How does SLNA need to strengthen its forces to win?

Although this young coach only spoke in general terms, looking at the overall performance of The Cong Viettel or Dong A Thanh Hoa and Thep Xanh Nam Dinh in the previous rounds, it is not difficult to identify where SLNA is weak and lacking, at what time, in order to have the best possible solution to supplement and overcome!

In fact, in round 9, Song Lam was without two young players who had been playing well for a long time, Van Thanh and Quang Vinh. Then Xuan Tien got injured and left the field early, which meant that the team was "missing" 3 starting positions, forcing Mr. Nhu Thuat to use 18,19 year old players like Thanh Duc, Trong Tuan... so being completely pressured by the opponent was inevitable.

Moreover, even in previous seasons, when Song Lam's squad was not as "green" as it is now, conceding early goals against a team of seasoned soldiers from set pieces was a common occurrence.

On the other hand, foreign player Kuku, when retreating to defend, failed to complete his task, unable to keep up with Duc Chien, allowing this player to jump high and head the ball to open the score very early, opening the door for an easy goal for the home team against an opponent that was weak in every aspect.

But anyway, in football, it is not uncommon for strong teams to still "fall off their horses" as usual, and it was The Cong Viettel who unexpectedly lost 0-3 at Lach Tray Stadium in the last match of the season against Song Lam, and then "saved" the Vinh Stadium team from having to compete in the humiliating play-off. The question now is, what positions and lines does Song Lam Nghe An need to add to its squad as expected by the coaching staff and the majority of fans?

The first and final answer still has to wait for the leaders - the sponsors of the team, because even though they say "they will bring the team back to its old position", but if they only use young players trained by themselves as they have and the quota for foreign players is the same as before, everything will be "as difficult as it sounds", facing a strong team, they will be defeated, temporarily avoiding the 14th position to rise to 12th in one round, then returning to the bottom of the table!

Let's look at each position to see the current situation. For example, we can rest assured with Van Viet but foreign defender Zaracho is not, domestic defenders Van Thanh, Nguyen Hoang or Nam Hai are not able to handle the task for 90 minutes, so is it urgent and necessary to add or replace domestic and foreign defenders?

Is it necessary to break the rule of "only using self-trained young players" to be able to quickly bring back the key players who have left, to supplement the positions of central defender, full-back and especially the position of organizing midfielder and controlling the rhythm?

If we can temporarily rest assured with the striker pair Olaha and Kuku, then buying a foreign striker as a reserve for them is also necessary, because they cannot keep working hard all season, cannot avoid penalties or injuries and then have to "handicap" the opponent, meaning losing the match before even playing or losing in the last tiring minutes?

Of course, Mr. Nhu Thuat has an important idea which is "waiting for some injured players to return" after the break, such as Ba Quyen, Xuan Dai, then Xuan Tien, or Van Cuong, Nam Hai... If everything goes well, maybe the midfield will be more stable if Ba Quyen joins forces with Quang Vinh, for example, or the wings will be as flexible as expected if Van Cuong really plays well, and Dinh Hoang also returns with confidence?

But whatever is said, all expectations for Xuan Tien to complete the task are increasingly dwindling and the requirement for a factor to change the state well, to have good passes for the front line is still far away, far away if the current squad is not energized and supplemented?

And another important thing that cannot be “bought” is the will and physical strength of the players! Mr. Nhu Thuat and the coaching staff have a great responsibility in this important and core issue through specific daily work, in training as well as competition, besides the requirement to be met regarding the reinforcement of the force in phase 2? A few changes and additions, even small ones, will also add strength to the team in the current difficult context of everyone.

Chau Phu