Asian Debate: Can Peter Reid Lead Thailand To The World Cup?

      
It is not a fixture that attracted much attention in the world’s press but Vietnam against Thailand in Hanoi is as exotic as they come – especially for a man steeped in the football culture of England’s north.
  No longer is Peter Reid surrounded by such football anthems as ‘Marching On Together’ and ‘Blue Moon’. These days the ex-England man stands only for the national song of Thailand and he has had a good start by lifting the T&T Cup – a mini-tournament hosted by Vietnam – on Sunday.
  It is going to take a little bit of getting used to. The ex-Sunderland, Manchester City and Leeds United boss is perceived to be, rightly or wrongly, a member of England’s old school; anybody who watched the much-missed ‘Premier Passions’ - a riveting documentary about Sunderland in the late nineties - will know what I mean.
  So the fact that Reid decided to spread his wings and take over the South-East Asian nation should be applauded. Whatever happens in Bangkok and the rest of Asia over the next few months, and perhaps years, the Liverpudlian will emerge a better coach.
  Whether he is presently a good enough coach to take Thailand, first back to former glories, and then to scale new heights, remains to be seen. The job will not be easy. Reid may have been surprised to learn that expectations are not low in the Land of Smiles. Fans are accustomed to being top dogs of the region and not also-rans. Reid’s first job is to lead his team to glory in December’s AFF Suzuki Cup –the competition formerly known as The Tiger Cup.
  Fellow Scouser Peter Withe knows all about that tournament. The 1982 European Cup winner led Thailand to 2000 and 2002 triumphs as well as the 2004 Asian Cup. After that competition, the former Aston Villa man’s ever-worsening relationship with the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) led to him leaving for rivals Indonesia.
  Though Withe remains the nation’s most successful coach in terms of trophies, he struggled with the politics in Bangkok - not a huge problem when results are good but obviously an issue when they aren’t. Dress code, etiquette, training, tactics and eventually elimination from qualifying for the 2004 Olympics were all cited as factors in Withe’s departure.
  Without Withe, subsequent Tiger Cups resulted in failure. Hosting the 2007 Asian Cup may have gone reasonably well but Thailand failed, unlike Vietnam, to progress past the first stage and qualification for the 2010 World Cup was a disaster.
  That is where Reid came in. After turning back to Thais following Withe’s departure, the FAT decided to look overseas and appointed the Scouser. He started his four-year contract in September but knows what his ultimate target is.
  “Football and the World Cup is dear to the heart of these people and I want to take them there,” said the bullish ex-Bolton and Everton battler upon taking the job.
  It has never been done before. Indonesia, in the guise of Dutch East Indies in 1938, apart, a South-East Asian nation has never appeared on the global stage. That is in the future. Before global and even continental challenges comes the regional battle. The first challenge comes in December. As co-hosts of the eight-team regional tournament, Thailand have a great chance to restore their ascendancy over their neighbours.
  A group containing Malaysia, Laos and Vietnam is not an easy one but with home advantage, the Thais will be confident of a place in the last four. It doesn’t stop there. Just 17 days after the final of the Suzuki Cup, qualification begins for the 2011 Asian Cup with a tough trip to Jordan. Iran and regional rivals Singapore are the other two members of a group that is far from easy.
   One thing Reid has is time and he will need to use it well. When he was leading City and Sunderland in the nineties, Thailand were in their prime - not only the best in their region, they were capable of competing with those from elsewhere too.
  It is hard to say that at the moment, as the Englishman now knows. Reid spent much of his first month in the country checking out the local league – a semi-professional affair that offers an uncertain foundation for future success. One thing which would have leapt out at Reid is the lack of prolific strikers available.
  The man himself believes that the would-be goalgetters shouldn’t let their physical stature be an excuse for their lack of firepower. In the past, the Thais have been outmuscled by Asia’s biggest and best. “I want them to play positively, it doesn’t matter if they’re short. “(England’s) Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler proved that. You can still get goals even if you’re not a giant. It’s a mental thing, don’t be afraid to miss.”
   Reid has shown that he is not afraid to step out if his comfort zone. The T&T trophy is a step in the right direction but only a small one. There is much work to be done.