NEW! Interview With A Chiang Rai Utd Fan: 2021

My pre match interview with Chiang Rai Utd fan, Alec Peeples.

How have you performed in your opening four matches?

We got an opening that most teams would love -- 4 home matches against teams that should all be good results (on paper). We are coming out of that run with a paltry 5 points. We’ve been pretty poor and I can’t find too much to feel good about. We’ve been poor in defense, poor in transition, and poor in front of goal.

In which areas do you think you need to improve?

All of them. To start we need to figure out our finishing. In our last two matches we dominated possession and had a huge amount of chances but we simply can’t seem to finish them.

What have you made of Chonburi's start to the season?

Top of the table! Hard to find any faults so far. You had a tough opening to the season with BG and Muangthong but you managed results in both (the 3-3 was a great match). Then went on to convincingly defeat two of the league’s newcomers. An excellent start all things considered.

Many people think this is our strongest squad for a few years. What do you think and how do you think we'll do this season?

I’d have to agree. You ended last season with a great FA Cup run (I’ll get to that a bit later), added one of the league’s hottest commodities in Dennis Murillo, and seem to have picked up right where you left off.

What are you most looking forward to about Friday's game?

I’m looking forward to getting a break from the stadium and watching from home. If you can’t tell, I am quite sour towards the team at the moment. It’s always nice to get a bit of distance when you find yourself getting too pessimistic.

Which of our players are you most wary of?

Has to be Dennis. Watching him score 4 against Khon Kaen was something else.

Which of your players do we need to look out for?

Right now nobody is playing particularly well. Felipe and Ekanit have been putting in decent performances and Chotipat has now returned from a long injury layoff. If anyone causes trouble it’d be one of those 3.

Would you care to make a score prediction?

Chiang Rai is always liable for a result when you least expect it, that said it’s hard to go against the difference in form between the two sides. All I can hope for is that you don’t score 7 against us. 3-1 Chonburi.

Which has been your most memorable Chiang Rai Utd v Chonburi match from over the years?

I’ll go with some recency bias and say the FA Cup final. From the great run by both sides to Sasom’s comments. It carried an air of excitement. Felt great to win a trophy but I wish us fans could have been there.

And which one would you most like to forget?

I’ll be honest with you -- we’ve always turned up against Chonburi. There was one defeat a few years back - 3-0 or 3-1, I can’t remember - that comes to mind. But generally we’ve held our own against the Sharks.

What have been your impressions of the league in general so far?

As far as the league itself goes I’m very pleased - no hiccups and I’ve gotten to watch all the home matches in person. For results… well I am surprised to see you at the top of the table but that’s about it. 

Now it's underway, what are your expectations for the rest of it?

All I hope for is an uninterrupted season and more and more fans getting to join in at matches. I’d also like to see the likes of Chonburi and Samut Prakan continue to fight at the top of the table.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Hate to sound so down on Chiang Rai -- but our management made it clear before the season that the title was our goal this year and if I judge us by that standard then we are far off.