Tero-ball confusion

MTU will play at home Vs PAT this Sunday. The fixture has been switched as PAT are having floodlight issues.

*******

The mix up regarding substitutes at the MTU Vs BEC game has been laid to rest with the decision from the TFA announced yesterday that the problem was too small to warrant a replay of the fixture. The match commissioner has been suspended.  Rather than rehash, here is a clear summary of events from thai-fussball.com

15 minutes still to play and Gilbert Koomson received his marching order after a second yellow. As a result BEC-Tero took off Cleiton Silva, replaced by Ekaphan Inthasen. After Silva left the pitch, only two foreigners were on the field with Jovanović and Kharroubi. Takenori Hayashi should have been the next exchange for Tero, nevertheless been declined by the officials. Obviously they thought with Jovanović (Australia) there would be already one Asian player on the pitch and two are not allowed the same time. Which basically is correct (3+1) but not in case there are less than four foreigners on the field. BEC-Tero has already written a protest note to TPL and the league will decides how to handle this case.

New signings

Ri Kwang Chon (L) and Choe Kum-Chol (R)

Ri is a centre back and Choe is a striker. Both men have, until now, spent their entire careers in their homeland of Korea DPR and therefore we know little about them save for their national team performances. But our scouts are no fools and I'm optimistic that these two men are the final pieces of the puzzle.

If any Korean readers could suggest the best way to pronounce these names or any nicknames these players have, I'd be grateful!

After such a depressing end to last season, the close season has been managed superbly and it really is hard to imagine how the rebuilding and transfer movement could have been any better. 

Now though, the time for putting it all into action is here with a 1800 kick off this Saturday at home to Tero, meaning we're against Robert Procurer, Mika Chonessee (Thanks to all the Stattos who corrected me here - Mika is now at BKU:-) ), Rungsiyo, Nawapol Arromsowa and a whole other bunch of former MTU players. A win is vital.

MTU 1 BEC Tero 0 - photos

With thanks to JoEisM ณ เมืองทอง at mtufc.net. The caption on the banner in the final image reads: "We trust you (God of Thai football)"

Muangthong United 1 BEC Tero 0

Not a great game in all honesty due to the heavy water on the pitch. Although we've spent a lot of money on a new turf with a drainage system, three major storms in one week, including one that stopped about four hours before kick off, made this a game for battlers rather than purists.

Muangthong's line up was Kawin (GK), Thiemba (RB), Kayem (LB), Panupong (CB), Nattaporn (Capt, CB), Datsakorn (MD), Pitchipong (MD), Siaka (MD), Christian (FW), Ahnon (ST), Toth (FW).

The first half was more MTU but the final ball was lacking, Tero attacked on the break with a similar outcome. The second half saw much more possession for the home side but it really looked like it wouldn't happen before a ball to Christian was well protected by the forward who laid a great flick-on to substitute Jakkapahan Pornsai who slotted home and took my MOM award in the process. Commiserations and good luck to Tero for the rest of the season. They're a good side with good fans. Returning to home matters, I understand there may be big, big news from MTU this coming week.

In other news, a long feature on Peter Butler and a report on a Thai Port game both feature in 'Brunch' in the 'Bangkok Post' today. Both articles are very good reads and both rightly point out the lack of official coverage and internet coverage of the game by official bodies. Yet the 'Post' neglects to mention the growing coverage amongst us un-offcials including thaileaguefootball.com and perhaps best of all by the great thai-fussball.de in both German and English. For anyone who misunderstood, Sven of thai-fussball.de certainly has never signed me or anyone else up for a German site featuring men in leather. Well, except for a Rammstein fan site, maybe.

More transfers to Tero

In a surprise move, Piyachart has joined BEC Tero "on loan". So has fringe player Paitoon Nontadee.

Recent transfers between MTU and BEC now amount to eight, by my count.

Although Piyachart is "on loan", so was Leesaw when he went the same way, so was Wisarut when he left to join Rajpracha. However MTU's head coach said Piyachart is "still in our tactical plans".

BEC Tero 0 Muangthong United 1 - Report

Ummm....is this the right colour?

A close game was fought at the Thepsadin Stadium, but Tero's poor finishing let them down. The game could have been very different but for a missed penalty from Dagno in the opening ten minutes.

Muangthong's lineup was: Kawin (GK), Piyachart (LB), Panupong (CB), Nattaporn (Capt, CB), Kaewprom (RB), Pitchipong (DM), Datsakorn( MD), Siaka (AM), Teerasil (LW, yes, LW) Christian (FW), Kone (FW)

We began the game in attacking style, with Christian immediately causing problems for his marker. Early on, he beat his man who seemed to pull at him a bit, Chris went down and the ref gave the penalty. Sadly, Dagno's penalty seemed predictable and under-hit. Yes, you read that right. It was criticism - albeit affectionate criticism - of the league's top scorer from the bloke who couldn't even score one of those 'beat the keeper' games outside the stadium before kick off. To the joy of the home fans.the goalie caught it with relative ease

The rest of the half was probably 60-40 to Muangthong in possession terms. It looked like Christian could break through at any moment but while this was an immense improvement on last Friday, we still weren't quite firing on all cylinders. Teerasil was way off form due to being pushed out wide. The ref was also part of the reason for the lack of flow in the game. He was a typical Thai referee - indecisive, seemingly random and clearly short on confidence. So at half time it was 0-0.

In the second half we came out attacking but the pattern of the game was the same. We'd get a bit more of the ball but not finish it, Tero would attack but their efforts seemed to be aiming for the skytrains moving across the skyline behind the stadium. But then about midway through the second half, Pitchipong curled in a free kick that Siaka popped up to slot home. 1-0. Relief.

Tero upped their game and "put us under pressure" as Jack Charlton would say, but they were remarkably wasteful in front of goal. In the very dying moments of injury time, the ref bizarrely gave Pitchipong his second yellow and, ergo, marching orders. I didn't see him put in a single bad challenge all game but this just about summed up the official. At least he was so random with his decisions that it probably balanced out for both sides.

As Tero lined up to take the free kick, the writing seemed to be on the wall.  You could feel the tension in the away end and the hope in the home stand. Tero took their time....the big Brazilian lined up a powerblaster.......up he runs........over it goes, flying towards the skytrain again. Full time. Sorry old boy, Datsakorn Thonglao you ain't!

Not our best result or performance but the sheer number of games seems to be telling on our lads and they are soldiering through like the professionals they are. As for Tero, they still have a decent sized fan base, a good sponsor and a bit of cash. If they can sign some strikers to support Leesaw (who didn't play today of course), perhaps they can become a top five team again.

I'm now off to Pattaya this week, returning for the weekend and then off to Hua Hin. I'm not sure which games I'll see and which I'll miss but in any case, updates will appear here.

Man of the match:  Pitchipong Choeichiu put in some great passes, strong tackles and a nice free kick for Dagno to score. The referee was a plonker to send him off.

Image credit: http://www.ancastersoccer.com 

BEC Tero Vs MTU tonight

Credt: newkits.blogspot.com

Muangthong's rescheduled match with BEC Tero takes place this evening. It will be interesting to see how many first-team players are restored to the squad. Kawin, Teerasil and Datsakorn all featured against Leicester but none were forced to play eh entire game. Therathep 'Leesaw' Winothai is on loan to the 'Fire Dragons' - though many media sources seem to forget it's just a loan - will almost certainly be contractually forbidden to play in this match.

MTU 2 BEC Tero 0

Some good match photos here , and here is a picture of your humble blogger. Rest assured, I usually look far more grumpy than this.....

Muangthong 2 BEC Tero 0 - Report

Tero at home....a two-nil win....Teerasil scores first....

Not much to report in all honesty. Before the game, I continued my love affair with the MTU ticket office as I was passed around six different people in my quest to explain that I wanted a ticket for Chonburi at home, next Friday, North Stand. This beats my previous personal best of four (for a Bangkok Glass ticket)  and if they want to beat this one, they will actually need to recruit more staff.

The first half was a football equivalent of a black hole so let's fast forward to the second half. Kone played in the first half but bumped his head on the floodlights and was replaced with Christian. So it was:
Kawin (GK) Pakasit (RB) Piyachart (LB) Panupong (CB) Jetsada (CB, Captain) Sylla (DM) Datsakorn (MD) (Kaewprom (MD) Yaya (anywhere) Christian (FW) Teerasil (ST). Notice Kaewprom playing against his old club.

Teerasil scored from a goal mouth scramble after about eight minutes. It was at the other end but it looked like a left-footed finish from the tall striker. It was a tight lead in a tight game but we did our best to let Tero back in it. Our CB's both played well but for reasons I won't divulge - enemy intelligence may be watching! - we still gifted a bunch of one-on-one opportunities to Tero which were not taken due to a mixture of last ditch tackles, good positioning by Kawin and poor finishing.

As the sun went down and the humidity gave way to a light shower, both sides used the extra oxygen to redouble their efforts. The game became a more open battle with Leesaw (who replaced Yaya) breaking through twice but to no avail. Piyachart continued a running physical battle with the player he was marking and Christian showed a more direct side to his game.

In the dying moments, one MTU player was brought down in the box for a penalty. Christian stepped up and finished the job. 2 - 0 ,  game over.

I arrived home to find out that Chonburi had come back to defeat Bangkok Glass 2 - 1. Next Friday then, is the clash of the heavyweights. Take note, it seems the game will revert to a six o'clock kick off.  (Don't be surprised if that changes again though).

Check back in a day or two for a preview of the big game.

Man of the match:
Several steady but no outstanding performances today. I'll give this one to Kawin Thamsatchanan because despite not being tested in the first forty five, he kept focused and was rock solid when called upon, producing a fingertip save and several quick rushes to stop strikers breaking through.

Next up - BEC Tero

 (Picture credit: wikipedia.org)

Assuming the curfew is lifted and the situation is stabalised enough, Muangthong will play BEC Tero Sasana at the Thunderdome this Sunday. It's a coming of age for me, as this will be the first time I have seen the same league fixture more than once.

BEC Tero are a giant of Thai football and before its boom of the last two years or so, they achieved some of the biggest crowds and most glamorous kits. They had a contract with Arsenal FC, allowing them to imitate the 'Gunners' kit and overall look.

However, Tero look to have fallen behind the pack just slightly as Thai football continues to grow. The Thephasadin Stadium is now their temporary home, as their usual home, the Nonjok Stadium looks rather rickety, old and small. Away support for Tero is relatively small.

That said, the team are still formidable and the management of the club includes a media station and member of the TFA board, and the 'Fire Dragons' still have a good sized hardcore support.

Quick facts:

1) Tero currently sit in eleventh place in the table, but this is because they have missed more games than any other team, due to their proximity to the political clashes.

2) Jakkaphan Kaewprom moved from Tero to MTU in close season, but has seen little action so far. Will he play a part in this fixture?

3) Tero player Thritti Nonsrichai became a hero to many when he made the hand rubbing "money money money" gesture to PEA Buriram players and staff after scoring against them (see it here).


Fan interview

I interviewed PJ, a member of the 'Ultra Fire Dragons' ahead of Sunday's clash. PJ told me his English wasn't great but he tried hard to answer. We appreciate it, PJ!


1) What is your nickname ?

'The Reds' is my fans nickname


2) How long have your fans supported BEC Tero and why did you choose that team?

Some One over 10 years Some one was begin to cheer
[Some fans have supported Tero for over ten years, others are new fans]


3) This season you had problems for home games because of the political situation. Has this hurt the team or the fans?

No problem [for the team or fans] We understand for This problem [of the political unrest]


4) Tero used to be the biggest team in Thailand, but perhaps now they are not. What can Tero do to be the biggest team again?

Yep! Tero Used to a biggest team but now we're not. But we are happy because we have a real fans and real supporters and in the future we think the tero have a plans to promote and ready to come back as biggest team again (but not bigger than MTUTD)



5) Who are your favourite players?

Any players We Love Bec tero sasana players


6) What do you think of Muangthong United fans and the team?


mtutd is Super Star Team And and lucky because they have Hi-So ['High Society' , rich, trendy] fans.


7) What do you think the score will be on Sunday?

I can not think for score But i wanna see my team Win Over Mtutd


8)Do you have anything to say to MTU fans?
We Are Real Supporters ULTRAS FIRE DRAGON! Thank you. I am not good in English hope you can understand


Thanks again and good luck PJ!

No one likes us..... we don't care

MTU manager Robert Procurer discusses hostility towards his club

This expression is used by various teams in the UK, most notably Millwall and Manchester United. The former because of their historical reputation as being a hooligan's club, and the latter for the fact that, well, it's true.

Muanthong United probably have more in common with Manchester United than Millwall. It's not a coincidence that the two team names seem so similar, and that fact alone could probably give us a clue why Muangthong seem to be attracting some level of resentment amongst their footballing peers.

The club used to be known as Nonjing United (or something similar) and changed their name as a marketing ploy. Not long after this - as well as a take over by Siam Sport -  the club won two successive promotions and then the Thai Premier League. Crowds soared, revenues went through the roof.

All this was handled well by Procurer and his fellow co-owner. The revenue went on new players, the marketing boosted local support.  That boost was all the greater for the fact that it occurred during an explosion of interest in Thai football. In the space of one season the club went from crowds of about five thousand to sell out games with a stadium packed with over 16,000 people. But that increase is not all about fairweather fans, almost every team saw a sharp rise in support last season. It was a nationwide trend.

Unless someone resents successful marketing, then they have no reason to dislike Muangthong for this.


The second detectable reason for dislike is perceived bias from the Thai FA because of Muangthong's links with Siam Sports and the lobbying power in the Thai FA that comes with it. Apparently, some of the message board exchanges between fans of Thai Port and MTU focused on this issue in the run up to the Supalachasalai violence.

Interestingly, BEC Tero also have a similar ownership scheme with media tycoons but no complaints have been made about them recently. Besides as Robert put it in a recent interview: "Siam Sport can't put the ball in the net for us".

In defence of Muangthong, it's clear that some of the dislike towards the club stems from envy. In the same way that many fans of other English teams such as myself wouldn't dislike Man Utd so much if they were in League 2 instead if the EPL, it's clear the likes of BEC, PEA and Chonburi wouldn't have the same dislike of MTU if it were not for the fact that Muangtong have overtaken all of them in the marketing and support stakes.

Robert Procurer is aware of the sentiment and believes his team felt some of the backlash in pre-season. He promises the team will take revenge in the right way; by winning the TPL once again. That's good news for the supporters, who have not had the best pre-season. I, like every other fan, am quite happy to follow the disliked team if that also means following the best team.

Super Cup - Muangthong United 2 Bangkok Glass 4

Procurer feared the defence may tire in the second half..... 

Ahhh the Super Cup. A totally pointless, dull, shameless piece of cashing in by the TFA featuring four teams that had all faced each other last season and would do again next season. Who in the heck is going to be foolish enough to attend one of these matches? Well, me, obviously! And I dragged the family along, too.

After bravely overcoming MBK's entry to the "Worst managed car park of the year" award, I dashed ahead of the family towards the stadium to try and secure some tickets before kick off. When I asked the programme seller: "Where can I buy tickets?" in Thai, he kindly pointed me towards a lady selling sausages. After remonstrating with the lady and confirming that pork was not a legal tender for this match, I tried my luck with member of the mobile MTU Club Shop. He directed me to go outside the stadium and turn left. Twenty minutes and two surreal conversations with security guards later, I realised I had been misdirected.

Eventually we found our way in. The time was 1710 so I was expecting to have missed the kick off for Muangthong's game against Bangkok Glass, but in time honoured Thai tradition, the whole event was running about thirty five minutes late. Chonburi and BEC were still going at it. The first thing I notice is that BEC's contract with Arsenal appears to have expired. The new kit is hideous, so awful in fact, it couldn't be uglier if it was modelled by an otherwise naked Harry Redknapp.

The game finishes 2 - 1 to Tero. I'm tempted to call SrirachaShark and tease him but then I remember we lost to Chonburi already. And Tero, too. Oh, and we hadn't actually started today's game yet, either. The game gets underway, the ultras are in full swing and I'm thinking it feels good to be back at a football match. I soon realise a snag though, we have a deluge of new signings and with the whopping great race track around the pitch, I'm too far away to recognise players facially. The match programme thoughtfully features squad numbers for the other three teams but not MTU. It was going to be hard to recognise any of the usual suspects in action today.

The first half is scrappy but I must give credit to both teams for their effort. As the game goes on however, MTU start to ease back into old habits. Defenders appear to be going for the kind of stroll I took after my Christmas lunch each time Bangkok attack. A couple of close chances later though and it's one-nil United. Who scored?? It was at the other end of the stadium so anyone with binoculars can probably confirm the mystery player. For my part, I'm just cheering.

(Not sure why I'm impersonating a fish in this one)

At half time it's still one-nil. I notice most of the Chonburi and Tero fans have chosen to stick around, adding some nice colour to the day. The second half starts at a quicker pace and MTU start to use a little more width. One player breaks through the BG back line, turns inside one player, then wrong foots another who sticks out a foot and.....penalty! This could quite possibly be the first undisputed penalty decision I have seen in Thailand.

Yaya (no mistaking him) slots it home and we are cruising........after all, this is Muangthong, not Southampton, where any away lead is about as secure as a politician's promise.

BG are persistent little bunnies though and they pull one back shortly after. At this point the ref seems to suddenly remember he has pretty coloured cards in his pocket and he started sharing his love of them with various players. Ten minutes later, a Bangkok player slid in with a challenge so late that the Chonburi fans had just arrived home in Pattaya. The ref pulls out a red and the MTU fans are celebrating. Unfortunately, so were the players.

The rabbits broke through the defence again and inexplicably, their left midfielder was left with quite possibly the biggest amount of space I have ever seen given to any attacker in any game, period. Whoever was responsible for marking him should be drug out into the streets of Muangthong Thani and lashed with a large squid. He (the BG striker, not the Muangthong player getting lashed) took the ball almost from the halfway line to the touchline and crossed it. Kosin - who is the only reason we didn't lose by more today - saves the shot but the rebound hits home.

BG fans go wild, a few Tero fans cheer but - most noticeably - the Chonburi fans are cheering as if their own team scored. I really sense the leaders of the MTU and Chonburi fan clubs need to communicate with each other. The rivalry is now tangibly different to other rivalries in Thai football which is fine, as long as it remains peaceful. The last thing we need is violence spoiling the great family atmosphere of footy out here.

I'm just wondering how we managed to let a lead slip and give so much space to a team that's down to ten men when BG broke through and scored again. All the memories of countless away games with Southampton FC came flooding back and, temporarily, I let loose the same kind of profanity I would at a game back home, resulting in a yellow card from the wife and an intrigued look from the nipper. One day, my son, all this pain of away game defeats will be yours.

The game gets even more David Lynch like as the ref now wants to show his little yellow plastic to anyone who even looks at the ball in the wrong way. MTU are not giving up but now it's the BG players and fans alike that have the impetus. And so it is that they smash home another rebound sending both green and blue shirts in the crowd into a frenzy.

It's just a friendly, but I'm worried. Clearly MTU need to get some serious work in on the training ground before the season starts. Notable by their absence were Robert Procurer - I'm sure he would not have tolerated the non-existent marking in the second half - and several key players. With luck and hard work, the frailties of today will quickly be forgotten, and MTU will march away with the title again next season. Right now though, I think the lads have just learnt that winning the title is the easy part........

MTU 2 BEC Tero 0 - Report

With a team that's already won the league and a team that has a cup final next week, perhaps it was too easy to guess the winner. Still, this was a tight game in more ways than one.

As usual, I arrive way too early (I have to go to each home game straight from work) and wasted time walking around the stadium. I usually bump into more than one person I know but not today. There's a strange mixture of people around the area. It seems the Thunderdome itself has some kind of modelling show going on and the Queen Sirikit Exhibition Centre has some display that involves a lot of middle aged farangs and their families, many of whom are gawking in surprise at the football crowds.

But my focus is on the football and since I couldn't get into the West Stand with the noisy 'Ultras' (the cub would only sell 500 tickets for that stand on each day) I'm back in the East Stand with the quiet people, the families and good old 'Monkey Boy', which is my nickname for the tall man with glasses who tries to be a clown, but his only joke is to dress like a moron and stand up and yell nonsense. There's nothing wrong with this crowd (apart from Monkey Boy) but they seem a little insipid for my liking. Next season I'll be busting my backside to get a season ticket with the Ultras or failing that, at the new South Stand. It reminds me of the old Archers Road End at The Dell (of Southampton Football Club)

The first thing to jump out and smack me between the eyes is the state of the pitch. At the last game I saw (against Samut Songkhram) the pitch seemed fine. When I picked up my tickets last Thursday, the pitch seemed fine. Today, it looks like a herd of buffalo have been chased across it by a pride of Lions whilst a herd of pigs staged a banquet in the centre circle. Everywhere I look I see holes, divots and lumps.

The new South and North stands seem about sixty percent full while BEC Tero have, disappointingly, probably the lowest away support I have seen. While they've bought some impressive banners, they don't make a lot of noise.

As kick-off draws closer, we get to witness the ups and downs of Thai football. Brian Robson and Steve Derby arrive, walk past us and shake hands with fans. A brass band seem to be playing lightweight tunes that would seem more suited to a dingy jazz bar than a football game and later the regular singer comes on to perform his usual tune at the exact time the speakers decide to pack in.....then work again....then pack in....then work again...etc.

Kick off comes and both teams work hard to play quality football despite the conditions. MTU seem to be playing a flexible 4-4-2 with Piyachat and Pakasit pushing up as often as defending, Hattaporn playing unusually far up, Diako pushing up from the centre as often as he can and Leesaw playing loose on the right wing. It could actually described as 2 - 5 - 3 at times and though it's exciting to watch, I fear a good team in the ACL could hammer us for doing it.

As usual, golden chances come and go begging until midway in the first half when Teerasil takes a simple but effective 'turn and shoot' opportunity. By now the Ultras are in full swing and notably, the new South Stand are trying to keep up with them. If the demand for tickets with the Ultras is a high as I expect next year, the South Stand might be worth a bash.

The second half descends into a comedy of errors as both sides create chances that seem easier to score than miss. BEC hit the woodwork twice and "beat the offside trap" (i.e. the two centre back get caught ball watching again) several times but Kawin and the back line recover well enough to make amends. Mika, Wisarut, and Anusorn replace Leesaw, Sylla and Teerasil (I think) in three separate substitutions. Mika is steady, Anusorn looks lightweight but probably just needs more time but Wisarut looks class again. Indeed, he proves it in the eighty second minute with a nicely taken finish.

Credit to BEC as they continue their efforts but by now it is obvious the ref could announce seven hours stoppage time and they just wouldn't score. The whistle goes and the celebrations start. Robert and the two Guineans are gifted giant flags of their respective nations, Robert lifts the trophy and indicates to the fans that it is their trophy. The TFA 'phu yais' make an appearance and some others join the squad on the pitch, including some of my fellow farang fans who look like they've enjoyed a few beverages and are relishing the moment.

And so the roller coaster ride is over, bar a couple more games for Rajpracha. Such is the nature of Thai football and MTU that I've already got a lot to think about during the close season, and there's sure to be plenty to blog about.
Thank you Muangthong United for making me so welcome, playing good football and already gifting us some great memories.

Man of the match - Kawin was excellent, Wisarut looked class when he came on but didn't play long enough, I have to give it to Dango, who looked dangerous going forward, and covered back whenever he could, For a man his size, he can shimmy and turn his opponents very well.

The award:





Pictures from Siam Sport:

The fireworks 

Dango (my man of the match) gets stuck in

MTU 2 BEC Tero 0

In  a game in which at least six players missed when it looked easier to score.

Details to follow.

Muangthong United Vs BEC Tero

Back from holiday (and I can heartily recommend Baan Laksasubha to anyone who wants a fantastic holiday in Hua Hin - great beach, great food, great service) and now focused on our next opponents....

The final game of the season pits TPL champions Muangthong United against FA cup finalists BEC Tero, the 'Arsenal of Thailand'.
BEC have an agreement with the north London giants that allows them to use an identical kit and other benefits. Strangely, or perhaps as a negative side effect of this deal, BEC do not have their own replica shirts for sale, which must hurt their fanbase and marketing potential. BEC have always been a major player on the Thai football scene and this season has, by their standards, been somewhat disappointing. The FA Cup final is their last chance to snatch some glory and fans must wonder if either team will be going all out for this match.

The Thai Port Fan Blog recently ran a feature on the fake Arsenal. 

What to watch: MTU have already won the league title, BEC have a cup final to look forward to. Will there be complacency from the home side or distraction for the away side?

Who to watch: Anon Sangsanoi is the top scorer in the whole league, possibly because his surname is similar to the mighty Marek Sagonowski who plays for Southampton. Yaya Touree will be looking to match him in the goalscoring stakes, but it's likely Nattaporn will be charged with keeping Anon quiet.

I call: Muangthong seem unable to lose at home this season. I say 1 - 0.