Our third 2022/23 season review comes courtesy of Ratchaburi fan, Neal Oliver.
We kept a head coach for almost a full season. The standard of Ratchaburi’s football was better than I’ve ever seen before. I think we were hit hard by Mitr Phol pulling out at the 11th hour, and it was strange to see football being played with no sponsors on the shirt. I actually thought the club was finished without the sponsorship money, but a lot of work took place behind the scenes, and sponsors gradually came on board. My personal feeling (not an official line) is we had to offload a few wages at the mid-season break, and the replacements never filled those vacant slots.
Most certainly in Leg 1, Ratchaburi were punching well above their weight, and riding high in the table. It was no surprise to me that we slipped a few places in Leg 2, but if you had offered me a mid-table finish at the start of the season, I would have been well satisfied,
What did your club get right on and off the field?
We played football. Some brilliant passing of the ball. Most importantly, we did not lower ourselves to the level of many clubs/players trying to cheat our way to victory. Conning the ref being the most vicious form of cheating.
And what did they get wrong?
(My personal opinion again – I’m sure many will disagree) We only had one main striker, and he was often out on the wing. Good Thai forwards are as rare as rocking horse droppings. Very few Thais are prolific goal scorers. I was expecting some class support for our striker to be recruited during the mid-season break – it didn’t happen.
What advice would you give them ahead of next season?
Off the field, get the Gents toilets in the East Stand repaired. There is nothing worse than having to wade, ankle deep in God knows what after the match to make yourself comfortable for the journey home. There is no wonder we see so many supporters doing their business in the bushes around the car park. Our stadium is supposed to be a showpiece, not a sullage/sewer pit.
On the field, carry on with the brilliant passing game that you’ve been playing all season, but remember, we need to score goals. Getting to the edge of the opposition’s penalty area does not win games, we need to convert such positions into goals. I watch the shooting practice before each game – the same players regularly miss. Give them guys extra shooting practice. If you score more than the opposition, goals mean points.
Who have been your best players this season?
Ratchaburi’s defence this season has been superb. I would without doubt say they were the best defence in Thailand. If you got past the defence, you had Thailand’s number 1 facing you. If I had to name players, then Jansen and Park would be at the top of the defensive list. Then we had new boys on the block such as Jonathan Khemdee arrive. Whatever, a force to be reckoned with.
Which players, or type of players, would you like to sign for next season?
We need strikers, strikers and more strikers. We’ve had a season of taking the ball to the edge of the opposition’s penalty area, and then passing it back to our keeper, or balls flighted beautifully into the penalty area, which is populated solely by opposition defenders (not a striker in sight) – so damned frustrating. All season I’ve said if the opposition score a goal, the best we can hope for is a draw. We just did not have an offence, and one goal was often our limit.
Which was your team’s best performance this season?
It is tempting to say the game away to Prachuap, where we won 5 – 1, but that was one of those games where every opportunity ended up in the back of the net. We didn’t play that well, but as a Hua Hin Dragon, with our inbred hatred of PT Prachuap, the drive home afterwards was very sweet.
Actual best performance - it is hard to single out any particular game. If I have to pick one, it seems (asking others) that I was on cloud 9 after our home game against BG Pathum. It is right, at the time this was a bit of a top of the table clash, and we ripped the 2020/21 champions and 2021/22 runners up apart. It was a fantastic game of football (if you were a Ratchaburi fan, of course).
And your worst?
Ratchaburi were taking T1 by storm, and I’d watched Sukhothai a few times. I was convinced they were going to be the first team relegated this season. Ratchaburi went to Sukhothai on the crest of a wave, and the unthinkable happened – we suffered our first defeat of the season.
Which was your favourite away trip?
That has to be Buriram. I’d lived 11 years in Thailand supporting Thai football, and I’d never been to Thailand’s premier football stadium. This season I was determined, and booked a short holiday around the game, taking in the sights of Buriram. It was a perfect few days, only spoiled by Buriram’s 93rd minute winner. How did I rate the stadium? Pound for pound, Dragon Solar Park is much better.
Of course, Buriram’s main features are mainly around the stadium, so I did keep going back. How shocked was I when I walked around the (pornographic) Botanic Gardens? At 66 years old, I felt I should be looking the other way.
One funny Buriram Utd related incident happened when I visited the Khao Kradong Forest Park. Directly across the road was the Buriram Training Ground. Of course, I had to have a look. It actually looked like a graveyard of Buriram Team Buses throughout the ages. I think every Buriram Team Bus that there ever was, was here, rusting away around the perimeter road. Well, there was nobody around, so I stood in entrance and aimed my camera to take a few memento snaps. Out of nowhere, a jobsworth security guard jumped in front of my camera, waving his arms, indicating no photos. All there was to see was and empty football pitch, a bunch of rotting buses and a couple of buildings. The snaps would have meant nothing to anybody but me. Jobsworth didn’t speak English, and I didn’t speak Thai – stalemate. Actually, I turned away as if to walk back to the car, then turned back sharply and with my camera in sport mode, took a series of about 100 photos in a few seconds. Mr Jobsworth was furious, and I returned to my car with a huge smile on my face. The photos weren’t the best I’ve ever taken, but seeing Mr Jobsworth shaking his fist at me was very satisfying. I was like a naughty schoolboy, giggling all the way back to the hotel. Does anybody know why photos of an empty football pitch surrounded by rusting buses should be so secretive?
What was the best thing that happened to you personally whilst supporting your club this season?
I’d had a disagreement with club policy, and I along with other Hua Hin Dragons were boycotting pre-season friendlies as a result. The Club President telephoned me personally for about 30 minutes, and explained the situation, and gave me the opportunity to put my side of the disagreement to him, which he reacted to and actually changed the club’s policy. It was very nice to have been heard.
What are your impressions of the league overall this year?
If we were betting men, we should all be millionaires by now. What a predictable season that was – no real surprises. A clean sweep for Buriram (assuming they win the FA Cup), and 2 of the 3 newbies relegated. 5 of my top 6 teams in the top 6 places. It was almost a non-event. I’ve enjoyed it though – plenty to moan about, so I’ve been happy.
Attendances have been a big problem again this season. Far too low for most teams. Based on attendance alone, I often wonder what the break-even point is. All of this sponsorship money should be the icing on the cake, not a necessity. Is it time to stop the TV monopolies to get bums back on seats?
Which T1 team most impressed you?
This is a strange answer from me, but the best team I saw this season was Nongbua Pitchaya. Ratchaburi played them twice within a few days, and both times they looked very strong, and full of spirit. In both games, Nongbua really made Ratchaburi play hard. At that point of the season, I was sure Nongbua could pull clear. Of course, they were no Buriram, but in January/February their spirit was very high, and they were full of fight. I wonder what went wrong. Did those 2 games against Ratchaburi knock the stuffing out of them?
What has really annoyed you about Thai football this season?
As always, it is Thai Football Officials and VAR. Were they born useless, or is it a skill they learn? Certainly, VAR is a technological step too far for them. It got to the stage at one point in the season that the clock hit 20 minutes, so it was time for the opposition to feign an injury and a Ratchaburi player was sent off. Referees in Thailand seem to have lost the ability to think for themselves, and yes, the camera does lie. The Thai League has a lot of bad boy players, who specialise in conning the ref. Referees can’t spot the difference between a con and the genuine article. VAR shows it as x, so it must be x. An absolute sham. I’m sure most of us watch Premier League from time to time – how smooth does the way VAR is used look there compared with Thailand? This is because the referees are trained correctly, and have a braincell.
Finally, what message would you like to give to your fellow Ratchaburi fans and fans of Thai football?
Praising your team when they’ve done badly seems to be Thai trait. Don’t be afraid to be a little angry if your team loses. Losing is a big part of football. However, don’t let it ruin your week. Football is a game, and games are fun. Just keep the faith with your club. Don’t tell the players they’ve done a great job if they haven’t – spur them on with a few home truths, and a lot of encouragement. If I did something wrong at work, I generally received a bollocking. Thai football teams should be no different.
