A Few Things I'd Like To See: 2013

Prior to the home TPL match against Osotspa on 30th June, 2013, I made a list of eight things I'd like to have seen on the night. Here is that list and a record of whether or not my wishes were fulfilled.

A FEW THINGS I'D LIKE TO SEE - DID THEY MATERIALISE?

ENTERTAINMENT

This has been in short supply at the Chonburi Stadium so far this season. Apart from the second half display against an admittedly woeful Pattaya Utd and the first half an hour of the game with Bangkok Glass, I'm struggling to remember a match when we've played well at home. Today is a great opportunity for us to turn on the style. Realistically we aren't going to win the league so we might as well start playing with gay abandon and giving the fans something to enjoy.

This match was more entertaining than the last two but that's rather like saying Crossroads is more entertaining than Albion Market. It was still dull and short of skill and incident. The fact that the final whistle was greeted by total silence - not boos, not applause, silence - tells you all you need to know.

GOALS

This ties in with the above. Apart from the two fixtures I've already mentioned - 5-1 v Pattaya Utd and 3-1 v Bangkok Glass - we've failed to score more than one goal in our five other home league games. This simply isn't good enough and I'd like to see a hatful today, please.

0-0. Nil bloody nil. I asked for a hatful of goals and I got a hatful of hollow. Both strike forces (and I'm using that expression ironically) looked anaemic and the two goalkeepers had virtually nothing to do all evening. They could still be playing now and it would still be scoreless.

EFFORT

In the eyes of most fans, lack of effort is the biggest crime a player can commit on the field. It doesn't matter if you're not particularly talented or even having an off day, not trying is totally unacceptable. So come on, lads, lets see you all giving...wait for it...110% out there this evening. You know it makes sense.

To be fair, I think the effort was there last night. Sadly, it only served to illustrate that we're just not good enough and we need a clear out. I'm not going to mention names (yet!) but anyone who watches the team regularly, knows who needs to go.

PLAYERS PLAYING IN THEIR RIGHT POSITIONS

Arthit at left back? Chonlatit at right back? Jackie at centre forward? Pipob in goal? No thanks. Please pick a team where the players are happy with their roles and can be most effective. And don't feel the need to make a substitution after 25 minutes. If you're having to do that, you've clearly selected the wrong line up.

I'd only really question the selection of Jackie at left back here. He's a centre half and if he isn't picked to play in that position, then he should be left out, in my opinion. We started as 4-5-1 (against a team who've only won once away from home all season) and finished with no out and out striker on the field (4-6-0?). Baffling or just rubbish? You decide.

A DECENT CROWD

I've got a sneaky feeling we might see our lowest crowd of the season today. Two defeats in a week - including a gutless display on Wednesday - added to the increasing discontent amongst a number of supporters and the fact there won't be many visiting fans, might just see the attendance dip below the 4,000 mark for the first time this year. I hope I'm wrong.

They announced it as 5,700+. However, that figure undoubtedly included the absent season ticket holders - of which there were many. I would put the actual figure at just over 4,000. And this included a couple of hundred school children, who'd been given free tickets. Credit to the 150 or so Osotspa fans, who kept up a decent level of noise throughout the match.

THE FOOD AND DRINK BAN LIFTED

Come on. It's time to start treating us like adults again. Please. I can't see what's wrong with letting people eat and drink whilst they are watching a game. We managed to do it at the Swamp last Saturday and then again on Wednesday night without any problems. So why aren't we trusted to do it at our own ground? Osotspa is hardly a high risk match so today would be an ideal time to give us a chance.

I thought this was a long shot. Still at least the four cans of Leo we left on the Table of Shame at the start of the second half were still there to ease the pain after the final whistle.

PLAYERS WEARING BLACK BOOTS

You call me old fashioned. You can call me straight laced. But I do like seeing players wearing black boots. There isn't a single member of our squad who sports a pair and I'd like to see that change today. So, if any of you are reading this, ditch the fancy footwear and get back to black. You'll make an old(ish) man very happy. And, while I'm at it, can our goalie wear a green shirt as well. Thanks.

Step forward Pipob On-Mo. Chonburi legend and all round good egg Mo wore black boots and made my day. Let's hope that he continues to wear them and encourages his team mates to follow suit. Sadly, Sinthaweechai in goal, chose to wear an ugly dark pink coloured outfit.

SOME SORT OF ANTI-WORAWI PROTEST

According to some reports, clubs face being fined if fans stage anti Worawi Makudi protests or display uncomplimentary banners inside their stadiums. Ridiculous. As long as the protests are conducted properly and don't overstep the mark in terms of common decency, football supporters have every right to make their feelings known. It would be nice if the Chonburi faithful could show the FAT head exactly what we think of him, in terms of how he's mismanaging Thai football, in a civilised and effective manner.

Yes! There was a march around the stadium prior to kick off and banners were prominently displayed inside the ground throughout the match. I also noticed quite a few people wearing anti-Worawi t-shirts. Well done to all involved. It will be interesting to see if we receive any sort of punishment for this.