Chiang Rai Utd fan, Alec Peeples has sent me some questions ahead of tomorrow's match. Here are my replies.
What are your expectations for Saturday's match against Chiang Rai United?
It will be tough. It always is. We have a poor record up there. One win in ten league visits tells you all you need to know. Our recent form is poor and Wednesday's cup exit won't have helped confidence. In all honesty, I'm expecting us to lose.
What will Chonburi need to do to get a result on Saturday? What players will need to step up the most?
Play to our strengths. So far this campaign we have looked good in possession and our forwards pose a serious threat to any defence. We need to carry on playing as we have been doing up until our current wobble - on the front foot - and not let Chiang Rai Utd dictate. Which players need to step up? They all do. This is definitely a time for unity.
Chiang Rai has gotten the better of Chonburi in the last few h2h matches despite (in my opinion) Chonburi having been an overall better team lately - what do you think it is about Chiang Rai that has caused problems for Chonburi?
Football is (in)famous for its bogey team syndrome. Sometimes it just doesn't matter how many years have passed, how much the personnel has changed or even where you are in the league, one side will always struggle against particular opponents. In our case, those opponents are Chiang Rai Utd.
Chiang Rai has made a lot of changes to the squad since our last meeting, what are your thoughts on CR's squad and their performances so far this season?
There is a school of thought (which I agree with) that clubs should only sign foreigners who are better than - or at least equal to - the local talent. And this certainly seems to be the case at Chiang Rai Utd. Your Brazilian contingent looks paricularly strong. In fact, you'd be struggling without them. Also, it's noticeable how much better your home record is compared to your away form. Based on what I've seen so far, fifth is about right for the way you've been playing. But I do expect you to improve as the season goes on.
I've always thought CR has a great matchday experience for home and away fans both. Would you agree? How many trips have you made to Singha/Leo Stadium and is there anything you like or dislike about the fan experience in Chiang Rai?
Sadly, your ground - and city - is one of the few I haven't yet visited. However, most away fans seem to speak highly of the stadium and the experience. I will get there eventually, but, unfortunately, it won't be tomorrow.
You are currently 3rd in the table. As the first leg of the season nears completeion how are you feeling about the team so far?
Up until the middle of last week (see below) I was feeling very confident. Apart from a mad fifteen minutes against Buriram Utd, we had been performing well and looking like genuine title contenders - there are some that would disagree with this, but I honestly thought we were. Sadly, all that has now changed and mid table (7th!) beckons once again. We won't even have a decent cup run to enjoy this year.
What will Chonburi need to do over the break and into the second leg if they are to remain in contention for Champions League football?
They will need to make sure that everyone at the club sticks together and the players get all the help and support they need. We have been badly damaged and stigmatised by the tragic accident last month and going forward it's all about how we cope with the aftermath. As for Champions League foootball, I think that is beyond us now.
At the time of writing you've lost your second (though currently covering as a starter) GK and 'general manager' to off-pitch events. What does the club need to do to keep the season on track?
I've been very cautious about what I've said publicly regarding the absolutely awful events of October 26th and I'll continue to choose my words carefully. Clearly, the two victims and their families are the ones who have suffered the most. And nothing that the club has gone through can compare to the pain they are enduring. It's all about perspective. From a purely football point of view, the best thing that Chonburi FC can do now is retain its dignity, regain the trust of the public and never let anything like this occur again. Or let it be forgotten. There are so many wonderful people connected to the Sharks and this will have broken their hearts, as it has mine. However, we can't let the idiotic, irresponsible and criminal actions of a few people ruin all the fantastic work we have done over the past twenty years - on and off the field. This is the time for us all to come together.
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