What does SLNA expect from the 7 players just added to the first team?

With goalkeeper Nguyen Van Hoang and midfielder Vuong Quoc Trung, SLNA has completed its domestic recruitment. The only remaining task is to find 3 more foreign players to complete the preparation for the new season.

Age, career

In the 7 players just called, there is only 1 goalkeeper, striker, and defender, but there are 4 midfielders, of which 5 players were born in 1999, 1 player was born in 1998, and 1 player was born in 1996. This means that although they have never played in the V.League, the players' ages and career years are no longer young.

First of all, talking about the goalkeeper position, after Nguyen Manh left, SLNA still has 3 faces: Le Van Hung, Tran Van Tien and Duong Van Cuong, not to mention Nguyen Van Hoang who is already at Vinh Stadium. Young goalkeeper Ho Van Tu understands himself as a "reserve" for the future.

Midfielder Van Lam has a high chance of starting. Photo: FBNV

If Quang Truong decides to choose a foreign central defender, it means Xuan Manh will be promoted to play as a midfielder, and Ba Sang, whose forte is central defender, will have a brighter chance. This 21-year-old player will compete with his senior Sy Nam for the position Dinh Hoang left. Van Khanh's central defender position is untouchable.

Center back Ba Duc also has to compete with defenders Thanh Lam and The Nhat. In our opinion, if there is a foreign center back, the possibility of young players playing defense will be higher. If 100% domestic defenders play, the chances of players with little "flight time" will be extremely difficult. Simply put, captain Van Khanh is the type of player who is stronger at blocking and defending than covering.

When the attacking line Tuan Tai and Phuc Tinh are in form, Ngoc Anh's chance to enter the field is only in the last minutes of the match. It is simple and certain that SLNA will have to recruit foreign strikers, even 2 foreign players to play in the attacking line.

Whoever plays more creatively will get to play.

All three central midfielders Khac Ngoc, Ngoc Toan and Van Binh have left the team. Vuong Quoc Trung is a player who just left Thanh Hoa to join Vinh Stadium, but his forte is blocking rather than creating. Sy Sam and Quang Tinh are players who used to play this position but only at an average level, especially the "veteran" Quang Tinh whose physical strength is no longer at full strength.

Van Lam and Dinh Chau cannot compete with foreign players if SLNA's coaching staff decides to strengthen this position. However, these two players have fought in the First Division for Pho Hien, Phu Yen, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Phu Dong, Tay Ninh, which is considered an advantage to catch the eye of coach Quang Truong.

Player Thai Ba Sang. Photo courtesy of Trung Kien

This is a rather sensitive position, in the 2019 V.League season, Khac Ngoc, Ngoc Toan and Van Binh were only average, they lacked creativity and surprise in decisive passes. The decisions of head coach Quang Truong in this position are said to have greatly affected the achievements of the Nghe An team this season.

If they want to be on the field, Van Lam and Dinh Chau must play a different style of football than their seniors. If they overuse sliding tackles and are slow to switch from defense to attack, their chances of getting on the field will be limited.

Recently, SLNA still plays in opposite positions. Sy Sam, Quang Tinh, even Sy Nam can play well in 2 positions, but for young players, this is not easy. Most of the young players have been tested in the friendly match with Thanh Hoa. After the friendly match with Hong Linh Ha Tinh and the Viettel Open, the main players of V.League 2020 will definitely be revealed.