Thailand 2016

[AKCJ]

Why is Riyad not there?

[filbertstreet]

Uh?

 

You've heard we're getting Dyer permanently?

 

That can't be true.    

just for the fifa ratings

[MC Prussian]

Leicester City's title party comes to Thailand with garlands, monks, a parade - and warnings to behave Kasper Schmeichel, Claudio Ranieri and Shinji Okazaki greets press in Bangkok CREDIT:AFP

•  Philip Sherwell, bangkok 

18 MAY 2016 • 5:55AM

Leicester City’s title-winners have kicked off the Asian leg of their global victory lap by flying into Thailand, the owner’s homeland where local football fans have embraced the team as their own.

Garlands of orchids and jasmine were placed around the necks of manager Claudio Ranieri, players and club officials as they emerged from an overnight flight from London.

The entourage lined up and gave the traditional Thai “wai” greeting, palms pressed together and hands raised, while the cameras flashed following their dawn arrival.

A raucous group of fans in the team’s blue shirts chanted “Leicester City” and “champions”, their enthusiasm undimmed by the absence of some star players including Jamie Vardy who have stayed behind because of international duties.

The club brought its title party to Thailand with a warning from the bosses that there must be no repeat of last summer’s fiasco when a video emerged of three young Leicester players racially insulting local women during a hotel-room orgy.

 

 

 

 

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the billionaire owner, flew the players out on tour then to celebrate their escape from near-certain relegation. This year they have returned to continue the festivities following their“fairy-tale” Premiership triumph.

“Celebrate the Fearless Champions” proclaimed an advertising wraparound of the Bangkok Post sponsored by Singha Beer.

Ranieri and his team stepped off the Thai Airways flight attired in short-sleeved shirts bearing the name of King Power, the duty free empire that has made Vichai a billionaire.

Following the adulation of their victory parade through Leicester on Monday, they will take a similar journey through the streets of the Thai capital on Thursday.

The outing will start and end at Vichai’s King Power headquarters as the tycoon  oversees what is part a celebratory tour and part a marketing bonanza.

The team will also visit the ornate wonders of the Grand Palace to pay their respects to King Bhumipol Adulyadej, although the ailing 88-year-old monarch is not expected to receive them in person.

They are also expected to visit that they will Wat Traimit temple in Bangkok’s Chinatown where Vichai is a long-time devotee and benefactor.

Phra Prommangkalachan, the assistant abbot, has led regular delegations of saffron-robed monks to Leicester to bless the pitch and players and meditate during matches in a shrine room since Vichai bought the the second-tier club in 2010.

The club’s Thai fans are in no doubt that the spiritual support supplied by the Buddhist clerics has played a crucial role in the club’s success.

The first chance to see Ranieri and his players – minus some stars who have stayed behind because of international commitments – will come in a press event at the gleaming modernistic King Power complex on Wednesday afternoon.

They will be greeted with adulation by legions new Thai fans who have shed – or doubled-up - their allegiances for perennial English favourites Liverpool and Manchester United as Leicester City have surged.

“I am a new fan, but now I am a true fan too, and we have all been inspired by the story of the underdog and the discovery that dreams really can come true,” said Niraj Pasamlikit, a shop assistan who has taken unpaid time off work to attend the celebrations.

The team will complete two days of press and publicity duties in Bangkok before heading off for a “private trip” to a Thai island.

Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Mr Vichai’s son and vice-chairman, announced last week that the trip is to reward Thai fans for their growing interest in a team marketed here as the “Siamese Foxes”.

But he also warned the players that there must be no repeat of last summer’s debacle.

“I want them to see the Thai people, how welcome they are,” he said. “They are massive now and they want to say thank you to the Thai fans. 

“The players need privacy as well but I’ve talked to them and they know they need to treat everything well. You are popular, that is great, and people come to see you because they admire you and they want to talk to you. They will talk to you like you’re their son. So be proud and enjoy.”

The players’ movements will be closely monitored after the 2015 “goodwill trip” turned into a public relations humiliation.

Three young players, including the son of then manager Nigel Pearson, were sacked after a racially charged sex tape featuring local women was leaked to British media.

Pearson was dismissed a few weeks later, paving the way for the appointment of Ranieri ahead of a season that has made sporting history.

 

 

[AjcW]

"every support counted" .... hmmmm 

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

Andy King did everything he could to get out of this - poor guy.

 

Can't say I'm a fan of this rubbish, it may be the price you pay, but I couldn't give a toss about fans in Thailand now claiming they're 'true fans'

[AKCJ]

Andy King did everything he could to get out of this - poor guy.

 

Can't say I'm a fan of this rubbish, it may be the price you pay, but I couldn't give a toss about fans in Thailand now claiming they're 'true fans'

 

It's not about that, plus the culture is entirely different over there. I assume they're very passionate about Leicester City's success.

 

This is, effectively, a week's holiday in one of the nicest countries on Earth. They'll be treated like Kings over there.

[EGBFitness]

Andy King did everything he could to get out of this - poor guy.

Can't say I'm a fan of this rubbish, it may be the price you pay, but I couldn't give a toss about fans in Thailand now claiming they're 'true fans'

Isn't King going to the euros with Wales?

That's a little unfair, it's been reported a lot have given up on the likes of Man City & Liverpool to now become a Lie-Chester fan In all fairness they have only done what about half of Leicester have done anyways by becoming Leicester fans never known so many fans now

[EGBFitness]

Anyone watched the video on sky and seen how awkward the trophy lift was?

[Daggers]

"every support counted" .... hmmmm 

 

Players don't live in isolation boxes. There can be no doubting that the almost universal goodwill urging the club along has played its part. And, going forward, the extended fanbase will bring in future revenue streams to boost the club and the local economy.

 

There were Japanese tourists at the club yesterday, buying from the fanshop. People will continue to come from around the world to share a part of this glorious story - if it prevents us ever having to stand outside the ground shaking buckets to save the club then that is surely a good thing?

 

So, yes, all support counts.

[AjcW]

Players don't live in isolation boxes. There can be no doubting that the almost universal goodwill urging the club along has played its part. And, going forward, the extended fanbase will bring in future revenue streams to boost the club and the local economy.

 

There were Japanese tourists at the club yesterday, buying from the fanshop. People will continue to come from around the world to share a part of this glorious story - if it prevents us ever having to stand outside the ground shaking buckets to save the club then that is surely a good thing?

 

So, yes, all support counts.

Hey bud... erm... I meant the wording didn't make sense not the sentiment

[Daggers]

Hey bud... erm... I meant the wording didn't make sense not the sentiment

 

Sorry

[Guest Bob Hazels shorts]

Andy King did everything he could to get out of this - poor guy.

 

Can't say I'm a fan of this rubbish, it may be the price you pay, but I couldn't give a toss about fans in Thailand now claiming they're 'true fans'

 

The thread title clearly says 'Thailand 2016' if your not a fan of this rubbish why open and read it?

 

I'm not sure how you would define a 'true' fan? ....real admirer? and you've acknowledged that they are 'fans' but crying because they feel they are 'true'

 

All seems a bit sad and pathetic to me.

 

Personally I'm looking forward to visiting there again as with other plans and not having to explain that Leicester isn't part of London or Manchester.

 

Brightening up a room by leaving it comes to mind.

[notnow john]

I hope Ronnie didn't watch their first engagement, they were wearing T SHIRTS now that is a scandal!

[Dodgy Bob]

Andy King did everything he could to get out of this - poor guy.

Can't say I'm a fan of this rubbish, it may be the price you pay, but I couldn't give a toss about fans in Thailand now claiming they're 'true fans'

Good job you weren't invited then isn't it

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

The thread title clearly says 'Thailand 2016' if your not a fan of this rubbish why open and read it?

 

I'm not sure how you would define a 'true' fan? ....real admirer? and you've acknowledged that they are 'fans' but crying because they feel they are 'true'

 

All seems a bit sad and pathetic to me.

 

Personally I'm looking forward to visiting there again as with other plans and not having to explain that Leicester isn't part of London or Manchester.

 

Brightening up a room by leaving it comes to mind.

 

Fair enough, but you know what really annoys - the club making Demarai Gray unavailable for the u21s so he can go to Thailand with the squad. What's going to be better for him as a player? And he won't need a rest because he's probably played about 360 mins this year!

[Sol thewall Bamba]

"Every support counted" is a strange phrase. 

[SemperEadem]

Fair enough, but you know what really annoys - the club making Demarai Gray unavailable for the u21s so he can go to Thailand with the squad. What's going to be better for him as a player? And he won't need a rest because he's probably played about 360 mins this year!

Did the club really make him unavailable?

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

Yep - don't really understand why he isn't but chilwell is although that may have something to do with chilwell' rejected contract

[st albans fox]

I'm confused about Demmy gray. He should have gone with chilwell to Toulon

[Lambert09]

The Thai people are just glory hunters, they still say their teams are Man U, Liverpool, Barcelona etc. But in Thailand it is common to have 2 teams and the second is often whoever is winning at the time haha. The only people that might change are the youth, they might follow Leicester from now on as we have shown success that might stick. The rest will be a passing fad unless we repeat our heroics regularly.

I've genuinely seen someone walking around with a Tottenham shirt but Arsenal shorts, sums it up.

[Hungry Hungry Fox]

"The Thai people are just glory hunters"

Wow, what a huge generalisation

[Itsthejoeker]

I'm confused about Demmy gray. He should have gone with chilwell to Toulon

Could have sworn he wasn't selected

[lgfualol]

I cant link it but on the official facebook page there is a live stream to a bus tourparade. Loads of people are there.

[ARM1968]

Might be a generalisation but it's still true, generally.

[Larry_LCFC]

I cant link it but on the official facebook page there is a live stream to a bus tourparade. Loads of people are there.

I'm not even sure why, but it all just feels a little bit staged to be me. The video I saw was just rows of "Leicester fans" all with the shirt and those weird plastic clapper sticks.