Coach Ngo Quang Truong and his fate with young SLNA players

There are similarities in the time when coach Ngo Quang Truong took charge of SLNA's first team. In late 2014 and early 2015, when coach Nguyen Huu Thang left the Nghe An team, a series of key players such as Cong Vinh, Trong Hoang, Van Binh, Au Hoan left, foreign players were of poor quality, SLNA had to rely on the youth.

In V.League 2015, the biggest discovery and also the boldest decision of Coach Quang Truong was to use players born in 1994. The first case was that of Vo Ngoc Toan, at that time, this player was only 21 years old, still lacking much experience in combat but still had 15 matches, 10 starting positions, 1 goal.

At that time, Coach Quang Truong still had a very quality midfielder in his hands, Hoang Thinh. Thanks to being given the opportunity to play regularly, Ngoc Toan became a pillar of SLNA in V.League 2016 with 23 matches, 18 starts.

Players like Bui Dinh Chau are maturing day by day under coach Quang Truong. Photo: Duc Anh

Just one year later, coach Ngo Quang Truong brought players Ho Tuan Tai, Phan Van Duc and Pham Xuan Manh - who had won the national U17 championship with him in 2012 - to try out. Of course, Hoang Van Khanh, after his loan to XSKT Can Tho, was also built into an important factor.

That year, Van Khanh played 21/22 matches from the starting lineup, Phan Van Duc had 11 appearances with 1 match in the starting lineup. Pham Xuan Manh had a better starting point with 15 matches, 6 starts. Ho Tuan Tai alone had 9/12 starts, 1 goal. Those beginnings were all very difficult, but helped them have a solid foundation later.

Speaking of this, many people can understand better why Coach Quang Truong was chosen to replace Coach Huu Thang after V.League 2014. No one understands the talent, personality, and mindset of the players born in 1995 and 1996 like Coach Quang Truong because this strategist has known and taken care of them since they were young boys.

"Rough diamonds" are waiting to be polished by Coach Quang Truong. Photo: Xuan Thuy

Not only that, in V.League 2020, when coach Nguyen Duc Thang became the Technical Director, coach Quang Truong once again put his trust in young players. In the match against Saigon, Van Lam and Dinh Chau were placed in the starting lineup from the beginning, surpassing senior players such as Sy Sam, Quoc Trung, Quang Tinh. In the match against B. Binh Duong, Tran Ngoc Anh was also "tested" in the final minutes of the match.

With 8 young players registered for the 2020 season, in the recent 1-0 victory over Binh Dinh, Bui Dinh Chau, Dang Van Lam, and Tran Dinh Tien were the 3 players who started the match. In the second half, Coach Quang Truong continued to send Tran Ngoc Anh (1999), Nguyen Van Viet (1999) to increase the attack and also prepare them for more intense and fierce matches in the V.League.

According to many experts, SLNA's playing style this season has had some clear highlights. It is a methodical way of organizing attacks, goals come with difficulty but the coordination and creation of opportunities are very clear, creating high breakthroughs, less dependent on long passes. This is a must because SLNA does not have an organizing midfielder like Khac Ngoc.

Coach Quang Truong has a squad of young players eager to prove themselves. Photo: Duc Anh

Before the new season, there were concerns for SLNA because the young players from 1999-1997 of SLNA were not really good, often had no titles in youth tournaments and were not called up to the Vietnam U23 team.

However, with the current positive signals, SLNA can completely stand firm. Even when players Phan Van Duc, Pham Xuan Manh, Nguyen Van Duc (1998) return from injury, things will become even more positive.

Thus, there are still defenders Thai Ba Sang, Mai Sy Hoang, goalkeeper Duong Van Cuong (1999), and center back Le Thanh Lam (2000) who have not been able to play. Besides, SLNA has another quality center back, Nguyen Ba Duc (1998), who is playing for Hai Phong Club on a secondment.

The National Cup is an ideal playground for young SLNA players. Photo: Duc Anh

The most regrettable thing is that in V.League 2020, SLNA does not have any truly quality foreign strikers. However, with the appearance of Coach Ngo Quang Truong - a former winger, Coach Phan Nhu Thuat - a former central midfielder, Coach Nguyen Huy Hoang - a former central defender and Technical Director Duc Thang, Nghe An fans have reason to believe in the youth and a consistent, unique playing style.

Will coach Quang Truong put Pham Xuan Manh in central midfield in V.League 2020?

(Baonghean.vn) – After the departure of two central midfielders Khac Ngoc and Ngoc Toan, coach Ngo Quang Truong is looking for a solution to the midfield problem at SLNA. Although two young players Van Lam and Dinh Chau have been tested, Pham Xuan Manh could be a viable option for this position.