V-League: Not just Tien Linh's story

It is not wrong that foreign players have made many significant marks in the matches, but over time things are not as simple as initially expected. There are many problems, stories that have happened, causing many people to speak up.

Most recently, the number 1 striker of the Vietnam National Team and Becamex Binh Duong, Tien Linh, has been "silent" after 8 rounds of matches, because his dominance has been transferred to the top foreign striker of the V-League, Rimario, the top scorer in recent seasons.

Xuan Manh made an accurate assist to bring the equalizer for Song Lam Nghe An in round 8 of V-League. Photo: Phi Hung

A coach of Song Lam Nghe An once talked to the writer that there are A-class teams that do not need any advanced tactics to play, they all focus on defense, when they have the ball they break it up, and pass it to the two foreign players who play at the highest level, they will have enough strength to press, enough strength to do everything necessary and then score!

Looking back, it can be seen that the above team has no lofty goals, no ambition for ranking because the domestic players are average, the foreign players are also average, they just run well, play tirelessly, do not get injured and leave everything to the foreign players to take care of.

Of course, many V-League teams with good youth training foundations and traditions also have to buy foreign players, even naturalize players to supplement and strengthen their forces to serve their ambitions and goals. Not only buying strikers, but many necessary positions such as foreign central defenders (to compete with foreign strikers), foreign defensive midfielders (to meet the requirements of strength to defend the midfield and attack) are also taken into account and implemented effectively.

Song Lam Nghe An has gone through many periods of buying good foreign players, from strikers to midfielders and quality defenders. But gradually due to poor potential, the Vinh team only had mediocre foreign players, who did not help the team much, even the goal scoring contract was not as effective as many people knew.

Tien Linh quenched his thirst for goals when he opened the score for Becamex Binh Duong. Photo: Duc Anh

At Becamex Binh Duong, for a long time, the highest striker position has been held by Tien Linh and this is one of the few domestic strikers who have scored many goals in the V-League, a rare phenomenon that has been promoted not only at the club but also at the U23 and the Vietnam National Team. But sadly, the Thu Dau Mot team bought a great foreign player, playing in the right position of the "favorite child".Tien Linhand now leading to a sad ending for both: Both Rimario and Tien Linh have scored little or no goals and the home team is sinking deep at the bottom of the rankings after having to use 3 consecutive head coaches Lu Dinh Tuan, Nguyen Quoc Tuan and Le Huynh Duc.

But the sad and worth-telling story is not only of Tien Linh but also of many domestic strikers in many V-League 1 and 2 teams. Except for Van Quyet who has been scoring regularly in recent times, Tuan Hai and many domestic strikers in Hanoi FC rarely get to play to prove their abilities, even when their senior Van Quyet has an accident. Coach Park Hang-seo's favorite striker Duc Chinh went from Da Nang to Binh Dinh, only scoring one goal in two years. At Song Lam Nghe An, striker Ho Phuc Tinh is the most potential and talented player in the attack, but how can he take the place of Olaha or Soladio?

Everyone knows and understands this and has talked about many solutions, but things still haven't changed for the better. The economic difficulties after the pandemic are directly affecting football investors and sponsors, and the V-League is no exception to this worrying trend. Investment must have results and achievements, so foreign players must be used, there must be goals and wins, which means that young players and domestic strikers will have a hard time getting a starting position and proving their abilities, as we know.

V-League is the story of football teams but also the basic foundation for a football foundation, for the strength of U23 or Vietnam National Team. Lacking practical experience due to being occupied, being only a supporting actor, U22 Vietnam had a great chance but still lost miserably in the semi-finals.SEA Games 32before the Indonesian people are full of desire and experience. Now it is the turn of the Vietnam National Team to gather, but Tien Linh, Duc Chinh, Tuan Hai... have not shown any outstanding performance in the 8 rounds of V-League, so coach Philippe Troussier will consider how to call them up and whether calling them up will meet the new requirements, or just bring a bit of... glory from the past? The hot story is not only about Tien Linh, in that sense./.

Bui Hoa