Yesterday's one-all draw at home to Lamphun Warriors means relegation is extremely likely. A team that hasn't been able to keep a clean sheet, let alone hold on to a win for a long, long time is not going to get the points needed for survival up against the likes of Buriram or Thai Port.
Do miracles happen in football? Yes. I've seen a few great escapes in my time but I've seen plenty of relegation, too. What's the difference between the two? Well quality, obviously, but also an organised and disciplined back line - even if it isn't the most talented - and that intangible ability to show mental resilience and fight. Quality has returned to the side in the form of William Popp but the defence has been highly suspect all season. As for resilience, like I said last time, these youngsters need guidance and support. Hold that thought.
Now is the time the owners and leaders of the club must learn from the past to prepare for the future. Here is a list of tough, painful questions the board needs to ask to bring Muangthong back to the top.
1) What's the plan for the club and the stadium?
Rumours of a lease expiry have been around for a long time. In fairness, there has been no credible source suggesting the club will be forced out, but the coinciding relegation naturally makes fans fear the worst. So what's the latest news? Do we have a plan B and a plan C if we need it? The rest of these questions are moot if we don't have a club in its current form, anyway.
2) Who will take responsibility for past recruitment?
You will be hard pressed to find a fan that doesn't feel the foreign quota of players has been a total failure this season. Recruitment in general has been bizarre, with some of our best players in positions we lack cover for being allowed to go out on loan. How were these players chosen? How can we be sure this won't happen again?
3) Who takes responsibility for fitness levels?
I highlighted huge concerns over coaching in my last post. When Mario Ivankovich stepped in as head coach in midseason, he immediately highlighted the disturbing lack of fitness in the first team. If he's correct, that is a catastrophic failure. A squad of young players halfway into a season were not up to fitness. How was this allowed to happen? Which coaches were responsible for first team fitness?
There's a general culture in Thai football that individuals should not be singled out for criticism. In many ways, that's a very admirable mindset. But the downside to that is that problems and mistakes can't be addressed if nobody is held accountable. What if the squad struggles for fitness again next season? Do we still say "mai pen rai" because our coaches smile when the camera is on them?
4) Who will guide the youngsters next season?
It's no secret that in the post-SCG era, our strategy is to raise talented youngsters with a couple of marquee players to guide them. The problem is that guidance hasn't always been there. We've already covered the lack of fitness and I discussed a lack of game plan and on-pitch guidance last time around. I wish I had been proven wrong.
Will it be William Popp? I doubt it, unless he already has all the money he needs and is willing to play out of loyalty to the club. Popp has been the model professional on and off the Thunderdome pitch and nobody could blame him if he moved on. Without him, we desperately need a couple of seasoned, top tier veterans willing to stick it out in T2 and lead by example. Who will they be?
I hope I'm wrong. I hope the glass is half full and somehow we pull off a miraculous escape. I'd be delighted to apologise and acknowledge my pessimism to everyone involved. But if I'm right, the questions above absolutely must be addressed if we are ever to return. It's not about being negative or unkind, it's just being real. It would be perfect if the club responded publicly to fans who've had to endure this season but that's not essential. What is essential is that someone at the top does the right thing and asks themselves.
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