Hua Hin City FC

[Big Boy]

It wasn't that slow

I need to check a few things first before my version of the game.

[Big Boy]

Petchaburi 2 - 2 Vana Nava Hua Hin City

Davy says that I was on the slow bus, but those Orange Buses can move when they're not stopping every 50 yards to pick up passengers. OK, not as comfortable as the mini-buses we have become used to, but more than adequate for a local derby.

on the bus

the bus

The first thing that struck me when we arrived was that we'd be watching the game, long distance. There was the inadequately covered grandstand, then there was a road, then there was a running track and eventually there was the pitch.

inadequately covered grandstand, then there was a road, then there was a running track and eventually there was the pitch

We waited outside the ground for a while, but eventually decided to go inside because it was clear there was a huge crowd building (by Thai League 2 standards).

Outside the ground

When we got inside, we could see quite a few TV cameras, so this game was being televised somewhere. A look around the players as they were training. Lampty was back, but training with the substitutes. No Owusu (suspended, I think) and no Sutin after being sent off last week.

A look around the players as they were training.

The teams came out, and shock, horror - who were the team playing in yellow? OMG, the rumours of the Petchaburi mind games were true. They were forcing Hua Hin to play in a yellow shirt because they wouldn't wear their 2nd strip. Ouch!! this really was going to be a grudge match. Hua Hin were playing without sponsors on their shirts.

Playing in yellow.

Playing in yellow.

The game was played before an incredible Hua Hin crowd - There must have been a thousand travelling supporters, including some late arrivals - Prachuab supporters (thanks guys). The noise was fantastic.

Hua Hin got off to the perfect start when Kanchit ran with the ball from just inside the Petchaburi half, and blasted home from 30 yards. He was playing a captain's game, and was keeping the Hua Hin goal in tact a few minutes later by clearing off the line with Shota well beaten. Kanchit took man of the match in my eyes.

Within a minute, Sarawut was also clearing off the line. Petchaburi, like Hua Hin had everything to play for, and weren't going to lay down easily. Petchaburi were a very physical side, but the referee seemed to be rewarding their physical play by awarding them a free kick every time they were tackled. OK, I'm biased, but this ref really took the biscuit.

Petchaburi in my opinion were the better side throughout, but right on half-time Kissana headed his 2nd goal in 2 matches. At half-time Hua Hin were flattered by the 2-0 scoreline.

Then it happened, RAIN!!! Hua Hin can't play their style of football in the rain. Petchaburi were pushing hard, and eventually pulled the scoreline back to 2-1. Hua Hin were struggling. At 2-1, Petchaburi started pushing even harder, which was leaving them exposed at the back. Anucha and Kissana might easily have snatched a breakaway 3rd, but it wasn't to be. Then the inevitable equaliser happened. The game finished 2 - 2, which was enough to put us back in first place.

Final game of the season is next Saturday at Fort Thanarat, when we play host to JW Bangkok. We need 3 points from that match to be sure of winning the league, and entering into the Champions League, which starts 2 weeks later.

[Big Boy]

The table with just 1 week to go:

A point next week will see us progress to the Champions League.

[Davy B]

Got a really sore throat this morning after shouting verbal abuse at the referee yesterday - or was it Anucha? I have seen lazy players in my lifetime but this guy takes the "Oscar". Don`t get me wrong I like the guy - he has some nice skills, good touches etc but someone has to tell him the game lasts for 90+ minutes. Mr Stephens (Number 34) treated us to a dance routine at the final whistle and he moved more than Anucha did in the whole game!! Roll on Saturday and the "Champions Party" at Fort Thanarat. Get there early or face not getting a parking space!!! Hopefully my voice will be back aswell!!

[Big Boy]

Video highlights from yesterday's match.

http://sstv.siamsport.co.th/video.php?I ... O=00050404

[Big Boy]

was it Anucha? I have seen lazy players in my lifetime but this guy takes the "Oscar". Don`t get me wrong I like the guy - he has some nice skills, good touches etc but someone has to tell him the game lasts for 90+ minutes.

I am actually convinced that he plays the way the coach has instructed him to. Also, yesterday was the first time I can remember seeing him go back to help the defence.

IMHO he has been instructed not to challenge strongly for high balls to him, but rather feed off the scraps
when the defender makes a mistake, and the ball goes past the last man. The problem with this tactic is the defender soon learns that he isn't going to be challenged, and he has more time to deal with the ball, resulting in less scraps for Anucha.

Yesterday's defender did make a couple of mistakes at 2-1 yesterday, and he did look a threat. He was unlucky not to have bagged a couple, and with a lesser goalie we might have been singing his praises.

Hua Hin were on the back foot for long periods yesterday, so it was never going to be a striker's game. In the circumstances, I'm convinced he played the game he was told to.

Yesterday's biggest problem was no Owusu or Sutin. I did not rate the coach's decision to bring Lampty on, and then try Kanchit in midfield. When that didn't work, he tried Stephens in midfield. What he needed was to park the bus with his strongest defence possible.

[ahandpatsy]

I like getting your updates on the football

A good site is

www.thaileaguefootball.com

It explains the playoff system well.

[Big Boy]

No problem, I'm really pleased I've found a half decent team to support since moving to Thailand. I'm really enjoying it.

[Davy B]

You and me both, Big Boy. I have been pleasantly surprised with the standard in the 2nd Division and although I have not seen that many games I believe that Hua Hin can play in a higher league. Getting back to what you said earlier we really missed Sutin and Owusu. They give the midfield a bit more stability than the guys that played on Sunday. We tired dreadfully in that second half and the rain did not help. A lot of the problems on Sunday stem from the coach. If Anucha is our best striker why do they not put him up front through the middle with Kassana just behind. Several times on Sunday they were 50 meters apart. Lampty has not played for over a month but when he is fit he is our best player but his absence has seen the best in Stephens. He has been outstanding. The Coach couldn`t make his mind up twice when making substitutions. First with Lampty and then with the Number 39 coming on. As you said the defensive reshuffle caused confusion and could have cost us the game and that is the fault of the coach. Defensively we were ok so why change it? We lost the battle in midfield in the second half and that was where the substitutions should have been made. Having had my whinge, all these things will be forgotten if we win on Saturday. Hopefully we can keep this team together because I am sure the scouts will be sniffing around our better players.

[hhfarang]

Just curious, why is this thread not in the Sports section?

I try to read all new posts daily (more than once) in the sections I'm interested in, which doesn't include sports but I click on Events & Activities several times a day it seems only to see the topic Hua Hin City FC having a new post.

[Big Boy]

Just curious, why is this thread not in the Sports section?

It used to be in the Sports section, which doesn't benefit from syndicated posts to many other websites.

As our local team is doing so well, it was deemed sensible to promote the thread to Events & Activities to give it much more exposure.

[Big Boy]

We tired dreadfully in that second half and the rain did not help.

I've said it several times - Hua Hin's style of football does not work in the rain. If the rain had been regular Thai rain on Sunday, we would probably have lost. This is a huge concern because the Champions League is played right through the worst of the wet season.

The Coach couldn`t make his mind up twice when making substitutions. First with Lampty and then with the Number 39 coming on.

I agree 100% about the coach. However, I'm fairly sure the confusion with the substitutions was to do with the 4th official being a jobsworth.

[hhfarang]

Just curious, why is this thread not in the Sports section?

It used to be in the Sports section, which doesn't benefit from syndicated posts to many other websites.

As our local team is doing so well, it was deemed sensible to promote the thread to Events & Activities to give it much more exposure.

No problem, I'll just have to quit looking in the Events & Activities section too since a high percentage of the posts are about local football.

Seems funny though, when I put something where it doesn't belong it gets moved or I get a slap on the wrist, but when a mod wants something in a place where it doesn't belong...

[Big Boy]

HHF, you've got it wrong. Yes, this Mod wanted to give local football a higher profile, but left the thread in Sport for a couple of years.

The focus of this forum is Hua Hin. Hua Hin City are a happening thing at the moment, and are great ambassadors for the city. They are giving Hua Hin an identity, with more and more Farang supporters attending . When I started supporting the team, I was one of 6 Farangs in the stadium. Last week, there must have been a hundred Farangs who had travelled to Petchaburi to support their passion.

They can't be considered as a money making organisation as they give an awful lot for 50 Baht, and many times must be operating at a loss. I am certainly not the only one to have claimed it as being probably the best valued day out in the area.

Yes, I moved it to Events and Activities, but the move was suggested by Admin.

Please don't deprive yourself of the rest of Events & Activities. The thread has been appropriately named, and is easy to identify. Just resist the urge to click on it

[Davy B]

Now that we have something truly worthwhile shouting about it should be front page on the Hua Hin Forum, not shoved into some sub folder somewhere. Let us inform the whole town that we have something special to shout about and maybe we can fill the stadium on Saturday and in the process get about 500 farang attending the game. It is the same price to watch the game as it is to have a Chang beer on Soi 80!! When I first joined this forum it took me about 10 minutes to find anything about our amazing local football team - and I still only find it by putting Hua Hin City in the search facility as it is so much quicker. There are many items in the Sports section, and others aswell, that are so out of date it is laughable and should have been weeded out a long time ago. We are Hua Hin, We cheer Hua Hin. Come to Fort Thanarat on Saturday at 4pm and bring your wives, girlfriends (or both) along with your sons and daughters and see what we are ALL talking about - Oh, and you can have a beer while you are watching it too!!