Tuesday 16 June 2020

Match Preview - Chonburi v Nakhon Ratchasima: 2017

A Joy Division inspired match preview from February, 2017

Match Preview - Chonburi v Nakhon Ratchasima

23rd February, 2017



New Dawn Fades
Following the good start at Buriram Utd on opening weekend, we crashed down to earth with a bang against the Sin City Stompers last Sunday. All the hope, expectancy and new found optimism that had built up during the week quickly dissipated, as the team failed to show up for the world's least passionate local derby. How we can be so impressive one week and so poor the next is a mystery to me. I just hope we’ve learned our lessons and spent the week addressing the issues during training and in team meetings.

Atrocity Exhibition
There’s no getting away from the fact that we were woeful last Sunday. None of the players came out of that match with any credit whatsoever. I’m baffled as to why those fans serenaded them at the end of the game. If they're no good – and they were abysmal against a very weak Pattaya Utd - boo ‘em, like we used to do. They’ll soon get the message. We'll need to show a big improvement this week from one (especially!) to eleven, if we want to get anything from a game against a Nakhon Ratchasima side who’ve started the season well. The only consolation is that we can’t possibly play any worse than we did at the Nong Prue Dolphin Bowl – or whatever it’s called. Can we?

Love Will Tear Us Apart
As fans, our loyalty has been sorely tested in recent seasons. Bad decisions off the pitch and sub-standard displays on it, have led to a somewhat strained relationship between long standing supporters and club. I get the feeling that this is a real make or break year for Chonbui. Get it right - and hopefully win something - and all will be well again. Get it wrong and I can honestly see even more people who’ve been coming for years turning their backs on the club forever.

Atmosphere
In spite of last Sunday’s insipid display (and that’s me being kind!), I’m still expecting a decent sized crowd for this weekend’s fixture – our first at home in 2017. There’ll certainly be a good turnout from the visitors - as a large percentage of their support is locally based – and this always helps to contribute to a good atmosphere. So, hopefully a five thousand plus attendance will create a bit of noise inside the stadium and inspire the boys in blue (Whoo, oo, oo!) to pick up maximum points.

Leaders Of Men
Something we desperately need is a leader. Someone on the field who will gee everyone up and get everyone going. Sadly, we don't appear to have anyone like this in the current squad. The closest we had last season was Adul and dos Santos – both now departed. Oh, how we missed them on Sunday. Ultimately, I believe that this lack of leadership stems from the gaffer himself. Therdsak still seems to hide away in the dugout when we need him the most. Which is simply not good enough. Rumours abound that he's on his way if results don’t improve - and quick - so hopefully this will inspire him to show some sort of passion and leadership from the sidelines from now on. God knows, we need it!

Heart And Soul
All I’m asking for Sunday, is that the players show a bit of passion and make some effort. That’s all that a fan can ask. Anything else is a bonus. Certainly those of us who had to endure that rubbish last weekend are owed something from the players? So, go on, lads, show us that you can do it. Oh, and when (if!) you score, show that it matters. Jackie’s wai to the home fans after his goal in Pattaya was embarrassing. You’re Chonburi now. We pay your wages, we make sacrifices to travel the country to watch you. Please show us respect by demonstarting what scoring a goal for our club means. We're the ones that matter now, not them.

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