Nguyen Dinh Bao returns to SLNA to replace Phan Van Duc, why not?

"Taking this opportunity, the SLNA coaching staff should quickly recruit Nguyen Dinh Bao to fill the position left by Phan Van Duc (left wing midfielder)," former coach Nguyen Thanh Vinh shared with Nghe An Newspaper about this question.

"Nguyen Dinh Bao is a player with good technical skills and a very high fighting spirit. In previous seasons, he played quite well in Hai Phong's attack, alongside Fagan and Stevens," said Mr. Vinh.

The opinion of expert Nguyen Thanh Vinh is worth considering for the SLNA coaching board because in fact, in the past time, since the day midfielder Phan Van Duc suffered an injury, SLNA's attack line has not been as sharp and effective as before. With only 13 goals scored after 13 matches, SLNA is the team with the second worst scoring record (Viettel has 12 goals) in the first leg of V.League 2019.

Nguyen Dinh Bao (red shirt) during his reunion with his old team SLNA. Photo courtesy

One of the reasons why SLNA’s attack seemed harmless at the beginning of this season was the long-term absence of national team player Phan Van Duc. Don’t forget, in the first leg of V.League 2018, Duc “Cọt” scored 5 goals for the Nghe An team. In addition, the player from Yen Thanh also contributed greatly to the team’s overall playing style thanks to his aggressiveness, intelligence and understanding with teammates such as Olaha, Ho Khac Ngoc…

Without the presence of Phan Van Duc, the left wing position is a "vast void" that SLNA's coaching staff has yet to find a "perfect replacement". Objectively speaking, recruiting Nguyen Dinh Bao is not a bad option in SLNA's current situation. Like Phan Van Duc, the player born in 1991 used to play as a striker before moving back to play as a left wing midfielder at Hai Phong.

SLNA is having a headache with the problem of "no Phan Van Duc". Photo archive

Despite having to play further away from the opponent's goal, Nguyen Dinh Bao still proved his killer instinct. In Hai Phong's achievement of winning the runner-up position in V.League 2016, Nguyen Dinh Bao contributed 10 goals. In V.League last year, the former SLNA striker played 23/26 matches and scored 7 goals for the Lach Tray team. Therefore, the decision of Hai Phong's Board of Directors to part ways with Nguyen Dinh Bao surprised football fans.

If he successfully recruits Nguyen Dinh Bao, coach Nguyen Duc Thang will have another "powerful weapon" in the left-wing midfielder position. Having grown up at the SLNA training center and played for the Nghe An team for 2 seasons (2014 - 2015), the Thanh Chuong player will not take much time to "reintegrate" into the playing style of his old team. It all depends on the SLNA coaching staff and Nguyen Dinh Bao himself./.