Chang Chonburi Invitation Tournament: 2015

Chang Chonburi Invitation Cup 2015

Previews

CHONBURI FC

by Brian Enever

What can we expect  going into this week's Chang Invitation? Well for the second season running with we have another new coach in Jadet Meelarp, all be it one that is well known and liked at Chonburi. We also have a few changes in playing personnel.

From last season's squad, Natthapong has gone to Suphanburi (bet he wasn't planning on playing his first 'competitive' match back at Chonburi), Andre has gone to Chula Utd while Brent McGrath's loan move to Port FC was very strange for a player we've only just signed. And, although there's been nothing official, sadly Jackie no longer seems to be around.

 

On the plus side, after all the rumours, it's good to see Thiago at the training camp. Leandro was very popular when he was on loan in 2013 and he is a very good signing (why oh why did we choose to sign Jaime over Leandro last season, when he told us he wanted to come). Along with Dos Santos and Mineiro, we have four very good quality foreign players. With the signing of S.Korean  Cho Byung Kuk to make up the fifth foreigner it would appear that Kushida's injury problems are more long term. Again though, there's been no comment from the Club and his name is still on the unofficial squad list that I've seen for this coming season.

 

I was looking forward to pre season to see what changes, if any, Jadet would bring to our style of play  but, with our foreign contingent unavailable, the games I've seen mainly contained a mixed bag of fringe players, trialists and one or two new signings, and we've played 'average' at best. I was impressed with one centre back trialist who was good in the air, good on the ground, liked to play the ball out from the back and was a good organiser. Never saw him again though. From what I've seen of Puritat, on his return from Bangkok Glass, he has good movement and awareness in the defensive midfield role he's been asked to play. He does well breaking up the play and takes up some good positions to make himself available but seems negative when he has the ball. Early days for him, and the other new signings, though.

 

The foreign players have now joined up with the rest of squad, enjoying themselves and building team a good spirit at pre season camp in Kanchanaburi so hopefully they'll all come back raring to go, starting with the Chang Invitation.

 

Assuming Thiago, with his Timor-Leste Nationality, can also be classified as a +1 that would give us Three foreigners and two +1's which has got to give us more options. With Dos Santos partnering Suttinun at the back, Thiago and Leandro up front and Mineiro pulling the strings just behind the spine of the side looks good to me. The only question is who will play the holding role and hopefully we'll have a better idea after this weekend.

 

I'm looking forward to what should be a good weekend. Although Hallelujah are an unknown quantity it's always good to test yourself against foreign opposition while both Suphanburi and Army are good sides, have established themselves and will want to improve on the 6th and 9th places they achieved last season. For us, we all wondered how last season would pan out under a new and foreign coach. It turned out to be our best in recent seasons and Jadet will do well to equal or even improve on that. Playing against strong opposition his weekend, I hope it will give us a few pointers on what to expect for the coming season.

 

SUPHANBURI

by Patrick Brixner

Personally speaking I am pretty confident Suphanburi FC can do well at the upcoming Chang Invitational Tournament 2015, as well as other major tournaments, such as the TPL.

 

The team has changed a lot compared with to last season. At first, one of the main changes was to bring in a high qualified coach like Sergio Farias to organise the team. In my opinion, my country mate can do a very good job for  Suphanburi FC.  Several players have already left the club also, however our management worked very fast to bring in some well experienced players like Carmelo, Chutong and André Luis to replace them.

 

On top of that, we have retained some key players like Jakkaphan, Marcio and especiallyCharryl Chappuis for this season, adding experience to the group.

 

As I have mentioned above, I strongly believe Suphanburi is forming a very consistent team for this season, adding and retaining quality players. Individually speaking we have some very talented players in our squad at this time. Hopefully, they can gel well and perform in the upcoming year, since we are all looking forward to lift a couple of trophies at the end of this season. 

 

 

SUPHANBURI

by Matt Riley

This tournament marks Suphanburi's first competitive action since they returned to training on December 1st. They had planned to arrive for this tournament on the back of an eight day training camp at Kirin Valley Stadium  but they returned to Suphanburi after only one day. There have been plenty of personnel changes. Off the pitch they welcomed AFC Champions League winning coach Sergio Farias. The Brazilian has made  a very positive impression despite his limited English. 

Big name signings Carmelo Gonzales and Pratun Chutong from Buriram United have joined the third former Buriram United man Charyl Chappuis. Unfortunately, the heroe of Thailand's AFF Suzuki Cup win picked up a knee injury that will force him to miss one to two months of the season. The first game against Bangkok United will be a confusing one for the players now that an amazing six Suphanburi players have made the switch to The Bangkok Angels Including former club captain Panupong Wongsa who joins The War Elephant's former coach Mano Polking and his assistant X.

 

ARMY UTD

by Paul Murphy

Army United enter the Chang Invitation tournament after a mixed series of pre-season results so far.

 

The Boys in Green got off to a winning start, with a last-gasp 1-0 victory over Sime Darby of Malaysia. This was followed by 1-0 defeat at Muang Thong United, though the scoreline flattered the visitors.

 

Last Saturday saw a more interesting affair, with a 3-3 draw at home to Bangkok Glass. Army started positively and went 3-0 up, with goals from Ernesto Phumipha and a double from Dutch trialist, Melvin De Leeuw. Unfortunately for the home support, the Glass Rabbits finished strongly and exposed a fragile defence with three soft goals.

 

When asked how he felt pre-season had been going, head coach Gary Stevens said: “Overall I am very pleased with our preparation for the 2015 TPL season. Rarely in football does anything go 100% to plan and as a Head Coach you need to be able to adapt quickly. We are still working hard to improve the infrastructure at Army United FC for the medium and long term as well as the squad for this season and the future.”

 

Army fans will be hoping to see more of De Leeuw if a deal can be done to secure his signature. The striker was Ross County’s player of the year in the Scottish Premier League last season and, at just 26 years old, could be quite a coup.

 

Namibian forward Tangeni Shipahu also impressed on Saturday with his speed on the right flank. But with the limit on foreign players and with AFF Cup hero Mongkol Tossakrai firmly established in the right wing position, it may be difficult to find a place for the former Osotspa man.

 

Regarding further strengthening the squad, former Spurs and England defender Stevens added: “I want to strength every department of my team every day. The way that happens might be with a new signing, but it is also achieved by working with individuals to improve their fitness, technique, confidence and understanding of the game as well as the team as a whole.”

 

Looking forward to the Chang Invitation in Chonburi, Stevens outlined his priorities, saying: “We still have 3 weeks of pre-season left as the tournament starts so our main focus will be on three areas - fitness, patterns of play and defensive shape. Only one player has played 90 minutes in the 3 pre-season friendly games we have had so far so we need to increase that number. Good patterns of play will enable us to create opportunities going forward which is important to win games. Defensive shape protects our goal and makes it difficult for the opposition to penetrate.”

 

 

ARMY UTD

by Del Spafford

This year sees Gary Stevens in charge from the get go and it will be interesting to see if he can get the team playing attractive football and get results. After a very positive start last year, Army dropped off in the middle of season before finishing with a whimper all be it in a very comfortable 9th. Stevens will be wanting to build on that finish and keeping his stars from last year will help. Raphael Botti is rumoured to have signed a new contract as has Zdenko Kapralik. Both were standouts last season and there form and fitness will be key this year.

 

Captain fantastic, Chaiwat Nak-iem has signed for another year and his presence on and off the field will be needed to gel a new squad must come together quickly. 10 players have left and with 9 new signings, along with a few trailists yet to put pen to paper, it is essential that Stevens and his team work quickly to build a side. Army’s friendly on Saturday against Bangkok Glass was entertaining with French trialist Melvin de Leeuw impressing. With Kai Hirano penning a loan deal it could be an exciting year for the Gentlemen Rangers.  

 

Results

Friday 23rd January
Semi finals
Hallelujah 0-1 Suphanburi
CHONBURI 2-1 Army Utd
(Scorers: Dos Santos (p), Leandro)
 
Sunday 25th January
3rd & 4th place play off
Hallelujah 2-1 Army Utd

Final
CHONBURI 2-3 Suphanburi
(Scorers: Chakrit, Mineiro)
 
All matches played at the IPE Stadium
 
Final places
1st Suphanburi
2nd CHONBURI
3rd Hallelujah
4th Army Utd