The Swatcats 2017 - Season Review.

Well on the whole a disappointing campaign for the Swatcats. In their third season in the Top Tier, a disappointing 12th place is the paltry reward for their efforts. Poor home form has cost them dearly. Poor home results have led to crowds plummeting, culminating in a miserly 1500 at the Bangkok Glass game in November.

There appears to have been little progression - in fact just the opposite - 8^thplace in 2015, 11^th place in 2016 and 12th in 2017 - an unhealthy trend and one that may end in disaster next year.

Motivation seems fine and some performances have been encouraging but the lack of fire power led to many potential victories, particularly at home, ending in disappointing draws. This dented the team’s aspirations of a top ten finish. It took till late in the season to enroll Paulo Rangel who certainly livened things up at the front.

I personally feel that the current squad should not be fighting in the quagmire of a relegation battle. This is a top ten team in terms of player personnel. If I am correct in this view, the finger must inevitably be pointed at Milos Joksic. The question has to be asked, has he taken the team as far as he is capable of doing. I think he is a good team builder and motivator but is his tactical prowess lacking?

The defence looks brittle - Victor Igbonefo is often found lacking, both in his pace and marking ability and the attack, although improved by the arrival of Rangel, looks toothless at times. The team needs to control midfield more effectively - all too often the ball is carelessly given away which puts extra pressure on the defenders.

My opinion is that a well structured 5-3-2 structure is the way forward but with the midfield sitting deeper to consolidate the defence. Adiyiah playing wide with Rangel in the middle is a potentially lethal combination up front but Pina must support them from midfield

In conclusion, an up and coming provincial team with a potentially massive fan base has stumbled and needs a kick up the backside. I think that the squad is strong but is being mismanaged tactically. Unfortunately, although I think that Milos is a great bloke, the team needs a new and fresh approach and a change in coach is now essential.

Unfortunately, I see little evidence of real ambition to raise the club’s profile and Milos Jokic has recently been awarded a new contract. For us fans, it seems that the best that we can hope for is premiership survival. The problem with this strategy is that ultimately, you will have one bad season that may lead to relegation - and surely no one within the club wants that!

I would love to finish on a positive but all I see for the future is a very ordinary side, playing very ordinary football. Diminishing crowds means mean less revenue and that there is little hope of significant additions to the squad. The Joksic contract suggests that the owners are satisfied with the status quo….. the Korat public obviously is not!!!

Dateline 18^th November – Match day 34.

 FT NRFC 1 Sukhothai 1

The 2017 season drew to an end this weekend as the Swatcats sought their third home win in a row.

The match kicked off in front of 2940 fans. In early drama, Ekkachai Rittipan ran onto a through ball from Rangel but he rolled the ball just wide. At the other end the Firebats went close with a header and with the skillful Baggio a constant thorn in the side of the hosts, the visitors looked a threat.

A sortie down the right by Baggio and a superb cross was met by a half volley that was fortuitously blocked by a grateful defender. Minutes later Baggio went close with an angled drive.

With the Swatcats now on the back foot, a Sukhothai goal looked imminent but the hosts weathered the storm and managed to escape the half on level terms.

The second half began with a shock for the hosts when a seemingly harmless free kick from 30 yards drifted into the net - what on earth keeper Weera was doing was beyond belief!! Minutes later, a now confident Sukhothai were denied a certain second goal by an acrobatic clearance from Igbonefo.

This seemed to wake up the slumbering hosts and they now attacked with more fervour. With men being pushed forward, a series of half chances were created with an Ekkachai Rittipan header being the highlight of this renewed burst of energy.

In the 79^th minute, Kirati Kaewsombat was introduced and with his first touch he headed in from a corner to equalize the scores. Minutes later Rangel had a great chance to put the Swatcats ahead but his shot was well saved. In this late surge Kirati Kaewsombat was again involved when he launched himself at a looping cross but his brave header went wide. Unfortunately during his resultant fall he injured his collarbone and was led hesitantly to the waiting ambulance - an injured hero indeed!

A disappointing result and arguably Sukhothai were the better side. The Swatcat team without Dominic Adiyiah looked aimless and uninspiring although Adiyiah replacement Ekkachai Rittipan impressed. Paulo Rangel’s mind was obviously elsewhere and for me his recent performances do not warrant a new contract. Adiyiah’s absence worries me - he was not even on the bench - I have a gut feeling all is not well.

I’m not sure about goalkeeper Weera’s future either. His positional sense seems poor and he is often caught out of the correct position.

Yet again a team came to the 80^th Anniversary Stadium and gave the hosts a lesson in effective passing and maintenance of possession. How this situation can be rectified is in the hand of the coach - I’m not optimistic that there will be drastic improvements!!

Match Day 34 Stats

Finances at Nakhon Ratchasima FC – Season 2017.

Information is exceedingly difficult to find so my figures are “guestimates” and are open to fuller scrutiny.

Income.

As shown in the chart below. NRFC’s primary budget is 50 million baht. I assume this is made up by the share of Truevision’s TV rights plus the major sponsor up of the club (Mazda motors).

Additional shirt sponsorship (Adda, Glico, Central, GS batteries, KBS, Class coffee, Dapper etc plus kit sponsorship) and ground based advertising - 10 million baht.

Shirt and other merchandise income - 5 million baht

Income from ticket sales. 17 league matches plus maybe 3 home cup ties. The Swatcat average gate is just over 5000. Price of tickets 60, 100 and 150 baht - average 100 baht. Income from each match 100 times 5000 equals 500 000 baht. 20 matches so total gate income is 10 million baht.

This assumes that the home team keeps all receipts.

TOTAL INCOME per annum is therefore 75 million baht.

Outgoings

Player’s salaries. The team’s 4 foreign players plus captain and Thai international Chalermpong are earning approx 500 000 baht per month. The other 20 Thai players are probably on average earning 150 000 baht per month. Total monthly salary bill is 5 500 000 baht

Coaching staff salaries 700 000 baht per month

Security/ticket sales staff/police 200 000 baht per month

Ground rental from SAT 100 000 baht per month

Team coach (bus) plus match day expenses, hotels etc 100 000 baht per month

TOTAL OUTGOINGS 6 600 000 baht per month, 79 200 000 baht

Dateline 12^th November – Match day 33.

 FT NRFC 2 Bangkok Glass 1

The Glass rabbits were the opponents in the penultimate home game of the season at the 80^th Anniversary Stadium.

Dominic Adiyiah opened the scoring in the 8th minute with a glorious drive that curved deliciously into the corner of the net eluding a diving keeper. With growing confidence, the Swatcats pressured and Paulo Rangel misses a golden chance to put the hosts 2 up when his half volley from 8 yards thundered against the bar. Bangkok Glass countered with one shot being well saved by Weera and another fizzing just wide of the post.

The first half concluded with honours about even but with the hosts holding that important one goal lead.

The second half commenced with Glass continuing to knock the ball about confidently, The Swatcats meanwhile defended bravely with Victor Igbonefo prominent but the home team did not help their cause by continually surrendering possession in midfield with misplaced passes.

Bangkok Glass bagged an equalizer in the 74th minute with a well struck Chitpanya Thisud free kick from 25 yards and with the Swatcats sitting back, Bangkok Glass became increasingly dominant.

With Bangkok later becoming restricted to harmless long range shots, the Swatcats continued to break forward sporadically and they went close with one shot cleared off the line and another scrambled clear.

On 78 minutes, with Swatcats’ fans wondering if their team could hold out for the draw, Dominic Adiyiah latched onto a long ball forward, eluded an advancing keeper and rolled the ball into the net to put the men from Korat two one up.

An anxious last 10 minutes as Bangkok searched for the equalizer but the hosts kept their nerve and ran out deserved winners of the contest.

An encouraging result for the Swatcats and a 5 star performance from Dominic Adiyiah. Although it was plain to see that Bangkok Glass were a technically more gifted side, the Swatcats manfully slugged away and just about deserved the three points. Swatcat fans like myself looked on enviously as Glass regularly broke forward with fine passing moves and great technical skills - skills sadly lacking within the home team!!

Despite a massive advantage in possession throughout the match for the visitors, the hosts actually created the best chances and with Sukhothai at home next weekend a hat-trick of consecutive home wins is within the team’s grasp.

A footnote; the game was watched by 1583 fans - an utter disgrace for a city of Korat’s side. One has to ask, does the city deserve a Premier League team?

Match Day 33 Stats

Dateline 8^th November 2017 – Match day 32.

  FT Chang Rai United 1 NRFC 0

Fresh from their recent 2 cup semi-final victories, Chang Rai will be hoping to add the scalp of their Isaan based rivals tonight. They started with an under strength eleven, with their eyes undoubtedly on their upcoming Cup Finals.

The match opened with an uneventful first 20 minutes with neither side able to muster shots on goal but in the 22^nd minute the game burst into life as keeper Weera was forced to tip over a vicious dipping volley from Chang Rai. The match then descended again into a dour midfield tussle with a decidedly end of season feel but the Beetles again went close in the 30th minute with an angled drive drifting wide.

The Swatcats ended the first half with a looping header going over the bar after good work from Rangel - in truth the visitor’s only real chance of the half.

A dreadful and uninspiring first half with neither side seeming to desire the 3 points on offer - perhaps a point apiece might be what both sides will be content with.

The second half began how the first half ended, with little attacking prowess shown by either team. I have a feeling that goals will only come from defensive errors. In the 60^th minute Adiyiah shot tamely over as the ping-pong midfield battles of no consequence continued.

In the 82^nd minute, a clumsy challenge by Anthibordee gave the home side a chance to go ahead but the shot was tame and comfortably saved by the keeper. The Swatcats meanwhile probed forward but with little effect.

In the 95^th minute Chang Rai scrambled in a late winner after a defensive mix up when keeper Weera came for a cross and was clattered by his own man - an undeserved winner in my opinion, robbing the Swatcats of a valuable away point.

A spectacle it was not - sure it’s the end of season but surely the few fans present deserve better than this. I had to use matchsticks to keep my eyes open and surely a prime example of why fans are turning their backs on the TPL. A game with 3 shots of note from both sides, with little or no goalmouth incident is not, in my opinion, real entertainment.

I suppose that Chang Rai might be forgiven as they fielded a weakened side but the Swatcats should have offered more.

Match day 32 Stats

Dateline 22^nd October –  Match day 31.

 FT NRFC 2 Ubon UMT United 1

As the 2017 TPL season meanders towards its close, The Swatcats welcomed fellow Isaan outfit Ubon UMT United to the 80^th Anniversary Stadium. This could be a close encounter but with The Swatcat’s recent performances one would not bet against an away win for the Eagles.

In front of another sparse crowd, the home side, again playing in black, opened brightly and they went close on 3 minutes following a goalmouth melee. They continued to dominate possession with Ubon confined to a single long range effort, saved well by keeper Weera.

In the 16^th minute, Dominic Adiyiah was lucky not to be red carded when he lashed out at a defender after being brutally pushed in a challenge. The game then descended into a series of unsavoury challenges from both sides as a certain ill will between the teams developed following the incident.

The Swatcats continued to push forward without creating clear cut chances and as the half ended,

neither side looked capable of breaking the stalemate. In my opinion it is halves of football like this, bereft of excitement, that are keeping the fans away.

The second half commenced with neither side able to produce any decent chances of note, with Adiyiah the only player showing any real spark. Indeed it was Adiyiah himself who went close with an angled drive in the 60^th minute. Minutes later Rangel spurned a great chance when he shot horribly wide with only the keeper to beat.

In the 65^th minute Paulo Rangel fired in from 16 yards after a good cross from Ekkanat Kongket. Following this opening goal, Ubon began to throw more men forward but the home team defended resolutely, managing to keep a spirited Ubon forward line at bay.

In a late goal rush, Dominic Adiyiah ran onto a superb through ball to stroke the ball home in the 91^st minute to give the hosts a 2-0 lead and in the 97^th minute, Ubon pulled one back with  a  20 yard free kick from Thiago

In the end a comfortable victory and three points but two weak sides on display tonight. A match of few chances and apart from the late goal rush, an uninspiring performance from both sides. The team is now up to 12^th place and only one point off 10^th place. This result may temporarily hide the perceived inadequacies of the current Swatcat side but make no mistake, this team will continue to struggle next year unless changes are made.

Match Day 31 Stats

Dateline 14^th October 2017 – Match day 30.

  FT Thai Port 3 NRFC 1

In their final visit to the Capital this season, the Swatcats took on Thai Port in this end of season fixture on which very little depends.

A minute’s silence was observed as a mark of respect and as part of the mourning period for the deceased King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The Swatcats wore a muted and simple black strip as the club’s own mark of respect. In a lovely touch Milos Joksic abandoned his usual jovial pre match posture and adopted a forlorn and respectful pose for the cameras.

On a sodden pitch after afternoon downpours, the match commenced with Port probing forward. With the ball sticking treacherously in the mud, the likelihood of pretty passing football seemed remote. My early thought was that the team who could adapt to a “hump it”, long ball game was going to be victorious.

In the 11h minute an excellent through ball presented Josimar with guilt edged chance but his shot was weak and was smothered by keeper Weera. Minutes later Sergio Suarez shot narrowly wide as Port pressed.

On 20 minutes Ekkanat Kongket shot narrowly over with a speculative shot from 28 yards and minutes later after fine work from Adiyiah, Chanatphon drew a fine save from the home keeper with a rasping drive.

As the half was drawing to a close, Josimar headed goal wards from short range but Weera pushed the ball out. In the resulting melee a penalty was awarded for a trip and David Rochela converted the kick from the spot. Three minutes later the men from Korat were denied a penalty as Ekkachai Rittipan tangled with a defender. He was adjudged to have dived and the visitors were reduced to ten men as he received a second yellow for simulation.

A deserved one goal lead for Port at half time and within minutes of the start of the second half Josimar made it 2-0 with a close range shot. Port now began to take a stranglehold on the game as the Swatcats seemed to capitulate. Shots and crosses rained in as the visitors visibly wilted.

Completely out of the blue and against the run of play, Paulo Rangel headed in on the hour mark to give some impetus to the visitors. The newly awaked Swatcats pressed forward with a couple of chances created as Port seemed to panic under the slightest pressure.

In the 75^th minute Weera failed to come off his line for a cross from a corner and Sergio Gustavo headed in to calm Port nerves. The Swatcats countered with Chakrit firing in an angled drive that was well saved by the home keeper but with 11 minutes remaining the three points looked safe for Port.

In a final nail in the coffin for Korat, Kridsada was sent off in the 92^nd minute for a second yellow card to reduce the visitors to 9 men.

A scrappy and messy encounter between two teams struggling for form. This became a battle of attrition in difficult conditions as the game progressed with Port taking advantage of their home advantage with a comfortable victory.

Disappointing but fairly typical performance from the visitors - little up front, fragile in defence, and unable to maintain possession in midfield.

 I am beginning to feel that Milos Joksic’s days as coach are numbered.

Match Day 30 Stats

Dateline 30^th September 2017 – Match day 29.

  FT Thai Honda 1 NRFC 2

Relegation threatened Thai Honda welcomed the 14^th placed Swatcats this weekend. With neither side firing on all cylinders, this could be a dour encounter. With Honda all but doomed to Tier 2 football next season they will be fighting for pride and could prove a hard team to beat.

This game was rearranged after the previous postponement due to torrential rain.

 The hosts opened brightly and in the 12^th minute, Roninho was inches wide with a drive. Minutes later, following a corner, a fine looping header from the visitors hit the bar and bounced down onto the goal line - a lucky escape for Thai Honda!! From the resulting second corner, the Swatcats almost scrambled the ball into the net after a 6 yard box melee but a free kick was awarded for a foul on the keeper.

Honda went ahead in the 22^nd minute when Roninho struck a magnificent 25 yard free kick into the top corner of the net and in a half of few real chances, skipper Chalermpong headed just wide minutes before half time.

On the stroke of half time, Dominic Adiyiah audaciously back heeled a low corner kick into the net to level the scores. The men from Korat could consider themselves slightly lucky to be on level terms at half time with Honda dominating possession and frankly looking the better of the two teams.

The second half kicked off with the Swatcats hunting for a second but with Thai Honda continuing to move the ball around well, this could be anyone’s game - an individual touch of brilliance could ultimately turn this encounter.

As in the first half, the second half was almost devoid of clear chances from either side with a long range effort from Roninho in the 71^st minute being a rare highlight. In the 76^th minute a sweeping move forward put Naruphol clear but he failed to connect and the ball was cleared. From the resulting corner Victor Igbonefo headed in from 6 yards to put the Swatcats ahead.

The last 10 minutes saw some late pressure from the home team with Weera saving well from a Jesus drive but the Swatcats defended sensibly and managed to hold onto their lead.

As expected, a dour battle between two struggling sides - it was not pretty to watch. A typical performance from the Swatcats - a clear lack of punch up front and too many balls given away in midfield.  Not a sparkling performance but a very useful 3 points. The team is now up to 13^th in the league and is 11 points clear of Si Saket. Safety is beginning to look assured … but I do worry about next season.

Match Day 29 - Stats.

Dateline 20^th September – Match day 28.

 FT NRFC 1 Navy 1

The game kicked off in a near empty stadium with Navy moving the ball around efficiently. The hosts conversely continued to give the ball away resulting in dangerous raids forward from the visitors.

 In early warning signs, Navy went close with a header in the 11^th minute and in the 19^th minute a Weera save kept out a low drive. At the other end Dominic Adiyiah and Pina went close but with Navy becoming more dominant they again drew a fine save from Weera in the 20^th minute.

In the 23^rd minute after a mistimed clearance from Igbonefo, Rodrigo pounced to put Navy ahead. Later he almost made it 2-0 with a low angled drive that Weera again did well to keep out. The Swatcats continued to huff and puff with little end product as a rather sterile first half drew to a close.

The second half began with the hosts looking more determined and in the 49^th minute Adiyiah swept the ball into the net but was adjudged to have handled the ball before the strike. With Navy looking rattled, Chanatphon leveled with a well struck free kick in the 57^th minute. Minutes later Rangel went close with a header as the Swatcats pressed.

In the 63^rd minute Adiyiah put a fine header on target but the keeper pushed the ball onto the upright and as the hosts began to dominate, a winner looked likely. Minutes later Akekanat hit a low drive inches wide of the post as the hosts swarmed forward and then Adiyiah narrowly failed to connect with an excellent Rangel cross.

In the 89^th minute, in a final push for the winner, Akekanat headed just wide from a well flighted corner kick and as the referee blew the final whistle, the Swatcats could consider themselves slightly unlucky not to have found a winner.

Another below par performance from the Swatcats and yet another chance to pull away from the bottom 3 spurned. The first half performance can only be described as inept. An inability to string together passes and a continued trait of giving the ball away in midfield meant that a pretty mediocre Navy outfit was made to look good.

The second half performance was better and chances were created but still the side looked what it is, a second rate side fighting for survival.

Victor Igbonefo worries me, he continues to make mistakes and his marking in the box is slack. I think it is time for a rethink regarding the back four formation.

I cannot help thinking that this squad of players should be performing better than a lowly 14^th place. Questions must be asked about whether Milos Jokic is getting the best out of his players. I have always rated him but the league position does not lie - I think that an end of season change of coach may be the way forward.

Finally the crowd, a lowly 2254 attended tonight’s match. This does not bode well for the long term future of the club. Sure the performances have not been great but a paltry 2254 attendance from the kingdom’s second largest city is a disgrace.

Match Day 28  Stats 

Dateline 16^th September 2017 – Match day 27.

 FT Bangkok United 2 NRFC 0

The Swatcats took on The Angels from Bangkok in what promised to be a challenging match for the men from Isaan. High flying Bangkok will be hoping to hold onto the coat tails of MuangThong and Buriram whilst the Swatcats will be striving to stretch further away from relegation woes.

In the ghostly atmosphere of a near empty stadium and with the Swatcats wearing their Man City lookalike sky blue kit the match kicked off with the home team launching a series of early raids forward. 

The Angels took early control of the match with the visitors being forced back but in the 10^th minute, with rain lashing down, Pina drew a fine save from the keeper with a snap shot. The rain now became a torrent and the game was reduced to a comical farce as both sides struggled with the waterlogged pitch.

In the 16^th minute Bangkok went close with a header flashing narrowly over as the visitors struggled with the home team’s pressure but with the ball sticking dangerously on the drenched pitch,, hoofing the ball seemed to be the order of the day, with any sort of pretty passing movements impossible!!

In the 30^th minute in a rare Swatcat foray forward, Pina was inches wide with an angled drive after good work from Adiyiah and a minute later Adiyiah found himself clear in the box but was unable to convert. Bangkok countered and Boscovic produced a bullet header in the 36^th minute which was brilliantly kept out by keeper Weera. Weera made another superb save minutes later when Mario Duroski surged forward to put in an angled drive.

Bangkok broke the deadlock in the 48^th minute when Terratep Winothai stroked in after a fine through ball put him clear, a deserved lead after some late first half pressure.

In a half of few chances, possibly due to the conditions, the Swatcats had battled gamely to contain the home team and in fact had created a couple of real chances against the run of play.

The second half commenced and as the rain continued to lash down, the visitors spurned a great chance when Adiyiah shot over from 8 yards. Bangkok then pushed forward and went two up when Tavares nodded in on 53 minutes.

In the 63^rd minute Rangel had a great chance to half the deficit but his weak header strayed wide, minutes later, Boscovic shot inches wide with Weera well beaten.

The Swatcats managed some useful second half possession but were unable to threaten the Bangkok goal and with the hosts continuing to be dangerous, the result rarely looked to be in doubt.

In the dying minutes a well struck Rangel free kick was inches over and as the conditions worsened, I am guessing that both teams were eager to get things over with and to climb into a hot bath

Bangkok looked a more polished side tonight - a team of talented individuals that was too strong for the men from Korat in all departments. The Swatcats did create chances but were not clinical enough to convert those chances into goals.

Luckily for the Swatcats, below them, Si Saket were beaten 5-1 by Buriram and Sukhothai only picked up a single point. A win against Navy on Wednesday is vital!!

Match Day 27 Stats