Don't hesitate to experiment!

(Baonghean) - To date, the SLNA coaching staff has used 21 out of 27 players on the registration list for the 2016 V-League. Coach Ngo Quang Truong has never used the same starting lineup for two consecutive matches. Could it be that the SLNA coaching staff is still searching for their ideal lineup?

Unless injured or suspended, players like goalkeeper Nguyen Manh, center-backs Minh Duc and Ngoc Hai, right-back Dinh Hoang, midfielder Phi Son, and the foreign duo Odat Onoriode Marshal and Ouattara Baba S.Affoloh are automatically given playing time.

Like many other clubs, SLNA decided to use two foreign players in attack, but they have varied the formation considerably throughout the matches. While in the first two rounds, SLNA played a 4-4-2 formation with the two-pronged attack of Odat Onoriode Marshal and Ouattara Baba S.Affoloh, which proved ineffective, in the third round, Quang Trường switched to a 4-4-1-1 formation.

Odah Minh Duc Van Khanh Manh Hung during the match against Than Quang Ninh. Photo: Trung Won

When Que Ngoc Hai returned, SLNA still played with this formation, but Ngoc Hai was given more freedom to play, and sometimes this formation became a 4-1-4-1 with Ngoc Toan in the role of defensive midfielder to recover the ball. After the 1-3 defeat, coach Quang Truong reverted to the original 4-4-1-1 tactic, with Que Ngoc Hai moved back to his preferred central defender position.

It must be said that SLNA only had their ideal defensive lineup in round 7, and their 0-0 draw in the highlands against a renowned creative midfield was thanks to this adjustment. However, from our professional perspective, the SLNA coaching staff is "wasting" Ivorian striker Ouattara Baba. Observing Baba's performance in Pleiku, we saw that his breakthroughs into HAGL's 16.6-meter area in the 24th minute, or the golden opportunity when HAGL's goal was empty in the 59th minute, still lacked a certain finesse. On the other hand, he was quite active in defense and neutralized Japanese midfielder Ideguchi, sweeping the midfield and actively contesting with Van Thanh and Van Pho.

In fact, in the second half, SLNA's formation transformed into a 4-3-2-1 with three central midfielders: Ngoc Toan, Khac Ngoc, and Ouattara Baba. This formation proved very effective against a strong opponent and playing away from home, but it lacked players when a goal was crucial. Striker Odat Onoriode Marshal was quite isolated up front, as Phi Son had been playing rather poorly recently, and Van Vinh or Xuan Thang on the opposite wing hadn't yet found common ground with Odat.

The midfield lacked creative playmakers, and the attacking line was thin, resulting in few dangerous situations in front of the opponent's goal. Meanwhile, due to dropping quite deep, Ouattara Baba lacked finesse in direct attacks, and coupled with the stress of not having scored a goal since the beginning of the season, he appeared even more clumsy.

SLNA's two foreign players, Odah Marshal and Baba Salia, during their match against QNK QN. Photo: Trung Won

Football expert Dang Gia Man commented: Why doesn't the SLNA coaching staff boldly experiment by bringing Ouattara Baba back to play as a defensive midfielder, or partnering a young player with Odat in attack? Players like Tuan Tai, Phuc Tinh, and Viet Nguyen are much needed to prove themselves; even if they are unsuccessful, they won't be as "clumsy" as Ouattara Baba in the Central Highlands. Looking at how Truong Viet Hoang used Dinh Bao, a player who came through the SLNA youth academy, in the recent match, fans in Nghe An believe that these three players are perfectly capable of scoring goals.

With a team like Long An that doesn't have a strong attack, why should the SLNA coaching staff hesitate to experiment with a domestic striker? Who knows, perhaps, freed from the pressure of "having to score goals," Ouattara Baba might thrive in his new position and finally get his name on the scoreboard. It's a win-win situation; let's be bold and try it out…

An Thanh