It certainly wasn't the best game I have ever been to. In fact is was distinctly a second rate affair. Norn Iron lacked conviction and it appeared that no one was keen to have their names on the score sheet. The weather was very hot for the boys, no doubt about that - although it did rain later, but they didn't have the sting up front needed to beat the Thai side.
The stadium was around 60% full and we had a sizable expat group to cheer on our boys. Iain Dowie became the vocal point for our chants but he didn't really pay enough attention to the game to warrant too much recognition.
Thai footballers generally are afraid to take on responsibility up front and prefer to walk the ball into the net than whack it from more that 10 yards. They are good at sprinting and quick off the mark but weak in physical encounters and afraid to "muscle in". If they are down by a couple of goals they become completely demoralized and it seems impossible for them to pick up their lagging spirits enough to work for an equalizer. They also become frustrated when they are not allowed to play a close passing game. When this happens heads go down, frustration shows through and they begin to loose control. Discipline falls away and then they really start to make a lot of mistakes.
Northern Ireland could not capitalise on this and left them unmarked at the wings. There was a heart stopping moment in the last few minutes of the game when one of the Thai strikers broke through and missed an open goal.
Certainly their keeper did play well but he couldn't hold the ball and a competent striker would have been there to toe-poke in a goal or two.
One surprising thing about this game, which allowed rolling substitutes, was that the Thai coach kept pulling of players when they missed a scoring chance. Not very inspiring for his young team to get the axe after one mistake!
Of course I do realise that Bryan Hamilton wanted to play a younger side (no one in the squad from the Irish League incidently) but to come away with a draw against this type of team really doesn't't say much for our side.
Having said that, the match was not that bad, and it was great to see the team in action again, it is so long ago since my last international match that I enjoyed the game.
I live in the North of the country and hadn't been in "The Big Mango" for about 3 years, only the Norn Iron team could have brought me. I had taken a night sleeper down to Bangkok and arrived early in the Tuesday morning. I had a few people to meet and got my chores and business done. I had learned from the Bangkok Post the name of the hotel that the team would be staying with so I took a taxi up there to meet them. Bryan and his team had been holding a football clinic and had not yet returned. A few of the Myvan construction were there as well and we had a great chat and natter about the former Windsor Park visits and games that we had attended.
After a few beers at the lobby we had a call from Bryan Hamilton telling us of their evening plans. They were to have dinner first then they'd be over to see us.
We didn't spend much time with the players but we had a good yarn with Bryan Hamilton, Gerry Armstrong, the IFA president and the rest of the team officials.
I think they were quite surprised to meet Ulster men in Bangkok and we spend a pleasant few hours asking questions about the forthcoming games and things in general. Gerry's goal in Spain in the 92 world cup and this and that. It was a great experience meeting them and they seemed glad to have the chance of meeting their countrymen so far away from home.
With the night rolling on it was time for them to retire so we said our goodbyes and good lucks and we were to meet up again the following night after the game.
On Wednesday morning at 1:00 am I had a Lisburn friend arrive from Singapore and we set our plans for the game, later that day.
I was to hook up with some English friends near the stadium about an hour and a half before the game. All worked our well and we went to the game to meet up.
The stadium was pretty full up, a bigger crowd than expected and we came across a few more of our group. After that it was time for the traditional after game treat of curry and lager. We never did get back to the team's hotel but that's the way things go.
All in all a good break, even if the game was a bit flat, there's always a great crack Ulstermen meet up in foreign climes.
Oh, and before I forget, Bryan would neither confirm nor deny that the national stadium may be moving to Inver Park!!