TPL
Chonburi 0-1 Bangkok Utd
Chonburi Stadium
Attendance: 4,777
Saturday 28th May, 2016
Match report
by Peter Reeves
From my chair this was always going to be an interesting match. Chonburi’s efforts against the ‘better’ teams are more committed and convincing and Bangkok United arrived with that reputation. So the question was could they produce a disciplined yet brave performance, as they had against others including Buriram this season, but this time turn the performance into a win.
These things though are sometimes out of the hands of the players and firmly in the control of referees and linesmen who really seem very ill-informed and amateurish. As early as the 5th minute tonight, Chonburi countered down the right and saw a player break, only to be adjudged offside. He wasn’t. I’ve remarked on this before but linesmen should be clearly instructed that the decision is made on the basis of when the ball is played not when the player receives it.
Sharks started well and were competing and looked more of an attacking threat on the counter than they would have been if Rodrigo had been playing. United though without really threatening in the first 15 minutes were ominous in that they had a decent shape, played the ball around, out from the back and were able to keep possession, all attributes lost on most Thai teams. Apart from the spearpoint of the attack, they were dangerous everywhere. Anthony especially caught my eye. They seemed to have an interesting formation in that they played 3 at the back with 4 in midfield. A very attack minded system but one that is vulnerable to attacks down the flanks by quick players on the counter attack and Chonburi have got those.
Nevertheless Chonburi were competing and ‘at the races’. 18 minutes, a refereeing decision had an impact. Twice Sharks players were knocked down, the first just outside the box, but the second one in it. Penalty? Could have been. At the mid point of the first half it was even. Chonburi working hard, trying to keep a shape, Dos Santos putting himself everywhere and Nurul a real threat with his pace on the right. United, looking a team with confidence who offered a serious threat.
Whether by design or not, Chonburi concede the midfield areas a bit. When you have 3 playing 4 it is always difficult in there but unlike some recent matches, they kept a basic defensive shape even though in my opinion they still defend too narrow. Maybe the full backs need to be a bit wider and allow the 2 defensive midfielders to cover the space between centre backs and full backs. Easy sitting here. As the half wore on United were dominating possession but without really creating too much. Chonburi holding firm and relying on the counter.
Wouldn’t be one of my reports without a little moan. Free kicks. Oh dear. So many promising positions just wasted with futile attempts to ‘bend’ a ball under the bar when the taker clearly hasn’t the technique to do so. Either balls just flying aimlessly over the bar or into the wall when there is acres of space down the flank to play someone in and change the direction of the attack and create defensive uncertainty. Chances came and went. A waste in my opinion.
As the match wore on United were looking more threatening, and clearly were looking for the win. Chonburi still fighting hard and breaking down the flanks, it looked set for a 0-0. But then one tiny lapse of concentration at the back from a free kick, a powerful header, almost stopped on the line by the keeper and it’s 0-1. Chonburi came forward looking for a deserving equalizer. A scramble in the goal after the goalkeeper spilled a shot could have been touched in and a good move down the right produced a shot that also could have been the one. You sensed United were suddenly not so comfortable.
The officials indicated 5 minutes of extra time. We got to 5, then 6 then 7. Then a free kick in a perfect position. I looked at the clock on the screen. It read 97 minutes. Where was he finding this time? Whoever took the free kick made me swallow my previous words as he bent it towards the top corner but a flying save prevented Sharks celebrations. Corner. Still we carried on. ‘Fergie’ time. When it finally did finish, with the clock on the TV showing 98 minutes, there seemed to be some arguments going on though I couldn’t see anything that happened to cause it other than maybe complaints about added time.
United then maintained their challenge at the top. Chonburi resigned to mid table. Was there much between them? Different approaches by the teams on the night but really not that much. Yes Bangkok were organized and set up very well by the coach, played a controlled passing game and looked threatening but Chonburi coped ok for most of it. So given there is not that much between them why are Chonburi not challenging at the top with them? People closer to the club with a better understanding than I will have to answer that, but a couple of things come to mind.
Firstly, quite often the final ball was poor. This was caused usually by the player who had the ball not having options around him. Movement off the ball and getting support players up is the key to solving that. Nurul was dangerous down the right but he often had no one near him to play off and was too isolated.
Secondly, If you are going to play a counter attacking game then there must be a tactical plan that all the players understand. When to release the ball, who too, who’s expecting it when you get possession, who’s going up to support the recipient and the attack. You can’t just throw it forward and hope. It has to be worked on in training.
Thirdly, they have to take these performances into matches against the lesser teams and put them to the sword.
Finally, Therdsak. Where was he? Perhaps I am just ‘old school’ but a coach standing on the touchline encouraging, sometimes yelling at his players tends to produce an increase in performance of the team. Or it used to. Some managers, coaches, can be a 12th man. Sometimes you need that.
I am not going to be over critical. It was a good game to watch. Lots to appreciate, but once again a good performance resulting in a loss. I thought Sharks were worth a draw and given that might be true why are Chonburi wallowing in obscurity when they ought to be challenging which, they have for most of the last 6 or 7 years. Maybe it’s the ambitions of the club, maybe it’s the belief of the players.
Once you can play winning is 95% a mental approach. Winning comes from being positive, Being positive comes from confidence. Confidence comes from belief. Anyone who has done Sports Psychology will tell you all about that circle. And once negativity has set in how do you change it to positivity? With a lot of work. Winning is a frame of mind at times. A habit. Losing the same. I don’t think Chonburi on this performance and a couple of other performances this season are that far away if they can find a way to break the ‘belief barrier’. They need to find a way.
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