SLNA coaching staff: We need to use Que Ngoc Hai wisely.

(Baonghean.vn) - Although considered a top-class central defender in Vietnamese football today, this player rarely performs to his full potential at SLNA. Among the reasons why the 23-year-old has lost his consistency, a significant part stems from the way the coaches use him.

The 2016 V. League season was quite disappointing for Que Ngoc Hai playing for SLNA. Only getting to play in the fourth round after the VFF disciplinary committee reduced his suspension, the 1993-born player was immediately included in SLNA's starting lineup by coach Ngo Quang Truong against B. Binh Duong at Go Dau Stadium. In this match, Que Ngoc Hai performed quite successfully, providing an assist that helped striker Odat score the opening goal.

Interestingly, the player from Dien Chau was deployed as a defensive midfielder, a position not typically his forte. Que Ngoc Hai's relatively good performance as a defensive midfielder in the match against Binh Duong further fueled the SLNA coaching staff's illusions about the 1993-born player's potential for success in this "new yet familiar" position.

Que Ngoc Hai frequently plays in a position that is not his preferred one. Photo: Internet.

Not only did Que Ngoc Hai perform poorly in the defensive midfield position, but even in his preferred center-back position, he disappointed whenever he was given the chance. This included a careless play that led to SLNA's late defeat against Saigon FC at Thong Nhat Stadium, or the "assist" that allowed Dong Thap's player to beat Nguyen Manh during SLNA's away match at Cao Lan Stadium...

Those were just typical mistakes among many made by Que Ngoc Hai in the 2016 V.League season. Even though the VPF (Vietnam Professional Football) selected Que Ngoc Hai for the 2016 V.League Team of the Year, few people would acknowledge that this central defender had a decent season, let alone an outstanding one.

Objectively speaking, Quế Ngọc Hải's unsuccessful performances are largely the responsibility of the coaches. For several years, the 23-year-old has had to shoulder the responsibility of playing both center-back and central midfielder for the Nghệ An team. While this might not be a problem if it happened for a short period, its prolonged duration is extremely dangerous for Quế Ngọc Hải's professional development.

In their twenties, the most important thing for any professional player is to perfect the basic skills in their preferred position. Therefore, having to play many matches over a long period in the defensive midfield position will force Que Ngoc Hai to adapt to this new role, and at the same time, he won't have much time to perfect the skills for his familiar center-back position.

At first glance, the center-back and defensive midfielder positions seem quite similar (the two positions are close together, and both play a crucial defensive role), but that doesn't mean every player who plays center-back will also perform well as a defensive midfielder, and vice versa.

Furthermore, this approach has had significant consequences, contributing to the stagnation, or even worse, the atrophy, of players' strengths. Que Ngoc Hai is a prime example of the SLNA coaching staff's alternating use of center-back and defensive midfielder positions throughout the past period (2013-2016).

Coach Nguyen Duc Thang should utilize Que Ngoc Hai wisely in the 2017 V. League. Photo: Internet.

Furthermore, while playing for the Vietnam U23 team and the senior national team under coach Miura, the 1993-born center-back also played as a right-back. Notably, in the match against Indonesia at My Dinh Stadium (second leg of the 2016 AFF Cup semi-final), Que Ngoc Hai even had to play as a goalkeeper after Nguyen Manh was sent off. Thus, in just the past four years (2013-2016), the 23-year-old player has played as a center-back, defensive midfielder, right-back, and goalkeeper. Truly a rare and versatile player.

Around the world, many talented players have "lost their way" simply because coaches constantly used them in multiple positions. A prime example is Wayne Rooney at Manchester United and the England national team. Originally a striker, the player born in 1985 has been forced to play in various positions for both his club and national team over the years.

Being a talented player, Rooney always performed quite well whenever he played as a "substitute." From a center forward, he switched to a withdrawn forward, then played as a "number 10," and sometimes even drifted to the wing...

As a consequence, over time, playing in different positions has robbed the English striker of his top-class killer instinct. Now, seeing Rooney struggling to find playing opportunities for Manchester United and the England national team, many feel sorry for him because he was "too versatile".

Wayne Rooney is a victim of his own versatility. Photo: Internet.

The first coach to use Que Ngoc Hai in an unfamiliar position was Nguyen Huu Thang. In the early stages of the 2013 V. League season, the coach, born in 1971, frequently deployed Que Ngoc Hai as a defensive midfielder. However, after a short time, Coach Nguyen Huu Thang had to abandon this idea and return his favorite player to the central defender position.

Before the second leg of the 2016 AFF Cup semi-final against Indonesia, many experts advised coach Nguyen Huu Thang to position Que Ngoc Hai as a right-back or defensive midfielder, but the 45-year-old strategist ignored all of their advice. Coach Nguyen Huu Thang's decision proves that Que Ngoc Hai plays best as a central defender.

After coach Nguyen Huu Thang left SLNA, Que Ngoc Hai continued to alternate between the central defender and defensive midfielder positions. What happened in SLNA's 2016 season clearly shows this was a serious and dangerous mistake. Let's wisely assess Que Ngoc Hai's situation, so as not to turn him from a talented central defender into nothing more than a versatile player.

Thanh Hung