Thai Port ended their 2011 TPL campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against rock-bottom Khon Kaen. Todsapol Lated equalised for the visitors after Chattapon Sitilo had given KK the lead via a deflected free-kick. Thai Port, by all accounts, were the better side but could not press home their advantage. The woodwork denied us twice during the 90 minutes - Worawut Wangsawad and Todsapol were the unlucky players.
So, after 34 games, we are 8th in the TPL table on 45 points. Police United and Chiang Rai United could, however, overtake us if they win their final fixture of the season. A top 6 finish for Port was a real possibility a few weeks ago. Just 4 points taken from 4 very winnable games put an end to those hopes.
Don't forget, the season isn't done and dusted just yet. There is a charity match at PAT Stadium on Tuesday evening (7pm start). More importantly, we take on Buriram PEA/FC/United in the Toyota League Cup Final at Suphachalasai on Feb 4th.
KHON KAEN : 1. Piyawat Intrapim; 2. Wuttichai Panmook, 4. Suppakorn Karada, 5. Li Xiang, 6. Padungsak Kittiwarapol, 11. Surachat Singkorn, 16. Rermrat Ngam-Chareon (7. Peevarit Ritsibun), 16. Ahmadou Tidjiani, 21. Kritsada Hemvipat, 23. Chattapon Sitilo, 14. Wasan Prankhum (8. Sarawut Wichian)
YELLOW CARDS : Kritsada Hemvipat (85)
GOALS : Chattapon Sitilo (12)
THAI PORT : 39. Munze Ulrich; 28. Ittipol Nonsiri (c), 7. Mongkol Namnuad, 3. Todsapol Lated, 22. Mario Cesar Da Silva, 4. Worawut Wangsawad, 15. Steven Robb, 18. Kim Ba-Wi, 27. Kiatjareon Ruangparn, 32. Phudit Niamkong, 30. Sarawut Kongjareon
YELLOW CARDS : Ittipol Nonsiri (38), Mongkol Namnuad (61), Todsapol Lated (64), Steven Robb (76), Worawut Wangsawad (85)
GOALS : Todsapol Lated (62)
Here's a breakdown of who we got our points against. 4 points out of possible 18 against the bottom 3 teams is pretty poor!
ReplyDelete1. Buriram PEA - 0
2. Chonburi - 3
3. Muangthong United - 0
4. Bangkok Glass - 1
5. Pattaya United - 1
6. Osotspa Saraburi - 4
7. BEC Tero - 4
8. THAI PORT
9. Police United - 6
10. Chiang Rai United - 2
11. TTM Phichit - 3
12. Army United - 6
13. Sisaket - 4
14. SCG Samut Songkhram - 3
15. Siam Navy - 4
16. TOT - 0
17. Sri Racha - 0
18. Khon Kaen - 4
Compare & contrast:
ReplyDeleteThai Port's 2011 TPL record against Top 5 & Bottom 3 teams = Played 16, Won 2, Drawn 3, Lost 11, For 10, Agst 23, Pts 9.
Thai Port's 2011 TPL record against teams ranked 6th to 15th = Played 18, Won 10, Drawn 6, Lost 2, For 23, Agst 14, Pts 36.
In summary, we're shite against the good and bad teams, and brilliant against the mediocre ones.
Now I will start this by admitting I am wrong that it is possible for a player to win me over, the player I am talking about is Todsapol, some of you may be aware of the barracking Ive given him in the past, the suggestion of his possession of incriminating photos of the Thai Port coaching hierarchy as the explanation of his continued presence in the team, but now I am prepared to admit I now rate him, yes I know, that's what I said, I rate him, and would be happy for a Tosapol/Moise axis at the back for next season, he has performed eminently better than Mario recently and is a threat at corners and free-kicks for us now not the opposition.
ReplyDeleteso with this in mind, showing that I can admit when a player has improved, I turn to Mr Invisible himself,one good run into the box and nothing else. in fact the absence of any type of presence on the right (a position Ba-wi and Worarut seemed to be sharing) made it Robb's most influential game as everything of any value came down the left through Robb, he took players on and crossed well and really thrived on the extra responsibility due to Ekkapoom not being on the right, if we could take some of that into the final, our team realizing that there are two sides of the pitch, then I think we could almost possibly maybe have a chance of an upset. Obviously as the tv showed three challenges by Robb which should have got him a yellow for each and therefore not have been on the pitch but we'll ignore his tackling, everyone did with Paul Scholes.
Sarawut another good performance, busy, industrious, it's like he is a better version of sivakorn. Munze and bad Khon Kaen finishing kept us in the game 1st half but second half seemed an improvement.
all in all a good game and thankfully both my kids were out playing with other children so I could actually focus on the game for a chance.
Cheers Shots.
ReplyDeleteWhat channel was the game on? I managed to find a link for every TPL/FA Cup game bar ours. Gutted!
Good to hear that Todsapol has won you over. I had a similar recent epiphany with Everton's Leon Osman. I used to think he was rubbish, but his performances have made me change my mind.
I'm going to urge patience with Korean lad. He's 23/24 and adapting to life in a new country. The general rule of thumb with English football is to give a foreign player 6 months or so to settle in. I'm willing to give him the same chance. Steven Robb is a prime example. He didn't do much in the first half of the season, but has become an important member of the team since the mid-season break.
I'd describe Sarawut as a poor man's Teerasil Dangda. Both work hard, both are similar in style, but unfortunately Sarawut doesn't have Teerasil's nous in the penalty box.
To second what TPS says Todsapol has won me over as well. What a change from earlier in the season. He is going to be one hell of a defender if he continues on this path. With Moise, Todsapol, Mario, Mongkol, and Munze, Port have one of the most solid defenses in the TPL.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, we have very little in the opposing teams box. Phudit continues to underwhelm. For a kid with a little bit of size, he seems to shun physical play. Smaller players get the best of him. What should be developing into a force is petering out. If he had the nuts Robb showed againt KK, he might be a threat.
The game was one of wasted opportunities, again showing that Port does not have the firepower up front to compete. Robb was spectacular, physical, intense, and wonderful to watch. We need the rest of the guys to step it up to his intensity level. Worawut has a pretty good foot, but his lack of speed and mobility are a real drag on play. Bawe seems allergic to the ball. The minute it hits his foot it is repelled. Shame as there does seem to be something there. Getting a midfielder like Jirawat or Justin Moose is key as is getting a physical sniper that will put the ball in the when the opportunity arises.
We were OH so close to a pretty good finish to the season. The top three in the league are untouchable at this point, but fourth will be up for grabs...
Heard early last week there might be some good news for Port come Jan 15th...let's hope its LOTS of money...
Fingers crossed about the sponsorship money! Once that is sorted out, we can start to look future with a bit more positivity.
ReplyDeleteMoose is up for grabs having left Sri Racha. He's not ruling out a return to the TPL. I'd take him over Ba-Wi every time!
If sarawut is a poor man's Teerasil Dangda what does that make Sivakorn?
ReplyDeleteSadly I think the fact that Robb has played so much recently is more to do with injury than anything else, Thongchai seems to grudgingly play him, if there is a reduction with foreigners next season I fear Robb might struggle to continue to command a place that he has earned through his performances recently. Ba-wi would take the Asian spot, Moise, Munze, probably Mario and if we get Fab, then a starting place could be tough for Robb to command, a shame I feel as I think seeing him on the left against KK and what we know Ekkapoom can do on the right, that seems pretty exciting to me, but we'll see.