Quang Truong has completed the SLNA framework this season.

Looking at SLNA training and playing, we can see that the Nghe An team continues to maintain the 4-4-2 formation. When playing away or needing to protect a favorable score, Quang Truong will switch to 4-4-1-1. The preparation time is short, most of the SLNA youth teams are used to playing with these formations, so Quang Truong cannot do anything else.

In goal, there are not many opportunities for Van Tien, even though this goalkeeper has turned 26 years old. With only average ability and 4 matches in V.League, it is not difficult to predict that he will have to be a reserve for his junior Van Hoang. Goalkeeper Van Tien cannot be blamed, but with the policy of using people like SLNA, it is very difficult to have opportunities for new faces.

SLNA has many quality goalkeepers after the departure of Nguyen Manh. Photo SLNA.

SLNA's two flanks will have Xuan Manh, Sy Nam (right wing) and Dinh Dong, Ngoc Duc (left wing). If the use of Dinh Dong or Ngoc Duc on the left wing depends on the physical strength and sometimes the head coach's intuition for the match, then whether Xuan Manh or Sy Nam plays as a starter depends largely on tactics.

If Ho Tuan Tai plays right midfielder, there is no reason for Ngo Quang Truong to "waste" Xuan Manh on the bench. When pushing Xuan Manh to play midfielder, the opportunity will open up for Sy Nam. The reason why this defender born in 1993 rarely plays is that Sy Nam's crosses from the wing often go behind the goal. Playing as a full-back but lacking crosses on the move, it is understandable that he has to sit on the bench for the past 5 years.

It seems that Van Duc is the obvious choice for the winger position. Currently, SLNA's midfield has 12 names and the names Xuan Manh, Van Duc, Tuan Tai are considered the most outstanding. With SLNA's training style, there are many players who can play both central and wing midfielders, but Cao Xuan Thang, Phu Nguyen, Ngoc Anh, Van Viet have higher chances.

Quang Truong and SLNA's coaching staff seem to prefer Quang Tinh, Quoc Trung, Van Lam, and Sy Sam. It seems that Ngo Quang Truong is placing his trust in young player Dang Van Lam, born in 1999, as the former SLNA U19 captain has shown significant progress during training. Van Lam is a big question mark as SLNA's coaching staff has assigned him the task of creating assists for SLNA in the new season.

Xuan Manh will be a versatile player on the right wing of the Nghe An team. Photo: SLNA.

Using 2 foreign players for the striker position, the decision to use a pair of domestic central midfielders is considered a risky gamble by coach Quang Truong this season. Even in the friendly matches with Hong Linh Ha Tinh, Thanh Hoa was not under much pressure but the ability to hold the ball of SLNA's midfield was still not convincing. The ability to switch from defense to attack was quite long, using many horizontal passes.

Assistant Phan Nhu Thuat, who used to play in this position as a player, understands the feelings of midfielders when asked to improve their ability to hold the ball and organize attacks. What is the pressure on the pitch for players like Van Lam?

More than anyone, Coach Quang Truong knows the hunger for the ball of SLNA's 2 foreign strikers in the 2019 V.League season. If this situation continues, and a foreign striker has to retreat as Olaha did last season, then even if Van Duc and Tuan Tai return to the attack, SLNA will still lack goals. Many coaches in Quang Truong's position will choose a foreign central midfielder, pushing Tuan Tai up to play as an attacking midfielder with the foreign striker.