Discussing the foreign players of Song Lam Nghe An

Foreign players of the Nghe An team

When Olaha was suspended for two matches due to a red card, the attacking style of the Vinh-based team didn't change much; simply put, Olaha was more of a "defensive striker" than a goalscorer. It's disappointing that by round 15, the striker who had been so highly praised since the beginning of the season had only scored two goals.

The number of goals scored by the two foreign strikersLam River, Nghe An(1039 + 985 minutes played) is only equal to Tien Linh (819 minutes played) of Binh Duong, so the ranking of the Nghe An team is not high.

Despite high expectations, Olaha has only scored two goals so far. (Photo: VPF)

Compared to the past, the recruitment of foreign players by the Nghe An team has changed in a positive direction, with the head coach having the real authority to choose the players he likes. However, it is clear that after many changes, all three foreign players of Song Lam Nghe An have not contributed as much to the team as other clubs, even though Oseni was once the top scorer in the V.League. The lack of a good playmaker like when Quang Tinh was still in charge, yet Song Lam Nghe An still tried to bring in foreign players who couldn't create opportunities for themselves, is causing coach Huy Hoang a headache.

Professional mark

Furthermore, the deployment of foreign players by the Nghe An team also raises many questions. Positioning Oseni and Olaha as the furthest forwards in the 3-1-4-2 formation caused them to overlap, and the distance between the two foreign players was not ideal, meaning center-back Gustavo Santos of Dong A Thanh Hoa had no difficulty defending. Compared to Dong A Thanh Hoa's Brazilian foreign player Zé Paulo, Olaha's playing style is considered simpler and less effective.

SLNA is waiting for their new Spanish signing, Mario, to shine. (Photo: VPF)

If playing with three foreign players, pairing Olaha and Van Duc in midfield just in front of Xuan Manh would help both Van Duc and Xuan Manh conserve energy in tackles. Currently, Olaha plays in a deeper role, leaving Oseni quite isolated, and the 3-1-5-1 formation always results in a disadvantageous position when attacking due to fewer players than the opponent.

Many experts believe that if Oseni were paired with a technically gifted and intelligent striker like Van Quyet (Hanoi FC) or Jermie Lynch (Binh Dinh), they would complement each other greatly. The current striker duo of Olaha and Oseni at Song Lam Nghe An possesses ample strength but lacks the necessary cunning and independent attacking ability. Meanwhile, the signing of Spanish newcomer Mario has weakened the midfield of the Vinh-based team.

Both Song Lam Nghe An's recruitment and deployment of foreign players need to change. Currently, the team from Nghe An is struggling to find suitable signings unless the coaching staff has a keen eye for talent. Even financially struggling teams like Nam Dinh have started spending money on foreign (and domestic) players in preparation for the next season, so it's time for Tan Long to reassess their situation.