Muang Thong Utd v Chonburi Match Preview by John Lees: 2014

17/5/14 TPL: Muang Thong Utd v Chonburi

Match Preview

by John Lees

 

 

When the fixtures are released at the start of each season, Muangthong (away) is one of the fixtures that Chonburi fans instantly look for. Since rising to the top flight in 2009, Muangthong have won the TPL three times and they are never far from the headlines. Here is a look at what we have in store on Saturday. 

Their Season so Far

Muangthong have been far from convincing yet they are in second place level on points with leaders BEC Tero. Away from home, Muangthong have almost been faultless but it's on their own patch where they've been slipping up. Their three home victories have all been tight 2-1 matches. They've drawn with Police and lost to Ratchaburi 2-1 and they were humbled 5-2 by Suphanburi a fortnight ago. There seems to be a common theme that they don't do well when hosting sides whose name end with 'buri.' Let's hope we can complete the trifecta.

Who are They Managed By?

Caretaker Pon Chomchearn has been put in temporary charge while the chiefs at the club hunt for a full time coach. In the six matches he's taken charge of, Muangthong have collected 13 points. Four straight wins in April, saw Pon collect the manager of the month award. However, May hasn't been so productive with only one point from the six available taken. He replaced Scott Cooper after the Englishman parted company with the club at the end of March. 

The fact that Cooper lasted this long came slightly as a surprise after rumours circulated that he had resigned prior to February's AFC Champions League qualifier with Melbourne Victory. The fact that his side failed to qualify for the AFC group stages coupled with the loss to Buriram United in the Kor Royal Cup meant it was only a matter of time before the frosty relationship between Cooper and MTU was terminated. It all ended one month later after Muangthong's 1-1 draw at BEC Tero Sasana.

 

Who Plays for Them?

(Foreigners)

The four non-Thai players that have predominately been in the starting XI are Kim Dong Jin, Mario Gjurovski, Erik Paartalu and Jay Bothroyd. The pick of that bunch is undoubtedly Mario Gjurovski. Whether you love him or hate him, you can't deny that he is too good for this level. He'll play in a role just behind the front men and he's the player Chonburi need to mark tightly. 

The tall Australian Erik Paartalu will shield the back four while the equally statuesque defender Kim Dong Jin will be easily spotted by his peroxide blond hair. Jay Bothroyd will be familiar to followers of English football and despite scoring a handful of goals, it's fair to say that the jury is still out on the striker. The arbiters will get some respite this weekend as an accumulation of four yellows sees Jay Bo sit this one out in the gallery. 

Nonetheless, the verdict on Serb Milan Bubalo has already been cast and he'll most likely be moved on in the summer transfer window. Ri Kwang Chon cancelled his contract with the club a few weeks ago while the long serving Dagno Siaka has barely featured after a rumoured fall out with the club's top brass. 

Who Plays for Them?

(Thais)

Regular followers of the Thai national squad will be familiar with players such as Kawin, Datsakorn, Teerasil and Piyaphon. Goalkeeper Kawin was once touted as a Manchester United target in his youth but at 24 years old his highly promising youngster tag doesn't look like it's going to be fulfilled. Teerasil is undoubtedly Thailand's top striker and he'll be departing to Almeria in Spain for a season long loan in the coming weeks. Despite only being 30 years old, Datsakorn's form of the noughties for the national side is a distant memory but on his day he can still produce that match winning piece of magic from midfield. Piyaphon can play an attacking or defensive role on the righthandside and close attention has to be paid to him in the box as the 182cm man is fond of a tumble. Other Thais likely to feature are youngsters Thitipan, Suriya and Ahtit while the suspension of Bothroyd may open the door for a rare appearance from one of the bench warming Tathong brothers.

 

The Stadium/The Fans

The SCG Stadium provides one of the closest views to the action that you'll get in Thailand. There is no running track and Chonburi fans won't need binoculars as they'll be positioned in the bottom corner of the West Stand rather than 40 yards behind the goal. The only downside will be for sufferers of claustrophobia as our section will be jam packed. Beer can usually be taken into the stadium provided it's has a Muangthong/Leo logo on the plastic tumbler. Muangthong have average home crowds of just under 11,000 this season but a sellout of 15,000 is expected this Saturday.

The fans to the left of the Chonburi section are the boisterous N-Zone who display the 'Welcome to Hell' banner to their guests. Behind the goal to the right will be the Ultras. Their singing and dancing routines will be well choreographed while unshirted N-Zone tend to be a bit more spontaneous. The rest of the stadium tends to be filled by fans who actually go to watch the football. 

How Do We Usually Do at the SCG?

The game that sticks out in recent memory was the 2-1 success we had on Christmas Day 2011. Goals from Nurul Siyarngem and Suree Sukha helped the Sharks defeat an uninspired Muangthong side under the guidance of Robbie Fowler. That has been our only success in five previous visits with the other four ending in two draws and two defeats.