SLNA: Felipe Martins arrives, who will have to 'sacrifice'?

Without having to analyze carefully, it can be concluded that SLNA's strikers are not doing their assigned tasks well. Up to this point in V.League 2020, the strikers of the Vinh home team have only scored 7 goals (efficiency 0.7 goals/match), ranking 2nd (along with Thanh Hoa) in the list of teams with the "most blunt" strikers in the tournament, behind Hai Phong, the team with 4 goals.

Certainly, the SLNA coaching board signed a contract with Felipe Martins not to "glamourize" the bench. And most likely, the Brazilian striker will be highly valued by coach Ngo Quang Truong in the remaining matches of this year's season. The appearance of Felipe Martins in SLNA's attack will affect the chances of other teammates, specifically Ho Tuan Tai and Tran Dinh Tien.

Ho Tuan Tai finds it difficult to maintain his position as center forward. Photo: Thuy Dung

The first case is Ho Tuan Tai. According to the familiar 4-4-2 and 4-4-1-1 formations of the SLNA coaching staff, if present in the squad, Felipe Martins will take on one of the two highest positions on the attack line. The remaining 2/3 positions will almost be assigned to Phan Van Duc (left winger), Peter Onyekachi (center forward). Accordingly, only the right winger position remains, the position that Ho Tuan Tai took on at the beginning of the season, when Alagie Sosseh was trusted by the SLNA coaching staff.

It is worth mentioning that at this time, the form of the player wearing the number 10 shirt is quite impressive when taking on his favorite position as a center forward. 3 consecutive matches scoring against Quang Nam, Hong Linh Ha Tinh and Viettel, is clear proof. It is a pity that Ho Tuan Tai has to return to his weak position, to make room for the foreign striker pair to show off - a common occurrence in V.League teams throughout history.

Will Tran Dinh Tien lose his starting position? Photo: Thuy Dung

The second case affected by the appearance of Felipe Martins is young midfielder Tran Dinh Tien, a player who has shown progress recently. Ho Tuan Tai's two goals against Hong Linh Ha Tinh and Viettel both had the "footprint" of the midfielder wearing the number 15 shirt. Ho Tuan Tai having to play further back will put Tran Dinh Tien at risk of being pushed to the bench. Anyway, this is not too bad for a young player, just having his first season competing in the V.League.

Nghe An football fans have to hope that the appearance of Felipe Martins will help SLNA's attack play better and more effectively in the rest of the 2020 season. Only then will the "sacrifices" of Ho Tuan Tai and Tran Dinh Tien not be meaningless. Let's wait and see if Felipe Martins can meet expectations, first of all in SLNA's away match at Cam Pha Stadium of Than Quang Ninh, taking place on the afternoon of July 24?