Prepare yourself Thai Port....

....the 2010 AFC Cup will soon be here. You will of course be drawn in the East Asian side amongest the following:

Geylang United (Singapore Cup winners)
Binh Duong (V League runners up)
South China (HK League Winners)
Tai Po (HK FA Cup winners)
VB Sports Club (Dhivehi League winners - Maldives)
Victory SC (Maldives FA Cup winners)
Selangor (Malaysian League winners)
Negeri Sembilan (Malaysian FA Cup winners)

and also 3 champions league playoff losers.


So who you fancy?

Congratulations Pohang Steelers...

... on winning the 2009 Asian Champions League, their 3rd title in the competition.

Best of luck in the CWC in December

One eye on Singapore

Singapore took to the field today defeating Indonesia 3 - 1.

The dangerman?

Big Alexsandr Duric, he's getting on know, but still scores goals. Will be a threat in the air against Thailand.

Although Singapore won, i can't really see what this match today brought. Again, it was another regional matchup, surely the fans are fed up of seeing all ASEAN friendly matchups, especially after having AFF Championships every two years.

Our ASEAN neighbours need to think out of the bowl a little and get better matchups.

Maybe Singapore, you could say, were playing a team similiar to Thailand, but boy, these games do get boring now.

Welcome Syria.....

The Syrian national team should be arriving any minute now. Expect a rousy reception at the airport? No chance.

Syria Themselves

So what do we know about them?

So far this year, they have played 14 games in this calendar year, thus far winning 10 of them, but whom have they played?

Well, they beat China in January in an ACQ, but it must be said, this is a weak China.

Besides then drawing with South Korea, Syria have generally faced oppostition they and Thailand would expect to beat. The likes of Lebanon, Sri Lanka and Kyrgyzstan.

The bulk of the games have also been played in the Indian Nehru Cup, of which Thailand were invited too, and then turned away after giving the Indian authorites an Under 19 team lineup.

Syria played well at the tournament, but sucummbed to an average Indian team in the final. An Indian team I would expect Thailand to beat home or away.

Past Meetings

We have met on 3 previous occasions, all on neutral ground and the last meeting being way back in 1984. Thailand have won all 3 encounters.

13/07/78 Thailand 3 - 1 Syria (Kuala Kumpur, Friendly)
23/11/82 Thailand 3 - 1 Syria (New Delhi, Friendly)
13/08/84 Thailand 3 - 2 Syria (Jakarta, Asian Cup Qualifier)

My opinion on Syria

My honest opinion... an up and coming team in Asia. More often than not, overlooked by their Arab neighbours.

They get the job done on home soil against weaker nations, but can struggle away from home.

Domestic league teams have faired well in continental competitions, particulary Al Karamah, but when the going gets tough, they can well struggle.

Should be a good matchup against Thailand, but with players just coming back from AFC Cup action, we should catch them on a bit of a downer and possibly catch them cold.

Hopefully, it will be a kick start for Robson's new Thai Army

Congratulations Al Kuwait

Well done Al Kuwait on winning the 2009 AFC Cup on home soil against Al Karamah of Syria.

Another victory for a West Asian side. Can Thai Port bring some glory back to the East next year?

Not just Thai clubs changing names.....

HANOI (1 Nov 2009) – Fourth Military Zone have become the second team in the V-League to be taken over a private corporation following that of The Cong.

National army team The Cong was renamed after their long-time sponsor Viettel last month while this time round, Navibank have taken over the administration of Fourth Military Zone.

“Navibank have bought the club, so the club will be called Navibank. I and all the players will also be managed by the bank,” said head coach Vu Quang Baoen.

HCMC-based Navibank will make a public announcement of the new name in Ho Chi Minh City this week.


http://www.aseanfootball.org/news_d.asp?id=1088

Robson Watch

It's fair to say that Bryan Robson didn't pick the squad for the recent Kata Cup tournament played down in Phuket, but did he take any notice of the personnel on show?

Robson's first real opportunity to show us that he is an international football manager comes next week against Syria. A Syrian side that is more than likely going to be depleted due to the majorty of the sqaud playing for Syrian national champions Al Karamah in the AFC Cup final on Tuesday.

What can we expect to see from Robson's first match in charge? Who knows, but this is my call....

Without knowing the squad, i will use my crystal ball.

I expect to see Kittisak Rawangpa back in goal due to Kosin flying off to Indonesia. I think Kittisak is needed as an old head for the double header with Singapore ahead.

Nattaporn Phanrit has always impressed me in defence, probably due to the fact that i saw him score his first two international goals, but at times he does lack concentration along with Nattaphong Samana, whom some people rave about, but personally i can't stand him. But i d see these guys taking a centre back and left back spot

Therdsak Chaiman to be used for 20 minutes at the end of the game to 'up' the tempo, which may well be needed against Singapore. May be too risky to play he with Thonglao due to both being playmakers.

We need some kind of midfield destroyer, Surat Sukha comes to mind, but, lets assume he's often unavailable due to being in 'oz', so Nuchnum or Choeichiu, i like these guys, they are steady going.

Up front, last year Dangda impressed me in the air, but doesn't do much else, so i'd like to see a livewire playing, and everyone knows i'm calling for Anon Sangsanoi to be included on a more regular basis.

So Bryan, there's my early thoughts, what about yours?

Time for a closer look at....Rattana Bundit

Rattana Bundit Football Club

Nickname: RBAC
Founded: 1998 off the back of BMA
Stadium: Rattana Bundit University Stadium

Honours

1998 Yamaha Cup

History

Rattana Bundit FC were born off the back of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration FC whom went bankrupt in the Asian Finanical Crisis of 1998. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration FC themselves took over from SET FC (Stock Exchange of Thailand) in similar circumstances in the early years of the Thailand Premier League.

SET FC reached the championship final playoff match in 1997 were they came up against Bangkok Bank FC in which they lost 2-0. Bangkok Bank FC therefore claimed in the inaugural Thailand Premier League title and SET FC claimed the runners up spot.

Following a new set-up for the Thailand Premier League 1997 season, SET FC, played under the name Bangkok Metropolitan Administration FC and cam in a creditable 7th position. The following year, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration FC fell down the league table and finished in 11th position, which forced the club to enter the promotion / relegation end of season playoff match. Here they met Assumption Sriraja. This year also saw Bangkok Metropolitan Administration FC first piece of silverware as they won the 14th Yamaha Thailand Cup, beating Nakhon Si Thammarat in the final.

In the Thailand Premier League 1999 season they moved up the table and finished in 9th position, an improvement on the previous year. The Thailand Premier League 2000 season was BMA's last as they finished in 4th position but feel on hard times and were replaced by Rattana Bundit FC the following year in the Thailand Premier League. It is believed that the club uses the same badge but plays under a different name from BMA and has closer links to the university in the area.

In their first appearance in the Premier League under their newly formed club, Rattana succumbed to relegation to the Thailand Division 1 League, after they could only total 18 points and only 10 goals in 22 matches in a very poor season.

Since relegation, Rattana have been a mid table team in the 1st Division and occasionally playing with fire in the relegation spots, only to pull away in the closing stages of the season.


Previous Names
SET FC (Stock Exchange of Thailand FC)
BMA FC (Bangkok Metropolitan Administration FC)


This article, it must be sadi, was created with the help of Wikipedia, but none the less, I created that article, so take full credit!!