Song Lam Nghe An and the counterattack problem
With a defensive style of play, counter-attacks are an opportunity for Song Lam Nghe An to make a difference. However, the effectiveness of the Nghe An team's counter-attacks is not high.
In the match against Quy Nhon Binh Dinh, coach Pham Anh Tuan's team had no less than 3 delicious counter-attack opportunities, but unfortunately the attacking players of Quy Nhon Binh Dinh failed.Lam River Nghe Ancannot be successfully exploited.
That was the situation where Nguyen Trong Tuan ran down very freely in the 73rd minute but did not handle it decisively, causing the opportunity to pass. A few minutes later, there was a 3 vs 3 situation with the participation of Michael Olaha, Benjamin Kuku and Nguyen Trong Tuan. But once again, the deep pass of this young midfielder born in 2006 could not help Song Lam Nghe An score another goal to tie the home team.
The most regrettable situation was the last situation in the last match. This was also a situation where the Nghe An team's attack had more players than Quy Nhon Binh Dinh. However, the lack of coordination and concentration of the attacking players caused Song Lam Nghe An to only get 1 point leaving Quy Nhon field.
Not only did Song Lam Nghe An waste counter-attack opportunities in the match against Quy Nhon Binh Dinh, but they also wasted many opportunities in the match against Thep Xanh Nam Dinh in round 4 of V.League. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Michael Olaha and Benjamin Kuku were put in favorable situations to find the opening goal. However, the lack of decisiveness and lack of coordination in the final stages prevented the Nghe An team from finding a goal. As a result, coach Pham Anh Tuan's team suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat.
It can be said that Song Lam Nghe An did not take advantage of the counter-attack opportunities to create a difference. This is one of the reasons why the Nghe team has not been able to win after the first 5 rounds of V.League 2024/2025. Therefore, Song Lam Nghe An must make changes to improve the effectiveness of counter-attack situations.
The first is the number of players in the counter-attacks of the Nghe An team. It is mostly the 2+1 formula with 2 foreign players in the attack line and 1 midfielder. This reduces the options for Song Lam Nghe An to coordinate and makes it easy for the opponent to predict.
Therefore, it is necessary for the Nghe An team to increase the number of players in counter-attack situations. However, this is not an easy task when the Song Lam Nghe An team often retreats deep, so quickly advancing requires good physical strength and speed from the players.
The most suitable positions to participate in these counter-attacks are the central midfielder duo and 2 wingers. At that time, Song Lam Nghe An will have 4-5 players to increase pressure on the opponent's defense.
With enough players, the Nghe An team will have to improve their final coordination situations. In the counter-attacks of Song Lam Nghe An, there was only one situation.Benjamin KukuThe most worth watching was Nguyen Quang Vinh's goal against Nam Dinh Steel Blue. However, the young midfielder born in 2005 ran out of steam at the last moment, causing the opportunity to pass.
While the remaining situations, most of them are still confused in deciding to handle individually or in coordination. This shows that Song Lam Nghe An is not yet fluent in counter-attack situations. Therefore, this is the key point.Nghe An football teamneed to improve in counter-attack situations.
However, we also need to praise the team of coach Pham Anh Tuan. It was the brilliant passes of the midfield or the agility and strength of the foreign duo that opened up many dangerous counter-attack opportunities.
We believe that if we just improve the final stage, the counter-attacks of the Nghe An team will soon turn into goals. Thereby, creating an advantage for Song Lam Nghe An to maintain a defensive counter-attacking style of play.