SLNA 'reveals their cards': High, long & Henry

(Baonghean.vn) - The coaches participating in V-League 2017 concluded that SLNA's playing style this season is "high, long and Henry". Although there were 6 matches with only draws and losses, but by mastering this "formula", Saigon FC won 3-1 in a match that did not require much effort.

Saigon FC's attack is quite weak, after 8 matches they only have 7 goals, the Brazilian foreign pair Macrcelo and Patrick each have only 2 goals. Therefore, when facing SLNA, Saigon FC coach has studied the Nghe An team's playing style quite carefully.

SLNA lost 1-3 in a match where people had to admit that there were too many mistakes in the team's formation, on the field "blunt offense, poor defense" even though at times they had more possession of the ball than their opponent.

SLNA has been exposed for being “high, long and Henry”. Photo: Duc Anh

Poor player

It was not difficult for the home team players to know that SLNA's defenders were very afraid of European football in the 16m50 area. Although national players, Van Khanh and Ngoc Hai played on the same level and often made mistakes in their positions, not covering each other.

Both central defenders are tall but have problems with positioning, so coach Duc Thang asked Patrick to constantly put pressure in the 16.5m area to wait for individual mistakes. Ngoc Duy and Patrick quickly took advantage of the opportunity to score early goals. The home team's third goal was a long-range, low and dangerous shot from 25m by Xuan Duong, when the central midfielders Ngoc Toan and Khac Ngoc were nowhere to be seen.

With 19 goals conceded, SLNA’s defense of all national team players has become the worst defense in V-League. No one can believe that the names Nguyen Manh, Ngoc Hai and Hoang Van Khanh are involved in the recent goals conceded by the Nghe team.

It is not only the defense's fault because the midfield line does not actively participate in defending from a distance, causing the defense line to constantly defend passively. The midfield line often leaves its position, if in the match against B.Binh Duong it was on the right wing, then in the match against Saigon it was in the middle area.

blunt tool

In fact, the home team is not a team that can hold the ball much even though they have Van Tien and Ngoc Duy, who are quite creative midfielders. Saigon's playing style is not too varied, but when they suddenly accelerate, SLNA's defense is shaken. The home team has the element of change and the remaining players support their teammates to do this well.

Phi Son is still the player who "carries the attack alone". Photo: Duc Anh

On SLNA’s side, Phi Son is still the player who “carries the attack alone” because of his tireless movement. In every match, this midfielder moves from the right wing, then to the left, holding the ball and breaking in, but without a colleague next to him, he is easily surrounded by the opposing defenders.

SLNA's coaching staff is confused about how to use Olaha. The reason for letting this foreign player play low is that when counter-attacking, 3 SLNA players have to face 5 opposing players, so they often encounter many difficulties. Without someone to hold the ball, SLNA chooses to play long and high while both Olaha and Henry are not good at pressing, so the Nghe An team often loses the ball.

SLNA's crosses, except Phi Son's, were not very accurate, so the front line also had difficulty. When losing the ball, it created favorable counter-attack situations for the opponent.

It's not that SLNA doesn't have good matches, the midfield boldly holds the ball and puts pressure on the opponent like in the matches against SHB.Da Nang and B.Binh Duong. That style of play creates surprise, limits the opponent's quick counter-attacks and distributes enough strength to play for 90 minutes.

Certainly, SLNA's coaching staff has many lessons to learn from the loss to a not-so-strong opponent like Saigon FC.

AT