2011 Stats: November & December

* PLAYER STATS ARE CUMULATIVE SEASON TOTALS

TPL: Thai Port 1 - 3 Sri Racha - full match (almost)

TPL: Thai Port 1 - 3 Sri Racha

Thai Port concluded their 2011 home fixtures with a very disappointing 3-1 loss against Sri Racha. Ex-Chula United striker Aron Da Silva was the hero for the visitors. The Brazilian netted a hat-trick to keep alive his teams hopes of avoiding the drop. Phudit Niamkong scored a late consolation for Port. It was his first league goal of the season.

So, Port's TPL campaign comes to a long overdue end next weekend. We travel to already relegated Khon Kaen. I don't know about you, but I can't wait for the season to end. I suspect that our players feel the same way!






 THAI PORT : 1. Wanlop Sae-Jiu, 33. Wisarut Wai-Ngan, 23. Thongchai Keunkuntod, 3. Todsapol Lated, 22. Mario Cesar Da Silva, 4. Worawut Wangsawad (c), 8. Ekkapoom Potharungroj, 16. Sivakorn Chakuprasat, 26. Santipap Siri (19. Puttakun Narin)-(20. Nattapol Chantuppa), 30. Sarawut Kongjareon, 32. Phudit Niamkong

 YELLOW CARDS : Thongchai Keunkuntod (?)

 GOALS : Phudit Niamkong (73)


 SRI RACHA : 22. Nattapol Suphathai (40. Chanin Sae-Ie), 3. Yordrak Nammeungrak, 9. Cristiano Lopes, 14. Pornsak Pongtong (11. Ekkachai Rittipan), 18. Krikrit Thaweekan, 19. Supoj Wonghoi (c), 20. Justin Moose, 26. Aron Da Silva, 29. Warut Wongdee (8. Ampai Muthapon), 30. Douglas Cobo, 32. Diego

 YELLOW CARDS :

 GOALS : Aron Da Silva (28, 42, 53)

Predicted line-up vs Sri Racha

Today's Thai Premier League match against Sri Racha will come as a welcome relief for Port players and fans after another turbulent week at PAT Stadium. The issue of unpaid salaries has been put on hold until the end of January, so let's concentrate on the football, for now.

Thai Port got back to winning ways last Saturday with a 3-1 win over Police United, our fourth victory in seven games. We're also unbeaten in our last four TPL matches at PAT Stadium - a run that stretches back to September 25th when we lost 1-0 to Buriram PEA.

Whoever picks the Thai Port team will have to make at least two changes from last weekend's starting eleven. Steven Robb and Kim Ba-Wi will serve one-match bans, whilst Moudourou Swa-Moise, Kiatjareon Ruangparn and Mongkol Namnuad are all still suspended.

Siamsport's preview suggests that Wanlop Sae-Jiu will continue in goal. TLO reckon Munze will regain his place in the side. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Wanlop play again. We all know what Munze can do, so why not give the youngster another game between the sticks? The other bone of contention is over who will play at right-back. Siamsport go for Wisarut Wai-Ngan, TLO for Ittipol Nonsiri. Again, I'd select youth over experience. Wisarut would surely benefit more from 90-minutes of TPL football.

Thai Port's striking options are as thin as ever. Sarawut Kongjareon will, however, be buoyed by his goal in last week's win. It took his tally for the season to 2 goals in 31 matches. Hardly prolific! Speaking of which, Phudit Niamkong and Kim Dong Chan will both be looking to score their first TPL goals of the season, if selected.

A win for Port would lift us above BEC Tero and Osotspa into sixth place with 47 points. Sri Racha, on the other hand, need to win to maintain their slim hopes of staying up. A defeat for the visitors would confirm their relegation from the TPL. You have to say that the odds are stacked against the Blue Marlins. They've won just 1 of their last 13 TPL fixtures, and they haven't won a league match on their travels since June. Let's hope that run continues this afternoon! - No offence, Sri Racha fans.




Predicted line-up: Wanlop Sae-Jiu; Wisarut Wai-Ngan, Thongchai Keunkuntod, Todsapol Lated, Mario Cesar Da Silva, Ekkapoom Potharungroj, Worawut Wangsawad, Sivakorn Chakuprasat, Sarawut Kongjareon, Kim Dong Chan, Phudit Niamkong (via Siamsport)

2012 Kit designs

Hats off to all the people who took the time to enter Thai Port's competition to design next season's kits. Some of the sketches are really impressive! If you are a facebooker, you can vote for your favourite until January 3rd. Here are a few of the 109 entries...

Game on!

A Thai Port player has confirmed via twitter that tomorrow's game vs Sri Racha will go ahead as planned (anyone know what channel the game will be broadcast on?). It appears that a compromise has been struck, whereby some of the overdue wages will be paid now, with the rest to follow by the end of January.

Club statement

Thai Port have released a statement on their official website stating that the players & staff will be paid one month's salary - with the rest to follow in due course (how many times have they said that?). Whether this offer will be enough to appease the troops remains to be seen. I don't think one month's money is quite what they had in mind.

Port director Denphong Pongyaat has also said that next season's budget will be around 40,000,000 baht. I'll be sending over a rather appropriate book that should help them manage their finances a bit better!

Vote for Thai Port's 2012 kits

The designs are in and it's time to vote! There are 60 home kits and 49 away kits to choose from via Thai Port's facebook page (links provided below). Being a non-facebooker, I can't access the pictures. If anyone can provide a few screen grabs for me to post here, that would be fantastic!

Home kits: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150454536744032.367597.275381189031&type=1

Away kits: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150454572439032.367606.275381189031&type=1

Ultimatum

The latest report on TLO says that Thai Port's players and staff have given a clear ultimatum to club vice-president Worapong Tantivejchayanan. If he doesn't pay their outstanding salaries by 30th December, they will refuse to play in the Toyota League Cup Final.

Well, things might come to a head a lot sooner than that! It is strongly rumoured that the squad could refuse to play in the up-coming match against Sri Racha...if the money isn't forthcoming by Friday. If they do take strike action, they have my full support. They've been treated disgracefully by the powers-that-be and have no other option left open to them.

Let's hope that it doesn't come down to that. The ball is well and truly in Worapong's court! Super Rich? Prove it, pal!




UPDATE: Siamsport have also written an article about our plight. It's a bit tricky to translate clearly, though. There are some quotes from Ekkapoom Potharungroj and Todsapol Lated that say they've not been paid for 4-months and that other players are struggling to pay mortgages, car repayments and to provide for their families.

Later in the piece, Thai Port director Denphong Pongyaat claims that the club have asked Port Authority of Thailand for money to pay the players. He went on to say that when/if the problem is sorted out, the club will have a budget of at least 40,000,000 baht next season. Hmm. Forgive me if I remain sceptical.

Port player named in top 10 TPL signings

TLO have included Thai Port's Ekkapoom Potharungroj in their 'best signings of 2011' list. A well deserved accolade!

The impish midfielder joined us from Samut Songkhram in January and has put in a number of eye-catching performances during the year. His display in the recent win over Chonburi, in particular, was a joy to behold. 'Bon' is also Thai Port's current top scorer with 6 goals to his name.




FULL LIST: 1. Kazuto Kushida (Chonburi), 2. Frank Ohandza (Buriram PEA), 3. Frank Acheampong (Buriram PEA), 4. Leandro Dos Santos (Army United), 5. Wasan Natasan (Chiang Rai United), 6. Lazarus Kaimbi (Osotspa), 7. Khaled Kharoubbi (Osotspa), 8. Alex (Siam Navy), 9. Sarif Sainui (Buriram PEA), 10. Ekkapoom Potharungroj (Thai Port)

Khon Kaen game given new date

According the TPL website, the date for Thai Port's final Thai Premier League game of the season vs Khon Kaen has been set for January 7th. It is at least the fourth time the fixture has been rearranged, so don't be surprised if it happens again!

NYE fixture confirmed

Thai Port have confirmed via facebook that our New Year's Eve encounter with Sri Racha will go ahead as planned, despite rumours that the game would be postponed to a later date. Tickets are already on sale from the club shop.

Maru granted farewell match

TLO are reporting that Thai Port will stage a 'farewell match' at PAT Stadium for Japanese player-coach Yoshiaki Maruyama. The game, pencilled in for January 10th, will be between at Thai Port XI and a Japan XI, presumably made up of TPL based Japanese players such as Nobuyuki Zaizen and Kunihiko Takizawa.

New badge makes its debut?

Phudit Niamkong sported what is believed to be Thai Port's new badge during Saturday's match versus Police United. Any attempts to keep it under wraps until the Toyota League Cup Final appear to have been well and truly thwarted!

TPL: Thai Port 3 - 1 Police United

Thai Port extended their unbeaten run over Police United to 9 games with a 3-1 win at PAT Stadium. The victory was far from comfortable for Port, who were put under a lot of pressure at times. Police, though, were very wasteful in front of goal. Thai Port, for once, were clinical. That was the key difference between the sides.

Steven Robb opened the scoring for the home team after 36 minutes. He skipped passed the full-back with ease, before calmly slotting the ball between the keeper and his near post.

The Scotsman was also involved in Thai Port's second goal, just after half-time. His left-footed cross was headed into the net by Sarawut Kongjareon. It was Sarawut's second of the season, and his first ever goal at PAT Stadium.

The 2-0 lead was very short lived, however, as Police hit back almost instantly. The goal was slightly fortuitous to say the least, as Tanat Wongsuparak's shot took a massive deflection off Mario Cesar Da Silva's knee before hitting the net. Wanlop Sae-Jiu had no chance of saving it.

For the next 15 minutes or so, the visitors did all the pressing. Thai Port were well and truly on the ropes. It was, therefore, very much against the run of play when Port restored their two-goal advantage. Worawut's free-kick from the right flank was nodded home by Todsapol Lated. Game over.

The win moves Thai Port up to seventh in the table. With two very winnable games remaining, we stand an excellent chance of consolidating our position, or maybe even climbing a place to sixth! (if the players get paid)

Merry Christmas to one and all! สุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาส






 THAI PORT : 1. Wanlop Sae-Jiu, 28. Ittipol Nonsiri (c), 23. Thongchai Keunkuntod (33. Wisarut Wai-Ngan), 3. Todsapol Lated, 22. Mario Cesar Da Silva, 8. Ekkapoom Potharungroj, 15. Steven Robb, 16. Sivakorn Chakuprasat (13. Pakpoom Malirungruang), 18. Kim Ba-Wi, 30. Sarawut Kongjareon, 32. Phudit Niamkong (4. Worawut Wangsawad)

 YELLOW CARDS : Thongchai Keunkuntod (38), Steven Robb (48), Kim Ba-Wi (61), Ittipol Nonsiri (66), Ekkapoom Potharungroj (73), Pakpoom Malirungruang (90)

 GOALS : Steven Robb (36), Sarawut Kongjareon (51), Todsapol Lated (75)


 POLICE UNITED : 31. Sompong Yod-Ard, 23. Saranyu Intarat, 33. Yoo Jae Min, 24. Anusong Chareontham (14. Prakorn Prempak), 3. Kritsadee Prakobkong (c), 8. Tanapat Na Tarua, 15. Tanat Wongsuparak (11. Chayanan Pombuppha), 25. Pokklao Anan, 13. Lee Han Gook, 20. Felipe Ferriera, 29. Thawatchai Bupsiri

 YELLOW CARDS : Tanapat Na Tarua (3), Yoo Jae Min (60), Pokklao Anan (75)

 GOALS : Tanat Wongsuparak (55)

Predicted line-up vs Police United

Thai Port return to action this afternoon looking to bounce back from last weekend's dismal 2-0 defeat against Samut Songkhram. The Christmas Eve visitors to PAT Stadium are Police United, against whom we have an excellent record. In fact, Port are unbeaten in 8 games against The Policemen (6 wins & 2 draws), with 6 clean sheets in the process.

Port are expected to make 3 or 4 changes from last Sunday's starting eleven, most of them enforced. According to Siamsport, Moudourou Swa-Moise, Kiatjareon Ruangparn and Mongkol Namnuad will all miss out due to suspension. Mario Cesar Da Silva, Worawut Wangsawad and Thongchai Keunkuntod are all likely to deputise. If Mario plays, it will be his 100th game for the club.

Phudit Niamkong could also lose his place after an ineffective performance against Samut Songkhram. If Sivakorn Chakuprasat replaces him, it would leave Sarawut Kongjareon as the only striker in the team. Sarawut's work rate cannot be doubted, but his goal-scoring ability certainly can. He's netted just once in 30 appearances for Port.

Police United go into the game on the back of some patchy form. They've won just one of their last 6 TPL matches, failing to score in 4 of those fixtures. Their away form is nothing to write home about, either. A 2-0 victory for Police against BEC Tero in October is the only win they've recorded in their last 8 games on the road.

Police boss Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul also has a few selection problems to ponder before kick-off. Siamsport are reporting that Thai international striker Surachart Sareepim is suspended along with Korean central defender Woo Hyun. Chakrit Buathong and Assaming Mae are both major injury doubts, whilst Jerry Amara is likely to face a late fitness test to decide whether he can play.

So, with Christmas almost upon us, Thai Port can hopefully provide some festive cheer by clinching all 3 points. The last time the two sides met, Police goalkeeper Sompong Yod-Ard gave us an early gift by inexplicably punching the ball into his own net. Let's ho ho hope he's in equally charitable mood today!




Predicted line-up: Munze Ulrich; Wisarut Wai-Ngan, Thongchai Keunkuntod, Todsapol Lated, Mario Cesar Da Silva, Ekkapoom Potharungroj, Steven Robb, Kim Ba-Wi, Worawut Wangsawad, Sivakorn Chakuprasat, Sarawut Kongjareon (via Siamsport)

'Big Ben' strikes deal with PAT?

Thai Port vice-president Worapong Tantivejchayanon claims that the Port Authority of Thailand directors have agreed to upgrade PAT Stadium's floodlights in time for the 2012 season, at a cost of 10,000,000 baht. TPL standard lighting would finally allow Thai Port to stage 6:00pm kick-offs.

Sharks striker linked with Port move

@Thai_League informs me that Thai Port have been linked with a move for 32-year-old Chonburi striker Ney Fabiano. The burly Brazilian is in his second spell with the Sharks, having also played in the Thai League for Bangkok Glass and TTM. For the record, the transfer window opens on December 26th and closes in March.