Foreign players - a cause for concern for Song Lam Nghe An

The recent friendly match between Song Lam Nghe An and Dong A Thanh Hoa has somewhat outlined the team's personnel ahead of the new season. The most notable point in this encounter is that Song Lam Nghe An only used striker Michael Olaha in their foreign player roster. Meanwhile, the new signing...Carlos Enrique Olaya– The player who was expected to bring stability to the midfield – was instead only present in the stands as a spectator.

With the V.League implementing a regulation allowing each team to register a maximum of 4 foreign players in the 2025/26 season, it's clear that Song Lam Nghe An still needs at least 2 more players to complete their squad. Currently, the team from Nghe An is targeting 2 central defenders and 1 striker to fill these 2 remaining foreign player slots.

However, completing legal procedures, paperwork, medical checks, visas, or international transfer documents will take a certain amount of time. This raises a big question: Will the new foreign players be able to join the team and play before the start of the season?

Besides facing procedural issues, foreign recruits also have to overcome a significant challenge: the weather conditions in Nghe An. Currently, the intense heat will be a major test of their physical adaptability. Even a slight misstep in preparation will significantly deplete the players' stamina, directly impacting their performance and ability to integrate into the team's tactics.

Therefore, completing the recruitment and staffing process early is a key factor in achieving this goal.Lam River, Nghe AnThey can get off to a good start right from the first rounds of the season. A team lacking cohesion or experiencing fitness issues from foreign players will put pressure on the domestic players – who are already accustomed to carrying the team on their shoulders for many seasons now.

Another equally important point: Although each team can register four foreign players, only a maximum of three can be on the field at the same time. This means that coach Phan Như Thuật will have to carefully consider each position and each match to select the three foreign players best suited to the opponent and the game plan. Who to keep, who to withdraw, and how to replace them – these are all difficult problems, especially without enough time to observe and assess the true abilities of the new recruits.

Understanding the strengths, weaknesses, physical condition, and playing style of each foreign player is a crucial prerequisite for building a strategy around them. Without this understanding, the Nghe An team could easily find themselves in a tactical dilemma in the early rounds – something no fan wants.

In their opening match, Song Lam Nghe An will face newcomer PVF-CAND – a team that has just been promoted to the league.V.LeagueThis is seen as a golden opportunity for coach Phan Như Thuật's team to achieve a favorable result and build momentum for the road ahead. However, a slip-up in the first round would make things much more difficult. After that, Song Lam Nghe An will have to host the reigning champions, Thép Xanh Nam Định, at home, before traveling to Lạch Tray to face Hai Phong Club.

Clearly, challenges lie ahead, and they demand thorough preparation in every aspect. From finalizing foreign player rosters and completing administrative procedures to training and familiarizing themselves with tactics – everything needs to be done urgently and accurately. Only then can the Nghe An team enter the new season with confidence and the expectation of achieving positive results.

Hopefully, in the coming days, the current obstacles will be resolved soon so that fans in Nghe An can see a strong, confident, and emotional Song Lam Nghe An on the field.