What will SLNA do after a series of unforgettable days?
(Baonghean.vn) - After round 6 at Hoa Xuan Stadium (Da Nang), SLNA had a series of "sad days" with 12 consecutive matches: 7 draws, 4 losses and only 1 win against HAGL. With this form, 9th place is also difficult to maintain when HAGL and Hai Phong are only 1 point behind.
Many Nghe An fans are disappointed with their hometown team, even though they know the possibility of relegation is very low. Before the 2 matches against Viettel and Hai Phong, let's calmly look back at our team.
Days to forget
After the 2-0 victory at Hoa Xuan Stadium, Song Lam seemed to have “stopped flowing” with 5 goalless draws (Nam Dinh, Viettel, Hai Phong, S.Khanh Hoa, SHB.Da Nang), 2 draws with a score of 2-2 (with Saigon). 4 away losses against Ho Chi Minh City (2-1), Thanh Hoa (2-0), HAGL (3-2), Nam Dinh (2-0).
 |
| Seeing Nam Dinh foreign players play, many Nghe An fans are envious. Photo: VPF |
If only counting the return leg, the two Nghe An coaches Thanh Cong (Sai Gon) and Duc Thang (SLNA) earned the least points, they had 3 losses, 2 draws, worse than the performance of the bottom team S.Khanh Hoa.
The irony is that the results are going against the budget. When 20 billion VND is added to the coffers, the performance of the Nghe An team is going downhill, even though they have done all kinds of team formations. SLNA is paying the price for a season of sloppy preparation, buying poor foreign players, and playing too monotonously.
What is going on?
One thing that few people dare to say is that the level of SLNA's coaching staff is considered "average" by experts. They are ranked on par with coaches Hai Bien (Viettel), Thanh Cong (Sai Gon), Vu Hong Viet (Quang Nam), so when entering the match, in the "life and death" minutes, there are no decisions that bear the mark of individuality.
 |
| According to coach Duc Thang, SLNA lost because they lost too many key players. Photo courtesy of Xuan Thuy |
It is time for coach Duc Thang to review the training program of SLNA and other V.League teams to find out why his team's crosses from the sidelines are so bad. Just counting the accurate cross rate of SLNA players in a training session will make many fans surprised.
Club bosses have often talked about not having enough money to buy good foreign players. But looking back at the bad contracts, many people will be surprised by the amount of money thrown out the window in the past few seasons. Olaha, considered the best contract in the past 3 years, is only a defensive midfielder, not a striker.
Vinicius is likely to be a failed contract, despite having only played 5 matches for SLNA. The clumsy technical ability of this “penalty specialist” makes his teammates not want to pass the ball. That said, even with the money to buy a satisfactory foreign player, it is not easy. Center back D.Memovic is a quality player, if he does not quickly renew his contract, the possibility of being dragged out of Vinh Stadium is very high.
And what to do?
The Nghe An team has 5 home matches against Viettel, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Quang Ninh, and 3 away matches against S.Khanh Hoa, B.Binh Duong, Quang Nam. Many people think that looking at this schedule, playing away is easier than playing at home. To avoid the play-off, SLNA only needs 5-6 more points in the remaining 8 matches, which is not too difficult.
Basically, if it is still the same faces and the same way of doing things, SLNA's achievements will hardly have a breakthrough. This year, there is an additional 20 billion from the co-sponsor and next year, if this amount increases to 50 billion, everything will be the same.
 |
| Foreign player Joel Vinicius is SLNA's only foreign player in this match. Photo courtesy of Xuan Thuy |
But clearly, any team that uses a player from the starting line-up or as a striker should not let him play if he doesn't score, no matter how good he is.
SLNA spent money to bring Vinicius back not to “put pressure on the opponent’s defense” because in Thien Truong stadium, Nam Dinh players actually don’t need to assign someone to mark number 94. Let Tuan Tai and the domestic players practice for next season.
Although at the beginning of the season, Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem (Hanoi) said: "SLNA is the biggest rival for the championship with the capital team", those who know the Nghe An team already know that for SLNA - the football season has ended!
Flow, river (Lam River)!
