Song Lam Nghe An's professional story after losing to Hai Phong

But the away match against the fateful opponent was speeding towards the finish line, making it difficult to stop Song Lam Nghe An, almost certain to lose before the match whistle blew. That was the result of the previous matches leading to a "perforation" in the defense: Ngoc Hai, Ba Sang were suspended, Van Duc only played in the second half. And even with Trong Hoang in midfield, who can be sure that this player will be able to handle the attack and defense as well as he did before? The "obvious" consequence in the first half was known to everyone. The team had "weakened" themselves without knowing it (or knew it but couldn't).

An attack by SLNA in the first half. Photo: Chung Le

The problem of Song Lam Nghe An, if only looking at a specific match, is often not fully understood, because of this. The defense is constantly disrupted for many different reasons, coming from many different key positions. Strangely, head coach Huy Hoang, who is a famous defender, cannot build and strengthen the team with a solid defense as the tradition has been for many years.

It is also necessary to say that when Vietnamese football, when the Vietnamese national team has anyone better than Ngoc Hai "reigning" in the position of central defender, but returning to Song Lam Nghe An, he is very obscure in the role of leader and cannot help the defense become more stable and solid? There may be reasons from the partners, from the front line lacking a good midfielder... but whatever, when Song Lam Nghe An continuously concedes goals from set pieces, players commit serious fouls leading to losing the game, wearing down the force like in the match against Hai Phong mentioned above, Ngoc Hai cannot help but be partly responsible?

Maybe due to the actual situation of the force or the opponent, maybe due to experience, Huy Hoang's recent "chaotic swordplay" also shows the instability from the technical area to the actual tactical operation of Song Lam Nghe An. The difficulty does not "show" the cleverness is something that needs to be re-examined, because in the past, how many people always had smooth sailing? The initial tactical diagram was renewed, with success but then changed, and encountered difficulties again. The midfield was a process of constant experimentation with a series of young players, replacing and changing with pillars but in the end, it was still unstable, still lacking a leader, good defender and good attacker. Besides, the selection of foreign players is still surprising, still very sad after what they have shown.

The season is coming to an end and there is no hope for Song Lam Nghe An, except for promises that seem real, then abandoned, without any hesitation, worry or any sincere, appropriate words? When Song Lam Nghe An lost to Hanoi FC (first leg), lost to Hai Phong in the second leg, lost both the first and second legs to Binh Dinh, Viettel, even lost and drew with the weak team Da Nang... then when someone said that it was a "launching pad" for the above teams to win the championship and achieve high rankings, it sounded so bitter and painful!

The team owner who has just been elected to the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Football Federation shows that he will continue to stick with it, but whether he will be brighter, more ambitious, and able to do more remains to be seen. Fans of Song Lam Nghe An, who love the team passionately, wholeheartedly, and wholeheartedly, but now if asked whether they will maintain their “steel spirit”, I am afraid that all answers will only be hesitant and perfunctory…?

Chau Phu