Song Lam Nghe An and its opportunity against Ho Chi Minh City Police.

Pop road much point weak

After the first four rounds of the V.League 2025/26, Song Lam Nghe An only managed to secure 4 points with 1 win, 1 draw, and 2 losses. These numbers are not enough to reassure fans, especially since the team's performance has been more disappointing than expected.

The surprising 2-1 victory against reigning champions Nam Dinh Steel Green was described as an "earthquake," but it was largely due to a combination of luck, the brilliance of a few individuals, and an unusually poor performance from their opponents. Overall, Song Lam Nghe An's playing style was too predictable, with monotonous combinations, a lack of creativity, and almost no clear philosophy.

Opposing coaches like Chu Đình Nghiêm (Hai Phong) and Nguyễn Công Mạnh (Hong Linh Ha Tinh) shared the same opinion: simply isolating Khắc Ngọc and Olaha would immediately cripple Song Lam Nghe An. This shows that the tactical system built by coach Phan Như Thuật is still too dependent on a few key players. Even when leading or playing with a man advantage, Song Lam Nghe An chose to retreat into a defensive posture, leading to a deadlock in counter-attacks.

More worryingly, after four matches, Song Lam Nghe An's defense has yet to keep a clean sheet, even though their opponents were mostly mid-table teams. The warning signs of a season full of instability are evident, and if things don't change, coach Phan Nhu Thuat's team could once again fall into the relegation battle like last season.

Muscle festivalfor Song Lam Nghe An

Looking at the squad, Song Lam Nghe An is by no means weak. Foreign player Olaha has proven his worth, Garcia is experienced and reliable, Enrique is skillful, and Moore Reon Dale possesses the ability to create breakthroughs. The domestic players also include many mature talents who have come through many V.League seasons such as Van Huy, Ba Quyen, Quang Vinh, Van Cuong, Nam Hai… This is a foundation that many mid-level clubs can only dream of.

The problem is that Song Lam Nghe An hasn't figured out how to fully utilize the potential of this squad. They need a more cohesive and energetic style of play, instead of their current lackluster performance. The match against Ho Chi Minh City Police in Round 5 therefore becomes a crucial "test".

Under the guidance of coach Le Huynh Duc, Ho Chi Minh City Police are playing with extreme discipline and effectiveness, thanks to the addition of quality players such as center-back Matheus Felipe, striker Raphael Schorr Utzig, and national team player Nguyen Tien Linh. Currently, the team is ranked 3rd in the standings with consistent performance. Clearly, they are a formidable opponent, but not invincible.

Song Lam Nghe An has the home advantage and, more importantly, they are motivated by the mounting pressure. In their last five encounters with Ho Chi Minh City Police (the predecessor of Ho Chi Minh City FC), Song Lam Nghe An has remained undefeated. This statistic could be a source of morale. But more importantly, coach Phan Nhu Thuat needs to boldly make drastic changes, from tactics to fighting spirit, instead of continuing with a lackluster style of play.

"Earning points" against Ho Chi Minh City Police is not simply a matter of achieving a goal, but also a confirmation of Song Lam Nghe An's true capabilities. If they continue to fail, the patience of Nghe An fans will dwindle, and pressure from public opinion could cause the already full cup to overflow.

In modern football, spirit must go hand in hand with tactics and decisiveness. Without systemic change, Song Lam Nghe An will forever be stuck in the relegation battle. The match against Ho Chi Minh City Police is therefore their last chance to prove they still have what it takes to compete in the V.League.

Duc Anh