Another name change?

Again, it's come to my attention of another name change...

Rattana Bundit will now play under the name of Chang Chiangmai Rattana Bundit (a bloody mouth full!)

Any truth in this? Time will tell

Club Name Changes

It has come to my attention that a couple of clubs have made slight name changes for the 2010 season:

Mahasarakham will now be known as Mahasarakham City

Mukdahan-Savannakhet will now be known as Mukdahan

13 Managerial changes last season

Why was there so many? Ok, 13 is not quite true as Attaphol Puspakom moved around a bit, landing himself the championship with Muang Thong bet he didn't think he'd win anything at the beginning of January?

So 13 gone in 2009, 3 the previous year, thats a full 16 team top flight.

This begs the question. Do clubs rush into sacking their coaches? Every year, it's discussed on the forums that only really 3 teams have a chance of winning the TPL title, surely the owners know this and wield the axe because of what? Because of relegation fears? Or do they realy think they should eb up their winning things?

13 gone in 2009, how many for 2010?

Prepare yourself Thai Port....

....the 2010 AFC Cup will soon be here. You will of course be drawn in the East Asian side amongest the following:

Geylang United (Singapore Cup winners)
Binh Duong (V League runners up)
South China (HK League Winners)
Tai Po (HK FA Cup winners)
VB Sports Club (Dhivehi League winners - Maldives)
Victory SC (Maldives FA Cup winners)
Selangor (Malaysian League winners)
Negeri Sembilan (Malaysian FA Cup winners)

and also 3 champions league playoff losers.


So who you fancy?

Congratulations Pohang Steelers...

... on winning the 2009 Asian Champions League, their 3rd title in the competition.

Best of luck in the CWC in December

One eye on Singapore

Singapore took to the field today defeating Indonesia 3 - 1.

The dangerman?

Big Alexsandr Duric, he's getting on know, but still scores goals. Will be a threat in the air against Thailand.

Although Singapore won, i can't really see what this match today brought. Again, it was another regional matchup, surely the fans are fed up of seeing all ASEAN friendly matchups, especially after having AFF Championships every two years.

Our ASEAN neighbours need to think out of the bowl a little and get better matchups.

Maybe Singapore, you could say, were playing a team similiar to Thailand, but boy, these games do get boring now.

Welcome Syria.....

The Syrian national team should be arriving any minute now. Expect a rousy reception at the airport? No chance.

Syria Themselves

So what do we know about them?

So far this year, they have played 14 games in this calendar year, thus far winning 10 of them, but whom have they played?

Well, they beat China in January in an ACQ, but it must be said, this is a weak China.

Besides then drawing with South Korea, Syria have generally faced oppostition they and Thailand would expect to beat. The likes of Lebanon, Sri Lanka and Kyrgyzstan.

The bulk of the games have also been played in the Indian Nehru Cup, of which Thailand were invited too, and then turned away after giving the Indian authorites an Under 19 team lineup.

Syria played well at the tournament, but sucummbed to an average Indian team in the final. An Indian team I would expect Thailand to beat home or away.

Past Meetings

We have met on 3 previous occasions, all on neutral ground and the last meeting being way back in 1984. Thailand have won all 3 encounters.

13/07/78 Thailand 3 - 1 Syria (Kuala Kumpur, Friendly)
23/11/82 Thailand 3 - 1 Syria (New Delhi, Friendly)
13/08/84 Thailand 3 - 2 Syria (Jakarta, Asian Cup Qualifier)

My opinion on Syria

My honest opinion... an up and coming team in Asia. More often than not, overlooked by their Arab neighbours.

They get the job done on home soil against weaker nations, but can struggle away from home.

Domestic league teams have faired well in continental competitions, particulary Al Karamah, but when the going gets tough, they can well struggle.

Should be a good matchup against Thailand, but with players just coming back from AFC Cup action, we should catch them on a bit of a downer and possibly catch them cold.

Hopefully, it will be a kick start for Robson's new Thai Army