For some reason, fans of other Thai clubs seem to have very strong opinions on Bangkok Utd. Here I look at some of the more popular ones and explore how close they are to the reality.
It has been called a decaying concrete bowl with a nightmare car park and is often cited as the top flight stadium with the worst view from the away end. But is it really as bad as people make out? I'm not so sure. And there are certainly grounds where it's harder to see the action from the vantage point of a travelling fan - hello, Rayong. I quite like Thammasat and have always enjoyed my trips there - although not always what has happened on the pitch. The fan zone is pretty decent too. I believe it gets a bad rap and I'll always be prepared to stick up for it.
They Won The League In 2006
No they didn't. Bangkok University did. Even though the current club rose from the ashes of the college club, they are a completely different entity and have no right to claim any honours won by their predecessors, in spite of what certin websites and football associations might try to tell you. See also Buriram Utd/PEA/Buriram PEA and Police Tero.
They Played Attractive Football Under Mano Polking
This was certainly true (no pun intended) during the early seasons he was in charge and when they were "everybody's favourite second team". They had a lot of the young, cool Thai and half Thai players, many of whom who were known for their fashion sense. The closest Thailand has come to emulating the Scouse Spice Boys of yore. However, in later years they had a reputation for bullying referees and truculent, boorish behaviour, which lost them a lot of admirers and even resulted in open hostility from those who had once sung their praises. Their quality of football suffered too.
They're Always The Bridesmaid, But Never The Bride
Under Mano they finished 8th, 5th, 2nd, 3rd 2nd and 4th in the league, and also came runners up in the 2017 FA Cup. Not a particularly bad record, but I expect a few of you reading this are surprised as I am that it isn't more impressive. During this period, they were often many people's favourites to win silverware, or at least come close. And this is without considering their less than average form in the League Cup, where they only got past the second round twice. So, all things considered, they are more the flower girls or ushers than the bridesmaids.
They Have Nice Kits
They do. Once they decided which colour to play in - they've flirted with orange and green- they've had some lovely strips over the years. I was particularly fond of the recent "odd socks" away kit. That was gorgeous and a little bit different. This season's home kit (pictured) is an absolute belter too, although that blue monstrosity they've sported a couple of times recently is one of the most hideous things I've ever seen!
They Don't Play In Bangkok
Why are they called "Bangkok" Utd? They play in the middle of nowhere. Their ground is miles out of the city and hard to get to etc etc. Well...Grimsby Town, anyone? Or even Manchester Utd. My personal grievance is more with the United part of their name than the Bangkok bit. However, I believe they are entitled to use the name of the capital. They took over the reins from Bangkok University and, of course, were based within the city limits for a number of years before moving "north". And to finally settle the argument, The Clash's 1982 gig at Thammasat University is listed as "Bangkok". That's good enough for me.
They Have No Fans
Currently, this is correct. But then again, nor do any other club. Joking aside, is the statement "they have no fans" really accurate? I'll publish the fact below and you can make up your own minds.
Bangkok Utd at Thammasat Stadium
2016: Average attendance = 3,321; TPL average attendance = 5,428; Attendance position = 11th
2017: Average attendance = 2,855; TPL average attendance = 4,604; Attendance position = 13th
2018: Average attendance = 2,909; TPL average attendance = 4,466; Attendance position = 13th
2019: Average attendance = 4,378; TPL average attendance = 5,699; Attendance position = 9th
Those are the figures. What are your thoughts?
They'd Get Bigger Crowds If They Moved Back To The Thai-Japanese Stadium
Hmm...this is an interesting one. They are certainly more well known and popular than when they last played there (2015) and the Thai league certainly gets more coverage than it did six years ago. Also, with the demise of Army Utd, they'd be the only top flight team in the area. Then throw in the fact that the Thai-Japanese is easier to get to for many, and we could be onto something. Therefore, I'd be tempted to say yes - as long as they continued to be a top four side.
This photo practically screams "Mano Polking Is Bangkok Utd, Bangkok Utd Is Mano Polking!", doesn't it. Having been at the club for so long and having been relatively successful, it's inevitable that Mano's name and that of the club are inextricably linked, especially in a country where coaches - and particularly foreign coaches - come and go with such regularity. New boss, Totchawan Sripan will need to achieve some great things if he is to step out of the Brazilian's considerable shadow. His first task would appear to be getting the players to break through that mental barrier they seem to have when it comes to proving they are more than just top four contenders. If he can do that - and quickly - we could soon be asking "who's Mano?"
They Must Be Loaded With All That 'True' Money Behind Them
Whilst it is clear that True have pumped a fair amount of cash into the club, there's no real evidence that Bangkok Utd are able to compete financially with the real big hitters in the Thai league. The multi media giants are also going through something of a transisitional phase themselves just now - losing the rights to broadcast local domestic football being a big blow to their product, and possibly their bank balance - so whether or not they continue to invest, may well depend on how successful the team is in the near future. I'm not really sure that the sponsorship deal makes a big difference in propelling them to be a top club, but they would be stuffed without it.
Thanks to Phil, Russ, Jamie, Grant & Sven
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