Stories of the "goalkeepers" of V-League 2018

Originally a player, Nam Dinh coach Van Sy understands better than anyone the importance of the goalkeeper position. Although he has 3 goalkeepers, Quang Phan and Tien Tao do not make Van Sy feel secure and Nam Dinh's coaching staff welcomed Nguyen Minh Nhut to be the number 1 reserve (who was suspended at that time) for Nguyen Quoc Thien Esele.

A completely correct decision and the excellence of goalkeeper Quoc Thien Esele in the play-off match with Hanoi B in the penalty shootout helped the team from Thanh Nam successfully stay in the league.

The Goalkeeper's Land of Fear

Bad foreign players and no good goalkeepers are considered the reasons that made Mr. Duc's plans fall apart. When Van Tien and Van Truong could not create trust, goalkeeper Rmah Suo, born in 1996, could do nothing more than remember To Vinh Loi who had just left the team to return to Can Tho. Although Mr. Duc gave him the green light, this young ethnic goalkeeper was far behind his senior Van Tien, who had the most experience with 12 matches in V.League 2017.

Surprisingly, Mr. Duc has never had a reliable goalkeeper. To put it humorously, as people in the profession often joke, Pleiku is not a suitable land for goalkeepers.

The proof is that many goalkeepers after leaving HAGL played very well, such as Tuan Manh of Khanh Hoa, Van Lam of Hai Phong. It is not known who will be the main goalkeeper for HAGL next season, but with what they have shown, it is difficult for Rmah Suo, Van Tien and Van Truong to be given the gloves.

After leaving HAGL, goalkeeper Tuan Manh (Khanh Hoa) and Van Lam (Hai Phong) were both called up to the national team. Photo: Internet

This season, the Nghe An team is again in a situation of “too many reserves, not enough starters”. Having 4 goalkeepers, but when Nguyen Manh was injured, SLNA’s coaching board gave the opportunity to the number 1 reserve goalkeeper Van Hung (1992), but this 26-year-old goalkeeper did not create peace of mind.

Reluctantly, SLNA had to borrow goalkeeper Phan Dinh Vu Hai (1994) from Hai Phong to play. Although he is 26 years old, this season Van Hung is only a "reserve for Hai Phong's reserve goalkeeper", so who should we blame, Van Hung or SLNA's coaching board?

When Nguyen Manh returns from injury, SLNA's coaching staff will have to consider and calculate the plan to build a reserve goalkeeper for this goalkeeper born in 1991. Who among the three goalkeepers Le Van Hung, Le Quang Dai, Tran Van Tien will be given the opportunity, the answer will be for coach Duc Thang, who originally came from the goalkeeper position. If he is not put on the field, not only Van Hung but any young goalkeeper will be nervous when given the opportunity.

The irony of Thanh land

FLC Thanh Hoa is a team that is being “haunted by the goal”, many Thanh fans have commented that. Last season, goalkeeper Thanh Thang made a silly mistake when passing the ball to striker Dyachenko of Than Quang Ninh to score, losing a golden opportunity for the team to compete for the championship. This season, FLC.Thanh Hoa has registered 3 quality goalkeepers and all of them can start.

In addition to Nguyen Thanh Thang, there are Tran Buu Ngoc, Bui Tien Dung, and the coaches of FLC.Thanh Hoa rotates the use of the 3 goalkeepers they have. Of these, Tien Dung is the one who plays the most with 11/26 matches as the main goalkeeper, followed by Thanh Thang with 8 matches and Buu Ngoc with 7 matches. The irony is that, not knowing who to use, who to leave behind, so in the end, FLC Thanh Hoa lost the cup to B.Binh Duong due to 2 fatal mistakes by goalkeeper Tien Dung.

The tragedy did not stop there, after the 2018 National Cup final at Tam Ky Stadium (Quang Nam) against B.Binh Duong and lost 1-3, two goalkeepers of FLC Thanh Hoa said goodbye to their teammates and home fans, including Thanh Thang and Buu Ngoc.

In a disappointed mood, Tran Buu Ngoc said goodbye to his fans on social media. He is 27 years old this year, has played for both the U23 Vietnam team and the Vietnam national team… he does not want to sit on the bench, watch his juniors make mistakes but still be the main player.

Will Bui Tien Dung take the opportunity to become the number 1 goalkeeper in Thanh Hoa? Photo: Internet

Before joining FLC Thanh Hoa in early 2018, Buu Ngoc had worked for Dong Thap FC, Vissai Ninh Binh and Can Tho.

In early 2014, when he decided to leave Dong Thap Club to play for XSKT Can Tho, Buu Ngoc received a contract with a "tip" of up to 6.6 billion VND/3 years, at the same time becoming the "most expensive" goalkeeper in the history of Vietnamese football. It is not difficult for this goalkeeper to earn a starting position in V-League, so sitting on the bench in Thanh Hoa is probably enough.

Born in 1988, Thanh Thang's chances of starting as a goalkeeper are limited, so his departure is not too surprising. Two seasons ago, he left Hai Phong, joined FLC Thanh Hoa and was the team's number 1 goalkeeper, before having to share this position with Bui Tien Dung. Thanh Thang used to play for Dong Nai FC, Kienlongbank Kien Giang and Hai Phong...

Having 3 top-class goalkeepers, then at the end of the season there is only 1 goalkeeper left who made 2 mistakes in a final match is a story that no one wants, but that is the truth at FLC Thanh Hoa.