The Michael Olaha and Satellite Problem
After the first three rounds of this season, Song Lam Nghe An's attack still has much room for improvement. In particular, the challenge of building effective supporting players around Michael Olaha is proving to be the biggest obstacle for coach Phan Nhu Thuat.
No one can deny Michael Olaha's crucial role in the team's offensive system.Lam River, Nghe AnThe Nigerian striker is not only a key goalscorer but also a crucial link in the attack, a focal point for every counter-attack, and a constant threat to opponents. With one goal and one assist in the first three rounds of the V.League 2025/26, Olaha has maintained his form – something Song Lam Nghe An desperately needs given their unstable squad.
However, building a playing style around Olaha is not a simple matter. To optimize effectiveness, the coaching staff needs to find the most suitable "supporting players" to fully exploit the Nigerian striker's ability to run, hold up the ball, and finish.
One of coach Phan Như Thuật's most notable experiments was the pairing of Michael Olaha and newcomer Reon Dale Moore. Despite being new to the V.League, the Trinidad & Tobago striker showed great potential in connecting with Olaha. The pair had an impressive performance in the victory against Thép Xanh Nam Định – where Reon Dale Moore and Michael Olaha "found each other" in the winning goal that sealed the 2-1 victory.
Even in the defeat against Hai Phong, Reon Dale Moore still left his mark with two excellent combinations with Olaha, creating dangerous situations in front of goalkeeper Dinh Trieu's goal. This shows that, if Song Lam Nghe An had boldly trusted Moore from the start, they could have possessed a top-class foreign striker duo – something the Nghe An team has rarely had in recent seasons.
More importantly, Moore has now regained his best form after the V.League break and is increasingly adapting to the Vietnamese football environment. The partnership between him and Olaha will certainly be key to unlocking a new look for Song Lam Nghe An's attack.
Another highlight of coach Phan Như Thuật's personnel arrangement was pushing Hồ Văn Cường up to play as a right winger. Although the 2003-born player's preferred position is full-back, Văn Cường demonstrated remarkable adaptability when moved to a more advanced position.
Not only does he possess speed and the ability to dribble skillfully,Ho Van CuongHe also impressed with his accurate crosses and audacious finishing ability. The player wearing number 30 for Song Lam Nghe An is playing with increasing confidence, and being consistently trusted in this position partly demonstrates the soundness of the coaching staff's strategy.
However, the problem is that if Van Cuong is used in the attacking line, the right flank where the defense is positioned will lack solidity. This is an area where Phan Ba Quyen has yet to inspire confidence in the fans.
Meanwhile, players like Le Dinh Long Vu or Nguyen Van Bach can perfectly fill the attacking role on the right flank. Therefore, in certain matches or at specific times, the coaching staff needs to carefully consider and optimize personnel and tactics in this area.
While the right wing is relatively secure thanks to Van Cuong's mobility, the left wing remains a concern for the coaching staff. Tran Manh Quynh and Ngo Van Luong are two players who are used interchangeably, but neither has yet made a clear breakthrough to secure an absolute starting spot.
Ngo Van Luong once thrilled fans with a spectacular goal against Thep Xanh Nam Dinh. However, consistency is something this player born in 2001 has yet to achieve. In the match against Hai Phong, Van Luong appeared lackluster and failed to make an impact despite high expectations.
Conversely, Tran Manh Quynh, who played quite well in the first round against PVF-CAND, failed to maintain his form when given the next opportunity. Both have their own strengths, so rotating players to maintain fitness and create competitive motivation could be the best way to maximize the abilities of both Manh Quynh and Van Luong in the long run.
WithMichael OlahaAs the core of their attack, Song Lam Nghe An possesses promising players with the potential to explode onto the scene. However, the cohesion between individuals still needs more time to be perfected. If coach Phan Nhu Thuat can find the optimal formula between Olaha – Moore – Van Cuong, along with a sufficiently stable left flank, the Nghe An team can certainly expect a sharper attack – something that will bring more positive results in this V.League season.
