TPL
Navy 3-1 Chonburi
Navy Stadium, Sattahip
Attendance: 2,556
Sunday 10th June, 2018
Match report
by Peter Reeves
This, I am afraid, is 'not damn good enough'. That is what I should think the majority of Sharks fans might be saying heading home after one of the most insipid performances and worst results in my nearly 3 years of watching them.
Are they wrong? Are they being unfair?
If that was all that was said, the team and the club got off lightly.
Navy don't score too many and concede a lot. This should be three needed points for the Sharks to ease a few worries and it didn't start too badly. On 3 minutes, a free kick didn't sail aimlessly over the bar, but forced a save. “That's a first,” I thought. On 5, a header from Marclei went just wide. A little warning on 7, as a lack of defence allowed a Navy break, but the ball was put over and the chance gone.
The next 25 minutes can only be described as dull. Navy incapable of much, Chonburi likewise, but then on 33, the Navy winger was given far too much room and crossed the ball in towards the near post. It was harmless. Chanin only really needed to come off his line to collect, but he was late, dived at it, completely missed it and the Navy forward stood facing an empty net a yard out. Even he couldn't miss that!
It got worse four minutes later, as after a shocking defensive header went backwards, a 'hit and hope' shot was just pushed straight out to an incoming attacker by the hapless. Chanin. 2-0. Ok, fellas, joke over. Shall we try and win now?
At that point Navy should close the game up until half time, but then you forget this is Thailand and they don't know how to do that. Crazy Navy defending brought one goal back. Then they made a very good attempt at making it 2-2, but Chonburi themselves were just as bad. Half time 2-1. Dreadful is the only word to describe it from a neutrals perspective. Disaster if you're a 'Blue'.
Still, half time and the coach can make some changes and get them organised for a second half blitz. Er, no. Sorry, I was forgetting. You need a coach with just a basic understanding of the game to do that,oh, and a few players that give a damn.
The first 10 minutes of the second half got a bit feisty, as Navy, realizing there might be a point here, started making tackles. Chonburi had a lot of possession, but always fragile at the back - of course - and doing nothing to give the impression they wanted to win. Navy were having a go and from winning two 50/50 challenges in midfield, the ball was humped forward. A clumsy challenge and down goes the Navy attacker . Penalty. A bit harsh maybe. Put away, 3-1.
Surely someone will recognize this has gone on long enough. No. Navy now believing and fighting for everything. Chonburi wandering around in a daze. At the final whistle there were a few 'handbags', but a loss, an awful loss.
A team with no character and far too many freeloaders, resting their hopes on a little more than average Worachit.
So, how do you sum that up?
The players: Devoid of character or responsibility and look like they turn up to get paid. Most don't seem to care, especially the foreign contingent.
The coach: Well he isn't, is he? He’s just someone that picks the team ( or maybe he doesn't)
The fans: Brilliant as always, even if the numbers are dwindling. Don't the club realise there is a base to start some serious repair work with them?
Management: Not even worth discussing. There isn't any and please don't hang that 'we're relying on our youth programme for the future' nonsense. There isn't a hope in hell that'll work, unless someone recognizes you need to know how to do it. And, guess what? It's not the 'Thai way', as we can see by what has been produced for the “all-conquering” national team over the years.
The reality is, the national champions of a few years ago are in trouble. That was the second worst team performance I've seen this season, the other being Nakhon Ratchasima, when the Sharks got a win there.
Given that the bottom 3 may already be down, that leaves 2 places ( unless the rules change). Bangkok Glass and Pattaya Utd are capable of winning a few, Chainat don’t look so bad and Police Tero, and a couple of others, are finding points. It could be Chonburi, Swatcat and Sukhothai fighting to avoid one of the last 2 places.
Chonburi FC should not be one of those three, but at the moment they deserve to be.
This is just 'not damn good enough'
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