Shaping the framework of Song Lam Nghe An for the new season 2025/26: Key factors still remain
After the end of the 2024/25 season, Song Lam Nghe An is undergoing a strong restructuring of the squad. Currently, coach Phan Nhu Thuat still has key players to ensure stability in terms of force.
1. Goalkeeper: Believe in Cao Van Binh
After goalkeeper Nguyen Van Viet left,Lam River Nghe Anwill definitely promote another goalkeeper besides Cao Van Binh and Nguyen Huu Hau. Among them, the two most promising names are Le Trung Tuyen (born in 2003) who has just been called back from the Hanoi Police youth team and goalkeeper Nguyen Bao Ngoc (2007) who played for PVF last season. In particular, goalkeeper Bao Ngoc, although only 18 years old, has been called up to the U17, U19 and U23 Vietnam teams for many years, possessing an ideal physique, is a strong candidate for a place in the V.League next season.
Among them, goalkeeper Cao Van Binh is likely to be trusted to become the number 1 goalkeeper in the goal of Song Lam Nghe An. Compared to Van Viet, Cao Van Binh also has more experience playing in youth teams, better physique but less experience playing football in V.League with only 2 appearances. In both of those matches, Van Binh created a sense of security for his teammates and the audience.
Nghe An fans still have reason to expect Van Binh and the remaining options, because Song Lam Nghe An has always been the place that produces good goalkeepers for Vietnamese Football. The goalkeeper position is not something to worry too much about.
2. Defender: Looking for stability
Song Lam Nghe An's defense has always been a concern for the coaching staff in recent seasons. Although last season, Song Lam Nghe An brought in foreign center-back Zaracho, an experienced player like Van Khanh, the team still conceded 36 goals, 4 more than in the 2023/24 season.
Currently, Song Lam Nghe An not only needs a solid and experienced foreign central defender like Gustavo Santos, combined with Van Khanh, Nam Hai, Nguyen Hoang... but also lacks full-backs.
On the left wing, Vuong Van Huy brings a lot of peace of mind but there is no backup plan as young defender Bui Thanh Duc is recovering from injury. On the right wing, veteran defender Tran Dinh Hoang will likely also leave the team and retire after an injury at the end of the 2024/25 season. Therefore, only Ho Van Cuong is left as the name with high expectations because Nguyen Mai Hoang is still too young. This forces Song Lam Nghe An to promote young players to gradually get used to the V.League environment, including Hoang Minh Hoi, Le Tan Dung...
3. Midfielders: Surplus and shortage
Dinh Xuan Tien will join The Cong Viettel on loan, Song Lam Nghe An's central midfield is quite crowded but still has versatile and experienced midfielders. Among the current midfielders, Khac Ngoc, Ba Quyen, Quang Vinh are the three names that create the most peace of mind for the coaching staff and fans. The remaining midfielders such as Quang Tu, Van Bach, Xuan Binh, Trong Tuan are all options on the bench.
Therefore, Song Lam Nghe An's plan to recruit a foreign player for the midfield position is completely reasonable. At the very least, a foreign midfielder will help Khac Ngoc up front to focus on building the game and increasing the attacking pressure. At that time, whether playing with 2 or 3 central midfielders, the pressure on the midfield as well as the defense will be significantly reduced.
The wing midfielder positions of Song Lam Nghe An can still rely on Tran Manh Quynh – a player who always knows how to make a difference. In addition, there are also young players Le Dinh Long Vu, Van Luong, Xuan Dai…
4. Strikers: The duo Olaha – Brandao
Last season, Song Lam Nghe An only scored 27 goals, which means an average of only 1 goal per match.
In case VFF and VPF create opportunities for all 4 foreign players to play, or even when playing with 3 foreign players, Song Lam Nghe An will definitely have Brandao to combine with Olaha in matches where Nghe An needs to increase their attack. Both have strength and speed along with the ability to finish, which will help the attack line significantly improve its scoring efficiency.
With Brandao, Song Lam Nghe An can completely take the initiative in playing with a striker like Olaha, or the foreign striker pair Olaha - Brandao, or even the striker pair Brandao - Xuan Dai so that Olaha can drop back to play as a midfielder.
Regardless, Song Lam Nghe An will have a stronger framework, more options and diversity in playing style in the 2025/26 season. However, Song Lam Nghe An is also having to calculate to find playing opportunities for players who rarely played last season such as Khac Luong, Van Thanh, Trong Tuan, Quoc Trung... Because with 4 foreign players and 3 goalkeepers, domestic players will find it increasingly difficult to compete for a starting position./.
