Thai Clubs v Singapore Clubs

Muang take on Singapore champions SAFFC on Saturday, so let's take a brief look at the history of Thai v Singapore clubs:

Played:32
Won: 14
Drawn: 5
Lost: 13

Of course, it's Muang's first adventure in Asian competition, so they have never come up against Singaporese opposition before. SAFFC on the other hand have met Thai oppostion on 5 occasions:

1999-2000 Asian Club Championship: SAFFC 1:1 Sinthana
1999-2000 Asian Club Championship: Sinthana 2:1 SAFFC
2001-02 Asian Club Championship: BEC 3:0 SAFFC
2001-02 Asian Club Championship: SAFFC 1:5 BEC
2009 AFC Champions League qualifier: PEA 1:4 SAFFC

Just last year SAFFC sent out a message to Thai clubs with a 4-1 victory over PEA. Something of a shock at the beginning of last season, but as the season moved on, it did become noticable that this PEA team wasn't anything like the PEA team that won the 2008 TPL.

In the 2001-02 ACC, SAFFC got a stuffing from BEC, but it must be said that this BEC team were practically the ASEAN king's of the team, if not the whole of Asia. BEC were the big spenders in the region at the time and surprised a hell of a lot of people in making the final of the ACL just a year later.

Saturdays game will be an interesting matchup. The tie could go either way. SAFFC are no pushovers, the only highlight i see at the moment is that they lost the big man Duric to S.League rivals Tampines, so set pieces we should be able to deal with, but here we go again - Thailand v Singapore in the greatest club event in Asia.

Myanmar in Thailand

Myanmar have lined up two friendlies in Thailand:

01/02/10 v Royal Thai Army
03/02/10 v Thai Port

Part of Myanmar's preperations for the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup

Thai Clubs in Asia

Asian Champions League
Muangthong came through the first ACL qualifier defeating Vietnames side Da Nang away from home 3-0. They now go onto meet SAFFC of Singapore.

It is Muangthong's first foray in Asian competition

AFC Cup
Thai Port represent Thailand in Asia's secondary competition. They are drawn against Tai Po of Hong Kong, Geylang Utd (Singapore) and ACL dropouts Da Nang (Vietnam)

Thai Port have played in the old Asian Club Championship on two occasions, way back in the 1987 and 1992 campaigns.

2010 Queen's Cup

This year 16 clubs have entered the tournament jointly run by FAT and Chonburi F.C.

Group A - Air Force, BEC, Pattaya, Raj-Pracha (games played in Pattaya)
Group B - Police, Rajnavy, TOT, Hakka-Sriracha (games played in Rayong)
Group C - Thai Port, Samut Songkhram, Osotspa, Army (games played in Saraburi)
Group D - Chonbrui, Krung Thai Bank-BG Sport, Raj Vithi, Sinthana (games played in Chonburi)

2010 League Setup

2010 League Setup

Premier League

16 clubs, 3 teams will be relegated, but it is unclear at this moment if a promotion / relegation pool will be played at the end of the season as the TPL aim to expand from 16 clubs to 18 clubs, with a view of hiting the 33 games ACL Criteria.

Clubs - Bangkok Glass, Bangkok United, BEC Tero Sasana, Chonburi, Muangthong Utd, Osotspa Saraburi, Pattaya United, Buriram PEA, Rajnavy Rayong, Royal Thai Army, Police United, Samut Songkhram, Sisaket, Thai Port, TOT-CAT, TTM Phichit

TOT renamed TOT-CAT (sponsor reasons)
TTM Samut Sakon renamed TTM Phichit (moved province)
PEA renamed Buriram PEA (new owners, moved location)

Division One

Clubs - Air Force United, Chang Chiangmai RBAC, Chanthaburi, Chaingrai Utd, Chula Utd, CD Phetchburi, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Pathom, Narathiwat, Prachinburi, PTT, Raj-Pracha Nonthaburi, Songkhla, Sriracha, Suphanburi, Thai Honda


Regional League

The Regional League (3rd tier) has been expanded to feature more provincial club sides. The football association are generally cashing in on the sudden up take on domestic football.

But it could be a case of running before they can walk.

Some clubs have switched regional league and absurdly, 3 teams are using one ground, yet they don't play in the same regional division.

Chiang Rai have also entered a new team, since last years Chiang Rai got promoted, so we now have two Chiang Rai's in the football setup.

Northern League

Kamphaeng Phet, Chainat, Chiangmai, Chaingrai, Nakhon Sawan, Tak, Lampang, Phayao, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phetchbun, Phare Utd, Singburi, Sukhothai, Uttraadit, Uthai Thani

North East League

Buriram, Chaiyaphun, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Mahasarakham, Mukdahan, Roi Et, Loei City, Surin, Sakhon Nakon, Udon Thani, Ubon Tiger, Nong Khai, Yasothon, Nong Bua Lamphu, Kalasin

Central-East League

Cha Choeng Sao, Nakhon Nayok, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Lopburi, Saraburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Muangkan, Phetchburi, Ang Thong, Sa Kaeo, Prachinburi Utd, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Kabinburi

Southern League

Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Pattani, Phattulang, Phukey, Yala, Satun, Surat Thani, Trang, Ranong, Phang Nga, Chumphin, Hat Yai

Bangkok League

Thai Air Look Issan, Bangkok Christian College, Bangkok Bravo, Bangkok North Central, Kasetsart Uni, Kasem Bundit, Rangsit Uni, Nakhon Sawan Uni, Thai Summit, Raj Vithi, Rose Asia, Nonthaburi, Uni of North Bangkok

2011 King's Cup

2011 edition of the King's Cup is set to be played in Phichit.

This announcement comes ever so early...


http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/31754/ticket-money-sent-to-haiti

Have you faith in Robson??

I for one don't.

I think he's tactically inept.

He's just had 3 games to work out his squad for the crucial Asian Cup qualifier against Iran. A game, that we really need to win. A draw might squeeze us through, but come on, a win puts us on the plane to Qatar.

Recently, Robson has been using the 4-5-1 formation. Why? To keep clean sheets? It's not working against good opposition. It may well work against other middle ranking Asian nations, but i don't think it will work against much better Asian oppostion such as Iran. Not away from home anyway.

If Robson continues to use 4-5-1, then surely he needs a target man to hold up the ball? It seems he wants busy players, loose chickens to run around, chase things down. But international football isn't about this.

I think Robson is the weak link of the national team setup. Maybe it's not his fault. For one, I don't think he picks the players, actually, I don't think he could pick the players as he has never seen more than 3 TPL games - so its not his fault, and his faith is on his assitant Steve Darby to make most of the decisions - if FAT allows him.

Currently we are lacking goals, confidence from our front men must be low. Surely its time to use a bit of experience, 3 matches have juts gone, and it wasn't used.

Robson simply doesn't know enough about Asian football to make any kind of difference. There's many lesser known Europeans, mainly Eastern European, that could do a fair better job - but their name would never catch for Thai popularity. Yemeni coach Srecko Juricic comes to mind.

Come Tehran, Robson has to win me over. He has to go out andd attack Iran. If we lose we lose, but we have to go out fighting. If we sit back and hope not to concede and catch them on the break, then i simply see this as negative football and can see us being a joke in Qatar.

Robson could draw the game 0-0 and still go out. But Robson will claim a morale victory. Yes, it would be a good result away to Iran, but not the result that is needed in the circumstance.

I for one am losing patience with Robson and if we don't win in Tehran or at least go down fighting, i will be calling for his head.

So come on Robbo, show us why you were a manager in the most exciting league in the world and give us fans something to cheer about rather than sit back and just simply hope.

Thailand Selection V Ulsan Hyundai - 13th Jan

Promotion / Relegation Issues

Rumour has it, 4 teams will be relegated from the TPL this year.

So four promotions from DIV 1, which in turn has 4 teams relegated.

All we need to know now is, how many leagues are we having in the Regional setup!!

Bloody Thai Football

I brought some news yesterday involving the coaching merry go round that we have.

Today, reports suggest everything has changed again. PEA have their original coach. TOT have their original coach. Why? Who knows? Only in Thai football can this circus happen

TOT unveil new owner

TOT have a new owner; Piroj Suwannachavee, he takes over from Wasukree Klapairee.

First move he has done is to bring back former coach Pongphan Wongsuwan.

Former Bangkok Uunited coach Somchai Subpherm gets the boot straight away.

Buriram PEA

PEA - It just goes from bad to worse for the club.

They upped sticks in pre-season, now so has the new coach Pongphan Wongsuwan. Without playing a competitive game, he has already gone back to former club TOT.

PEA just can't get it right off the field. The glory season of 2008 seems a very distant memory now.

Asian Cup Qualifier: Thailand 0 - 0 Jordan

Thailand: Kosin Hathairattanakool, Suree Sukha, Nattapong Samana, Panupong Wongsa (C), Nattaporn Phanrit, Rangsan Vivatchaichok, Pichitpong Choichieu, Suchao Nutnum, Sutee Suksomkit, Narongchai Vachiraban, Teeratep "Leesaw" Winothai.

Subs: Kawin Thamasatchanon, Suttinan Phukhom, Anawin Jujeen, Therdsak Chaiman, Pipat Tonkanya, Keerati Keawsombat, Anon Sangsanoi

Right, i've read the excellant report from http://thaiportfc.blogspot.com/2010/01/2011-asian-cup-qual-thailand-0-0-jordan.html and will now give my two pence worth.

Tactics

Looks like a 4-5-1 formation at home to a half decent Jordan. But let's face it, Jordan aren't exactly world beaters. So why we fearing them? Why not play two up front, or lets be honest, two recognised strikers up front. I do tend to see most of our strikers as wingers in all fairness.

Generally, yes, we had a strong squad out. Datsakorn Thonglao and Surat Sukha being the only notable players not to feature. But, against this Jordan team, someone else should be able to step up and take control and be the falir player.

Winothai up front? For me no, as an attacking winger yes. I've said this before, but it seems as though there is so much pressure on him to deliver, that he just can't do it, he needs someone else up top to help him.

Subs

Why Pipat only came on for 3 minutes is beyond me? Does Robson not understand that a win at home was a must. Pipat should have been thrown on much earlier. Robson should of at least had a good last quarter of an hour throwing the kitchen sink at Jordan.

Keerati Keawsombat - he's new to the setup, he needs more experience. Surely Pipat should have been on before Keerati? Is Keerati really that much better than Anon Sangsanoi? Ok, Anon hasn't really done it at national level either, but surely the BEC hitman could have done something with a bit of service?

Therdsak Chaiman - I think it was expected that he'd make a cameo appearance. Probably a good move, but coming on for Sutee? Sutee is a flair player, i think another 10 minutes out of Sutee wouldn't have hurt.

Thailand need goals

Thailand are struggling to score in the games that really count. Maybe Sompong Soleb, whom had a decent SEA Games could have been included in the match day squad to be thrown on? He's been on fire. It might of paid off. Would it have paid off?

Cautious Robson

Ok, he didn't want to lose. A loss and Thailand would have been packing their bags already. Does Robson think this is a good result? Can he see us going to Tehran to gain victory? I don't. I see Robson getting sacked.

Tomorrow, he can claim he's still in the running. But the game was there today to win. He should have thrown the kitchen sink at Jordan in the last 15 minutes. They wouldn't have stood the pressure. This is a Jordan team that drew with poor old Malaysia in September. It's not a UAE or Bahraini team that would have proved too difficult.

Jordan will be much the happier with today's result. And they will feel that they can beat Singapore on home soil and take 2nd spot. For Thailand, well, victory in Iran would be something amazing in all reality. Lets just hope Iran take the foot off the gas a little.

Criteria for Participation in 2011 ACL

The AFC has released the criteria to enter the Champions League for the 2011 and 2012seasons, view at your own lesiure here:

http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/Documents/regulation/clubcriteria.pdf

Interesting to note that the AFC will not allow any game to be 'fixed' in the past three seasons, interesting criteria in deed.

As in the last assement done in 2008, it's interesting to note that promotion/relegation is required. It smacks me that Austalia don't fullfil this but still got entry.

Of course, each Member Association (MA) doesn't have to fullfil everything, they just have to score highly and then the AFC hand out the allocations.

For reference, the following nations have asked to participate:

East Asia

Already participating: Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea
Keen to participate: Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

West Asia

Already participating: Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Uzbekistan
Keen to participate: Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Tajikistan, Yemen

Nations already participating will get allocations, but may lose or gain more 'slots'.

Nations keen to participate will have to be approved, something i can't see the likes of Pakistan, Yemen and Myanmar achieving.

To add more to criteria, the AFC has also stated that in 2012, will include having a league that has at least 12 teams in the top division, no fewer than 33 matches a season per team, and a minimum of 20 players under professional contracts at each club.

So we need a 33 game season!!! Time to expand the league or reduce and play each other 3 or 4 times.

2010 AFF Suzuki Cup

Sponsors, the World Sport Group has put the championship into their events diary for the year.

Set to start on 1st December until 29th.

World Sport Group are the event organisers and run everything from start to finish.