Progress Post 2015

For me the important aspect of a team’s future potential is progress. NRFC are now in a difficult position. Two recent promotions have thrust the team into the top tier and now an impressive 8th place finish in their inaugural season has put massive pressure on the owners of the club and the team’s coach Kambe to improve

To Improve and thus demonstrate progress next season will be a big ask. Progress to me would be pressing the top 5 teams and ultimately a top 5 finish. Achievable? Maybe, but for me it’s all about aspiration and expectation. The club is in a good place – fantastic support and the nucleus of a good squad.

The million dollar question is “What has to be done to achieve progress?”

My opinions are:

·         Change of coach – has Kambe taken the team as far as he can. I for one think Kambe should be kept on as long as the club progresses. He has been under scrutiny in certain circles who question his coaching credentials.

·         Sort out the striking strategy. There was a worrying trend towards the end of the season – a distinct lack of goals. I personally we need a tall rangy striker to take full advantage of crosses into the box – Tuck, Chivuta, Malek and Lindemann are all capable of putting in quality crosses – at the moment who is going to score from these crosses. In our current formation, Lee Tuck either plays deep (too deep at times) or finds himself wide on the flanks, Lindemann is a quality player but he is not a striker. His best role is to play in the hole behind the strikers. Adido is rarely given a long run. So who exactly is our traditional striker who will deliver 20 plus goals per season?

·         Get in a specialist coach to organize the defence.

·         Play Adido or get rid of him. He is currently taking up one of our farang spots. I think he has great potential but if he is not a regular starter…

·         Be ambitious in approaching quality Thai players – give players the chance to play in front of 20 000 fans in a nice facility for an ambitious club. I think Chanathip should be a target.

One can only hope that the support holds up – I personally think it will. The home fans and great atmosphere at the stadium are surely worth a handful of points each season. I am optimistic for the club’s future and my opinion is that we have a fairly decent squad. This year’s experience in the Premier League must surely have benefitted the players and now we have had a decent season, confidence should be sky high. Top 5 may be beyond us with the current squad but with a couple of astute acquisitions, who knows?