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

(Baonghean.vn) - In the recent match between SLNA and Hanoi FC, the home team was the more impressive player in terms of game position and opportunities created. Unfortunately, 2 mistakes in defense made coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team have to 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 towards the bottom of the rankings.

Xuan Manh (middle) often has to play in his preferred left position - full-back. Photo: Archive

SLNA's poor performance this season is largely the responsibility of coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his colleagues. Without talking much about tactics, just the use of personnel alone is already unreasonable. Why don't you use a player in his best position or use him but don't trust him, but instead use a player in his weak position? Look no further than the left-back position. Ngoc Duc is playing steadily, so why do you have to 'force' Xuan Manh to drop back to take his place? Everyone knows that Xuan Manh is good at playing as a 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 caused SLNA to suffer many consequences. The mistake in the 2 goals conceded in the recent match against Hanoi FC, or the handball that led to the penalty in the first leg match 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, 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 players to their forte when they realize they cannot take any more risks.

But SLNA's coaching board 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 support the attack, which 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 preferred 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), helping U21 SLNA win a ticket to the finals. Not bound by defensive duties, Xuan Manh has shown excellence in the role of an attacking player.

Hopefully, SLNA's coaching board will not "force" Xuan Manh into the role of full-back in the near future. Let the player from Yen Thanh be trained and develop his talent in the winger position - as Xuan Manh has 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, there is no suitable face that 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