1. What are your expectations for your club in the season ahead?
I don’t have many expectations at the moment. We lost a few key players and our coach is MIA. Plus our half dozen new signings will certainly need some time to gel. I would think we can realistically expect to finish in the top half of the table. I’d be shocked if we are in competition for top 4 come the end of the season.
2. How have your pre season preparations gone?
Lackluster is really the only way to put it. Probably expected given the above points though.
3. What are your thoughts on your team's opening four fixtures?
Tero, Lamphun, Nongbua, and Prachuap are all relatively favorable draws and starting off with at least 9 points should be the goal. However we had a tendency to drop points in these “favorable” games last season and given what I’ve seen from our opening friendlies I expect that to continue.
4. What do you make of your new signings?
I believe we have 10 new players and I am not familiar with most of them - perennial loanees and fringe squad members.
Our foreign signings do bring a bit of excitement. Losing Brinner was tough – I’ve long held that he was the most important player in our team - but the return of Victor Cardozo gives us something to be excited about. An experienced and vocal defender is exactly what we needed. Our other new CB, Diego Landis, brings a great resume but will need to prove himself. Olavio Santos will now try and do what many others have tried and failed – prove a worthy successor to Bill.
5. And what about the players you've let go?
We lost some important players, no way around it. Brinner has been our best defender and most passionate player, Bill has been our only reliable finisher for years, Ekanit was our brightest young player, and Phitiwat was not only our star but also our captain.
6. Which players will have the most impact this season?
Sivakorn signed a big contract and was named captain in the offseason. I think he will need to step up and have a great season. A lot of our success will also hinge upon how well our new defenders gel.
7. If you could bring back one of your club's former coaches, who would it be?
Literally any coach that could take over and put an end to Miti-ball would be good with me. If I need to put out a name why not Gama I guess.
8. If you could give your current head coach one piece of advice, what would it be? And your owners?
You’re the owner - focus on improving the club and stop playing coach.
9. Which home games are you most looking forward to?
The obvious – Buriram and Port are always great fixtures. I also look forward to welcoming the two newly promoted Northern clubs to Chiang Rai.
10. And which away games are you most looking forward to?
Again, the newly promoted Northern clubs will be fun as new away days. I always love going to Muangthong
as well.
11. What do you think of your club's new kits?
No release yet
12. Who are your favourites to win the league?
It is impossible to look past Buriram here. Dominant showing last season and they only seem to have improved over the break.
13. Who else do you think can challenge?
Maybe BG – Phitiwat is a great addition to a strong team - even still I think they’ll need a bit of luck on their side to be real contenders.
14. Who is going down?
Lampang will probably have a tough go. Nongbua will probably struggle without Hamilton. Other than those two I don’t think there are any other clear candidates.
15. Which team would you most like to beat this season?
Beating Port is always a highlight, especially at the PAT.
16. Who will be this season's surprise package?
I’m cheering for our northern neighbors Lampun to come up and finish in the top half.
17. What changes would you make to improve the Thai league?
Where do we even start? Just the other day I visited the Thai league website and it is a disaster. Finding information is always a chore. Also stop with the early kickoffs!
18. Which visiting fans are you most looking forward to seeing at your stadium?
Any team that brings a big turnout is always fun. Muangthong and Buriram come to mind.
19. What are your match day superstitions and routine?
I don’t have many superstitions. I just like to turn up early enough to have a beer and some french fries before lines get too long.
20. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Best of luck to you this season!
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