10th July, 2018
I go head to head in a Q&A with Muang Thong Utd fan, Gian Chansrichawla, ahead of Wednesday's League Cup tie.
What are your thoughts on the season so far?
Gian (Muang Thong Utd): It’s been a poor season by Muangthong’s standards but has turned around in recent weeks and we really have no right to complain. Given how much talent we lost (and neglected to replace) during the off-season, sitting in fourth place is not bad. I just really miss the way we used to play under Totchtawan, we are nowhere near that now.
Dale (Chonburi): It has been very disappointing. The team hasn't played well for most of it and we are a mess behind the scenes. The fact that we are currently seventh says more about the poor quality of the league this season than it does about our performances. However, the FA Cup gives us some hope and if we can keep getting home draws against lower league opposition we could go all the way!
Has this campaign exceeded your pre-season expectations?
Gian: I think it is right about where I expected us to be given the strength of our squad and level of investment. It's a bit below what I hoped but well above what I had feared.
Dale: Ha, ha! My pre season expectations were very low and the team hasn't let me down.
What are the strongest aspects of your team?
Gian: Heberty
Dale: This won't take long (but slightly longer than you took!). Kim Gyeong-Min at centre half has been outstanding for most of the season. However, he must be wondering what is going on. We started the year with a very defensive approach and were hard to break down. He was very much at the heart of this and he excelled. However, since Goran left, we have completely abandoned any pretence of defending and he has been left to pick up the pieces. It must be difficult for him at times, especially when he's looking around for support and the two full backs are somewhere deep in the opposition half.
Which players should your opponents look out for in this match?
Gian: Heberty
Dale: If Matheus Alves and Bajram Nebihi both play, they could cause one or two problems for your defence. They clicked as a partnership for the first time against Police Tero at the weekend so I'm hoping that it's the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Kroerkrit and Worachit also had good games against the Cops so if they can carry that form into the match on Wednesday they should also be worth looking out for.
What weaknesses in your team do you believe the opposition can exploit in this game?
Gian: Everything except Heberty! Seriously though, Muangthong are not very hard to stop - Prachuap and their excellent coach Thawatchai gave an excellent demonstration a couple of weeks ago. Muangthong have virtually no pace or penetration down the wing, and if defenses play a high-line against Muangthong Jaja can’t be expected to run in behind. Heberty can’t help him because has to step in and do most of the creative work while Charyl is too busy being an instagram model.
Dale: Our defence - or lack of (see above)and especially our goalkeeper, whether it be Chanin or Tanachai, neither of them instill much confidence and I break into a cold sweat every time the opposition has a shot on target. Signing a good keeper should be high on our list of priorities. Although, knowing the way the senior management works, they probably haven't given it a moment’s thought.
Which of your players have underperformed or disappointed you this season?
Gian: Definitely Jaja Coelho. He was the perfect signing for Totchtawan’s style of play, a perfect replacement for Xisco who left for Osasuna in Spain, and a perfect “up yours” to Buriram who foolishly let him go. Unfortunately, he simply doesn’t work in Radovan Curcic’s system. Previously, Muangthong had the talent and confidence to commit wingbacks high and get crosses into the box, making them perfect for a target man. Now, the system benefits players who can run in behind, as we can see from Heberty's brilliant 18 league goals this season.
Dale: Zulfahmi Arifin. He came with a good reputation and impressed in pre season. However, he hasn't done it in the league. I don't think he's entirely to blame and is another one who probably would have fluorished under Goran. But I guess we'll never know.
What are your opinions on your current coach?
Gian: He’s got an excellent CV which makes him arguably one of the best coaches in the league. He has done so well to make the most of limited materials, and I believe he is deserving of some form of recognition for his efforts. I feel bad for him as nobody could have predicted Muangthong’s sudden austerity program. I don’t think he’s taken enough risks and dropped the big names. When he was coaching Serbia, he left out Southampton’s talented playmaker Dusan Tadic from his squad to make a statement to the team. I think he needs to do that at Muangthong, and I’m concerned he’s being prevented from operating in the way he wants to. Yugoslav-style doesn’t gel well with Thai Culture, and I’m worried about how he’s adjusting.
Dale: He's a lovely bloke, and Chonburi through and through, but he's not a premier league coach. I'm hoping that the club is actively seeking to bring in a suitable replacement for the new season. We really need someone with experience who will actually coach the team and get the players playing to their strengths. Currently we have no apparent game plan or tactics. We wasted two years with Therdsak at the helm and we really can't afford to waste another two. We are being left behind by so many other clubs and if we're going to have any chance of catching up, we need to have the right man in charge.
How do you expect the game to turn out? Score prediction?
Gian: With the confidence low and the squad stretched well beyond capacity...Chonburi win, which will hopefully give those players a kick up the rear and spur them to a strong league finish and a good run in the FA Cup.
Dale: Sunday's win against Police Tero has given me a slightly distorted sense of optimism so I'm going to say a 2-1 win for Muang Thong Utd, but I hope I'm wrong. A victory for us would give everyone an enormous boost.
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