The story of Nhu Thuat and the 'art' of commanding troops in Song Lam Nghe An

The highest achievements of the Vinh team are associated with the names of famous players - famous "domestic" coach Nguyen Thanh Vinh, then Nguyen Huu Thang in the first team, associated with the names of good players - top young coaches Dinh Van Dung, Le Ky Phuong...

Notably, when coaching the first team was not as successful as expected like Nguyen Van Thinh, Nguyen Quang Hai, Ngo Quang Truong... they were very successful when assigned to "take charge" of the U teams. However, up to now, in Song Lam Nghe An, there has been almost no coach who has been successful in the U teams and then assigned and completed the task well in the first team, with Nguyen Huy Hoang or Ngo Quang Truong being specific examples.

Nham Manh Dung of Viettel Club overwhelmed Song Lam Nghe An with 3 unanswered goals. Photo: Hai Hoang

In recent years, due to various reasons,Lam River Nghe AnThe team did not play well in the V-League and the first reason is said to be the lack of a qualified coach to lead the team through difficulties. After the period when Nguyen Huu Thang left, the most important "advisor" Nguyen Hong Thanh retired, the team was transferred to a new sponsor, the coaching position was transferred from Quang Truong to Huy Hoang, the players were mature and considered to have the top prestige in the club. In fact, these two young coaches did not bring new vitality to the team. This was predicted in advance when they lacked experience and lacked truly professional objective conditions to support. While other teams have taken long steps to become professional and modern, in general, Song Lam Nghe An is still "homegrown", not inferior to the younger team but increasingly inferior to the older team in terms of training methods, conditions, techniques, competition tactics, ability to contribute...

Most recently, the task of leading the first team was assigned to Phan Nhu Thuat, a player of the same generation as Van Quyen, Minh Duc, Van Vinh, who became famous in 2010 with the U16 team participating in the Asian tournament in Da Nang. It must be said that Nhu Thuat is a "child who never grows up" although his potential and qualities were revealed early, but accompanied by limitations in physique and physical strength. But certainly this is an intelligent person, who knows how to play football with intelligence, not just physical strength, and who knows, this is the basis for Nhu Thuat to reap success in the team's technical area when he reaches adulthood.

No one dares to say that Song Lam Nghe An's dressing room is always "cool" and will Nhu Thuat's gentle nature keep everything and everyone on the right track? Will the upcoming V-League rounds help answer that difficult question?

When the team is pushed to the wall… relegation, will there be a consensus, a will that will increase the team's strength in a situation of no way back, when the honor and duty of each player does not allow them to play as poorly as before?

Song Lam Nghe An's defense played like they were sleepwalking in the match against Viettel Club. Photo courtesy: VPF

If Nhu Thuat's proposals for the first team coaching staff are accepted, there will be something worth mentioning and waiting for here. Besides his talented teammate Van Quyen, there are two experienced seniors Pham Anh Tuan and Dinh Van Dung. One used to be Huu Thang's assistant, the other is the best teacher of many excellent young players. To put it bluntly, if the coaching staff is united for the team, you listen to me, I accept you, then everything will go smoothly.

There is something that no one has said for a long time, but in reality it has always existed, the experienced seniors, with plenty of achievements in the traditional golden board, have quietly stepped back to be the "background" for the young faces, the juniors with ambition. Is the current Coaching Board of Song Lam Nghe An Team 1 the "latest version" of this praiseworthy story, let's wait and see?

Obviously, Song Lam Nghe An does not have to look far, but look at two neighbors who have never had the same tradition as them but are thriving in V-League 2023? Hong Linh Ha Tinh has a coaching staff "original" of Song Lam Nghe An, playing together and having incredible strength to overcome difficulties, why can't the brothers at Vinh Stadium do it? Dong A Thanh Hoa has recruited a foreign coach, trained their physical strength extremely well, so they are giving birth to many "lungless people" full of dreams like Thanh Long, Thai Son, making the old players of Song Lam Nghe An like center back Gustavo, like defender Sy Nam play better than ever.

Everyone knows that the success of Song Lam Nghe An or any football team has the contribution of many people, many forces, including the 12th player, the fans, in which the coach is responsible first and last. Huy Hoang could not "bear the heat" (at the same time, the famous Mr. Thanh Hung in Da Nang). It is true that businesses are having difficulties, but Dong A Thanh Hoa, Binh Dinh, Hong Linh Ha Tinh... are still doing well? Playing football is expensive, if you accept to "play" football, you cannot do it when you like, and leave it when you are bored? If the coach cannot win, the coach and the owner should know how to say "good luck" to each other, and part ways when everything can still be saved. How can you hear the praise reaching to the sky for someone who has just been fired?

The cheering performance of Nghe An fans at Hang Day Stadium. Photo: Hai Hoang

“Changing generals and changing fortunes” is not a new story in football near and far. V-League up to round 10 has also reluctantly changed many coaching positions and the latest story is the story at SHB Da Nang and Song Lam Nghe An.

“General” Nhu Thuat sitting in the “hot seat” and the “art” of commanding the army is a story that many people are interested in and waiting for. The writer also waits for the familiar saying “sacred bones of subordinates” to be vividly played out at Song Lam Nghe An when everyone looks in the same direction for the team, so that in the technical area, the standard voice of Nhu Thuat and the support of the seniors resounds, on the field is the voice of Captain Ngoc Hai with the effective support of Trong Hoang, Xuan Manh and many young, dedicated factors./.