Here's Kevin Aamlid with his thoughts on the upcoming season for Chonburi FC.
With the new players that we have signed and how our youngsters performed at the end of last season, I expect us to be top half of the table.
How do you think the lack of a regular pre season will affect our early performances?
I don't believe the other teams have had much pre season either, so it is a "level playing field".
What are your thoughts on the plan for the way the season will start?
Don't have too much comment about that, just disappointed that the fans can't be there. I really miss watching the matches live.
How long do you think it will be before things can return to "normal"?
Have no idea, just hope it's not too long.
What are your thoughts on our opening four fixtures?
It is going to be tough. BG of course have a very good team and they were champions last season. Win, lose or draw, it's nice to get BG out of the way first.
Which home games are you most looking forward to?
Chiang Rai United at home, mainly because I can't be bothered to make the trip up north haha. But I would like to see us get some sort of revenge for out FA Cup final defeat.
And which away games are you most looking forward to?
Buriram away is something I have planned to do for a long time but never got to doing it. I've driven back and forth to Buriram in less than 24 hours for a Muay Thai show so I at least know it's not much of a problem getting there. Muang Thong away is also on the "to do" list and Port as well.
How do you plan to follow the matches you're not allowed to attend?
Watching it on TV at home is the only way these days.
What do you make of our new signings?
I'm very happy with our new signings. Dennis Murillo and Yoo Byung-soo are both proven goal scorers, that's something Chonburi needed to work on. Gidi Kanyuk looks like another major signing for us, so expecting him to perform well this coming season.
And what about the players we've let go?
We have let go of a lot of deadwood, so I have no complaints. Adefolarin wasn't ever going to improve, Eliandro wasn't exactly a goal machine up front, Jaycee John was rubbish before he joined but managed to get worse, Kosin was way past his prime and we need to look to the future and I've never rated Niran (I'm surprised Buriram rate him).
Which players will have the most impact this season?
I would hope Dennis Murillo, since we signed him to score goals. If Murillo doesn't score goals & if he doesn't perform, he won't last a season. Chatmongkol I think will improve next season, not sure how good he will be, but I'm sure other teams will struggle to contain him, look forward to see him develop.
If you could re-sign one of our former players, at the peak of his powers, who would it be?
Thiago Cunha. He scored a lot of goals for us and managed to annoy the opposition players and fans at every match. He was the sort of player that was loved by the team he played for but hated by the team he played against. I also wouldn't mind Jules Baga & Kone Mohamed just for the sake of nostalgia.
If you could give Sasom one piece of advice, what would it be?
Limit the amount of youth academy senior debuts this coming season and work hard on developing the ones you've given senior debuts to last season.
What do you think of our new kits?
I think it looks great. One of the best Kits we've had in a long time.
What song would you choose for our run out music on match days?
This song, I listen to it on a daily basis:
Who are your favourites to win the league?
Probably BG or Buriram. They seem to have the strongest squads in the league.
Who else do you think can challenge?
Chiang Rai United perhaps? They have some good foreign talent. Port could perhaps challenge as well, they seem to have a good squad depth.
Who is going down?
Suphanburi have a very dated squad, without their fanbase, the team really isn't anything much. Wouldn't be surprised if they went down. I reckon Khon Kaen United will go right back down since I do not believe their squad is strong enough to compete in Thai League 1. Lastly, Police Tero will most likely join them, don't think they have a squad that wants to compete anymore and their signings have not been great.
Which team would you most like us to beat this season?
Chiang Rai United mainly because of our FA Cup final defeat. Nothing more than that. And of course it would be nice to beat BG because I regard them as the team with the best squad in the league.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Just a message to the other clubs. When I started watching Thai football, Port had no fans, Police & Tero were two different clubs, Buriram United was called PEA and wasn't based in Buriram, Bangkok United was called Bangkok University, Muang Thong didn't even play first tier Thai football, Samut Prakan was called Coke Bangpra and BG Pathum United was called Krung Thai Bank. If it wasn't for Chonburi FC, Thai football would not be where it is today, every club owes us for that.
Yes, last season was crap but our future is bright. When I started watching Thai football, I watched Chonburi FC. Today, I still watch Chonburi FC and in the future, I will continue to support Chonburi FC. Will the other clubs I've mentioned still exist or will they still use the same name or at least be based in the same location? Time will tell.
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