Thailand 0 - 0 Iran

Importantt point at home to Iran.

Put's Thailand in 3rd place after Singapore beat Jordan 2-1. But two games played and two points gained is a good result. Just have to make sure we get 4 poitns out of 6 in the double header in November with Singapore. A derby that, in reality, could produce any result:

The Squad:

K. Hathairrattanakool (A mouthful!!)
Suree Suhka
Surat Suhka
C. Jantakam
N. Phanrit
D. Thonglao
S. Nutnum
T. Dangda
N. Samana
S. Suksomkit
P. Choeichiu

Subs:

N. Siriwong - on for Phanrit
T. Winothai - on for Choeichiu
R. Vivatchaichok - on for Surat Sukha

Peter Reid Record:

Played: 13
Won: 7
Drawn: 4
Lost: 2
Scored: 21
Conceded: 8

Jordan 0 - 0 Thailand - Match Reaction

Well, a draw is what i wanted, so i'm very happy, especially after seeing Iran thump Singapore 6-0.

Hopefully going into the next qualifier against Iran, we might just catch them off guard, hopefully they might be a bit to cocky.

Back to tonights game. And Reid is starting to show that he can be a decent tactician. Never before have i seen him in his career change the formation from an attacking lineup to a more defensive unit primed to attack on the counter. But this is international football, and playing a long way from home in a region we never really feel comfortable in, so Reid gets high marks.

Of course, much of Reid's tinkering to play one up front was more due to the fact that instrumental forward Terratep Winothai was not involved as he has linked up with his new clubside. Options of which Reid only had was young, youthful lads who have not really got any big game experience, and this needed it.

Certainly in the middle of the park, he picked experience in 58 caps Sukomskit and Thonglao joined by mid 30 caps Nutnum and Choeichiu. Only Surat Sukha wasn't in double figures until today, but he has been a regular with Reid. The only downside to his game is that he picks up to many cards (mainly red), which he could just as easily pick up in Jordan.

Big suprise today was TPL leading goalscorer of 2008, Anon Sangsanoi got some game time, this lad, although has a huge future ahead of himself never really made Reid sit up and be noticed and was only included in recent squads due to the lack of firepower, so to see him get some game time was a shock to begin with.

All said and done, the boys did the job that was expected, and in reality, we need Iran to beat our rivals Jordan and Singapore and let us pick up the 3 points at home and sneak them single pointers away.

Roll on Iran!!

Jordan 0 - 0 Thailand

Asian Cup 2011 Qualification

Group E, Matchday One

Jordan 0 - 0 Thailand

Amman International Stadium, Amman

Thailand Squad (Players Used)

THAILAND: Kosin Hathairatanakul, Suree Sukha, Chonlatit Jantakam, Nataporn Phanrit, Natthapong Samana, Pichitphong Choeichiu, Surat Sukha, Datsakorn Thonglao, Teerasil Dangda, Salahudin Arware, Ronnachai Rangsiyo, Suchao Nutnum, Anon Sangsanoi

Coach Peter Reid's record now stands at:

Played: 11
Won: 6
Drawn: 3
Lost: 2
Scored: 19
Conceded: 7

Asian Cup Qualifiers

The campaign starts on Wednesday 14th January away to Jordan.

This will be the 4th time the two countries have come together with Jordan winning one with the other two ending in nil nil draws.

All the games have been played in Thailand. All games have been played this decade and have all been friendlies.

What can we expect away to Jordan in a few days time?

Well, although we should have a bit of confidence after playing quite well recently, it must be said, that we don't quite travel well, especially to the Middle East. Our last journey in that region was in the World Cup qualifiers, where we got dumped by Bahrain and Oman, not forgettign the draw against Yemen in the 1st Round - a team that are not up there with Asia's best, so we still struggled against very lesser oposition.

No doubt the heat and humidity will be against us, and the intimidating atmosphere. So the most i expect, our at least would like to see us get is a draw. A defeat would make it hard for us in future games in the campaign, but a draw should be something to build on.

Although we have never beaten Jordan in our short history against them, i do expect us to get 3 points at home, so a point away, should give us an advantage come the end of the group.

Our squad will be the same that took part in the AFF Suzuki Cup, so it will show if the team are still together, playing as one, or if the final defeat as deflated some players. It will be a cagey game. But hopefully the lads would have learnt from the defeats we have had so far, coming against Saudi Arabia and Vietnam.

This will well and truely be our hardest ever Asian Cup qualifyign campaign. And if we really do have dreams of Brazil 2014, then we must stamp our authority on this qualification group and show the rest of Asia, that whatever happens at the end of the day, Thailand will always be in amongest the crowd ad not jst pretenders.