Police Utd v Chonburi - Match Preview by John Lees: 2014

TPL

Police Utd v Chonburi

Thammasat Stadium

25th June, 2014

Match Preview

by John Lees

We head up to the Bangkok Metropolis for the second time in four days with a visit to the Thammasart Stadium. Police United will host us for our first encounter of Leg 2. The focus of the press will be on whether or not Anton Ferdinand makes his debut for the Cops. For us, we are still waiting for our influx of new arrivals - or is that wishful thinking?

 

Their Season so Far

If there is a Jekyll and Hyde side in the TPL then Police United are it. Their first four games this year has summed up their season perfectly. They started with a 4-0 mauling off yours truly, then followed that off by spanking Air Force 5-1. After that it was a creditable 1-1 draw at Muangthong before falling to a 3-1 home defeat to Army United. They’ve also lost at home to Osotspa, Chainat, Songkhla and Samut Songkhram while on the road they’ve beaten Bangkok Glass, Suphanburi and Ratchaburi. Their last six games have been win, loss, win, loss, win, loss. Let’s hope we can end that sequence and give them two losses in a row.

 

Who are They Managed By?

Good question. At the start of the campaign they were managed by Tawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul. With only seven points collected from nine games, Tawatchai was relieved of his duties and was replaced by Mika Lonnstrom. The Finn was plucked from Roi Et United who were sitting second bottom of the First Division at that time. During his brief time at the club, he hauled Police out of the relegation zone attaining 16 points from ten outings. That is certainly top ten form yet apparently that wasn’t deemed good enough and he was sacked at the end of Leg 1. Lonnstrom has since been linked with the vacant Phitsanulok job in the last couple of days. It is a bit of a shame as his offbeat clobber certainly brightened up many a TPL touchline. Who will manage them on Wednesday? Personally, I’m beyond caring.

 

Who Plays for Them?

(Foreigners)

It’s highly anticipated that Anton Ferdinand will make his debut for Police United in this match. If he is selected there is a good chance he will partner Cameroonian Dooh Moukoko in the central of defence. Upfront, will almost certainly be Michael Murcy. He’s played in the lower reaches of French football and he seems to have found his level in the TPL. Five time capped Japanese midfielder, Norhiro Nishi, may also feature whereas it’s unlikely we’ll see Dudu or Suarez. The latter being Sergio from Spain and not Luis from Uruguay.

 

(Thais)

Recent additions Leesaw and Pairote Sokam join a clutch of Thais that get drafted into the Thai national side once the Buriram and Muangthong players have made their excuses and withdrawn from the squad. Names and not necessarily faces that might be familiar to you are Pokkhao Anan, Pinyo Inpinit, Pakorn Prempak, Paitoon Nontadee and Surachart Sareepim. Leesaw is currently injured so we’ll be spared the joy of watching the housewife’s favourite.

 

The Fans/The Stadium

Their fans are known as the Crimson Cops. On Saturday more than 6,000 spectators attended their match with Buriram United but in general they struggle to get half of that. As with most clubs in the TPL, they have a group of black shirted Ultras that isolate themselves from the main group.

The Thammasart Stadium is one of the biggest in the TPL with Wikipedia listing the capacity as 25,000. It’s a multipurpose university stadium so it comes with a running track. We’ll be given the area behind the goal which is on the south side of the university campus. The home fans will be sprinkled throughout the rest of the stadium. The alcohol policy inside the stadium varies from season to season, but I believe this season they are allowing away supporters that privilege.

 

How Do We Usually Do at the Thammasart Stadium?

Our last two away day successes over Police have come at the Army Stadium rather than the Thammasart. Earlier on this season we edged them out of the FA Cup with Bavorn scoring the only goal in our 1-0 triumph. In 2012, second half goals from Nattapong and Adul helped us come from behind to secure a 2-1 TPL win over Police United. In between those two victories, we lost 3-1 at the Thammasart Stadium towards the end of the 2013 season.