Take a few Muang Thong Utd fans and a couple of Chonburi fans, and get them to fire questions at each other ahead of the big match. What do you get? Well, here's the result:
Grant (Muang Thong Utd) asks Stephen (Muang Thong Utd)
1.Who is your favorite Chonburi player, past or present?
Kroekrit. Or Pipob. Or Kroekrit. I cannot decide..I guess I'll go with a current player. So Kroerkrit it is.
2.It would be fair to say that Muangthong hasn’t quite found the right gear so far this season. Which of our players needs a good performance the most in the Chonburi match?
Eric Johana needs to start scoring...he was brought in after Popp left to be a key goal scorer...he's got great speed, a wicked shot with either foot..it's time!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim (Chonburi) asks Stephen (Muang Thong Utd)
1. Why are your fans so aggressive towards Chonburi fans?
In my experience I've not seen this, the opposite in fact. But in any club's fan base you are bound to have people getting carried away.
2. This season who has been your best performer and why?
Adisak - turning the ball over, creating chances, forcing errors, winning headers. Not what I thought, considering he was supposed to be with Port FC.
3. Will you sell out any games other than Buriram Utd?
I doubt we will sell out even Buriram. It has been very disappointing so far.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen (Muang Thong Utd) asks Kevin (Chonburi)
1. If Danilo stops scoring, then what?
Then someone else will have to step up.
2. Chonburi has started strongly before, but will this be a trophy season?
I would like to say yes, but I don’t think our squad is strong enough.
3. If you could choose one thing for the club to improve on for the fan experience, what would it be?
Honestly, I am not sure. Just hope we can get better results so we can have more people attend the regular matches and not just big matches.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen (Muang Thong Utd) asks Grant (Muang Thong Utd)
1. Muang Thong Utd have played a diverse range of starting 11s so far, what's your ideal line up?
I quite like the fact that there 16-18 players that all have a reasonable shout of playing come match day, so I’m not overly worried about having a set 11, but instead, 3 or 4 players that are undroppable. On Saturday though, I’ll be happy if we line up with the following:
Somporn
Wattankorn, Bontawee, Rocha, Nyholm
Picha, Wheerathep
Poramet, Mirzaev, Ekkanit
Anier
2. If you could choose one thing for the club to improve on for the fan experience, what would it be?
I’ve never visited Choburi’s stadium so it is difficult to comment. We’re spoilt at The Thunderdome as there’s no such thing as a bad view, so I guess the running track factor doesn’t appeal. That being said, a couple of days spent in the Chonburi province still make it an ideal away day.
In terms of my own club, I wish they’d offer a better deal on season tickets. I don’t mind paying the highest ticket price in the league as I think the game is undervalued out here anyway, especially when compared to other forms of entertainment. However, I’m a working man with a family and if I miss a match or two during the season then I’m suddenly out of pocket as the season ticket is only marginally better value than paying for tickets individually. There needs to be more of an incentive before I stump up for 3 or 4 season tickets, and a 10% discount at the club shop doesn’t cut it I’m afraid.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim (Chonburi) asks Grant (Muang Thong Utd)
1.Why are your fans so aggressive towards Chonburi fans?
I’m skeptical that they are, to be honest, assuming we’re talking about recent seasons. I usually see Chonburi fans walking carefree around our stadium when the two teams meet so I’d be surprised if that was an opinion many fans held. Our Ultra fans certainly look intimidating but that’s pretty much the point. I love the sense of theatre they bring and without their unwavering vocal support, I’m not sure I’d have stayed quite as fanatical about the club as I am.
2.This season who has been your best performer and why?
I’ve yet to see Picha Autra have a bad game since he transitioned to centre midfield. When he played on the wing, I wouldn’t have had him in my starting 11, but as a defensive midfielder, he’s the first name on the team sheet. Being a Leeds United fan, this is a role we’ve always valued above all others, with tough tackling players like Johnny Giles, Vinnie Jones, David Batty and Kalvin Phillips being cult heroes. Billy Bremner’s infamous line of “Side before self, every time” is sprawled across the stadium wall at Elland Road. Picha is cut from the same cloth.
3.Will you sell out any games other than Buriram Utd?
It’s pretty doubtful. The capacity is 14k, so if the BG or Bangkok Utd matches can reach 10k+ figures then I’d be delighted. It will take time to win back the dedication of casual attendees after the stop-start season we had last year.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grant (Muang Thong Utd) asks Kevin (Chonburi)
1.If you could pick any of the current Muangthong players to join your side, who would it be?
None of them. I was thinking about Weerathep, but he’s just a poor man’s Kritsada.
2.With Chonburi placing so much emphasis on nurturing young talent, what is your take on the current trend of academy graduates trying their hand abroad?
Depends where they go. If it helps further their careers, I don’t see why not. However, I thought Channarong’s loan move to the Spanish 4th division was a complete waste of time.
3.Muangthong and Chonburi have the two youngest average squad ages in the league, where do you see both of these clubs in 5 years’ time?
Probably right where we both are currently. When one of our players seem to get good, the people running our clubs first thought is to sell.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim (Chonburi) ask Rick (Muang Thong Utd)
1.Why are your fans so aggressive towards Chonburi fans?
Must be the El Classico factor, but I get along fine with you.
2.This season who has been your best performer and why?
Has to be Picha. We look vulnerable without him. The value that he brings to the team in both attack and defence is priceless.
3.Will you sell out any games other than Buriram Utd?
Maybe games with Chonburi and Bangkok United, but I can't see any other match having higher numbers than Buriram Utd.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen (Muang Thong Utd) asks Rick (Muang Thong Utd)
1. Muang Thong Utd have played a diverse range of starting 11s so far, what's your ideal line up?
I kind of like a diverse starting 11, but Weerathep Picha and Mirzaev will always have to be there in my ideal line up.
2. If you could choose one thing for the club to improve on for the fan experience, what would it be?
I don't know maybe one or two lucky fans to lead the team out.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With thanks to Grant, Stephen, Rick, Kevin and Tim
No comments:
Post a Comment