Dinh Xuan Tien returns, Song Lam Nghe An promotes more young players?

Before round 9 of V.League 2023/2024, coach Phan Nhu Thuat and his colleagues can temporarily rest assured when the board of directors has approved midfielder Dinh Xuan Tien to practice and compete again after a "trial" period. Although he is only 21 years old, Xuan Tien has participated in 3 V.League seasons and has been given many opportunities to play by coach Huy Hoang, now Phan Nhu Thuat. He has also scored 4 goals in the V.League over the past year.

Thus, in the midfield position, the coaching staff of Song Lam Nghe An has many young and promising faces who are capable of taking on the responsibility of the midfield such as Tran Nam Hai, Dinh Xuan Tien, Nguyen Quang Vinh, Phan Ba ​​Quyen, Tran Manh Quynh, Ngo Van Luong, Nguyen Van Bach... Youth and passion are sufficient conditions, only experience is what these faces lack.

In the 2023/2024 season, Trong Hoang will only play 45 minutes and Dinh Chau will play 136 minutes. Saying goodbye to these two players could help Song Lam Nghe An strengthen its squad in the remaining stages of the 2023/2024 V.League. According to the regulations, each team can register a maximum of 30 players and with the current squad of 27, coach Phan Nhu Thuat can promote up to 3 more young players.

With 3 foreign players with average quality in V.League as present, Song Lam Nghe An will certainly not change anything. However, in the defensive positions, the Nghe An team is seriously lacking, especially full-back when Ho Van Cuong is playing for Cong An Ha Noi on loan and central defender when Khac Luong is injured for a long time.

In the center-back position, in the hands of coach Phan Nhu Thuat, only Le Van Thanh and foreign player Mario Zebic are the best center-backs. Players like Ba Quyen and Nam Hai can play in this position but tend to be more suitable for the role of defensive midfielder. Meanwhile, in the full-back position, with Van Viet and Van Huy, the force is quite thin.

In the youth team of Song Lam Nghe An, experts can see a number of promising players who are capable of being promoted to the first team soon. These include central defenders Trinh Hoang Canh, Phan Van Thanh, Nguyen Van Tam, defenders Bui Thanh Duc, Nguyen Mai Hoang, who are the pillars of the U19 Song Lam Nghe An team. In addition, there is midfielder Le Dinh Long Vu - a player who plays in the position of midfielder or striker.

Considered the "toughest" among the above players is Trinh Hoang Canh, a player born in 2003 who was called up to the Vietnam U23 team, the same generation that won the 2020 National U17 Championship with Xuan Tien and Van Cuong, and was planned to be promoted to V.League early but missed the appointment due to a shoulder injury. Center-back Hoang Canh has an ideal height (1m80) and a playing style quite similar to his senior Hoang Van Khanh.

Also possessing an ideal physique is central defender Phan Van Thanh, born in 2007. This young central defender is 1m82 tall and is a member of the Vietnam U17 Team at the 2023 U17 Asian Finals. Players Bui Thanh Duc is 17 years old but is a starting player, winning a Silver medal at the recent 2023 National U21 Championship. Meanwhile, Long Vu is a player considered one of the 60 most talented young players in the world by the British press.

Which names will be added by coach Phan Nhu Thuat in the coming time is still a mystery because their real ability and expertise must be evaluated through the National U19 tournament. However, regardless of which players are not strengthened this time, Song Lam Nghe An will certainly create conditions for them to play at lower-ranked clubs on loan to gain experience and become more mature before returning to wear the shirt of their hometown team to play in the V.League.

In general, the teams in V.League will not have much reinforcement in terms of force. With Song Lam Nghe An, the "homegrown" policy is at least helping the Nghe team to be proactive in terms of personnel and create momentum for the following seasons. At the same time, they will continue to participate in V.League 2023/2024 as the team with the youngest average age.

Called the youngest team in V.League, after this season, Song Lam Nghe An also owns half of the U23 Vietnam team who have had at least 3-4 seasons competing in the highest level of Vietnamese football. Achievements are not expected right away, but surely the young players will bring more emotional and fiery matches this season./.