Foreign players - a concern for Song Lam Nghe An

The recent friendly match between Song Lam Nghe An and Dong A Thanh Hoa has partly outlined the personnel picture of the Nghe team before the new season. The most notable point in this confrontation is that Song Lam Nghe An only used striker Michael Olaha in the list of foreign players. Meanwhile, the new playerCarlos Enrique Olaya– the player expected to bring solidity to the midfield – only appeared in the stands as a spectator.

With the V.League applying the regulation allowing each team to register a maximum of 4 foreign players in the 2025/26 season, it is clear that Song Lam Nghe An still lacks at least 2 slots to complete the squad. Currently, the Nghe An team is targeting 2 central defenders and 1 striker to supplement these 2 missing foreign player slots.

However, completing legal procedures, paperwork, medical examinations, visas, international transfer papers, etc. will take a certain amount of time. This raises a big question: Will the new foreign players be able to join the team and compete before the opening day of the season?

Not only facing procedural issues, foreign recruits also have to overcome a difficult challenge: the weather conditions in Nghe An. At the present time, the intense heat will be a huge challenge for physical adaptation. Just a little deviation in preparation will significantly erode the players' physical strength, directly affecting their performance and ability to integrate into tactics.

Therefore, early completion of recruitment and staff stabilization is a key factor toLam River Nghe Ancan get into the rhythm right from the first rounds of the season. A disjointed squad or physical problems from foreign players will put pressure on the domestic players - who have been too familiar with having to "carry the burden" for many recent seasons.

Another important thing: Although each team is allowed to register 4 foreign players, only a maximum of 3 players can play at the same time. This means that coach Phan Nhu Thuat will have to carefully calculate each position and each match to choose the 3 foreign players that best suit the opponent and the situation. Who to keep, who to withdraw, how to replace them - these are all difficult problems, especially when there is not enough time to observe and verify the real ability of the new players.

Understanding the strengths, weaknesses, physical condition and playing style of each foreign player is an important premise to build tactics around them. If this is not done, the Nghe An team can completely fall into a tactical confusion in the first rounds - something no fan wants.

In the opening match, Song Lam Nghe An will face rookie PVF-CAND - a team that has just started playing in theV.League. This is considered a golden opportunity for coach Phan Nhu Thuat's team to achieve a favorable result and create momentum for the journey ahead. However, if they stumble in the first round, everything will become much more difficult. Because after that, Song Lam Nghe An will have to welcome the defending champion Thep Xanh Nam Dinh at home, before traveling to Lach Tray to face Hai Phong Club.

Clearly, the challenge lies ahead, and it requires careful preparation in every aspect. From finalizing foreign personnel, completing administrative procedures, to training and familiarizing with tactics – all need to be carried out urgently and accurately. Only then can the Nghe An team enter the new season with confidence and expectations of bringing about positive results.

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