Dateline 15^th February 2020

 FT Port FC 4 NRFC 1

Attendance; 6940

In this, the first game of the 2020 season, the game was preceded by a minute’s silence in honour and remembrance of the victims of last weekend’s shooting.

In a disastrous start, the visitors went one behind after 4 minutes. A Port free kick was floated in and the flick on found a completely unmarked Sergio Suarez on the far post. With Swatcat confidence wavering and with stirring home support, Port surged forward with the visitor’s defence being torn to pieces time and time again.

The second for Port seemed likely to come and but amazingly, the visitors countered and a superb Assumpcao free kick was headed onto the crossbar by Murillo. Minutes later Murillo went inches wide with a precision header.

On 28 minutes Port surged forward and a decent cross presented Heberty with a far post tap in.

In a topsy turvy half a deflected shot flew inches wide of the Port upright but in truth, a 2-0 half time score line could have been much worse for the visitors.

Minutes into the second half, a quickly taken free kick presented Heberty with a second tap in. There was a VAR review but the goal was awarded to put Port three up.

In the 62^nd minute Amadou volleyed in superbly from a corner clearance.

This revitalized the men in yellow and they settled into a period of pressure with Port defending ever more deeply. Late in the half Chichanok went close with a diving header and with the visitors pressing, Port broke forward and scored with a well worked forth in the 88^th minute.

A good game with a slightly flattering score line but the Swatcats were well beaten by a superior side. There were however moments to savour. Murillo should have scored a brace and a VAR penalty decision went against us. On the downside, the defence was an absolute shambles.

 Port exploited the flanks effectively with often men running forward completely unmarked with captain Chalermpong looking very shaky, especially with Korean Yoon Junsung by his side.

We will win more matches than we lose playing like this but there has to be a rethink regarding the defensive formation. Port exploited the back four by playing wide on both flanks, perhaps playing with five at the back may be the way forward – and I do have my doubts about the pairing of skipper Chalermpong and Junsung !!

Match Day 1 Stats 

 

The 2020 Thai Premier League season kicks off this weekend with the potentially traumatised Swatcat team visiting the PAT Stadium to take on free spending Port FC. (Saturday 15^th Feb, KO 2000 hours, TV coverage, Truesports 2).

Port are considered to be one of the teams vying for the Premiership title this season and will expect to take all three points.

With the Swatcats under a new coaching regime, Teerasak Po-on will hope for an encouraging start to his time with the club, but I fear that Port will have too much firepower for the Swatcats to overcome.

My prediction; Home win.

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.

A season of two halves or how dreams turned to nightmares - the Swatcat season review.

For the first year since we entered the TPL, I was optimistic about the season ahead, based on the firm foundation of the previous seasons defensive displays (they were the fourth best performing defence last year), the promise of a more attack minded approach and the significant addition of strikers Henri and Amadou, backed ably by the classy Assumpcao, this was going to be a season to remember and a top six finish almost guaranteed.

The first encounters were looking promising with the team hovering securely in the top 6 or 7. The displays were sound and perhaps a cup win could be beckoning. As the first leg ended, the Swatcats were in 7^th place. ……. THEN.

As the second leg progressed, injuries to key players and amid rumours of discontent concerning possible transfer targets, the team went into a death spiral, winning just 3 times during the second leg, plunging the team into the lower half of the table and dangerously close to the relegation zone. A 5-1 defeat to bottom placed Chang Mai was the final straw and coach Milos Joksic resigned.

With just 5 games to go to save the Swatcats from the drop, Chalermwut Sangapol took over. With his first match in charge at Port abandoned due to rain, his first real challenge was the home game against aspiring Samut Prakan. A rare and unexpected victory gave the fans hope of a miracle. A superb win at fellow strugglers Chainat boosted their hopes further and it transpired that a win or a draw in the last match of the season would ensure safety.

Played in front of a bumper crowd of over 19000 fans the Swatcats went out with a whimper, being outplayed by Sukhothai, their premier League status only preserved by Suphanburi’s defeat by Chang Rai. 

Coach Chalermwut should be applauded for the victories against Samut Prakan and Chainat, matches that proved pivotal and ultimately saved the club from relegation, but personally, I did not see enough to convince me that he is the right man for the job.

The team was able to survive in previous seasons with a mediocre squad because of the way Milos Joksic set the team up - unexciting to watch but allowing TPL mid table mediocrity. Pressure to play more exciting and attacking football led to the demise of coach Joksic and almost the loss of the team’s TPL status.

Maybe a lesson learnt, maybe not, but perhaps we should all be careful what we wish for.

Dateline 26 th October 2019

 NRFC 2 Sukhothai 4

Attendance; 19154

 

A crunch match for both teams as the Gladiators marched out in front of 19154 baying fans.

Sukhothai looked the more accomplished side in the first 20 minutes as the home team huffed and puffed trying to string a few passes together. Playing sparkling and imaginative football, it was no surprise when the visitors went ahead in the 22nd minute with a brilliant shot from 20 yards by Khapfa Boonmatoom.

Sukhothai continued to dominate and what was fast becoming a typical lackluster performance from the hosts, the Firebats went deservedly two up in the 28^th minute when Khapfa smashed in from 14 yards - why keeper Cunningham flapped at the cross and Khapfa was left unmarked in the box should be two problems to be given priority by the new coach.

The second half commenced with a more spirited approach from the men in orange. Their endeavors were rewarded in the 57^th minute when Yanto Basna prodded the ball past his own keeper whilst under pressure from Chitchanok.

This fired up the home team with substitute Chitchanok prominent, they went searching for an equalizer and following great work down the flank from Henri and Amadou, Chitchanok prodded home in the 64^th minute.

With the Swatcats now smelling victory, they charged forward with the fans baying for a third but the bubble was burst when Yanto Basna prodded home to regain the lead in the 65^th minute - one has to ask why 3 attackers were left free inside the 6-yard box, atrocious defending!!!

The Swatcat’s disappointing evening was compounded when Sukhothai added a fourth in the 69^th minute as an unmarked (sense the continuing trend here) Herrera headed in. The Swatcats now, with heads bowed plummeted to a potentially disastrous defeat.

A disappointing end to a traumatic season. The Swatcats were outfought by a spirited Sukhothai side. At the end, the team were saved from relegation by Suphanburi’s defeat. I’m afraid if there is not a change to squad personnel and coach (watch this space for a new appointment of coach later this week), the Swatcats will be in another relegation battle next year. This team needs investment and if the present owners are not prepared to put their hands in their pockets, move on and let someone else have a go!!

Match Day 30 Stats