The sad 'records' of SLNA

(Baonghean.vn) - Under coach Ngo Quang Truong, SLNA lacked the depth, balance, and experience of a squad compared to the past. The team from Nghe An faced numerous difficulties, resulting in some unfortunate "records" during the 2016 season.

After 23 rounds, SLNA has only managed 7 wins, 7 draws, and 9 losses, accumulating 28 points and returning to their familiar 11th position. When the number of V.League teams increased to 14 with 26 rounds of matches from 2006 to 2012, SLNA's best performance was 49 points in the 2011 V.League championship, and their lowest was in 2007 with 37 points. Even in that season, SLNA only suffered 7 defeats.

Under coach Ngo Quang Truong, SLNA almost lost its fighting spirit, even though the strategist from Nghe An province did everything he could.

2008 was the season SLNA suffered the most defeats in its history with 9 losses, and this year, with only 3 rounds left in the V.League 2016, coach Ngo Quang Truong's team has already suffered 9 defeats. No one can be sure that SLNA will not break that dismal record from the past, especially since their opponents in the remaining rounds are all tough teams like Binh Duong, XSKT Can Tho, and Hai Phong.

One of the records set by SLNA this season is the attendance at their home stadium. Perhaps never before have the fans in Thanh Vinh been so indifferent to their team's matches. In the five matches against Dong Thap, S. Khanh Hoa BVN, Hanoi T&T, and SHB Da Nang, the number of people who took the time to attend Vinh Stadium was only approximately 3,000. Even the 1-2 loss against S. Khanh Hoa BVN saw only 2,000 spectators. This doesn't even include the fact that more than half of the tickets issued were complimentary.

"The 'Thanh Vinh cauldron' is now just a concept for past seasons…"

Since their arch-rival Hanoi T&T joined the V.League, SLNA has never lost to them. However, in 2015, SLNA suffered their first defeat against Hanoi T&T, a 0-1 loss at Hang Day Stadium. In the 2016 season, SLNA even lost both the first and second legs, with the first leg score being 1-3 and the second leg at Hang Day Stadium 0-1. Furthermore, for the past four years, SHB Da Nang had never won at Vinh Stadium, but in the last round, the team from the Han River finally achieved that feat…

The young players of SLNA are all skilled but lack a coach to guide their gameplay.

Besides the statistics and various records that SLNA failed to maintain, the biggest loss for the Nghe An team is the loss of the fiery spirit in their traditionally strong playing style, replaced by a physically demanding approach. More importantly, the fans' faith has been significantly eroded. And without a reform soon, who knows, no one might remember the glorious records that the Nghe An team set in the past…

Hoai Hoan