SLNA: Be patient with new signing Alves dos Santos
(Baonghean.vn) - Up to this point, the Brazilian newcomer has yet to score a goal for the Nghe An team. The prospect of having to pack his bags and leave Vinh Stadium soon is looming large for the 29-year-old striker.
Having played a full 270 minutes, with only one shot on target, no goals scored, and not a single assist for his teammates, these statistics are clearly very disappointing for striker Alves dos Santos. If he doesn't quickly prove his talent, the risk of being benched or even having his contract terminated is significant for the 1990-born foreign player.
That's not to say Alves dos Santos didn't contribute to SLNA's performance in the last three V.League 2019 matches. Objectively speaking, although he didn't leave a strong mark on the team's goals, the Brazilian striker's positive contributions still greatly helped SLNA's overall playing style.
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| Alves dos Santos has yet to score a goal for SLNA. (Photo: Archival image) |
Possessing an ideal physique and excellent physical fitness, the 29-year-old player frequently moves widely, forcing the opposing defense to stretch. As a result, his teammates such as Olaha, Ho Khac Ngoc, Cao Xuan Thang, Nguyen Sy Nam, etc., have more space to approach the opponent's goal.
Besides his ability to hold off defenders and move widely, Alves dos Santos is also quite skillful and refined in his ball handling – a characteristic of players from the "land of Samba". His backheel pass to Ho Khac Ngoc in the 36th minute, or the situation where he beat goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong but shot wide in the 49th minute in the match against B.Binh Duong on March 7th, are typical examples.
Of course, it's undeniable that Alves dos Santos still frequently makes mistakes in controlling the ball, handling it clumsily, and delivering inaccurate passes. This is understandable, as the foreign player born in 1990 is only in his first season playing in Vietnam. Therefore, three matches are too early to tell the whole story.
Don't forget, before becoming a dangerous and important striker for SLNA, Olaha also went through a very difficult period, similar to what Alves dos Santos is currently experiencing. In the 2017 V.League season, it wasn't until the 10th round (against HAGL) that the Nigerian player scored his first goal for the Vinh-based team.
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| Olaha also went through a streak of 9 consecutive goalless matches in the V.League 2017. (Photo: Archival image) |
Finally, the reward has arrived. Olaha was one of the biggest contributors to SLNA's 2017 National Cup victory (scoring one goal in the second leg of the final against B.Binh Duong). In the 2018 V.League season, Olaha contributed 8 goals for SLNA, ranking second after Phan Van Duc (9 goals).
Based on Olaha's case, it seems that what Alves dos Santos is showing isn't a serious problem. What the Brazilian foreign player needs right now is time and the trust of the SLNA coaching staff. Let's wait and see if Alves dos Santos can prove his talent.
