Thai Football 2024/25

[Big Boy]

T1 Matchweek 1 for season 2024/25 have been released:

[PeteC]

Buriram bolster the squad with two fresh signings

https://www.bangkokpost.com/sports/2819 ... h-signings

Thailand League 1 champions Buriram United strengthened their squad with two new signings.

The Thunder Castle announced the signings of midfielders Phitiwat Sookjitthammakul and Athit Berg on Friday.

Phitiwat has joined from BG Pathum United while Thai-Norwegian Athit completed a switch from Nakhon Pathom United.......

[Big Boy]

Yes, Thai football is very strange. Every close season and mid-season break there are massive turnovers of playing staff (and often coaching staff). Both Uthai Thani and Nakhon Pathom have virtually brand new teams for next season.

OK, the big 4 teams stay fairly static, but it is hard to judge from season to season, outside of the big 4 which teams are going to do well and who will fail. Favourites for failure this season have to be the 2 teams already mentioned who I think were forced to get rid of last season's squads for financial reasons.

The Thai League also has problems with teams being unable to pay wages (not so much T1, but Police were really struggling financially last season).

Looking at next season's fixture list, the league are doing nothing to alleviate the cash crisis. They will be playing 3 games a week until early November, taking an 8 week mid-season break, and then going for a sprint finish again next year. The aim should be to get bums on seats, but they don't realise that Thais can't afford 3 games a week. What is the objective of an 8 week mid-season break? Are pitches so frozen they become unplayable?

Additionally, Thais work silly hours, so attending midweek games become quite impossible. Then there are early kick-offs whilst Thais are still at work. They whine a lot about poor attendances, but they don't seem to want to do anything about it. Probably, the people creating the fixtures are hi-sos, totally oblivious to the real world.

Time to get off my soapbox, and just enjoy the football

[Big Boy]

I see Buriram have signed former Premier League keeper Neil Etheridge for next season.

[Big Boy]

OMG, I've just switched on to watch the Australia u.16 vs Thailand u.16 ASEAN Cup Final. The Australians are twice the size of the Thais.

[Big Boy]

Good, very even game, could have gone either way, right up to the last kick.

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[Big Boy]

[Big Boy]

What financial state is Thai Football in?

Last season Nakhonsawan Seekhwae City was relegated from T3. Now, because of a mass exodus of clubs because they can't afford to continue, they have been invited to continue in T3. It is a mess.

League assistance to clubs was announced to clubs yesterday:

• T1 - ฿10M

• T2 - ฿3M

• T3 - ฿1M

For a T3 team with a squad of 20 players (ignoring management, coaches, ground staff, etc.) that works out to 961฿ per player per week. Gate receipts will be negligible. Without a sugar daddy with a fat wallet, it is impossible for these clubs to pay wages. Players will be better off with a part-time 7-11 job.

The dream of becoming a professional football, soon turns into a nightmare.

[Big Boy]

Today is decision day today for last season's T2 side, Chiang Mai FC. Will the league accept that they have paid enough of their debt to be allowed to remain playing in T3 this season?

This particular saga has dragged on for 6 months already.

[Big Boy]

Thailand's u.19 boys play in the ASEAN cup final today. A remarkable achievement after finishing 2nd in their qualifying group, and beating favourites Australia in the last round.

A win today will see Thailand as the team to win this tournament than any other team.

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[PeteC]

You going?

[Big Boy]

No, I'll probably watch on TV - the Thai national side does very little for me. England through and through.

I like to see how the cameo appearances by Ratchaburi players go. Strangely enough, Ratchaburi's player in this side, Phongsakorn Sangkhasopha (Eric) was playing for Hua Hin City 2 seasons ago.

[Big Boy]

Phongsakorn Sangkhasophawas destined for the top from a very young age. I first saw him playing in a tournament for a Koh Samui team. I was invited by the team's coach to go watch him. He told me then (14/15 years old) that he was going to the top, and I think he was probably right.

Phongsakorn Sangkhasopha was one of 3 players in that Koh Samui side destined for the top. They were very impressive.

[Big Boy]

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[Big Boy]

I was talking a couple of days ago about Thai Football being in a financial mess. The following T1 logo is being banded about as the new logo of T1. Not much difference, but the key bit is where has Revo gone. Has the T1 sponsor pulled out? I don't know how much they sponsor league for, but be sure it will be a hell of a blow if true.

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