Muang Thong ended their quest to beat bitter rivals Buriram at the twenty-first time of asking at Thunder Castle on Wednesday night. Three first-half goals saw the visitors run out easy winners as Buriram drop down to fourth.
Buriram started brightly and were the better team in the first fifteen minutes and should have taken the lead in the first minute when the unmarked Yong failed to hit the target from a left-wing cross. However , dreadful defending gifted Muang Thong all three goals, scored by Cleiton(2) and former Buriram favourite Adisak.
Cleiton was obviously going to be the dangerman, yet inexplcably Buriram failed to pick him up for both of his goals. It wasn’t so much losing that hurts but the manner in which it occurred. Buriram never looked like scoring and Muang Thong coasted through the second-half in first-gear.
The same question keeps being asked, “What has happened to Buriram ?” There are a number of factors that have seen a fall from the incredible form of last season. The loss of Macena and Diogo is the main reason. The players brought in to replace them are not in the same class and don’t look like scoring ten goals, never mind twenty to thirty.
Last season when Buriram conceded no-one was in the least bit concerned. They just went up and scored another. When the centre-back is the top scorer it should tell you something ! The front men do not make the same intelligent runs as Macena and Diogo and Buriram’s game plan is now long balls forward and high crosses into the area.
Another problem is the system Buriram are playing. Three at the back is great for going forward when the goals are flying in but it does leave you exposed to the counter-attack. It is essential that the defenders have pace and good though Tunez is, he is not exactly the quickest.
Buriram need a holding midfield player to sit in front of the defence , a role Rochela filled admirably a couple of years ago. My own personal belief is that Buriram should be playing four at the back with another central-defender partnering Tunez.
Diogo wll not play until the second-half of the season so the defence needs strengthening. I also feel that Theerathon is too gifted a player to be stood on the wing waiting for the ball. He is not involved often enough for a player of his quality.
The first game of the season against current leaders Bangkok United, Buriram played without an out and out striker. They destroyed Bangkok by playing balls into space for midfield players running from deep.I believe that is the way forward, though the midfield will have to improve their finishing.
Buriram must put this game behind them and get back to winning ways, starting on Saturday.