A different perspective on SLNA's opening day defeat.

(Baonghean.vn) - For the past three seasons, the Nghe An team has suffered humiliating defeats in their opening V.League matches. Every beginning is difficult, and the 0-2 loss against FLC Thanh Hoa will help the young SLNA players understand where they stand before getting into the rhythm of the tournament.

Preparing for the North Central Vietnam derby, SLNA were already facing defeat from the start, as the Nghe An team was missing a number of key players. In defense, SLNA were without Dinh Hoang and Van Khanh – one with excellent attacking and defensive capabilities, and the other a good partner for Minh Duc in the central defender position. In midfield, the SLNA coaching staff's plans were also somewhat disrupted as Ngoc Toan and The Cuong were not fit enough to start. Not to mention Que Ngoc Hai had to play through pain to fill in for Ngoc Toan.

The SLNA squad, comprised of players born in the 1990s (in red jerseys), is predicted to have a slow start in the 2017 V.League season.

Even with their strongest squad, Coach Nguyen Duc Thang's players would find it difficult to perform well against their neighbors because, in terms of individual players on the field, FLC Thanh Hoa is superior to the visiting team. With the poor and uneven pitch of Thanh Hoa's stadium, SLNA cannot compete in aerial duels with tall, strong defenders like Tien Thanh and Van Bakel who are good at holding off defenders. On the other hand, it's hard to blame the two new signings, Henry and Olaha, as they have only recently arrived in Vietnam and are facing difficulties adapting to the harsh weather and the demanding V.League.

Perhaps the only blame lies with Van Binh and Trong Hoang – former SLNA players who played exceptionally well against their younger counterparts. They understood the strengths and weaknesses of Ngoc Hai and Khac Ngoc, effectively neutralizing them and dominating the midfield. Furthermore, it could be argued that SLNA hadn't yet reached peak form. Just two weeks before the tournament began, the SLNA coaching staff eased the training intensity. This resulted in a certain inertia among the players. With their physical condition not at its best, it's understandable that the Nghe An team started the match shakily and lacked confidence against FLC Thanh Hoa.

In recent V.League seasons, a prime example of a slow start is Hanoi FC. Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem's ​​team often plays very poorly in the first 4-5 matches of the season. But once the capital city team overcomes that difficult period, they play exceptionally well and maintain a winning streak.

When returning to their home ground to face XSKT Can Tho, SLNA's playing style will depend heavily on their two foreign players, Henry and Olaha, up front. After 90 minutes on the Thanh Hoa pitch, coach Nguyen Duc Thang was not surprised by their performance; instead, he expressed considerable satisfaction with their first time being deployed in a 4-4-1-1 formation.

Losing the first match away from home isn't a big deal. The important thing is that SLNA's young players build a strong mental foundation for the upcoming matches. After all, the V.League is a long race, requiring endurance and sound tactical planning from the professionals. Young players are easily swayed by defeat and complacent by victory. But it's better to leave Thanh Hoa empty-handed to understand what needs improvement than to win by chance without knowing where you stand!

Trung Kien