Top Ten Tonkings (10-6): 2009-2018

A countdown of Chonburi's ten heaviest defeats. Today we feature numbers 10-6.

10. 2/10/12 & 23/10/12 Chonburi 2-8 Erbil (1-4; 1-4): AFC Cup

Match report (2/10/12)
by www.the-afc.com
Striker Amjed Radhi scored twice as Arbil took a huge step towards becoming the first club from Iraq to reach the AFC Cup final with a crushing 4-1 win over Thailand’s Chonburi at the Arbil Stadium on Tuesday.

Radhi opened the scoring in the first leg of the semi-final with a cheeky back-heel in the first half and restored the home side’s lead in the 50thminute after the visitors had got back on level terms through Pipob On-Mo early in the second half.

An own goal by Suttinun Phukhom extended Arbil’s advantage before substitute Saleh Sadeer fired home a long-range screamer to put the Iraqi champions firmly in the driver’s seat before the return match in Thailand later this month.

Despite feeling the effects of playing their second match in the Middle East in just six days, with two exhausting flights across the Middle East sandwiched in between, Chonburi began the match brightly and could have broken the deadlock as early as the eighth minute when French midfielder Geoffrey Doumeng created an opening for himself on the left flank but sent his powerful shot narrowly wide.

Arbil took the lead in the 24th minute thanks to an ingenious finish by Radhi, who received the ball after Halkard Mulla Mohammad had cut it back from the right touchline and casually flicked it with his right heel between the legs of Chonburi goalkeeper Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool.

Despite conceding that goal, Chonburi continued to attack and very nearly got back on level terms on the half-hour mark after a free-kick by evergreen playmaker Therdsak Chaiman came back off the crossbar.

However, the Thai side would get back on level terms within 90 seconds of the restart as Pipob shook off the challenge of Ugandan defender Ivan Bukenya to force his way into the box and fire home the equaliser.

The home fans were shocked into a brief silence but they were soon cheering again when Halkard’s cross was knocked down by Nadim Sabag for an unmarked Radhi to slot the ball home for his second goal of the night.

Arbil began to turn the screw and Luay Salah nearly added a third when he fired a long-range effort past Sinthaweechai only to see his effort come back off the crossbar.

But the home side would make it 3-1 in the 66th minute when Halkard’s cross from the right was turned into the Chonburi net by defender Suttinun.

Sadeer would then net a fourth for Arbil with 16 minutes left when he launched a stinging drive from 25 metres that sailed past Sinthaweechai into the top corner of the Chonburi net to give Arbil a comfortable lead to take to Thailand for the return game.

Match report (23/10/12)

by the-afc.com

Arbil booked their place in the final of the AFC Cup on Tuesday as the Iraqi side held off a valiant but doomed attempt by Thailand's Chonburi to overhaul an insurmountable first-leg deficit to progress 8-2 on aggregate.

A 4-1 win in the first leg in Iraq was matched in the second leg as Nizar Mahrous's side become the first club from the country to advance to the final of a continental competition since Al Zawra'a reached the deciding game of the Asian Cup Winners Cup in 2000, when they lost out to Japan's Shimizu S-Pulse.

Amjed Rahdi scored twice in the second half at the Chonburi Stadium as the Iraqis sealed another 4-1 and secure their spot in the final as the hosts fell well short in what was always going to be a nigh impossible quest after the first leg.

Chonburi needed an early goal if they were to harbour any realistic hope of hauling themselves back into the contest and give their fans something to cheer, but by the 18th minute Withaya Laohakul's side had fallen further behind.

After Nabil Sabah had seen his shot pushed away for a corner by Chonburi goalkeeper Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool, Saad Abdulameer met Sabah's set-piece from the right with a glancing header that found the far corner of the goal.

Chonburi, though, refused to be disheartened and sought a way back into the game.

Less than two minutes after Abdulameer's opener, Pipob On-mo's shot was deflected against the Arbil post while, a further five minutes later, Suttinun Phukhom ensured the Thai side's slim hopes remained alive when he slotted home from close range after Thiago Cunha had flicked Arthit Sunthornpit's corner into his path.

Still trailing by three goals as the second half commenced, the task was to become insurmountable for Chonburi in the 63rd minute when Radhi claimed his first of the night as his shot took a wicked deflection off Fode Bangaly Diakite before arcing above Sinthaweechai and over the line.

Eight minutes later and the contest was as good as over when Radhi was again on target, this time stabbing the ball over the line following a knockdown by Ahmed Ibrahim and Mustafa Ahmad completed the rout in the 82nd minute to set up a meeting with either Ettifaq of Saudi Arabia or Kuwait SC in the final on November 2.

9. 24/6/17 Nakorn Ratchasima 5-2 Chonburi: TPL

Match report
by Peter Reeves
The Chickens have come home to roost.

How nice it was to meet up again with Dale, his wife and Russ pre-match for our annual moan! We all of course have something in common in that each of our home town clubs, Oldham, Wolves and QPR have been badly mismanaged and are now in trouble. Listening Thailand?

We had our time and it was off to the match.

There is no way to sugar coat this. It has been a catastrophic week for Chonburi FC. Dumped out of the cup in midweek by a third division team and giving away a two goal lead in the process, and now this. Korat are no great shakes. No Buriram or Chiang Rai. On the edge of the relegation area themselves, they were made to look very good by total Sharks ineptitude and apathy. I will be surprised if Therdsak survives this, especially as Jadet is now seemingly available (though that would similarly be a disastrous knee jerk appointment).

For the first 15 minutes, as on Wednesday, they looked ok. Poor Swatcat defending gifted them a lead and all looked promising. They were playing a very high line and using the offside trap, which is ok if you have intelligent defenders. Note the word intelligent. Sooner or later that was going to fall apart. And then to compound it all you remember that they’ve got Chanin. A ball in from the right was missed by the first Sharks defender and instead of Chanin falling on it where it might be a little dangerous, he just stuck out his hand and it rolled across the line for a tap in. 1-1. It was 2-1 when the offside trap fell apart and Chanin sat on his backside too early and showed the goal to Adiyah. Couldn’t miss. Korat were dominating and deserved the lead.

It just got worse after half time as time and again the defenders, when they were there, just stood and watched as the goals went in. It could have been worse as one orange effort came back off the post when he should have scored. Swatcat were rampant and you wondered just how many they were going to get. The token second for the Sharks meant nothing. A team struggling to get out of the edge of the relegation zone had well and truly put them to the sword. The team from Korat needed this result and it looked like they wanted it. Credit to them. Chonburi looked like they couldn’t give a damn.

For a Chonburi website that is enough about this match. What is more important is where from here? As I’ve said here before, to fix a problem first you need to recognize there is one. Trouble is there isn’t one. There are dozens. Just on tonight, no spirit, no attempt to get back in the match at 2-1 down, a very poor goalkeeper, disorganized and chaotic defence, too many foreign players leeching a no doubt lucrative pay structure for returning very little, lack of creativity, too many ‘names’ not producing or offering anything,..etc., etc. Very few players are worth their place. Nurul is one that is, Prince with the right support around him possibly¸the rest, well?

What happens on the pitch is often a manifestation of the atmosphere at the club off the pitch. If players see the best players at the club moved on with no adequate replacement how do you think they feel? Excited about the club, the team? Of course not. It has an effect.

Knowing full well that no one at the club will be reading this and if they were would take no notice of it anyway, here are a few observations. Well one really. Rip it all down and start again.

The owners and board of directors, management and decision makers must take total responsibility for the state of the club. It is their stewardship. They can try and blame coaches, players and even fans but it is them. They make the decisions. What is needed here is a fresh face to go in and evaluate every aspect of the club and its income and costs. Then to produce a report making recommendations to the board from top to bottom. To be given access to and assistance where needed on acquiring the exact position of the club and every activity they are involved with. Then for that person to ignore the culture of telling people what they want to hear and sucking up and tell them the truth. That might hurt a few people but if they care about their club they will listen.

I’m sure some will say what’s all the fuss, it’s only a couple of losses in a week. Yes that is true. Wednesday was bad, very bad but tonight something very different. They just didn’t want to know and that is unacceptable. I feel very sorry for Therdsak. I never saw him play but he comes with a glowing testimony. He was installed as coach I suspect to appease fans and because it was hoped he could do something. Was he qualified for the job? (I’m not talking about bits of paper that actually mean very little) Did he have a clear idea of what it would take? Did he have the experience? Ok so if not has he been given support to assist a very steep learning curve? Nothing. No one brought in to help and guide and teach him just what it takes. Someone like a Steve Darby. Would anyone go into a job not knowing what they were doing or how to do it and survive? Of course not. It’s not all his fault. He seems a decent man and has a good Thai pedigree why haven’t they helped him?

Gary Stevens was available so why not bring him in, if only for 6 months or so, and let him teach Therdsak about defensive structure and organization. He’s been there and done it at the highest level. Is his input not valued? Evidently not. Midfield Therdsak knows about but maybe someone else to look at attacking options. He has had no support. That is not right and who is to blame? So to deflect the real responsibility the usual route is taken and Therdsak becomes another statistic but who will replace him? Another failure from somewhere else on this merry go round of ‘coaches’ in Thailand. The vultures will be circling but that is not the answer.

What would I, as an onlooker do? Keep him. Bring in Steve Darby to oversee the ‘management’ of the coaching procedures including fitness, diet, scouting, junior programs etc., and as an ex-keeper himself let him loose on Chanin to either make him a keeper or get rid of him. Give him the support staff to achieve these functions while talking to Therdsak about how and why.

Bring in Gary Stevens to work solely with the defence and make that a tight unit. Let Therdsak handle attacking options. Finally go through the playing staff and get shot of those who are there for a ‘quick buck’. We all know who they are. Money saved can be spent on the extra coaching staff and effective junior programs.

Finally forget this season now and spend the next 6 months getting the structure right and working. That deals with the most important element of any club-the team (the product). Then find someone who will install effective PR, marketing and community relations because there is none. The stadium needs to be full the people need to support the ‘club’ not the team. The second most important element, the fans (customers). Once basic and vital structures are in place on and off the field then you can start thinking about how to regain former glories. It won’t happen by wishing it would. But there you go. What do I know?

The fail safe for the club is look at our league position, we are doing ok. Consider this. Take away the 3 games won by dubious penalties and two matches where the club were played off the park but still managed a win and a draw. Take 13 or 14 points of the total and see where that leaves you. Things are not as rosy in the garden as you like to tell us.

A once proud club has lost its identity and its opportunity in the years since they became the first provincial club to win the league. They retain a hardcore support though even that is dwindling now. Far more support travelled up for the same fixture last season. Attendances at home, how are they? But realistically it’s the same at just about all the clubs. They have never realized just what it is that makes a football club tick. What makes it successfull. Nothing will happen of course and one can only hope in the next match Muangthong have a ‘stinker’. Quite possible of course they’ve had a couple, and after that Super Power will be beaten and the club will say..see, we’re ok we’ve just won.

The chickens have come home to roost, but the vultures are circling. Shame.

8. 30/5/09 Chonburi 2-5 Muang Thong Utd: TPL

Match report & highlights


7. 8/7/17 Ratchaburi 5-1 Chonburi: TPL

Thai Football’s Credibility
by Peter Reeves
I recently read a Tweet that stated the incident involving Ratchaburi and Chonburi at the weekend is a stain on the credibility of Thai football. I’m not sure I fully understand what the author means, because in my view, at least in the three years I have been here, it has no credibility.

The powers that control it admitting they know nothing about football, the technical standards of Thai players in the main not good, tactical awareness of Thai coaches generally incompetent. Terrible attendances, poor business management, officials on the pitch appalling by any standards, customer service to fans in the dark ages, scheduling a farce, play acting babies everywhere and the clubs administered in the main by people who are only interested in themselves and their ego’s.

Teams that range from Super Power Samut Prakarn, who would struggle to beat the Dog and Duck pub from Shepherds Bush reserve team, to the three alleged best teams, who would stand no chance against English League newcomers, Grimsby Town. There are two teams in Thailand worth watching. Buriram United, for their match toughness, and Bangkok United for their quality.

Stadiums that are in the main glorified community athletics facilities, no appreciation from the communities in which they operate, sponsors who call the business management shots for their own favour and, if that is not all bad enough, jumped up little upstarts parading themselves in the dugouts pretending to the TV and anyone who will cast their eyes upon these ‘special ones’ that they have the faintest input into what is transpiring on the pitch.

Credibility? It has none. In the eyes of Belgian and Dutch friends who work in two of the best academy programs in Europe and have been here to stay with me twice, it’s a joke. They were being polite. They just laughed, and if Thailand’s football authorities would step out of their ivory towers for a minute and see things as they actually are, they would see it themselves. Professional football people laugh at you and your football. The Tweeter also carried on to ask, like many others I read these days, “why do we bother watching this?”. Why indeed!

And now that the hyperbole has quietened down, let’s consider the weekend’s events. I have tried to watch as many different accounts and TV and video angles as possible and there are things that are unclear. As anyone who has played the game at any level knows there is plenty of ‘verbal’ going on. In cricket they call it sledging. Happens all the time. You sit in a dressing room and the coach might say get in his face, ‘have a few words’. Get him thinking about retribution and he’ll not play. Most players are professional and either ignore it or deal with it when the ref isn’t looking or maybe in a 50/50 situation.

There have been some quite notable exceptions of course, Zinedine Zidane at the World Cup Final, Eric Cantona deciding he’d had enough and starting a fight with a spectator at Crystal Palace. What stuff did Cunha have to face. We don’t know, It doesn’t excuse him though, he should know better. What we do know is that as the half time whistle went he was animated. Something had occurred.

A South American, from a region of the world not normally recognized for their controlled behavior in football, in a wound up state. Best avoid him till he calms down. Oh no. Onto the field of play comes some little person who was clearly hell bent on confrontation. Not a good idea, my little friend. And by the way, why are you on the pitch anyway?

But, on he goes. And now we have riled South American footballer versus fragile Thai male ego, who wants to appear the big shot. Words are exchanged and he gets some water in his face. On TV no less. He reacts, doesn’t seem to like water thrown at him, a few handbags exchanged before Cunha is led away. Can you imagine if he’d confronted a Joey Barton or in older days a Tommy Smith or Billy Bremner or a few dozen others like that? He’d still be in intensive care from just the one blow it would have taken.

The next events are blurred. The sight of Cunha charging down the touchline to flatten a couple of stewards, an altercation in the tunnel and more handbags. Cunha’s face covered with blood. Not very edifying at all.

Culprits? There are many, there usually are. But let’s face a few facts here. How many times have we all seen a player, South American or otherwise, end a half flapping his arms around, confronting officials with eyes bulging, screaming blue murder?  Many times. The norm is get him off the pitch into the dressing room and calm him down or if not, take him off. It’s no big deal really. It’s not nice to see and not a good example but we are all human and prone at times to over reaction, and so it was. If at the end of the half there had been no interference externally, would he have just gone down the tunnel, still mad, but back to the dressing room? Probably. So who lit the blue touch paper then?

Our little hero from Ratchaburi, who clearly considers himself an authority on something. He was the instigator of what then transpired. If he hadn’t been there then it is likely nothing would have happened at all, other than some heated verbal, which means nothing. Why was he on the pitch at all? He had no reason to be there. A melee that was completely avoidable, but an event that overshadowed what had been a good Ratchaburi performance and a poor Chonburi effort.

Punishments? Of course.

Thiago Cunha cannot pretend he is an innocent party. A blinding temper we can deal with, but throwing water at people, charging down the touchline to assault people, continuing in the tunnel and appearing to slap someone is just not acceptable.

And where I might add in the midst of all this was Therdsak? Why didn’t he get him by the throat and drag him away, whilst telling the little man from Ratchaburi to ‘vacate the immediate vicinity’. To his detriment he has previous and I looked around and saw video footage of him involved in punching and kicking in another free for all, when he played in India. So, 4 game ban. Two week’s salary fine paid to a local Ratchaburi orphanage or something similar. A warning that if it happens again the penalties will be more severe. All these ‘get him out of Thailand’ comments by some on the internet are rubbish.

Chonburi FC: 1 million baht fine for failure to control their players and a three point deduction.

The man from Ratchaburi. He has previous too. Video footage exists of him again encroaching on the field of play, ‘shouldering’ opposition players, deliberately confrontational to opposition players. This is not acceptable. So, Banned from the dugout for the rest of the season. A nationally published written censure from the Thai PL. A warning that any further such incidents of him or any other staff member, non coaching or medical, encroaching onto the field of play will incur a life ban for the individual concerned. Further incidents may involve demotion to a lower league depending on the situation. It is not acceptable that any club official acts in a threatening and confrontational way to players, or officials of another club, as he has done.

Ratchaburi FC: 2 million baht fine for a club official assaulting an opposition player. 3 points deduction.

Match officials: Immediate suspension for avoiding their responsibilities and running away from a volatile situation, shuffled away by stewards or not.

Suspensions effective immediately. Fines paid in full within one month. No public displays of sorrow or apologies acceptable (Ratchaburi held a press conference and the individual concerned made a public apology earlier today - Ed).

This has been a very bad situation but one that could have been diffused quite easily, but for external interference. Let’s hope that all learn a lesson.

6. 18/4/17 Chonburi 1-5 Bangkok Utd: TPL

Match report
by Peter Reeves
The pleasure and the pain.

I’ve been looking forward to this match for a few weeks, it became a bit of a painful experience in some ways. As many here know I do not ‘support’ a team in Thailand but nevertheless I like Chonburi. I like the stadium and the nice atmosphere that pervades the ground on match day. Appreciate the loyalty of the supporters and I have good friends there whose opinions and comments I respect. Bangkok United my favourite team from a footballing point of view. Attractive to watch with some quality.

The Sharks a club with a history shattered by mis-management and lack of managerial know-how, ambition  and commitment, The Angels in many respects the new kids on the block with it all to achieve if they get it right off the pitch. Two issues before we even kicked off.  The first for Chonburi where was Nurul? Been the best player for the last few games so why is he not in the starting 11? For Bangkok no Mario or Jaycee John. The second where were the fans? Of both teams. More on that later.

In the early minutes it seemed like the Angels had only one holding midfielder which is a brave decision given that their form has been a bit patchy so far this season but credit to them for sticking to their principles. Chonburi had two in that position but as usual both seemed unaware of what that role entails. Their job should have been to link defence to midfield and provide cover for the channels between full backs and central defenders and cut out any advancing threats. This only works if there is a disciplined back four and they themselves are working hard in front of them.

After just 10 minutes the writing was on the wall as a poor defensive pass across the field exposed the defence and a simple ball over the top let in an Angels attacker. Clean through on goal he was hauled back. Sending off? He was the last man and the attacker was in.

Didn’t have to wait long though and more defensive chaos saw two defenders rush to tackle the same ball. It ended up with Chonlatit in a panic chipping a perfect ball over Chanin’s head that Bergkamp would have been proud of. Chanin? Out of position and caught in no man’s land. So early in the match it was a hammer blow for Chonburi. They must have fancied their chances pre-match being on an albeit fortuitous run of matches and Bangkok not quite what they were last year. It wasn’t that they weren’t having a decent share of the ball, they were, it was just that Bangkok were so more accomplished at using it when they had it. Without Nurul they looked a blunt sword.

They had a couple of opportunities to do something, Marques getting through on the left but his weak shot easily saved and a free kick from 20 yards which landed in the car park from Kroekrit which was shameful. International player this bloke is he? In that moment you felt sorry for Zico.

It was Bangkok though that were looking dangerous. They did seem to lack that driving force from midfield that was Mario even though Anthony, who I like, was putting himself about a bit. On 24 minutes it should have been 2. Boskovic missing with a header from 5 yards with only Chanin to beat after good work down the right. On 30 defensive midfielders missing again allowed the Angels to play the ball through the Sharks back line to Boskovic who was through on goal. Referee and linesman called offside. Poor decision. On 41 a decent free kick from Chonburi saw the Bangkok keeper stretched at his far post but he dealt with it.

Half time and Chonburi should have been relieved it was only 0-1. They had a decent amount of possession but were creating nothing, partly due to Bangkok’s organization at the back. The Angels themselves not up and running yet. Flashes of it every now and then and looked dangerous but also looked a bit edgy at times with a few passes going astray. Worth their lead though.

In the second half it seemed like Bangkok were playing wider perhaps noticing that Chonburi’s defence defence was playing a bit narrow and a break and a flowing move down the right saw Boskovic finish it off from close in. Chanin did well to half stop it but he had no chance. That is what they are capable of when they play, but again where was the blue defence? This is not rocket science, it is basic stuff that we are taught as kids. Shape, formation, discipline, awareness of what’s going on. Just not there at all.

As the half progressed you could see the Angels growing in confidence. Movement off the ball starting to happen, attacking the flanks and then reverting to the central when the defence was stretched. Chonburi had no answers now. They did get the ball in the net on 65 but it was offside. That was the closest they came. On 66 a shocking miss by Boskovic from 10 yards and my only thought was that Chonburi had better tighten this up.

Chanin gifted Bangkok a third trying to be clever and making himself look a fool, again, and a 4th followed very quickly. I really began to feel for the Sharks fans as the barn door was now wide open.

Just as I was writing a note on how Chanin could learn a thing or two from the Bangkok keeper who had been very good all night, he makes a howler and just pushes a harmless shot straight to Marques, 1-4. Irrelevant in the circumstances but if it had been 0-0 at the time?  Don’t want to labour the point he’d had a good game, helped by the big centre back in front of him. He looks better than Kawin to me.

Chanin though at the other end was still trying to create another Angels goal, rushing out and losing possession but he got lucky. Nurul and Prince arrived far too late to have any real impact and one wonders why they were not introduced earlier or even started.

A fifth arrived in injury time to ensure a humiliating experience for the loyal blue support and as the cameras panned the stadium, a quick look at the faces told its story.

So, where were the fans? This was a big game for both teams. The stadium looked half empty and in an area that boasts millions of people to attract that is a disgrace. It proves despite their posturing and self-appreciating comments Chonburi’s management haven’t got a clue. That stadium should have been packed to the rafters, shaking with noise, queue’s to get in, a 12th man off the pitch. Felt more like a wake. And Bangkok? No better really. Hard to tell how many made the trip, didn’t look many (66, I counted ‘em - ed). Again that end should have been packed and rocking. Yes, it’s a Tuesday night but it’s only down the road.

Marketing a football club (note I say club not team) is a unique activity that absolutely demands knowledge of how and why it works. Are Bangkok going to follow the road Chonburi have been on. Get success and throw all the potential spin-offs from that down the drain? Looks like it. For Chonburi it’s going to take a complete overhaul of everything ‘upstairs’. For Bangkok they must build on the success of last season. Sponsors are not the right people for it. They think they are, having built successful businesses in other disciplines, but this is football. It’s just different.

A hard lesson then for Chonburi tonight and an opportunity to step back and say ok where do we go from here?

(Sacking Therdsak, even though he still seems not quite up to speed, is on a par with making Zico’s life untenable. Don’t even think about it). It could quite easily have been 1-7 tonight with Boskovic’s two misses. That might have cost Therdsak. Someone would have to take the blame. And Bangkok? Is this a springboard for a confidence boost and a good run of form? No doubt the next few weeks will tell.

Oh, football. The pleasure and the pain.

To be continued...