SLNA coaching staff: Need to use Que Ngoc Hai appropriately

(Baonghean.vn) - Although he is considered a top-class central defender of Vietnamese football today, at SLNA this player rarely plays to his full potential. Among the reasons that have caused the 23-year-old player to lose his confidence, a large part comes from the way the coaches use him.

V. League 2016 was a rather disappointing season for Que Ngoc Hai in SLNA's jersey. Only allowed to play in the 4th round after the VFF disciplinary board reduced his suspension, the player born in 1993 was immediately named by coach Ngo Quang Truong in SLNA's starting lineup against B. Binh Duong at Go Dau Stadium. In this match, Que Ngoc Hai played quite successfully with an assist to help striker Odat score the opening goal.

It is worth mentioning that the player from Dien Chau was playing in the position of a defensive midfielder, which is not his forte. The fact that Que Ngoc Hai played quite well in the role of a defensive midfielder in the match against B. Binh Duong made SLNA's coaching staff once again "delusional" about the possibility of success of the player born in 1993 in the "new but old" position.

Que Ngoc Hai often plays in the left position. Photo: Internet.

Not only did Que Ngoc Hai play poorly in the defensive midfielder position, but even his favorite central defender position brought disappointment every time he was trusted. That was the superficial play that caused SLNA to lose to Saigon FC in the final minutes at Thong Nhat Stadium or the "assist" for Dong Thap player to defeat Nguyen Manh during SLNA's away match at Cao Lanh Stadium...

Those are just typical mistakes among many mistakes of Que Ngoc Hai in the recent .League 2016. Even though the VPF Organizing Committee voted Que Ngoc Hai into the typical squad of V.League 2016, not many people recognized that this central defender had a season of playing a good role, let alone an excellent one.

Objectively speaking, Que Ngoc Hai’s performance has not been successful, and the coaches are largely responsible. In recent years, the 23-year-old player has had to play both the central defender and central midfielder positions for the Nghe An team. If this happens for a short period of time, it is fine, but if it continues year after year, it is extremely dangerous for Que Ngoc Hai’s professional development.

In his twenties, the most important thing for any professional player is to perfect the basic skills in his favorite position. Therefore, having to play many matches for a long time in the position of a defensive midfielder will force Que Ngoc Hai to adapt to this new position, and at the same time, there will not be much time to perfect the skills for the familiar position of a central defender.

At first glance, the center-back position and the defensive midfielder position have many similarities (the distance between these two positions is close, both play the most important role of defense), but that does not mean that any player who plays in the center-back position can play well in the defensive midfielder position and vice versa.

In fact, this usage has brought about huge consequences when it contributed to slowing down, and more seriously, stunting the players' strengths. Que Ngoc Hai is the victim of the SLNA coaching staff's alternating use of the central defender and defensive midfielder positions throughout the past period (2013 - 2016).

Coach Nguyen Duc Thang should use Que Ngoc Hai appropriately in V. League 2017. Photo: Internet.

Not to mention, in the U23 Vietnam national team and the Vietnam national team under coach Miura, the 1993-born central defender also played as a right-back. Notably, in the match against Indonesia at My Dinh Stadium (second leg of the AFF Cup 2016), Que Ngoc Hai also had to play as a goalkeeper after Nguyen Manh was sent off. Thus, in just the past 4 years (2013 - 2016), the 23-year-old player has played as a central defender, midfielder, right-back, and goalkeeper. He is truly a rare versatile player.

In the world, many talented players have “lost themselves” just because their coaches continuously used them in many positions. A typical case is Wayne Rooney at MU Club and England National Team. Originally a striker, but over the years, the player born in 1985 has continuously had to play in many different positions at both the club and the national team.

As a talented player, Rooney always plays quite well when he plays as a "substitute". From a striker, he moves to a second striker, then plays as a "number 10", sometimes even moves to the wing...

As a result, over time, each position has robbed the English striker of his top killer instinct. Now, seeing Rooney struggling to find opportunities to play for MU and the England national team, many people feel sorry because he is "too versatile".

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

The first person to use Que Ngoc Hai to play in a position other than his forte was Coach Nguyen Huu Thang. In the early stages of V. League 2013, the coach born in 1971 often arranged Que Ngoc Hai to play as a defensive midfielder. In just a short time, Coach Nguyen Huu Thang had to give up his intention by returning his favorite student to the position of center back.

Before the second leg semi-final match against Indonesia at the AFF Cup 2016, many experts advised coach Nguyen Huu Thang to arrange Que Ngoc Hai to play as a right back or a holding midfielder, but the 45-year-old strategist ignored all of them. Coach Nguyen Huu Thang's decision proved that Que Ngoc Hai plays best as a center back.

After coach Nguyen Huu Thang left SLNA, Que Ngoc Hai continued to take on the rotating positions of center back and midfielder. What happened in SLNA's 2016 season was enough to show that this was a very wrong and dangerous move. Let's look at Que Ngoc Hai's problem wisely, so as not to turn him from a talented center back into a versatile player./.

Thanh Hung