National Cup and concerns for young talents

This cup format is a playground for both V-League and First Division teams, so the difference is inevitable, such as the results of the matches Viettel - Binh Thuan (6-0), Binh Duong - Hue (4-0)... But if there is no ambition, only focusing on V-League, teams like Ho Chi Minh City or Song Lam Nghe An can still "give" victory to Vung Tau or Quang Nam teams as seen after the penalty shootout.

Veteran Trong Hoang had a great match, but could not help his team get the desired result against Quang Nam at the National Cup. Photo: Chung Le

The most concerning issue, from Mr. Philippe Troussier to the average fan, is whether any young players will have the opportunity to play on this rare occasion? Looking at the matches in Vinh, Hang Day or Thu Dau Mot, it is clear that this is being specifically met.

At Vinh Stadium, a series of young players from Song Lam Nghe An such as Xuan Tien, Van Cuong, Van Bach, Van Thanh were assigned to start, then Manh Quynh, Nam Hai, Xuan Dai came on from the bench. The opening goal of the Vinh Stadium team was an excellent assist from Van Cuong from a sprint on the right wing, passing inside like a set piece for veteran Trong Hoang to score. The fact that Xuan Tien and Van Cuong played for 90 minutes and Xuan Tien was assigned to take the penalty kick shows that these young stars are truly young and potential pillars of the team. Meanwhile, Nguyen Dinh Bac from Quang Nam is also a notable young factor, playing very well throughout the match.

At Hang Day Stadium, under the witness of Mr. Troussier, SEA Games 31 hero Nham Manh Dung scored a double in Viettel's resounding 6-0 victory over Binh Thuan. Of course, Manh Dung is the French coach's strategic card for the Vietnam National Team, and in the upcoming SEA Games, this player is too old (he was born in 2000). In this match, young player Danh Trung also played from the start, but most notably, Van Khang and Tuan Tai did not play because they "needed to rest" after a heavy tournament?

Viettel shows the difference in class compared to Binh Thuan.

At Thu Dau Mot Stadium, Bui Vi Hao was on the field from the start and assisted in the opening goal of the home team Binh Duong. Thus, the names that did not join the U23 Vietnam team to attend the Doha Cup 2023 recently all played and left a significant mark. Meanwhile, in teams with abundant human resources such as Viettel, Hanoi FC or Hanoi Police, because they have not yet competed in the national cup qualifying round, it is not known whether the excellent young players will be able to play or rest like Viettel? Therefore, Mr. Troussier must also be anxiously waiting to see whether Quang Thinh, Van Do, Tien Long, Van Chuan, Duc Viet, Quoc Viet... will have the opportunity to stay at their home team or not, and when they do, will they be able to show anything worth mentioning?

To see, what Mr. Troussier desires is that young factors are trained early and practiced in the club is legitimate and urgent, but not everywhere is met. Because of the pressure of achievement, because of the surplus of forces, people still have to prioritize the pillars that will ensure the completion of the task, there are very few opportunities for long-term experiments. As for the matter of providing talent, contributing to the teams, in the end, having it is an honor, not having it is also okay when all that matters is... not being relegated or having an acceptable ranking.

In the V-League, for a long time, only Song Lam Nghe An, Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Da Nang have met this requirement due to the subjective reasons of the teams themselves. On the one hand, they train young players well and have enough young resources to replace those who have contributed and whose contracts have expired. On the other hand, these are teams that do not have abundant investment resources to make lavish purchases, to have immediate achievements, so they are forced to promote young players early, accepting to "play for fun", "spending their youth to stay in the league" as is known. Previously, everyone knew about the "brain drain" at Song Lam Nghe An, which made the team play poorly and almost relegated, drawing and losing all the time. Recently, another team followed suit, also leaving a series of veterans, Hoang Anh Gia Lai, also drawing is basic, winning is a luxury. In such an environment without fierce competition, it is difficult for young players to develop their inherent abilities to achieve this or that.

An obvious answer is that for a long time, very few young factors of Song Lam Nghe An after Van Duc and Xuan Manh have made it to the final list of U23 Vietnam. The two SEA Games gold medals of U23 under Park Hang-seo did not have anyone from Vinh Stadium. The Southeast Asian U23 tournament under Dinh The Nam had a series of young factors of Song Lam, but by the 2022 Asian U23 tournament under Gong Oh-kyun, they were all eliminated. Recently, the U23 team that went to Doha Cup under Troussier also fell to "mo", although there were a few names that were said to be "not released" by the home team...

So, the fact that Mr. Troussier came to Hang Day Stadium to find a factor…too old to participate in the SEA Games, while those who are in the age group who are striving are not cared for, seems really “embarrassing” for everyone? And when the cup matches are like a procedure, a match without a clear purpose, then what will Xuan Tien, Van Cuong, Nam Hai… prove to their home team, to the coach far away out there?

The new coach is already full of worries ahead of the 32nd SEA Games, but the way the young players are striving and being facilitated seems to make those worries even worse.