UHT Vana Nava Hua Hin City FC 2015

[Geordie Dancer]

Don't worry I still deciding whether to go tomorrow.

[Sabai Sabai]

Don't worry I still deciding whether to go tomorrow.

That's dedication for you.....

Enjoy the journey back to Hua Hin with 3 quarters of the Bangkok population exiting the city for the 4 day weekend at the same time as you!

[Big Boy]

If our business in Bangkok finishes in time, and we can find it, we'll nip across as well. Bringing the team to Bangkok - one way of helping our coach to see the team I suppose.

[Sabai Sabai]

Bringing the team to Bangkok - one way of helping our coach to see the team I suppose.

Yeah, I reckon that's probably a big factor.....

It doesn't appear to be:

in order to adjust and get used to the artificial pitch.

the best possible preparation ahead of an important match on an unfamiliar surface.

Sorry for any confusion with my original post, the way the notification the club released was worded was all about the preparation for Saturday's game and making the adjustments and getting used to an artificial surface...... I presumed the game on Saturday was on an artificial surface, however that doesn't seem to be the case..... Merely today's friendly is on the artificial surface!

[Geordie Dancer]

Saturdays game against Seemok is being played on an artificial pitch. That was the main reason the club were going to Bangkok early so they could practice on astro so I was told yesterday. No doubt it also eases the burden on our manager and hopefully he will be contributing to our preparation this week.

[Sabai Sabai]

Oh well, ignore my last post then! That would certainly tie in with what the announcement on the club's Facebook said, and makes much more sense if that's the case.

The reason I was doubting it was when I done a gooogle search on the name of the ground + artificial pitch, both in English + Thai language, I couldn't see any mention of an artificial pitch! I managed to find out lots of times that Bangkok Glass use one though!

[Big Boy]

If our business in Bangkok finishes in time, and we can find it, we'll nip across as well. Bringing the team to Bangkok - one way of helping our coach to see the team I suppose.

Couldn't get there - business didn't finish until 4, and there was no way I could get there.

What was the score?

[Sabai Sabai]

From what I could pick up from the Facebook updates, more bad news than good!

New left back injured himself on the artificial surface sliding for the ball and was replaced immediately, not long after that they took the lead, Dusit equalised. They then scored another 3 and it finished 4-1 Chamchuri.

[Big Boy]

Thanks - glad I didn't make the trip across. At least something good came of today.

[Big Boy]

Simork 1 - 0 UHT Vana Nava Hua Hin City

Very busy still, so I'll keep it brief. Hua Hin were by far the best team yesterday, but their stupid suicidal faffing about tendencies at the back were the deciding factor in this crucial 'must win' game. I was very angry at the way we threw this match away.

I've been saying for weeks that we'd be punished by the better teams if we continued with this tactic. We've just got to hope the other teams at the top slip up again before the end of the season, and we've still got Krung Thonburi to play away.

Home to JW Don Mueng next Sunday.

[Big Boy]

Video highlights from yesterday's match. The stupidity of the goal still makes my blood boil

[Sabai Sabai]

Well that was a very frustrating/disappointing match to lose. As you say BB, we were the better side. Although I will give some credit to our opponents Seemok who looked a much better team than the previous 2 games I've seen them in this season(our home game against them + when they were on tv a few weeks ago) admittedly both of those games they were away from home. Away from their artificial surface. Not really sure we can use the surface as an excuse for losing yesterday but it perhaps demonstrates that Seemok are clearly very used to it and play their best football at home.

Hua Hin pleased me with their 'professional build up' to this match, travelling up to Bangkok on Wednesday and playing a friendly on an artificial surface, training at a different venue in BKK on an artificial surface Thursday before travelling up to Suphan Buri to get a feel of the match surface Friday...... Did we perhaps overdo it though?? I'm not taking credit for this suggestion by the way, it was GD(who I'm sure will be along soon to have his say) who mentioned to me at the game that the last 20 mins or so, a lot of the Hua Hin players seemed to be struggling a bit fitness wise..... And I agree, a few of them looked knackered. Add to that some of the whispers that have been coming out of the training ground from players complaining about the work load.... I think GD perhaps has a point and it's something the club need to look at. I always thought our fitness was one of our strengths but we need to be careful and not overdo it. It's a slightly bigger concern that coach KK obviously has other commitments now and does not oversee all of the training like previously.

The first half there was only one team in the game, we were the only side creating chances. Their keeper had a good game, few awkward crosses he dealt with comfortably and then came out to close down the angle and save superbly from Jonato not long before the break after a lovely through ball had put him in.

Having said that, the midfield weren't as fluid as last week. The coach kept the same midfield as last week's game, understandably as they'd played so well. However, the longer the game went on into the 2nd half the team was crying out for the introduction of Michael Byrne into the team. I think we left it too late, I'd have had him on earlier than he did eventually get on. I thought he done very well when he did come on and was exactly what we were missing.

When they did score it was completely against the run of play and yes, we absolutely gifted them it.

stupid suicidal faffing about tendencies at the back were the deciding factor in this crucial 'must win' game. I was very angry at the way we threw this match away.

I've had the benefit of watching the replay of the goal a few times now. We were actually on the attack, Valery was 30 yards from their goal when he played a pass to the usually very dependable no.34 Nuttapong. Now, it was a misplaced pass, still looked like perhaps 34 could have retrieved it? Possibly.... Maybe it was so mis-hit he initially thought it was for somebody else.... Possibly the right back, should he have been there to receive? I think he had possibly pushed up too far by this point. The result was their player intercepted the ball BUT I'm going to lay the blame firmly at Valery's feet for this one, not for the misplaced pass, but what he done next...

You can clearly see Da step up and play his man a mile offside, however Valery, on some kind of desperate charge is bombing back and although he had no chance of actually catching the guy, succeeded in playing him on. You can see their other striker(Valery's man) checking his run to remain onside, all Valery had to do was stay with him. I think he had a rush of blood to the head as a result of his misplaced pass, and that ultimately, is what cost us the goal, rather than the pass itself.

I'm not sure you can really class it as faffing about at the back when we're deep in their half and on the attack. Just curious BB, do you feel it was the wrong ball to play? Or was it just unfortunate it didn't find it's target?

I said I'd have accepted a point before the game yesterday and I don't think many people could argue it would have been a fair result, however it is what it is and we have to deal with it, put it to the back of our minds and concentrate on our remaining 7 matches.

If I could choose out of all the teams still in the mix, which run-in to have, I would choose ours. We are capable of winning all 7 and if we do that we WILL be in the CL.

I alluded to Seemok's home form/play, well 4 of their next 5 are away from home. The 2 Tonburis still have to play each other + Samut Sakhon as well. I've no doubt all of the teams above us are going to drop points so we don't need to worry about anyone else, just make sure we take care of our business. Our most tricky game would appear to be our last game, away to Tonburi, although I'm confident if the pressure is on in that game the players will rise to the occasion.

Final word to the support yesterday, despite the scoreline and long journey, it was still a fantastic day out.

[Big Boy]

Just curious BB, do you feel it was the wrong ball to play? Or was it just unfortunate it didn't find it's target?

If it was last week (first segment of second half) I would have said a definite yes. I absolutely hate it when they start the stupid possession game at the back. Maybe 'faffing about at the back' is harsh based on the rest of yesterday's play, but it was the 2nd defensive mistake in 3 games, and we've dropped 5 vital points because of it. We need Pu at the back - with him in the side, the errors don't happen. Pu has the vision to take us where we need to be.

The pass itself was so bad, it caused indecision amongst the 2 potential recipients - I wouldn't like to guess who it was actually aimed at. Both players hesitated for what seemed like an eternity.

Regarding the double substitution, I felt we became a toothless tiger from that point onwards, and didn't look likely to equalize.

[Sabai Sabai]

If it was last week (first segment of second half) I would have said a definite yes.

You'd make a good politician, I never asked about last week! I don't think there was anything wrong with the actual choice of pass, although poorly executed, clearly. Like I say though, much as it put us in bother, it wasn't the pass that cost us the goal. It's what he done after, IMO anyway.

We need Pu at the back

I agree 100%, for me it is a choice of who to play with him -Valery or Da. However, I suspect he was dropped due to fitness/injury rather than form. He has been struggling with an injury of late and GD mentioned he took another knock in the friendly on Wednesday.

Regarding the double substitution, I felt we became a toothless tiger from that point onwards, and didn't look likely to equalize.

Did you notice a lot of the players tiring yesterday? To be fair to Byrne I think he done well when he came on. But he can't do it on his own, I agree we didn't finish strongly, which is disappointing because we normally do. Afraid to me that points at fitness levels.

[Sabai Sabai]

Good interview just published with the coach, all in Thai and I'm too lazy to translate it word for word but I will try and summarize:

"Yesterday's game was all about snatching 2nd place for both teams and as such there was a cautiousness on both sides, it was a close game. For their goal we shot ourselves in the foot. Credit to the players for following and playing to the system, we created chances but couldn't score, this is football sometimes, there are ups and downs. We have to move on from this, learn from our mistakes and improve for the next game and cut out the mistakes. Seemok defended well after their goal but for us our goal is still the champions league and for that we have to focus on winning all of our remaining games"

The next bit is interesting....

"If it comes to a point where my role at TOT is interfering, then I have to choose Hua Hin City because they are the main team, like my family. All the set-up work that was needing done at TOT has now been done."

Very pleasing to hear the last bit, I see TOT have brought in 9 new players and they got a win last night over Army United. Also noticed it was the Brazilian coach/helper that was brought in who gave the post-match interview. Incidentally he was very complimentary to KK in said interview indicating all credit must go to KK for all the work he has done with the players in training and implementing the system.

Hopefully a good sign that more of his focus will shift back to Hua Hin now and the initial large period of time spent with TOT was indeed the set-up and he'll now take more of a back seat role...... Hopefully anyway