How would you build your own Thai football club?
21st March, 2016
Reply#1
Russ John
Russ’s Fantasy Thai Football Club
Isaan Wanderers
Chairman/Owner
Our lord and master Newin Chidchob – who else?
Head Coach
Sergio Alexandre
Thai players
Kawin, Chanathip Songkrasin, Teerasil Dangda, Tanaboom Kesara and Peerapat Notchaiya. A talented group of players who would dovetail effectively with my chosen foreign recruits. Kawin is a first class keeper and Chanathip, despite a current loss of form, is still one of the best in Asia. Teerasil gives the team experience, Tanaboom is a useful midfielder and Peerapet defends well.
Foreign Players
Heberty, Diogo, Noah Chivuta, Andres Tunez and Matt Smith (AFC). These players would be used to form a really strong backbone to the team - two strong defenders who are also leaders, a creative midfielder and a two proven goal scorers.
Kit
Orange shirts with black shorts
Sponsors
Drive Safely
Stadium
A compact stadium of 20 000 capacity that can be filled every week with no running track and covered accommodation all round – yet to be constructed!!
Location
Nahkon Ratchasima. Simply because it seems to be a football city that provides large crowds.
Ticket prices
200-300 baht. I think ticket price should be increased to give teams greater revenue and maybe attract better players. I do not subscribe to the theory that Thais will not pay premium prices for a better product. KIds to be allowed in free or family tickets at a reduced price.
Anything else
⦁ Food courts and beer selling outlets to be added to the inner concourse of the stadium bringing in extra revenue.
⦁ Food and drink allowed inside the stadium.
⦁ My team would punish any player who dives or abuses an official.
⦁ This team is ambitious and has high aspirations. It will strive to play attractive football which will fill the stadium.
Reply #2
Tommie Duncan
Chairman/Owner
This one is a tie...I would meld Newin and Kajorn Chearavanont. Newin's money and commitment to winning with Kajorn's hands off style.
Head Coach
Mano Polking. Dude can work with both Thai and foreign players.
Thai players
Kawin, Jakkphan P, Theerathon, Chanathip, Nurul
Foreign players
Diogo, Tunez, Yannick, Go Seul-Ki
Kit
Buriram Utd style but in Port colors.
Sponsors
Anyone with lots of money gets the shirt.
Stadium
PTT Stadium
Location
I would move PTT Stadium to the center of Bangkok; it would fit nicely where PAT is.
Ticket prices
100 Baht general admission to 300 Baht reserved. I would also try to have luxury boxes. Season tickets would be varying prices, with certain levels being able to reserve their seat for the season. They would also have the option to keep that seat for the next season by placing down a small bond.
Anything else you'd like to add
YES!
Supporters
No question...Port. The Khlongtoey Army.
Reply #3
Natt Miles
Chairman/Owner
Kajorn Chearavanont
Head Coach
Gary Stevens (Hoping he can bring his defending expertise)
Thai players
Theerathon Bunmathan, Mika Chunuonsee, Teerasil Dangda, Sarach Yooyen, Tristan Do (442 - flying full backs and goal scorers up front and on the flanks. Gone for Yooyen over Chanathip.)
Foreign players
Tunez, Seul-Ki, Thiago Cunha, Mario Gjurovski, Dragan Boskovic
Kit
I'd bring the Blue & white hoops to Thailand by Nike
Sponsors
I was going to say Toyota & Leo but I probably shouldn't be promoting drink driving so just Toyota I think. I guess I could add True if I'm linking back the owner.
Stadium
Bangkok Glass' Leo Stadium. Nice to see a smooth pitch surface.
Location
The stadium would be moving up north to Uttaradit but there would only be three stands to transport.
Ticket prices
150 baht
Anything else you’d like to add
Always good to see province teams do well, I would think the people of Uttaradit could get behind the hoops! However instant success required, no pressure Gary, or Mano will be in before the second leg.
Reply #4
Paul Murphy
Chairman / Owner
Mr Kajorn from Bangkok United. He has demonstrated commitment to the future by giving long-term contracts to his coaching team and investing in the club’s academy. Not a man that’s after immediate success but someone who wants solid foundations first.
Head Coach
Mano Polking - The only current coach in the league who has a record of achievement over a sustained period. He’s passionate about football, very driven and smart enough to handle the local players in the right manner. A team-builder.
Thai players
Theerathon Bunmathan - possibly the best Thai player in the league at the moment. Skilful, tactically aware and provides some great set-pieces.
Teerasil Dangda
Experienced and evolving as a player to be more playmaker than out-an-out striker.
Sarach Yooyen
The best central midfielder for Thailand. Energetic, touch tackling and a good passer. Just needs to add more goals to his game.
Anawin Jeejun
Can’t get a game for the national side but a dependable right-back
Kawin Thamsatchanan
It’s between him and Hassan Sunny for the best keeper in the league. His saves will win a number of points.
Foreign players
Mario Gjurovski
It’s always worth having a player who comes up with key goals and moments of magic. Would bring in the fans.
Ariel Rodriguez
A dangerous striker. He’ll finish off the chances that Theerathon, Teerasil and Mario create
Andres Tunez and Matt Smith (AFC)
Important to have a solid central defence and these are two of the best in the league. Their goals would help out as well
Go Seul-Ki
Hard working midfielder who grabs his share of goals
Kit
Green-and-white hoops
Sponsor
A Thai craft beer brewer - ensuring alternatives to Leo and Chang sold at the ground.
Stadium
The SCG is probably the best stadium in the league. Compact and built for football.
Location
No point in having a team without fans so would have to find a good catchment area without an alternative. Difficult to say exactly where that is without extensive research but somewhere central, north, or north east, I would imagine.
Ticket prices
No more than 150 baht for both sets of fans while the club establishes itself
Anything else you'd like to add
No requirement to use logo with sponsor on drink cups in order to take into stadium.
No thorough searches from over zealous security guards.
No ‘pretties’ yelling ‘oh-ho’ into microphones outside the stadium as they lead on the latest product promotion
A focus on a bigger range of food options outside the stadium - some good street food and not just sausages on sticks.
Reply #5
Tim Banks
Tim's Fantasy Football Team
SRIRACHA FC
A team with a solid 500 plus following very recently,that has unfortunately disappeared for various reasons including politics in the last few years,and therefore is not even a true start up but a team with a recognised track record.But more importantly whilst not having the money or political clout and yo-yo ing between the Premier League & Division 1 there was so much that was right about an evening at Sriracha (see other comments)
Chairman/Owner
A local neighbour who is a big Thai business man with an impeccable reputation, so as to give the Club a great start & the appropriate ethics and acumen going forward(inappropriate to name him here though)
Head Coach
Gary Stevens with Asst Manager Therdsak Chaiman
Thai players
Kawin MTU,Theerathon Buriram,Chanathip MTU,Suchao Buriram,Worachit Chon Buri.
Foreign players
Thiago Cunha Port, Tunez Buriram, Minero Reysal, Diogo Buriram, Ibanez FC Seoul.
Kit
Sriracha's old colours of Blue & White stripes,blue shorts and socks (Sheffield Wed style). Any Thai supplier,except Nike,and I would conduct a tender process for the contract asking for full transparency as regards costs,forward marketing etc and what attributes they could genuinely offer the Club & fans
Sponsors
One of the Chairman’s companies
Stadium
Sriracha Stadium, I would develop their home Astro turf ground by the sea front but would try to retain the homely and great relaxed atmosphere but whilst developments would be therefore be limited it would truly be a "community stadium" that could be used throughout the week by schools,age groups etc but retaining the winning formula that they really want you to visit and be a part of the product would be key
Location
as above, just off the Sukhumvit Road as you approach Sriracha from the Chon Buri area.
Ticket prices
75-225 Baht but I would utilize discounted family tickets,discounted season tickets and "kids go free" with adults at various matches and also free tickets for schools and charity's trying to ensure there are not huge swathes of empty seating as with Chon Buri currently
Anything else you'd like to add
The key to my thinking is to try to get away from the regimented security driven poor product that is driving regulars away as the fan seems to be very much a forgotten person,compared to five years ago and I would try to make the fan my centerpiece as regards the off field product.
I would as with the other contributors make food and drink available within the confines of the ground,so as to maximise revenue, and also both would be able to be taken into the stands.
The off field product would be as important as the on field one if not more so,and our success would be measured on the enjoyment available not where we are in the table.
A Club management Commitee would be set up meeting every month with a member of the fan club being co-opted and playing a pivotal role in ensuring feedback and remedies etc so as to maximise the lines of communications between fans and management
Security personnel whilst undertaking an important role have to understand inter personal skills and I would probably advocate members from the Fan Club,rather than the security firms employed throughout the PLT that seem to be driving some fans away.
"Football Clubs are nothing without the fans" and my goal would be to never forget this.
Reply #6
Dominick Cartwright
Ban Krut F.C. “The Ban Krut Beachcombers”
Chairman/Owner
Arnold B. Farang Lottery winner now resident of Ban Krut.
Co-owner
“Chai” the Chairman that mysterious business guy who always hangs around every Thai club. The Chuvit style character who owns a few massage parlours/car dealerships/transport companies, but strangely has a lot more money than his legitimate businesses seem to account for.
Director of football
Sven Goran Erikson
Head Coach
Mano Polking
Assistant Coach
Robbie Fowler
Thai players
Teerasil Dangda, Songkrasin, Kroekrit, Mika Chunuonsee, Kawin. We will run around and asset strip the best players from Muangthong and Buriram as they have done to other clubs in previous years.
Foreign players
Ariel Rodriguez, Leandro Oliveira (Leandro only if he agrees to a course at weight watchers and 23 team building weekends with tedious overpaid management types until he finally gets the whole teamwork thing) Leandro Assumpcao (no further training needed). Tunez true class, knows the Thai game. One free space for the ridiculously over-priced brilliant player too good for the Thai Premier League who is rumoured to be joining Buriram. But this time it will really happen like Drogba in China he won’t stay long.
Formation
4-3-3 The Ban Krut Beachcombers will play Samba football with Brazilian flair winning 4-3, 5-4 and occasionally losing 7-1.
Kit
Got to go Gold Top and Green Shorts. Gold to represent the golden sand and Green for the natural habitat of people getting stoned at the beach. A tribute to the August-December 1992 Norwich team who could have been historic. Kit by Adidas old school classics.
Sponsors
Where we’re going we don’t need sponsors
Stadium
Newly built Stadium on the Thunder Castle template but 30% bigger. Just so Chai the Chairman can ask Newin how his small stadium is doing whenever Buriram come to visit.
Location
Ban Krut, built a stone’s throw from the beach on lovely national park preserved land.
Ticket prices
100 baht
Anything else you’d like to add
Thailand has great food stalls with Som Tam and Pat Thai but you never see them at football grounds it’s always deep fried sausage on a stick. I would make sure there was a good array of cheap food stalls and Leo Beer a plenty. It’s always beer at the football I’ll have a few cut price cocktail stalls and options to buy bottles of Sang Som and Johnny Walker too.
Fans will be brought in from all over Prachuap Khiri Khan province on subsidized trains, buses and songteaws. We will even have extra trains laid on from Hualampong recreating the old days of the BR Football Specials. Only this time instead of knackered old rolling stock. Chai the Chairman will sort out some top notch trains with Inter-City style comfort. These trains will bring in all the fans who live in Bangkok but have decided to support the team that’s winning all the trophies now.
Still tough to get a crowd in such a place you say? I say build it and they will come. This my friends is no ominous sounding Thunder Castle. This is Ban Krut welcome to “The Field of Dreams” where brother shall speak peace unto brother and we shall sing together in perfect harmony about how much we all hate Man U.
Reply #7
James Pinder
Chairman/Owner
The club has to owned by the Red Bull family (as normal rules won't apply to us then).
Coach
The team would be coached by Madame Pang, as she does bring that little bit of glamour that we need.
Thai players
Thai players would have to include Kawin (especially after the Iraq game), Teerasil as he looks athletic enough to look after everyone, Chantip who single handedly ran rings around us at Buriram last year, Theerathon just for his class and Narubadin as he's the future.
Foreign players
Choosing overseas players is difficult. Tunez, of course, along with the animal, Dragon from BU, plus Buriram new boy Weslley and my new favorite both for his football and his name Jhon Baggio Rakotonomenjanahary who destroyed Chonburi a few weeks ago.
Kit
The kit should be that deep red that Bangkok United wear along with a copy of their crest; there's just something about it.
Sponsors
Naturally we'd be sponsored by Red Bull but in conjunction with a new product, Smirnoff Sparkling Mineral Water.
Stadium
The stadium would be I-Mobile but before they filled in the corners and cut off the ventilation!
Location
The most wonderful location has to be next to Heart Island in Sukhotai (google it) and I'd fill it with a mixture of Sukhotai and Korat fans, all at the maximum price of B100.
Anything else you’d like to add
Additionally, I'd like lots of Isaan food courts, more 3K battery shops and a little rice wine on tap to loosen my vocal chords.
The Final Word
Russ John
Some interesting views from contributors who were asked to “Live the Dream” and construct their own “Fantasy Football team”.
I was disappointed that some “Fantasy Teams” were not given a name – maybe the contributors could tweet their preferred name to Dale.
Mano Polking was the choice as Head Coach for a couple of contributors - his ability to work with both foreign and Thai players plus his team building skills seemed to tip things in his favour.
Mr. Kajorn from Bangkok United was a favoured choice for ownership – his long term planning being cited as a reason – suggesting that most of us are fed up with the “short termism” (sp) employed by many clubs in Thailand.
Lot of intriguing ideas on strips – hands up all those who allowed their support of teams in their past to influence their choices – green and white hoops indeed Mr. Murphy!!!!
Terrasil, Kawin and Sarach Yooyen were popular Thai player choices - interestingly Chanathip was not a universal choice perhaps reflecting his rather mediocre form of late. Regarding foreign imports, Tunez, Go Seul-Ki and Mario Gjurovski all garnered support – with good reason, they are all true professionals.
Some common peeves were noticeable – strong arm security and the variety of food available at Stadia was mentioned on more than one occasion. Another concept that keeps surfacing is the treatment and opinions of the fans. Slightly off topic I know but I feel that attendances would double if fans thought they were appreciated and their opinions taken into account.
In conclusion, I would love to see The Khlongtoey Army supporting the The Ban Krut Beachcombers kitted out in green and white hoops playing in Korat with supporters tucking into cordon blue Thai Fayre at half time – Oh well we can dream can’t we – pure fantasy!!
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