Nakhon Ratchasima 2020 season preview

Following the team's close encounter with the relegation zone last season, is there any hope of a significant improvement in our performances this year.

That is the crucial question.

There are some reasons for hope. The appointment of former PTT coach Teerasak Po-on is encouraging. He steered a club with a pretty average squad into the premier league and kept them there until their demise. He has brought in proven goalscorer Denis Murillo, South Korean defender Yoon Jun-Sung and attacking midfielder Wongsakorn Chaikultewin. Further he has retained foreign players Amadou Quattara and Leandro Assumpcao, but our ASEAN player spot has not yet been filled.

He has replaced the central spine of the team and is obviously molding the team in order for his tactics to be carried out successfully.

I am no tactician but last season many teams employed strategies that mercilessly exposed our midfield and defence with quick passing and effective player movement up front. We, too often gave the ball away in midfield, putting extra pressure on our defence that often sat too deep. We need to retain the ball more successfully in midfield and try to compact play in midfield by the defensive formation pushing up.

If Teerasak can address the problems in midfield, and if Murillo can be more successful than Henri in front of goal, a comfortable mid table position can be achieved. Last season we were only a handful of points off respectability, I am hoping that our usual mid table status will return this season.