It's once again that time of the year when the Thai football fans start fishing for an answer to a very familiar question: Can anyone thwart northeastern giants Buriram United's march to another Thai League 1 title?
The new season of the top flight kicks off this evening with Ratchaburi taking on newcomers Kanchanaburi Power at home.
Buriram will begin their title defence at Lamphun Warriors tomorrow night when they set out to add more silverware to their already crowded trophy cabinet.
The bad news for other title contenders is that the Thunder Castle were quite busy in the offseason and have strengthened their squad even further.
Guilherme Bissoli, Curtis Good, Kenneth Dougall and some top Thai players like Suphanat Mueanta, Theerathon Bunmathan and Supachai Chaided all did a great job for Buriram, but they seem bent on laying their hands on their fifth straight Thai League 1 crown at the end of this season.
The arrival of Juan Ibiza, Fejsal Mulic, Shayne Pattynama, Filip Stojkovic, Robert Zulj, Nemanja Nikolic and Ilhan Fandi has sent a wave of fear across the top league.
It is going to be another hectic season for Buriram as they are scheduled to take part in Thai League 1, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Asean club championship (Shopee Cup) and the AFC Champions League Elite.
Buriram made it to the quarter-finals of the Asian club competition before losing to eventual champions Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia.
There is no doubt whatsoever that the formidable Thunder Castle are the overwhelming favourites to reclaim the most sought-after domestic silverware.
Bangkok grounded
Meanwhile, things haven't started in an ideal fashion for last season runners-up Bangkok United.
Their chairman Kachorn Chiaravanont had been eyeing a place in the AFC Champions League Elite group stages, but the dream ended with a 3-0 away loss to Chinese club Chengdu Rongcheng in a qualifying playoff on Tuesday night.
"We finished runners-up in the top Thai league and didn't lose a single match in the second half of the season, so I am happy with our team's performance," said Kachorn recently.
"We will be doing our home work before going out in search of foreign players to strengthen our team. Expect us to make a lot of changes to our roster."
However, the Angels haven't been among the busiest Thai clubs in the offseason transfer market and their only significant acquisition is ageing Thai international striker Teerasil Dangda from BG Pathum United.
Bangkok United, still being coached by highly-regarded Totchtawan Sripan, are hoping to win at least one trophy this season.
Rabbits out to hop back
Former champions BG Pathum United will once again be among the title contenders and they will put up a serious challenge for league glory provided they can curb their tendency to be inconsistent.
The Rabbits have been bolstered by the return of national team players Ekanit Panya and Jaroensak Wonggorn from the J-League.
They also have signed some new players like goalkeeper Slavisa Bogdanovic, Jordan Emaviwe, Joel Lopez Pissano, Milos Drincic and Nika Sandokhadze, who will be teaming up with veterans Chanathip Songkrasin, Sarach Yooyen and Saranon Anuin.
Port of call
Port, for once, can look forward to benefitting from the expertise of a Thai League 1-winning coach.
Departure of Wasapol Kaewpaluek has brought in Alexandre Gama, the Brazilian coach who led Buriram United to numerous titles in his past stint with the defending champions.
They have also signed two Brazilian players Matheus Lins and Matheus Pato, who will be joining Iraqi star Rebin Sulaka. The other new arrivals at the Khlong Toey-based club are Brayan Perea from Colombia, the Philippines goalkeeper Michael Falkesgaard, and Brazilians Kaka Mendes and Lucas Tocantins.
Teerasak Poeiphimai, Peeradol Chamratsamee, Suphanan Bureerat and Somporn Yos are the Thai stars who have opted to stay put at Port.
While Ratchaburi are not expected to be one of the frontrunners for the league title, they do harbour the desire to make it to the final of either the Thai FA Cup or the League Cup.
Many new players have joined the team, including Ikhsan Fandi, who is on loan from Pathum United, Jeremy Corinus from France, the Philippines player Jesse Curran and Gabriel Mutombo from France.
The picture isn't much complex at the opposite end of the prediction charts either, though only one of the three newly promoted sides is among the most talked about picks for relegation at the end of the season.
Ayutthaya agony?
Newcomers Ayutthaya United are being tipped for a quick return to the second tier.
Nakhon Ratchasima, who only succeeded in avoiding the drop to Thai League 2 in their last match of the season, are very unlikely to escape relegation this time around.
Sukhothai, whose life story in the top flight has always been that of struggle and close escapes, are also among those who seem destined for life in second division next year.
The new season of the top flight kicks off this evening with Ratchaburi taking on newcomers Kanchanaburi Power at home.
Buriram will begin their title defence at Lamphun Warriors tomorrow night when they set out to add more silverware to their already crowded trophy cabinet.
The bad news for other title contenders is that the Thunder Castle were quite busy in the offseason and have strengthened their squad even further.
Guilherme Bissoli, Curtis Good, Kenneth Dougall and some top Thai players like Suphanat Mueanta, Theerathon Bunmathan and Supachai Chaided all did a great job for Buriram, but they seem bent on laying their hands on their fifth straight Thai League 1 crown at the end of this season.
The arrival of Juan Ibiza, Fejsal Mulic, Shayne Pattynama, Filip Stojkovic, Robert Zulj, Nemanja Nikolic and Ilhan Fandi has sent a wave of fear across the top league.
It is going to be another hectic season for Buriram as they are scheduled to take part in Thai League 1, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Asean club championship (Shopee Cup) and the AFC Champions League Elite.
Buriram made it to the quarter-finals of the Asian club competition before losing to eventual champions Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia.
There is no doubt whatsoever that the formidable Thunder Castle are the overwhelming favourites to reclaim the most sought-after domestic silverware.
Bangkok grounded
Meanwhile, things haven't started in an ideal fashion for last season runners-up Bangkok United.
Their chairman Kachorn Chiaravanont had been eyeing a place in the AFC Champions League Elite group stages, but the dream ended with a 3-0 away loss to Chinese club Chengdu Rongcheng in a qualifying playoff on Tuesday night.
"We finished runners-up in the top Thai league and didn't lose a single match in the second half of the season, so I am happy with our team's performance," said Kachorn recently.
"We will be doing our home work before going out in search of foreign players to strengthen our team. Expect us to make a lot of changes to our roster."
However, the Angels haven't been among the busiest Thai clubs in the offseason transfer market and their only significant acquisition is ageing Thai international striker Teerasil Dangda from BG Pathum United.
Bangkok United, still being coached by highly-regarded Totchtawan Sripan, are hoping to win at least one trophy this season.
Rabbits out to hop back
Former champions BG Pathum United will once again be among the title contenders and they will put up a serious challenge for league glory provided they can curb their tendency to be inconsistent.
The Rabbits have been bolstered by the return of national team players Ekanit Panya and Jaroensak Wonggorn from the J-League.
They also have signed some new players like goalkeeper Slavisa Bogdanovic, Jordan Emaviwe, Joel Lopez Pissano, Milos Drincic and Nika Sandokhadze, who will be teaming up with veterans Chanathip Songkrasin, Sarach Yooyen and Saranon Anuin.
Port of call
Port, for once, can look forward to benefitting from the expertise of a Thai League 1-winning coach.
Departure of Wasapol Kaewpaluek has brought in Alexandre Gama, the Brazilian coach who led Buriram United to numerous titles in his past stint with the defending champions.
They have also signed two Brazilian players Matheus Lins and Matheus Pato, who will be joining Iraqi star Rebin Sulaka. The other new arrivals at the Khlong Toey-based club are Brayan Perea from Colombia, the Philippines goalkeeper Michael Falkesgaard, and Brazilians Kaka Mendes and Lucas Tocantins.
Teerasak Poeiphimai, Peeradol Chamratsamee, Suphanan Bureerat and Somporn Yos are the Thai stars who have opted to stay put at Port.
While Ratchaburi are not expected to be one of the frontrunners for the league title, they do harbour the desire to make it to the final of either the Thai FA Cup or the League Cup.
Many new players have joined the team, including Ikhsan Fandi, who is on loan from Pathum United, Jeremy Corinus from France, the Philippines player Jesse Curran and Gabriel Mutombo from France.
The picture isn't much complex at the opposite end of the prediction charts either, though only one of the three newly promoted sides is among the most talked about picks for relegation at the end of the season.
Ayutthaya agony?
Newcomers Ayutthaya United are being tipped for a quick return to the second tier.
Nakhon Ratchasima, who only succeeded in avoiding the drop to Thai League 2 in their last match of the season, are very unlikely to escape relegation this time around.
Sukhothai, whose life story in the top flight has always been that of struggle and close escapes, are also among those who seem destined for life in second division next year.
