UHT Vana Nava Hua Hin City FC 2015

[Sabai Sabai]

Off to bed after a long and ultimately disappointing day....

I've just been having a quick check of the league table and remaining fixtures though.... I will not throw in the towel until it's mathematically impossible, however if we're to qualify for this Champions League, by my reckoning the following would need to happen in the 5 remaining fixtures:

Hua Hin win all 5(seems a big ask at the min, but let's just say we do)

Seemok + Tonburi would each have to lose 2 of their last 5. In fact Tonburi have to lose 1 of their next 4, as going by my first assumption, Hua Hin will beat Tonburi in the last game of the season.

Certainly not beyond the realms of possibility, although disappointing we're having to rely on other teams slipping up at this stage of the season.

Hopefully the above was clear enough and correct but it is late and it has been a long day, so apologies if not!

[Big Boy]

We have to remember, yesterday's game was against the league's bottom team, and Hua Hin had managed to put 6 past them in the home game, at a time when we didn't have a functioning midfield. Of course, that was before the 2nd major improvement of the squad since Christmas.

Yesterday's match started with Hua Hin starting very brightly and Lucas put us a goal up with a converted penalty (I'm assuming it was Lucas, but could have been his brother - I didn't actually check the number on his back). [Edit] It was his brother, Andre

As often happens with an early goal, it didn't help Hua Hin's control of the game. In fact, through a lot of bad passes and very fast interceptions Pathum Thani (PT) were becoming more and more of a danger. Their first goal was a wonder goal hit from outside of the penalty area, and it squeezed just inside the post. They look spectacular, but don't work very often.

PT's second goal was a quick counter attack, and a well struck header. This wasn't going to turn my frown upside down. Hua Hin were not going to get promoted playing like this.

Now, I've never hidden the fact that I'm not a Michael Byrne fan. He is too inconsistent for my liking, and he blows either hot or cold (brilliant or useless). With 15 minutes to go, he entered the arena. He was steaming - this was a Michael Byrne I'd like to see play every week. In 15 minutes, he scored an equaliser, hit the crossbar twice, had at least 2 screaming shots saved plus a couple of near misses. He was a revelation.

Last week I wrote:

I've just remembered the absolute stupidity that should have gifted JW their second goal. Last corner of the match, our goalie ventured forward - not into the opposition penalty area, but to the halfway line. A long ball out of defence saw our keeper in no mans land, and all the JW striker had to do was kick the ball into the net. Thankfully the blew for full time to save our embarrassment further.

The same thing happened this week. The blew his whistle with PT clear through on goal, and Annop a mere spectator in the centre circle. This actually resulted in PT players man handling the to the extent there was a minor pitch invasion by officials, and supporters of PT. The had to be given a police escort from the pitch - after all, he had just robbed the home team of 2 points.

I'm not sure if PT played out of their skins against a side, on paper, that was much better than them, or if Hua Hin were just bad. We seemed to be playing a lot of very short balls, which were either not finding their man, or were being intercepted by a very fast opposition.

Thanks to SS for checking the remaining matches - saved me a job. Personally, I've been through the 'mathematically possible' scenario too many times with a less than adequate Plymouth Argyle. I've learnt that realism is easier to handle. OK, it's squeaky bum time, and teams will slip up, but we don't have a team of Champions as we had last year. People need to stand back and understand this season's mis-management, and hopefully learn for next season. We have a quality squad, but I don't think LVG could have done a better job transforming them into an average side.

It's home to Tapfah Pathum Thani next Sunday at Fort Thanarat, 16:00 Kick Off.

Hopefully, with nothing realistically left to play for except pride, the pressure will be off, and we'll see some nice football.

[Big Boy]

Photos from yesterday's match

[Big Boy]

Table_Gameweek_19.jpg (76.72 KiB) Viewed 660 times

[Sabai Sabai]

After a good night's sleep, some of my observations from yesterday.....

First thing I noticed upon arriving at the ground was the state of the pitch, it really was terrible. I've seen a few bad surfaces over here but this was up there with the worst of them. Certainly not a surface conducive to good football, we were going to have to play a more direct game in order to try and cancel it out.

Then realised none of 'Pu'(probably still injured), Nutthapong or Wisetslip had made the squad and Byrne was only on the bench. Turns out no.2 + 34 were both suspended, so 3 of our best midfielders not in the team didn't help us from the off. Choi got drafted in for a rare start, he done 'ok' probably as good as I've seen him actually but still not sure he's back to the player he once was.

Third thing I noticed after the game got underway was that we were playing a bunch of real thugs, some of their actions on and off the pitch were absolutely disgraceful. Indeed they were just fouling us right from the off and goading/arguing with the ref over every single decision. The ref didn't help matters, a stronger ref would have been giving a lot more cards but for the most part he let them away with it.

After a promising start resulting in us going 1 nil up by an early penalty from Andre(at least I thought it was Andre?!) We failed to really kick on and pressure them and never really got going the rest of the half, other than a few half decent balls into the box and their defender making a good clearance off the line. As you say BB their equaliser was a wonder strike that he'll probably never repeat again.

I thought we improved slightly in the 2nd half, and especially after the introduction of Byrne, although in my opinion he should have been on much earlier than he was. I think we'd have won the game if he'd been on at half time.

Pathum Thani's tactics the 2nd half were dreadful, I think the game was stopped more than it was started. The 10 mins didn't do us justice. Indeed I kept count, he played the 10 mins but the game was stopped for 4 of them even! Them scoring with practically their only attack of the half was a sore one to take.

As BB mentioned their players all went for the ref at the final whistle and physically assaulted him, interesting to see what/if any punishment is dished out. There were then some ugly scenes with rival fans and staff goading/shouting and squaring up to each other, some down on trackside. Mostly just pushing and shouting rather than any real violence as such, but ugly nonetheless.

Hopefully, with nothing realistically left to play for except pride, the pressure will be off, and we'll see some nice football.

Certainly not over yet, if I'm being honest, I'd be pleasantly surprised if we do make it but you never know...... Let's see what happens.

[Big Boy]

In red

After a good night's sleep, some of my observations from yesterday.....

First thing I noticed upon arriving at the ground was the state of the pitch, it really was terrible. I've seen a few bad surfaces over here but this was up there with the worst of them. Certainly not a surface conducive to good football, we were going to have to play a more direct game in order to try and cancel it out. You've obviously never been to Prachinburi

Then realised none of 'Pu'(probably still injured), Nutthapong or Wisetslip had made the squad and Byrne was only on the bench. Turns out no.2 + 34 were both suspended, so 3 of our best midfielders not in the team didn't help us from the off. Choi got drafted in for a rare start, he done 'ok' probably as good as I've seen him actually but still not sure he's back to the player he once was.

Third thing I noticed after the game got underway was that we were playing a bunch of real thugs, some of their actions on and off the pitch were absolutely disgraceful. Indeed they were just fouling us right from the off and goading/arguing with the ref over every single decision. The ref didn't help matters, a stronger ref would have been giving a lot more cards but for the most part he let them away with it.

After a promising start resulting in us going 1 nil up by an early penalty from Andre(at least I thought it was Andre?!) You're right, my report was editedWe failed to really kick on and pressure them and never really got going the rest of the half, other than a few half decent balls into the box and their defender making a good clearance off the line. As you say BB their equaliser was a wonder strike that he'll probably never repeat again.

I thought we improved slightly in the 2nd half, and especially after the introduction of Byrne, although in my opinion he should have been on much earlier than he was. I think we'd have won the game if he'd been on at half time.

Pathum Thani's tactics the 2nd half were dreadful, I think the game was stopped more than it was started. The 10 mins didn't do us justice. Indeed I kept count, he played the 10 mins but the game was stopped for 4 of them even! Them scoring with practically their only attack of the half was a sore one to take. Full marks to everybody for ignoring their (I think No.16) who laid down on the pitch for ages trying to get the game stopped. In the end, he just got up and started playing again. have you noticed this tactic is more prevalent amongst Africans and goalkeepers?

As BB mentioned their players all went for the ref at the final whistle and physically assaulted him, interesting to see what/if any punishment is dished out. There were then some ugly scenes with rival fans and staff goading/shouting and squaring up to each other, some down on trackside. Mostly just pushing and shouting rather than any real violence as such, but ugly nonetheless.I deliberately ignored the stupidness, but yes, it happened, and was a contributing factor to me getting my car locked in the temple car par, along with Bike for Mom congestion.

Hopefully, with nothing realistically left to play for except pride, the pressure will be off, and we'll see some nice football.

Certainly not over yet, if I'm being honest, I'd be pleasantly surprised if we do make it but you never know...... Let's see what happens.
I hope you're right, but I'll be a lot more relaxed at the next couple of matches at least. When we went 2-1 down yesterday, it was like a huge weight being lifted. Michael Byrne did his best to restore the pressure.

[Geordie Dancer]

For me the final nail was hammered into Hua Hins coffin and champions league ambitions with last weeks result. Today the job was completed with the lid slammed firmly shut and welded for good measure. Yes, mathematically, there is still a chance but in reality the season is over.

I have to say certain things worried me before the kick off and unfortunately my concerns were well founded. Questions I had asked myself about the pitch, team selection, tactics and adapting to conditions were all of major concern. I made my views known to SS prior to kick off and we both hoped that my thoughts would not come to fruition. Unfortunately they did.

Ask yourself these questions.

1. Did Hua Hin play in a way that suited the pitch conditions? NO

I watched the short video clip post on Hua Hins fb page of Saturdays training session. Immediately it was apparent that this was not a surface on which to play too much football and certainly not in your own half. Every time the ball crossed the half way line into our half it should have been pumped straight back into the opposition half. Not pretty but the only way to play on a pitch like this. The surface itself would have created chances and caused errors, as was proved to be the case, but we did not exploit this in the area's where it mattered.

1. Did Hua Hin select the right starting line up? NO

Some of the team selections could be explained by suspensions (Athit Wisetslip, Natthapong Kamaksorn), as for Dusit Nongpatum, Anaecha Masamak and Pu, I don't know whether they were injured, suspended or dropped. With our midfield so depleted Michael Byrne should have, without question, been in the starting line up. The situation was made even more gauling given that our only other proven striker and loanee, Anucha, was also sitting in the stand. Other than Lucas we had no creativity and Michael Byrne would have given us that as well as the quality, control, vision and experience which we sadly lacked.

2. Did Hua Hin adopt the right tactics? NO

We didn't even come close. Particularly in the first half our back four and midfield played far too deep. On this pitch we should have been playing a high line and pressuring the opposition in their own half. The pitch would have done the rest and mistakes would have come.

For many weeks now we have been playing a 4 - 1 - 4 - 1 formation. Today it was totally inappropriate for the conditions and the requirements of the game. This was a must win game. The team should have been set up for all out attack. Three points and as many goals as we could get were the only priorities. Had this resulted in anything other than a win it wouldn't have mattered, we had to win.

To play Surasak Wongchai so deep, in fact so deep he and Da could have shared the same boots, was utter madness. This was not a game for playing possession football in our own half or creating from the back.


3. Did Hua Hin adapt to the conditions? NO, simple as!

I don't want to appear to be a "know it all", I don't have any football coaching badges but I did play football to a decent standard for nearly 30 years and have watched football for well over 50 years. The pitfalls of todays game were seen by me before a ball was kicked and I take no delight in saying so. The option of blaming the performance on the coach not being at the club this week can not be used because he was at training last week. What last weeks preparation consisted of, I don't know, I wasn't at training last week. I do rate the coach highly but as far as yesterdays performance was concerned he got many things wrong and the whole teams performance smacked of total naivety.

As for the game I have little to add to what has already been said. As no video has yet been posted I haven't had the benefit of watching some of the action again. I didn't view Prathums first goal as a wonder goal. A shot from 25 yards that the keeper should have saved. Beaten at his near post. Maybe I will change my mind if I get to see it again.

Wongsawad worked his little socks off but with little support. Lucas and Andre flattered to decieve and again spent most of the efforts complaining. I can't say the team played badly beause they didn't but their whole pattern of play was wrong and the coach has to take the lions share of the blame for that.

Finally, Michael Byrne. An absolute masterclass in what football is all about. In terms of ability and technique he is light years ahead of anyone else we have in the squad and almost won the game for us on his own. The rest of the squad have much to learn from this guy but unfortunately I don't think they have the basis ability to. Since his arrival at Hua Hin his pitch time has been very limited and quite frequently he has been introduced as a game saver, miracle worker. Yes he has made bad passes and lost the ball, all players do, but his contribution to games for the limited amount of minutes he has spent on the pitch has been incredible. I despair at anyone who can not see the quality that he brings to our team, but there again if they can't even see who scored our goals maybe it is understandable.

On a more general note, referees and officials. Yesterdays were dreadful but little different to what I have seen all season. How can these guys be qualified I don't know, they don't even know the basic rules of the game. Many problems, not just in yesterdays game, result from bad and wrong decisions by the officials. Until the Thai FA sort out the standard of officiating of football in Thailand and teach officials the rules the game will never progress here. Having said that the eleven man assault on the referee by the Prathum players at the end of yesterdays game was an absolute disgrace yet I still didn't see the referee brandish any cards.

As a club the behaviour of the players, manager and coaching staff and supporters of Prathum Thani Seeker were shameful and the scenes at the end of the game have no place in modern day football. They should be ashamed. The club should be severely punished for their behaviour but I doubt any action will be taken.

[Big Boy]

Video highlights from yesterday

I'd have sworn their 2nd goal was a header - obviously that frown is affecting my vision

[Geordie Dancer]

Have just seen the video of Prathums first goal. As I thought 100% keeper error.

[Big Boy]

Not disagreeing GD, but they always look good.

[Frank Hovis]

I'm sure this is going to be a stupid question, but as I enjoy following this thread I watched the highlights of the game and noticed that the team in pink changed into dark blue for the second half, is that normal for Thai football? I don't think I've ever seen it in English football. I would have thought there were fairly strict rules about changing shirt colours during a game.

[Geordie Dancer]

I'm sure this is going to be a stupid question, but as I enjoy following this thread I watched the highlights of the game and noticed that the team in pink changed into dark blue for the second half, is that normal for Thai football? I don't think I've ever seen it in English football. I would have thought there were fairly strict rules about changing shirt colours during a game.

Yes Prathum Thani did change their shirts at half time as you say. It does not normally happen in Thai football.

This has happened in English football. Probably the most famous occassion was when Man U played Southampton at the Dell in April 1996. After getting battered in the first half and going in 3 - 0 down Fergie ordered a change of strip at half time. The excuse of all time was that the players could not see each other in their infamous grey strip, the truth was they played crap and Southampton were the better team and ended up winning 3 - 1.

[Big Boy]

It happened twice last season when the ref (aka ) decided 45 minutes into the game there was a colour clash.

[Frank Hovis]

So not common but not without precedent, just watched it on youtube - it's a bit hard to lay the blame on the shirts!

It's difficult to understand what sort of colour clash there might be between pink and yellow unless the referee has poor eyesight, but that seems to be a common complaint against referees along with questions over their paternal lineage and their wrist/hand motor functions being highly tuned.

Thanks.

[Sabai Sabai]

For once we're almost in agreement with each other over the game, not too many differing opinions.

I seem to be the only one who thinks we have any chance whatsoever of still reaching the Champions League though. I'm still realistic enough to admit and realise that it is a very slim chance though.

The most disappointing part for me is the fact that; from my previous post's scenarios:

Hua Hin win all 5(seems a big ask at the min, but let's just say we do)

Seemok + Tonburi would each have to lose 2 of their last 5. In fact Tonburi have to lose 1 of their next 4, as going by my first assumption, Hua Hin will beat Tonburi in the last game of the season.

The most unlikely scenario of the 3 teams mentioned is in fact Hua Hin winning all 5! It really would not surprise me in the least for Seemok and Tonburi to lose 2 of their last 5 but based on how the team are playing of late, I've a feeling we will drop more points before the end of the season.

Going back to yesterday's performance for a minute, it is worth pointing out that we were in fact unlucky not to win the game. Despite everything negative that's been said, we very nearly scored 6 goals. Keeper made a couple of excellent saves, one in particular from Byrne. As has been mentioned Byrne hit the woodwork twice, on another day those efforts would have squeezed in...... We had 2 goals chopped off, ok I agree the offside was the right call, but the one Andre stabbed in after their defender getting in the keepers road, I think that should have stood.