHI MINH CITY (4 August 2009) – Thailand and Vietnam got just the start they wanted in the AFF Under-19 Championship as they each picked up full points over their respective opponents to put them on a confident mood for their second match in two days.In Group A, Thailand sidestepped Cambodia 3-0 as Singapore held Australia to a 1-1 draw in the other match of the day.In Group B, hosts Vietnam edged Malaysia 2-0 while for Myanmar they were awarded with a 3-0 win for a walkover following the failure of Timor Leste to turn up for their tie.But the rain which has been steadily hitting the city for the past week affected the quality of the matches being played.

At the Thong Nhat Stadium, the Thais who have been steadily building up to this tournament over the last two weeks, scored their first goal of the game in the 41st minute through Adisak Krisorn for the 1-0 lead at the half.But Cambodia held fast after the break but as the match wore on under constant Thai pressure, their desperation saw defender Thong Oudom being red carded in the 57th minute.

With the advantage, Sarach Yooyen then carved the second goal for Thailand in the 73rd minute before Natthawut Khamrin wrapped things up with the third and final goal of the evening six minutes to the end.Hosts Vietnam found Malaysia a hard nut to crack in the first half and only prised open their opponent’s defence two minutes after the break through Nguyen Dinh Bao.In the match that saw a flurry of cards being flashed, Vietnam captain Nguyen Van Quyet then sealed the points for the homesters with the second goal just a minute after the hour mark.

Over at the Thang Long Mini Stadium, it was Australia who created the first real chance of the game when in the fifth minute, Joshua McVey took a shot from close range which was parried by Singapore custodian Neezam Abdul Razak.Neezam was again in his element four minutes later as this time he blocked Cameron Edwards’ attempt for a futile corner.

Singapore’s best chance of the half was in the 12th minute but striker Khairul Nizam Kamal could not beat Australian keeper Mark Birighitti.In the 20th minute of play, Australia finally went in front when McVey delivered a cross for the unmarked Eli Babalj to head home from close range.The game went into higher after that but it failed to change the scoreline at the break.Singapore came out stronger in the second half and in the 65th minute, they finally found the equaliser when an incisive pass from Syafiq Zainal was picked up by Khairul Nizam who blasted it past Birighitti for the well-deserved equaliser.

In the 78th minute, Mohd Shakir hamzah was red carded for an off the ball incident against Australia’s McVey.“We created a lot of chances in the first half and we should have scored several goals,” said Johannes Versleijen, the head coach for Australia.Replied Salim Moin, the head coach for Singapore: “we were better in the second half and if it had not been for the red card, perhaps we could have won the match.”In the meantime, Myanmar picked up the full three points without having to kick a ball when Timor Leste failed to make it to the game.

The Timorese will arrive only later in the night.

http://www.aseanfootball.org/headlines_01.asp?id=962

Going back in time...........TPL 1996/97

Looking back at the formation of the TPL. Where were you back in 1996/97??

Bangkok Bank were greatly receiving the first ever TPL Championship, - how times have changed - they're no longer with us.

The Structure

18 clubs took centre stage, primilary from Bangkok to fight for a top four finish to enter the end of season playoffs to be crowned champions.

Were the end of season playoffs a success? Well, no, they were never used again. They were possibly created to mirror the structure of West Asian countries, which send their top 4 teams into another competition.

6 clubs, would be relegated, thats quite a lot. I can only assume at the beginning of the TPL, 18 clubs enetered an were accepted, with no serious lower level football to go into , they then generally had to take part until a proper structure was formed.

So, the TPL had 18 clubs, playing each team twice to make 34 games, quite a lot of games in the earlier days, which would drastically be changed within the enxt few season.

6 clubs would get releagted, and 4 entering a championship playoff.

The championship playoffs

The top four, Thai Farmers Bank, TOT, Bangkok Bank and SET FC met in two semi-finals.

Highly fancied Thai Farmers Bank, coming off the back of two Asian Champions League victories in 1994 and 1995 would meet the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET FC). Two very original names!.

SET FC just scraped into the championship playoff, by having 2 more goals than UCOM RajPracha, todays Raj-Pracha-Nonthaburi side.

SET duly won the game 2-0 and caused a crisis in the TFB team, possibly leading to the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis aswell (whatever??) and would meet Bangkok Bank in the final after they defeated TOT 3-2.

At stake for the winners of the SET FC - BKK Bank match, would be a place in the Asian Club Championship. Asia's very own top club event.

A lot was at stake, SET had shares on the game, BKK Bank had foriegn currency, possibly obtained illegally. Anyway, Bangkok Bank triumphed and ran anyway with the silverware, 2-0.

The Relegation Clash

As previously stated, 6 out of 18 would go down, leading to a formation of an elite 12 in the TPL the following year, and a new 1st division to be formed.

The 6 teams who failed to make it into the top 12 elite, Thailand Tobacco Monopoly, Osotsapa, Bangkok Bank of Commerce, Raj Vithi, Krung Thai Bank and Thamrongthai will join the top four teams from the old second division - Rayong, Samut Prakan, Royal Household Bureau and Bank for Agriculture and Co-Operatives - to make up a new second tier. It was also confirmed that there will be no play-offs for the championship this year and just one team will go either down to the Second Division and up to the first. However, the second bottom team in the top division will have to face. The second placed team in the second division to decide who takes up a place in the top 12 next year.

Regional League - Brief Update

It's certainly hotting up at this level.

With 4 games reamining in the pro-BKK league, we have a two horse race between Raj Pracha and Kasem Bundit

In the North East, with 6 games remaining, we have Loei and Korat matching each other

In the Central East, again with 6 games remaining, we have Ayutthaya and Samut Prakan neck and neck

The same is happening in the South, with Narathiwat and Satun joint level.

Only the Northern league seemed to be over at a canter.