Q - What do you think are the main reasons for Port's poor form this season?
Essentially no continuity.
Q - Would you welcome relegation if it gave you the chance to rebuild away from the glare of the TPL and have the opportunity to win a trophy?
That’s a very big if, I don’t think relegation would give us a chance to rebuild. Port’s first relegation in 2012 was a tragedy grown men cried, small children bought Muangthong shirts essentially the worst day in Port’s history. We are “a TPL side” another relegation would massively dent that. That happens everyone starts saying, are we going to turn into a yoyo club like Navy or BBCU? It’s the kind of thing that can only hurt any real long term rebuilding. If a majority of players stayed at the club for 3 or 4 years it could being an easier way to rebuild but we all know they don’t. Each year 80% of clubs see 80% of their players switch sides it is a massive merry go round that only pleases agents and just leaves everyone else confused pre-season. If we were in Division One again I can’t see any real positives for the club the only thing to look forward to would be some new grounds to go to.
Q - What are your thoughts on Madam Pang's takeover and her reign so far?
Long story Madam Pang bought control of the club in a 5 year rent a club deal when Port were ready to sell. The Port Authority Board put together a team at the beginning of the season aiming not to get relegated and that never works. They saw an opportunity to offload responsibility of the club and grabbed it with both hands. I’m not a massive fan our glorious leader but I think if the PAT board were still in charge we’d be bottom of the table with a thinner squad and we’d be booking our early bird flights to Krabi away. This being said if our budget is so big why did we buy a third rate keeper from ailing TOT?
Some of the mid-season buys were good Rochela and Wuttichai have both impressed. Vincent just played his first TPL game after getting injured in his second outing in the FA Cup. After some great games Siwakorn is out with a fairly serious injury. Siwikorn and Vincent are good TPL level players their injuries have seriously hurt Port. Jirawat has had some good games, Sompong is not as good as he was and he wasn’t that good even then. Apart from Rochela and Wuttichai these aren’t the big names you’d expect from a Multimillionaire wanting to stamp her name all over the club. We have a giant Billboard of her peering over the ground with the successful Thai Women’s squad. It just makes me think where’s our successful squad? Like our very own chairman Mao the biggest change she has brought to the club is her own photo everywhere.
The most significant problem at Port is 4 managers in 22 games. This is never going to help any team. What’s even more worrying is the type of manager she has brought in. Apart from Gary Stevens the other two have been poor Paiboon was a stop gap solution who didn’t seem to know what first 11 to choose. Paiboon and Somchai are clearly there because they are grateful for the opportunity and are ready to follow exactly what Madam Pang wants. The current manager has made some poor selection choices. If they were Madam Pang’s ideas then he will stay but at this rate we are about due another manager. I think we will see another one they will be heralded as the great hope to save us from relegation and build for next year then they will be sacked 3 weeks after the end of the season whatever happens.
Q - What are your thoughts on Gary Stevens' brief reign and sacking?
I think Gary summed it up well in Paul Murphy’s article for ESPN, he was told he would be judged on the results with the new players then was sacked before he got a chance to play them. I would have still backed him he made the right choices with a poor squad to choose from. He should have been given a chance to build some continuity. I don’t think he or anyone else could have done any better with that squad. Gary’s running on the pitch with a Port Shirt and standing shoulder to shoulder with the players at the end of match sing song meant he was a real Port favourite.
He’s got to be in a very exclusive club being one of the few ex-managers to be cheered by both of his ex clubs at the same game. At Army v Port he was signing shirts at both ends of the ground. Nice bloke, wish him all the best. He was in Zone B at Port on Wednesday good to see him back at the PAT.
That’s a great question I’ll try to limit my answer. I’m assuming Trophies are already there in cabinets. And there’s a massive photo of the man who started it all Major Prachuap Suntranakul. The founder of the club who decided that any decent Port Authority needs is a football club.
1) Tor’s Thai Port Lion costume. The massive furry Lion costume and a few photos with Tor running about at PAT. “Tor” the man behind the furry faced Lion lives and breathes Port he loved being the Thai Port Lion. I think wandering around the ground with this week’s Thai Port pretties and being on the pitch getting the crowd fired up really made it his dream job. He was steward at the Muangthong game on Wednesday really hope to see him back in the suit next season.
2) The Scarf with all the Port badges. I bought this fan made scarf with 6 badges on it 2 months ago it shows the acceptance of all the changes at Port, there is a picture of fans on the other side very fitting showing somethings change only the fans are a constant.
3) Sarawut’s boots that scored the winning goal against Air Force to put us back in the TPL. Sarawut had a tough time of it under Dusit he didn’t get that many games but he never lost his spirit everyone saw that. You always knew in Sarawut there was a player who would run himself into the ground for Port. For him to get the winning goal that promoted us was the Hollywood ending to that game.
4) In one corner of the Museum there should be the Thai Port Importz badge that Frostie desgined ages ago. I like to think slowly the Thai Port fans have come round to the fact we are here to stay not just a few random tourists and we have become a part of the club.
5) Finally in the Museum as you wander around a museum assistant should at random moments hand you a small glass of Oat’s home brewed Yaa Dong which you have to down in one. Random friendly gestures as standard, welcome to the Thai Port experience.
Q - Port Authority of Thailand, Thai Port, Taa Rua, Singhtarua, Port FC, or one of your own?
Either “Thai Port” or “Taa Rua” for me. The club has been loved and disowned by different people at the Port Authority each new group that has come in has tried to stamp it’s name and brand on the club.
Q - Many fans consider PAT Stadium to be an intimidating place to visit, is this true or a myth put around by mischief makers trying to introduce a bit of spice into Thai fan culture?
It is intimidating but this only goes so far, if it’s not backed up by some decent play on the pitch the atmosphere loses its bite. With the up and down form of the last 5 years I’ve seen it affect away teams but only when the game is still in the balance. At the beginning of the 2014 season when we were top of the league and Leandro was banging in the goals the ground was buzzing. It still has that buzz for some games Muangthong Wednesday had it but as form slips away some of the atmosphere is lost.
Q - Which teams do you most look forward to hosting at the PAT and why?
Munagthong is obviously the biggest grudge match it will be a nice contrast this week to have seen Muagthong Wednesday and host Chonburi Sunday. Chonburi is a different atmosphere fans mix more than any other game and all the shouting is left on the pitch. Like playing footy against your brother’s team. Of course the stadium is always packed out for Buriram too. Buriram visit Port last game of the season this year I just hope both teams don’t need points from that game and we can both enjoy it.
Q - What are you expecting from Sunday's match?
I’m expecting a loss hoping for a point.
Q - Who do we most need to look out for?
Kanye Vincent is back and looking to prove he is worth a starting place he will be going the extra yard on Sunday. Wuttichai is scoring regularly but both are not getting enough service with Siwakorn out of the team and Ekkapoom having a poor year. Look out for Saruta skipping past players on the right wing and Vincent running into the box as if his life depends on it.
Q - What are your thoughts on Chonburi's season so far?
The poor form early doors surprised me but after talking to yourself and other Chonburi fans no one was positive about how things were going to turn out this season. 4th place isn’t a poor show but I know Chonburi fans were hoping to challenge for the top spot again so this is no consolation. Last year was great but it showed Chonburi need to just push on that little bit further and make an effort to finish games off and remember to bribe every linesman. Something significant will have to change if Chonburi want to challenge Buriram again. Not just a new manager but real investment at all levels from the youth team to the Tea lady or Som Tam lady. Unfortunately this season it looks like the club is heading in the other direction.
Q - Which Chonburi players are you most wary of and why?
Thiago is always a threat but as a Chonburi fan I would be most wary of him too his leaving could see things fall apart. Be wary of agents sitting in the stands pricing him up and wondering which club wants to buy him most. Dos Santos is a great player solid at the back and adds options going forward. But I’m most wary of him because he managed to annoy Lee Sang Ho so much that he got him banned and made me lose my temper more than any other incident at Port.
As I was leaning over the railings questioning his parentage and Thai fans in Zone B were saying “jai yen yen Dom” you know you’ve lost it when Zone B fans are telling you to calm down. If he got our new star defender Rochela sent off I think it might spark a one man pitch invasion. Fortunately Rochela is a class act and is more likely to be busy looking after Thaigo.
Q - Do you have a message for the visiting Chonburi fans?
Welcome to PAT lets watch footy, drink and sing songs about how much we hate Muangthong.
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