My interview with former website contributor and match reporter, Peter Reeves, from December, 2017
Q - Please can you introduce yourself
My name is Peter Reeves, age 68 and born in London. I came here to retire 4 years ago.
Q - Please can you tell us a little bit about your involvement in football back in Europe?
My involvement with football encompasses a full-time Marketing and Community development position at Queens Park Rangers and consultancy and assistance in the same areas at Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, Swindon Town, Barnet, Cardiff City, again at QPR and a couple of non-league clubs. I also worked in Holland and Germany establishing satellite junior coaching programs for clubs.
Q - How long have you been following Thai football?
About 3 years in all.
Q - And what first got you interested?
My Thai neighbor suggested we might go to watch Nakhon Ratchasima, our local team.
Q - How long have you been writing match reports for this website?
I’m in my second season of writing reports for Chonburi
Q - Why did you start writing match reports for us?
I had previously been asked to contribute to the Nakhon Ratchasima English speaking site. That was closed as the webmaster of that site ‘disowned’ the club, as I did, after the Buriam attendance fiasco two years ago and on its demise, was then invited by the Chonburi webmaster to do the same for them.
Q - What is your usual routine whilst watching the match?
My routine is usually the same. Pen and notepad and the match on a big screen TV. Sometimes in contentious situations I might play back highlights to have another look, but Thai TV is quite good for showing a variety of angles. I have done reports ‘live’ but this doesn’t work as well especially when I am watching from what seems like half a mile away, running track and all. Port FC was good being so close and Chonburi themselves, good seat and a good view of things.
Q - How long does it take you to write a report?
Usually takes about an hour to write the report. I like to do a draft and then leave it for ten minutes and go back and read it again and make changes.
Q - What do you most enjoy about writing reports?
I quite enjoy the opportunity as a ‘non-fan’ to attempt an appraisal of the performance of both teams but with an emphasis on Chonburi. But I am also interested in trying to assess the impact off the field issues have on morale of team and fans.
Q - And which aspects of the process do you enjoy the least?
I don’t dislike any aspect of writing the reports other than time issues not allowing a complete effort at times.
Q - What do you look for in match reports from others?
It’s nice to read others reports on matches I have seen as well just to compare opinions because we all see things differently, especially when the person writing is a fan of a particular club. I tend to look at whether they view the performance in the same way and if they differ from me and why they do. Often I have read something someone else wrote and thought maybe I was a little harsh.
Q - Which other local football writers do you most enjoy reading?
I enjoy reading Gian, another contributor to this Chonburi website. He is clearly a student of the game here and makes valid points.
Q - Which was your favourite Chonburi match this season?
My favourite match this season? Well this might not go down well, but as a ‘neutral’ I did enjoy the Noah Chivuta inspired Ayutthaya victory in the FA Cup. Something about the underdog coming back to win. The best Chonburi performance probably at home to Buriram Utd in the League Cup, when they should have won.
Q - Which Chonburi players do you rate the most?
Only Nurul, even though at times he loses his way. He is always a threat. I’d have certainly played him in the shambles of the Thai’s World Cup campaign
Q - And which players do you rate the least?
The rest really. It’s a case of poor discipline and ‘team’ ethic with most and with others an over-rated importance of themselves. The best players I’ve seen wearing the blue, Dos Santos, Adul, the guy who went to Buriram, and Jong Pil, they’ve let go.
Q - Where would you strengthen the current squad?
Just about everywhere, but principally ‘the spine’. Goalkeeper, centre-back, central midfield and centre forward.
Q - So, go on, how would you sum up Chonburi's season?
The season produced what you might expect from a club that looks from the outside, in chaos off the field. They are not challengers for the top places anymore and upper mid table is about right, courtesy of a lack of any real quality below them. They have thrown away a lot of points, but also acquired a few with some ‘interesting’ decisions from officials.
Q - Has the club made the right decision in accepting Therdsak's resignation?
Therdsak, a club icon, had an unfortunate time. He is not yet a coach of any understanding in my opinion but the decision to accept his resignation is not the issue. The mistake was made by not bringing in a ‘dreaded foreigner’ for a season to teach him a few things, especially defensively, and then let him grow into the job over a season. He could have been a success, but management decisions, as usual, are poor and lack any thought about the future.
Q - What kind of head coach do you think Chonburi needs to employ now?
Now that is a question. If the club employ just another failed Thai from another disaster somewhere else it will give an indication of their commitment to the club and its fans.
Q - What does the club need to do win back the missing fans and how do they go about it?
The 16 volumes I have written on the subject are unable to be reproduced here!
Q - How do you think the current match fixing scandal will impact on the local leagues?
The match fixing isn’t really a major shock to most I suspect. It can though be turned into a positive thing if all of it is rooted out and not just a selected few for giving the impression that something is being done. That will take strong unbiased leadership at the top. Will it happen? Each can judge themselves. It’s happened elsewhere and still does, most notably in recent memory Italy, but it could be fixed by a brave man.
Q - What do the powers that be need to do to ensure the fans they are watching a 'clean' league?
A lot really but they have to be unbiased and not show favouritism. Guilty parties, players, officials, owners and clubs dealt with severely and impartially whoever they are. Lifetime bans and relegation are the sort of shock tactics required to sort it out.
Q - Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Despite my constant grumblings, Thai football is still enjoyable most of the time, but mostly because of the enthusiasm of these fantastic fans. The quality is poor most of the time, but some clubs are making improvements in those areas. However, i you can harness that fan enthusiasm into the club not the team then it would pay dividends.
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