SLNA Coaching Board - Please don't 'try to force things'

(Baonghean.vn) - In the recent confrontation between SLNA - Hanoi FC, the home team was the more impressive player in terms of the game and the opportunities created. Unfortunately, 2 mistakes in defense made coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team have to sadly watch the capital team leave Vinh Stadium with 3 full points. Not only did SLNA miss the opportunity to defeat their opponent, but they also had to sink deeper to the bottom of the rankings.

Xuan Manh (middle) often has to play in his favorite left position - full-back. Photo courtesy

SLNA's poor performance this season is largely due to coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his colleagues. Without discussing much about tactics, just the use of personnel alone is enough to see the unreasonableness. Why do you not use players in their best positions or use them without trust, but instead use players in their weak positions? Look no further, just look at the left-back position. Ngoc Duc is already playing steadily, why do you have to 'force' Xuan Manh to drop down to take his place. Everyone knows that Xuan Manh is good at the role of winger.

In unavoidable situations, there is nothing to say, but this decision has forced the player born in 1996 to transform into a full-back (left - right) from last season until now. This decision has not only stunted Xuan Manh's talent, but also had many consequences for SLNA. The mistake in the two goals conceded in the recent match against Hanoi FC, or the handball that led to a penalty in the first leg against Than Quang Ninh at Cam Pha Stadium, has exposed Xuan Manh's immaturity and incompetence when playing in the full-back position.

In fact, in football, it is quite common for a player to have to play in a position that is not his forte due to the coach's intention. But at certain times or when that player develops hidden qualities that few people have previously recognized. For example, like Real Madrid - Spain national team center back Ramos. The star born in 1986 used to be a right-back. Even Phi Son at SLNA is the same. When he played in the U-teams, Phi Son was a striker... Those cases are not many. Normally, coaches will return the player to his forte position when they realize they can't take any more risks.

But SLNA's coaching staff refused to change their point of view. Xuan Manh stopped playing as a left-back to replace Ngoc Duc, and switched to the opposite wing to replace Sy Nam/The Nhat. It is understandable that Xuan Manh could not complete his defensive duties well because his forte is a winger, but not contributing much to supporting the attack is unacceptable. We all see Xuan Manh as a "reluctant" defender with a dull attack and poor defense.

SLNA's coaching staff should return Xuan Manh to his usual position as a winger. Photo: Document.

Objectively speaking, it is not that Xuan Manh is not good at his skills, but that this player cannot adapt to his weak position as a full-back. Just look at Xuan Manh's dominance in the recent U21 National qualifying round. Arranged by coach Dinh Van Dung as a striker (in one match as a left winger), the 21-year-old player scored 1 goal for his team (in the 1-1 draw with U21 Viettel), contributing to helping U21 SLNA win a ticket to the finals. Not bound by defensive duties, Xuan Manh showed excellence in the role of an attacking player.

Hopefully, SLNA's coaching board will not "force" Xuan Manh into the role of fullback in the near future. Let the player from Yen Thanh be trained and develop his talent in the winger position - like what Xuan Manh had impressed in the U17, U19, 21 SLNA and even U21 Thanh Nien Vietnam Newspaper, before. The possibility of Phi Son staying at Vinh Stadium after this season ends is not high, the backup plan for the right winger position has not appeared yet, can fill the void left by "Vietnam's Ronaldo".

So why doesn't SLNA's coaching board put their trust in Xuan Manh in the midfielder position, but instead has to "force it" for the full-back role?!

Thanh Hung