Our ninth season review comes from Port fan, Jim Clarke.
Genuinely pleasantly surprised. We went into the season with fairly low expectations. The hope was for a season of transition under a new manager who would be given time. Obviously being Port that didn’t happen and we had our normal numerous managerial changes. What we’ve ended up with as a set up seems to be moving in the right direction. However, this club is never more than a couple of poor results away from a sacking and some more chaos.
Third and a place in the ACL play offs was very pleasing and entirely unexpected, although to be realistic we were the plodding horse of the league who just kept going all season being slightly better than the majority. We didn’t so much win third as have it handed to us thanks to numerous teams who had gone well in the first leg, deciding to spend the majority of the second leg barely collecting a point. Then at the back end, as soon as it seemed in their grasp, Muangthong had a mini implosion combined with Port managing a win at Buriram to get us over the line. Which was obviously very enjoyable.
What did you club get right on and off the field?
The signing of an actual goal scoring striker was pleasing and Hamilton delivered. There was a general improvement of signings, as people seem to arrive for what they offer on the field rather than off it. While a few of the squad padding, why is he here, types are moving on. The cheap tickets, 50 baht to get in the cheap (remnants of) seats and 100baht for the prawn sandwich loving, rain dodgers is superb value. The introduction of something that’s almost an online ticketing system. It should be considerably better but any improvement is welcome. That white away kit.
And what did they get wrong?
The normal, too many managerial changes, Cooper really should have been given more time. The interference with selections and tactics by those who shouldn’t be involved with that side of the club. The lack of a modern online ticketing system, progress is great but its 2023. Not signing Dolah up to a new contract. Finally we find an actual leader to wear the armband, a Thai international, who gets the club and local community and we let him walk away from the club. Considering the money that flows out the club to bit part players, there’s no excuse for not making him an acceptable offer and the chances of a Thai replacement of similar ability are near zero. The absolute mess of a home kit.
What advice would you give them ahead of next season?
Same as every year, leave the football to football people and give them time. Sign people for their football only. Only coaches and players on the bench.
Who has been your best performing player this season?
There hasn’t been a clear stand out performer this season. Hamilton was signed to score goals and delivered. The emergence of Teerasak was great and hopefully can continue next season. Somporn arrived from the place we really shouldn’t shop and whilst a step up, didn’t strike me as big enough one to justify the move, then set about displaying just how much better than my expectations he is but having only played half a season for the righteous side of Bangkok, can’t take the prize. Same goes for Worachit, a scorer of some important goals and a midfielder to put smiles on faces on his day.
Negueba has great chaos energy, scored some great goals and plays with a level of passion fans love to see, anyone one who chooses to blast the ball at the Muangthong bench, as a Thai ref has one of their game swinging moments against us, is alright. Putros no idea how we found him but the guys as solid as a rock in defence or midfield, doing the shovel work that will go unnoticed to a wider audience. However, I’m going to go for Suphanan, right back has taken the player of the year regular in recent season at The Pat and having arrived seemingly as a longterm understudy to Roller. He took his opportunity putting in the whole hearted efforts weekly.
And your worst?
Sorry Chonburi fans but its Ben Davis. The guy never looked interested and seemed to feel entitled to a starting place. I honestly don’t know how much ability he has, there must be some to have at one point been on the books of Fulham and if you can get him to put a shift in maybe there is a player in there, we just never saw anything like one in a Port shirt.
Which players, or type of players, would you like to sign for next season?
We’ve had a massive clear out at centre back. We’ve brought in Charlie Clough from Korat but that still leaves us light, ideally, we can go out and find someone big scary, able to play a bit and skilled in the dark arts, the kinda guy that makes Tunez and Victor look like school prefects. A striking alternative to Hamilton, there seems to be an unwillingness to let Teerasak lead the line so on occasions Hamilton has stayed on the pitch when he’s no longer involved in the game.
Which was your teams best performance this season?
Winning away at Buriram, seems the obvious answer, the meeting of Thailand's big two in the league is a massive game and despite having nothing to play for, the countryside folk came out in numbers to see Port and registered the leagues highest attendance of the season, only to be sent home disappointed.
Wins at home v BG at a time it felt the season was drifting into nothingness and away at Bangkok United not just because its always nice to beat that terrible mob, it was a decent performance and away fixtures against the top two netting six points is massive progress on recently years.
And your worst?
Samut Songkhram away in the league cup. There’s being on the end of a cup shock and then there’s as poor a showing as you’ll see, devoid of ideas and really didn’t look like there was a whole heap of passion out there.
Which was your favourite away trip?
Its seldom the football that make a good away day in this league. Two that stand out in ground were the back and forth with a few Buriram fans from their non plastic minority at the FA Cup semi final in Ratchaburi (love ya, Tuggy) and the gallows humour of those of us at the Samut Songkhram match.
And your least favourite?
Prachuap away. On the field wasn’t great, it was very clear their last minute equalizer was coming. For once rather than spend a night down there, l was in and out on matchday. Then the day before l sprained my ankle and really wasn’t in much of a state to be getting about, so spend the entire event in pain with one working leg. All rounded off with a two hour train delay getting home. Thankfully we get the chance to go back and do Prachuap better next season.
What was the best thing that happened to you personally whilst supporting your club this season?
The last few games of the season the atmosphere around and in the ground at Port felt back to pre COVID levels. Theres a fair few friends l only see at Port now so its always good to catch with them.
What are your impressions of the league overall this year?
Slightly worrying the standard in general has fallen. The TV situation is an on going mess that is part of a spiralling issue with interest and attendances at best stagnating and seeming to fall. There are massive issues that need addressing but those who should be doing that prefer to congratulate themselves on their “success”. All of which means what in world terms is a very mediocre set up at Buriram, is lauded for being ground breaking. And well done to them on being the tallest dwarf in a land of wasted football potential but if the set up and Thailand’s talent pool is that good, combined with the budget, they’d be a major force in continental football. There is no reason much of what they do shouldn’t be repeated or exceeded across the country numerous times, even without the budget. Aim higher Thai football.
I’ve come to accept that the likelihood of major change is unlikely. Despite all that’s wrong with the league it remains a good day out meeting likeminded football people and opportunity to get out and explore the country.
Which T1 team other than your own- most impressed you?
The obvious answer to this one would be Ratchaburi, preseason l concluded they’d weakened themselves to the point of tipping them for relegation. They more than showed me up with a very decent season. However, I’m going to go for Police. They’ve quietly become a very solid set up, that goes about their business with very little drama and regularly produce decent results.
What has really annoyed you about Thai football season?
The willingness to move the league dates and fixtures for any minor age group international event or similar will never cease to amaze me. Along with the failure to get fixtures out early and then not move them. Peaking with moving league games to play friendlies again J league clubs on a postseason jolly. If the clubs and FA show so little respect for the league and its fixtures, you can hardly be shocked that the public have similar distain.
Do you have a message to other fans of Thai football?
I suspect anyone who reads this is far enough into their Thai football experience to know not to take it all very seriously. I fear there are darker days to come for the league but equally there will always be football in some form out there. Enjoy and hopefully see some of you next season.
Generally, refs aren’t bent and especially not against your team rather they’re just not very good.
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