Four problems of Song Lam Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn) - The problem of all problems is changing the 'superstructure' of SLNA, which certainly has not been solved. But the new coaching staff of SLNA also needs to solve some immediate problems to change the image of the team.

SLNA still has a lot of work to do.

1. Attracting audiences to the stadium

At Vinh Stadium, the 2016 V-League season witnessed matches with only 2,000 spectators. These are truly sad numbers! No sponsor wants to invest, no player wants to play in such a quiet stadium. Up to now, there has been no sign that Nghe An fans "suddenly want to come" even though SLNA has replaced head coach Ngo Quang Truong.

There are many reasons, but mainly people do not see the players' fighting spirit on the field and the team keeps losing to weaker teams, so... it is boring to watch. This must be the top priority of head coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his colleagues when entering the new season.

2. Competitive spirit

A season in which the young SLNA players dressed better, from their hair, shoes… everything was much more stylish. But the way they played on the field was the opposite, in many matches people could not believe that the players on the field came from the Nghe An training center.

The most typical example was the match at Cao Lanh Stadium, when Dong Thap players no longer wanted to play, SLNA only tied 2-2 in an underdog position. The coaching staff failed to inspire the players, from assigning the captain's armband, doing pre-match mental work and directing on the field. In many matches, people saw head coach Quang Truong... drooping on the coaching bench, let alone his students.

3. Strengthen the defense

Few people expected that SLNA defenders were the team’s weak point. They were among the top 5 V-League teams with the worst defense, conceding 36 goals, and were one of the four teams with a negative goal difference.

With national players Dinh Hoang, Ngoc Hai and former players like Minh Duc, Manh Hung, SLNA's defense played like they were sleepwalking all season. Not only the left wing but also the center-back and right-back positions (due to Dinh Hoang's long-term injury) did not create peace of mind for the viewers. Young center-back Van Khanh was the rare bright spot of the defense.

4. Attacking midfielder

SLNA mainly relies on counter-attacking football, using speed to get past opponent defenders. There is no creative midfielder in the middle of the field, so the playing style is very easy to predict.

In V-League 2016, coach Quang Truong assigned this task to… 6 players and no one did a good job of dealing cards, including national player Que Ngoc Hai. When facing opponents who play “sloppy” and focus on defending in large numbers, SLNA often gets stuck. It is time for SLNA’s coaching staff to invite players from Nghe An who have left the team or buy foreign players who play this position well.

N@T