{"id":19723,"date":"2019-09-03T16:02:06","date_gmt":"2019-09-03T07:02:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/?p=19723"},"modified":"2019-09-03T16:02:06","modified_gmt":"2019-09-03T07:02:06","slug":"how-should-thailand-line-up-against-vietnam-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/2019\/09\/03\/how-should-thailand-line-up-against-vietnam-2\/","title":{"rendered":"How Should Thailand Line Up Against Vietnam?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Credit – ThailandNTOFFICIAL<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thailand are preparing for the start of the 2022 World Cup\/2023 Asian Cup qualifying campaign under the stewardship of new coach Akira Nishino. The Japanese boss will send his War Elephants out for the first time against Vietnam on Thursday, and many questions remain as to how they will look once the curtain is finally pulled back. Today, Football Tribe’s\u00a0Gian Chansrichawla\u00a0<\/strong>and Obb Deewajin\u00a0<\/strong>take a look at four possible lineups for this Thailand side,<\/p>\n

4-3-3 (Obb)\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

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Getting the best out of Thailand’s 3 J League-based players is surely one of Akira Nishino’s priorities, and the 4-3-3 formation is the perfect system to do so. Fans-favourite Phitiwat Sukjitthammakul might be getting a lot of shouts to start as the holding midfield but shoehorning a box-to-box midfielder is never the wisest idea (see the infamous Gerrard-Lampard debate). And even though Tanaboon Kesarat has been playing in defense for Port FC, and had a poor King\u2019s Cup campaign, the 25 years old is still Thailand\u2019s best option for this role within this squad.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Add Sarach Yooyen and Thitipan Puangchan to that and you got yourself a classic 3-man midfield, passer-destroyer-runner, combination.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Theerathon Bunmathan loves to get forward, and even though he doesn’t always trackback, we must encourage him to do so for his quality to deliver key passes from the byline or even deeper, more central, areas. Nitipong Selanon may not be as adventurous compare the other right-backs but the Port FC fullback does offer good defensive cover and can tug inside to form a back-3 when Theerathon heads forward – a job Nitipong performs regularly at club level.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The 4-3-3 gives Chanathip Songkrasin the freedom to roam on the left and drifting inside into the channel rather than getting crowded out in the number 10 position. A triangle of Chanathip, Theerathon, and Sarach on the left half of the pitch could be where Thailand dominate possession break pass Vietnam’s backline.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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4-4-2 Diamond\/4-1-2-1-2 (Obb)<\/b><\/p>\n

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Similar to the 4-3-3, the 4-4-2 diamond formation also allows Thailand to get the best out of the 3 J League-based players. The biggest strength of the diamond formation is that it helps team controlled possession thanks to the 4 central midfielders which tend to outnumber the opposition 3-man midfield. In this formation, Chanathip Songkrasin can operate in his preferred number 10 position with 2 strikers in front of him. And like the 4-3-3, the diamond gives Thitipan the freedom to bomb forward unlike the 4-2-3-1 where the Trinita midfielder would have to start his runs from the deeper double-pivot position.<\/span><\/p>\n

Park Hang-seo’s Vietnam often adopts a 4-2-3-1 formation and is very effective at playing on the front foot, pressing aggressively high up the pitch. However, if that doesn’t work, the Golden Dragons are also happy to drop to a low-block, invite the opposition to bring the ball forward, then hit back on the counter with the pace and direct plays of talents such as Nguyen Cuong Phong or Nguyen Quang Hai. See for examples, both of Vietnam’s AFF Suzuki Cup final against Malaysia or the second half of the Kings Cup in Buriram.<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, the diamond formation is not without its weakness. Jamming 4 players centrally meant there is no width in attack or defense. In this system, the more attacking-minded Tristan Do and Narubadin Weerawatnodom would be the better option at right-back instead of Nitipong Selanon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Upfront, the 2 strikers is also responsible for providing the width and is expected to drift wide in certain situation. In this case, it could turn out to be positive for Thailand considering the number of wingers or attacking midfielder in the team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Supachok Sarachat plays this wide-left forward role so well for Buriram United and should get a chance if Nishino uses this formation. Even Bordin Phala, Ekanit Panya or Chanathip could play there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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3-4-3 (Gian)\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

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While most of Nishino\u2019s past teams have played with a back four, Thailand is conditioned to play a back three very well. Of the top six clubs in the Thai League (which supply all of the players except the foreign-based ones), at least four play with a 3-man defense regularly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The big change for Thailand will be the midfield, which needs refreshing. Sarach Yooyen and Tanaboon Kesarat are no longer the best at their respective positions, and arguably only maintain their place because they were the returning \u2018establishment\u2019 picks of Coach Sirisak, who was too afraid to try anything different. Milovan Rajevac\u2019s attempts to shake up the system need to be retried, but with greater care to mould the system to fit the players and not the other way around.<\/span><\/p>\n

Peeradol Chamrasamee could work well as a deep-lying playmaker alongside the box-to-box energetic powerhouse Thitipan Puangchan, forming an all-rounded midfield. The lack of defensive cover in that partnership will be compensated by having an extra man in the defense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In terms of the makeup of the defensive line, it effectively picks itself with Pansa and Manuel being the obvious choice. The third spot could go to Adisorn Promrak, who can aid in carrying the ball out of defense and distributing the ball. If Tanaboon remains in the team, the only conceivable place for him is probably as Adisorn\u2019s backup in playing this kind of role.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lastly, Supachok Sarachart\u2019s domestic form warrants a start in my opinion. Operating with Chanathip up top, striker Supachai Jaided can be used primarily to make off-ball runs and free up space for the two diminutive attackers to do their thing. The pair of them could be lethal together, as both have immense creative ability and have shown their eye for goal. Imagine the havoc Chanathip caused the Bahraini or Emirati defenses at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup – except double. With Tristan and Theerathon providing the width, these two will be free to attack the half-spaces and upset the Vietnamese defense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4-2-3-1 (Gian)\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

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Playing a 4-2-3-1 instead of a 3-4-3 addresses two concerns. Firstly, with Vietnam\u2019s intensive pressing, it\u2019s quite possible that a two-man midfield could get overrun, giving the likes of Quang Hai and Cong Phuong space to take on the three defenders. Adding Phitiwat Sukjitthamakul, a player who isn\u2019t afraid to lunge into tackles, could help add additional security.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Phitiwat\u2019s presence will be crucial in freeing up two other players around him. Thitipan Puangchan has shown that he has plenty to offer in the attack, so unleashing him forward to carry the ball or press Vietnam\u2019s creative players (such as Luong Xuan Trong) could be a wise move. Additionally, it will allow Peeradol to focus more on providing passes from deep, supplying the forwards.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this system, a more defensively adept right-back could be needed. Thus, Nitipong Selanon could be more useful, tucking in to help form a defensive three and allowing Theerathon to get forward down the left flank.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the ball, this system will see Sasalak wide right and Theerathon wide left, getting Thailand\u2019s two best goalscoring midfielders Thitipan and Chanathip working off Supachai and hoping to drive at the Vietnamese defense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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How should Thailand line up when they face Vietnam? Vote below:<\/p>\n

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How Should Thailand Line Up?<\/h3>\n
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