Phi Son - Please don't keep labeling him as a child prodigy.

(Baonghean.vn) -Although key players like Trong Hoang, Van Binh, Quang Tinh, Van Hoan, Dinh Dong... are still in their prime at the age of 24 or 25, the coaching staff of the Nghe An team continues its strong youth rejuvenation policy to plan for the long-term future.

True to his word, coach Huu Thang has given young players maximum opportunities to play this season whenever possible. Based on what Dinh Hoang, Manh Hung, Sy Sam, and Khac Ngoc have shown, SLNA's strategy is entirely correct. However, the fact that "prodigy" Phi Son hasn't shone as expected is a regrettable low point, as he was the one who was expected to do the most.

Phi Son's journey to the first team was quite impressive, with a series of major and minor titles he won at the Thanh Nien Newspaper U21 Championship and the subsequent International U21 tournament. The nickname "Cristiano Ronaldo of SLNA" gradually became familiar to fans. However, his early fame is now harming him. As a star, he naturally needs special attention; all defenses in the V.League keep a close eye on him, preventing the spontaneous but not yet truly effective playing style of the star from Ha Tinh from flourishing. Now, instead of cheering whenever the ball reaches Phi Son's feet, many fans openly express their frustration and annoyance when he frequently loses possession carelessly, rendering the team's efforts futile.

Phi Son needs to play a simpler game.

SLNA has played quite well in the recent rounds, evidenced by their 10 points from the last 4 matches (3 wins, 1 draw), officially putting behind them the previous disappointing run of results. Of course, Cong Vinh, Hector, Au Van Hoan, and Nguyen Manh, with their extremely high performance, are the first factors mentioned, but coach Huu Thang certainly cannot fully enjoy the joy when his favorite player, Phi Son, has been so lackluster.

The victory against Thanh Hoa is a prime example. Introduced in the middle of the second half, he had plenty of time to showcase his skills, but unfortunately, due to his excessive focus on "showing off," Phi Son often made a fool of himself. Spectators were very disappointed with his footballing mindset; in many situations, despite being closely marked by 3 to 4 opposing defenders, Phi Son still decided to attempt a breakthrough, only to be easily stopped. Even more concerning was that in the penalty area, both Cong Vinh and Kavin were in very favorable positions and had signaled for the ball.

Coach Huu Thang seemed to favor this midfielder too much, even though he knew Phi Son's lack of experience would make it difficult for him to stand a chance against seasoned defenders. The young strategist still decided to stick to his opinion. In response to that favoritism, Phi Son played what could be considered his worst game of the season. He was deployed from the start on his preferred right wing (Trong Hoang was forced to switch to the left), but his nearly 90 minutes on the field were a huge disappointment. Whenever he had the ball, he only focused on dribbling, but unfortunately, his "magical" footwork lacked the magic and was too ineffective to trouble the defense led by Van Nhien. On the sidelines, the SLNA coaching staff looked disheartened after each of Phi Son's "poor" plays, and his teammates seemed to be losing patience as their efforts were quickly dismissed. In the stands, criticism rang out incessantly, a scene rarely seen before. It all boils down to two words: "disappointment".

“Vinh’s departure is a big loss for SLNA, but I believe the coaching staff will make appropriate adjustments to fill this void. I myself will try my best if given the opportunity again; I want to contribute my efforts to help SLNA win the championship and secure a regular place in the starting lineup,” Phi Son stated confidently.

That's essential for a professional player, but to succeed, words must be accompanied by actions. Phi Son's performance wasn't particularly impressive, but luck was on his side. His team's victory overshadowed his previous poor display, and the current situation also favored him. After Cong Vinh's departure, SLNA's squad became even thinner. The quartet of Quang Tinh, Van Binh, Trong Hoang, and Hector, even working at full capacity, struggled to shoulder the heavy burden of the remaining five rounds. Furthermore, promoting Hector to striker was almost mandatory, as no one believed Plaza would shine after being overlooked for so long.

SLNA's morale is high, but the serious injury to their squad is a cause for concern. Not only are they missing Cong Vinh, but now they're also without Trong Hoang due to accumulating three yellow cards. However, this inadvertently opens up an opportunity for Phi Son to prove himself once again. With confidence waning, now is the time for this star to reclaim what he has lost.

Viet Khanh