Q : Having pitted your wits against both Chonburi and Muang Thong United this season, what would you consider to be each team’s strengths?
I’ll start with Muang Thong: They are obviously the benchmark at the moment in the TPL and rightly so. When they are on song and playing to their potential, they are very difficult to beat and sometimes even difficult to compete against for forty five minutes, let alone the full ninety. Physically they are extremely strong, and I don’t just mean size. Aerobically and an-aerobically they are all very fit and all eleven players work for each other for ninety minutes. They also have good speed &andpenetration in the wide areas, and Teerasil is a real handful up front; he is physically strong, has great technique, is very mobile and gets into good positions consistently around the box.
Combine all that with the best defence in the TPL then you have a pretty damn good team. They are also well coached and extremely well organised. Rene has obviously put in some time and effort on the training ground and it’s paying dividends. Probably the big difference (in my opinion) between Muang Thong and Chonburi is the speed at which Muang Thong attack. They can go from keeping possession, passing the ball from left to right for a few minutes then, bang!, they can hit you with a killer pass or a player making a quality forward run into the box etc.
They are very difficult to predict and also are devastating on the counter attack. Chonburi have to be tactically very disciplined on Sunday to have a chance of winning. Chonburi: There is no denying Chonburi have a good team, they do! But they have to be at their absolute best, and I mean each player playing to his maximum, if they want to take the FA Cup back to Chonburi. Muang Thong probably also have to be slightly off their game if Chonburi are to have a chance of winning. I’m not one to make predictions but from what I have seen and heard of the Chonburi side from two or three years ago, they are not the team they once were.
Even when we played them at PAT Stadium and lost 2-1, I have no idea how we lost that game. We gave away a stupid penalty and made a terrible mistake to gift them a second goal. In the second half we honestly had probably ten good chances, with five of those being golden chances to score. It just wasn’t our day in front of goal! If Chonburi defend like that on Sunday, then I’ll be backing Muang Thong to capitalize on that and knock a few into the back of the net.
In terms of their strengths, they have proven big match experience. I’m sure Jadet will be drawing on all that from his chargers on Sunday. Experience is crucial in big games and the Chonburi players have bundles of it. I’m also sure Jadet will have his team extremely well prepared on Sunday, with every player knowing his role on the pitch. Chonburi are technically a very good team. They keep possession well, they keep their shape and they can frustrate teams because they are masters at keeping the ball. They will probably find it a little more difficult on Sunday because I think Muang Thong will press them all over the park and take the game to them.
But if they can keep possession and show some quality in the final third - which everybody knows they have- then, who knows!?
Q : And their weaknesses?
Muang Thong: Cockiness! Will they get too far ahead of themselves? I doubt it, but top teams sometimes do! Being put under fierce pressure. We did it at Muang Thong and lost 1-0 in the last minute after playing with ten men for almost the whole second half. We took the game to them, got close to them and they didn’t like that. Chonburi physically are not as fit as Thai Port, so the question remains, can they do that for ninety, or one hundred and twenty minutes? If they can, then you’ll see some Muang Thong mistakes.
Chonburi: Physically they are not as strong as Muang Thong. Defensively they can switch off and, if they do that on Sunday, they will get punished. Man-for-man they are not as quick as Muang Thong, except for Suree, who still does a great job. Can they track Muang Thong runners for ninety minutes? Can they get close enough to Muang Thong? Can they handle Teerasil? These are all things we will find out on Sunday...
Q : Which players from both teams have impressed you?
Muang Thong Many have impressed me but the main ones are: Teerasil – I agree with Steve Darby & Bryan Robson about him being good enough to play Championship level in the England. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind he can do that. It’s whether he wants to! Will he sacrifice his Thai food and lifestyle in Thailand to move onto bigger and better things? Only time will tell...
Datsakorn – May not possess great power or make the forward runs he use to, but he still has great feel for the ball and fantastic vision. A player who can make the difference.
Panupong & Nattaporn – Make a great defensive partnership. They are quick, aggressive, good in the air and very hard to beat one-on-one. They can also play a bit as well...
Chonburi I actually haven’t watched much of them this year, but the ones who have impressed me are:
Suree – Is still a quality player. Physically is the Cafu of Thailand, gets forward and back for ninety minutes and is an all-round quality defender. If he could cross the ball a bit more accurately he would be playing in Japan or Korea.
Ney Fabiano – Did quite well against us at PAT Stadium a few months ago and looks to be fitter and is enjoying his football again. I’m actually not sure if he is cup-tied.* If he’s not, he has the quality to take a chance on Sunday and make a difference in the match.
*Webmaster’s note: He is!
Q : The two coaches are very different in their approach. What do you consider to be each man’s major strength?
I’ll start with Muang Thong Rene: Has great experience and has managed some good European teams as well as managing in the J-league. Has a no nonsense approach and, from what I have seen, you are either with him or against him. If you are with him (as a player) he will back you all the way! I don’t know much about Muang Thong’s training program or fitness regime but its looks from the outside that they are doing all the right things and you could probably put that down to the influence of Rene & Robert.
The good thing about more and more foreign coaches coming to the TPL is not only do they have exceptionally high standards but they take action. They get to work straight away and instil immediate discipline. He has definitely been a good acquisition for Muang Thong!
Jadet: To be honest, I know very little about him. So I would only be speculating about what his main strengths are. From the dugout though, he looks like a fairly placid man who doesn’t get very emotional or say too much on the sideline but probably has a very strong influence inside the dressing room. He has good experience and knows how to win football matches.
Q : What are you expecting from the final?
I am expecting a tough game. Like any FA Cup final would be anywhere in the world. To be honest, I’m not really quite sure what to expect! I think Muang Thong will come out of the blocks firing, looking for an early goal, which would put Chonburi on the back foot immediately. I think it’s imperative that Chonburi keep it tight and compact, and don’t leave too much space in behind for the first fifteen to twenty minutes, until they settle into the game.
I’m expecting both teams to have spells of possession but Muang Thong to have more possession higher up the field and to create more chances than Chonburi. How Chonburi handle the constant Muang Thong attacks will determine the outcome of the match. If they defend well, by staying tight to their man and by being aggressive in key moments, they have a chance. As I mentioned, Chonburi will have their fair share of possession, so they will also have chances. The question is, can they take one? I wish both teams the very best of luck and hope the best team on the day comes out on top.
Q : Will you be at the match?
Unfortunately no! I will be just flying into Sydney. I’m having four weeks holiday and catching up with family and friends before heading back to Thailand after Christmas to take Thai Port through their paces in pre-season training.
Q : This time last season Thai Port won the FA Cup. What does it mean to a club to be the winners of this competition?
It means everything. Winning is why we play football and what drives me every day to keep improving and learning more as a coach. Winning is what pro football is all about! Obviously getting to the final after so many knockout games during the season is a great achievement but when you get there the last thing you want to do is lose. The beauty about a cup match is the underdog always has a chance.
Last year Thai Port were the underdogs but the boys ultimately came out on top. Even though I think Muang Thong will have a little bit too much for their opponents, with the type of football Chonburi play, and given the fact they can keep the ball better than almost every team in the TPL, they have a chance. It’s also a direct entry into the AFC Cup; which is the level that you want to test yourself at as a player or coach. Competing against other top teams in Asia!
I think if you ask any player who has played in the AFC Cup or ACL they would regard it as being a career highlight. Some of the best times I had this year at Thai Port were away in Vietnam, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuwait. Not only is it a fantastic life experience but the team really does share some great and memorable moments on tour.
Q : Would you like to make a score prediction?
I’ve never been a good better at the best of times but here we go. Muang Thong to edge it 2-1 in extra time. Don’t put money on that though...
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