SLNA and what needs to be done immediately!

Having to play 8 matches from July 31 to August 22, 2021, with a density of 3 days/match is really a big challenge forSLNAat the moment. All 14 V.League teams are having difficulty playing in hot weather, which drains the players' physical strength. But SLNA is at a disadvantage because there is a certain gap between the official players and the reserve players, in the context that the foreign players are "secret unknowns".

Some disadvantages

SLNA will lose their morale if round 2 has to be played without spectators. Photo: Duc Anh

The next disadvantage is that despite the urgent repair of Vinh Stadium, VFF and VPF will find it difficult to play home and away matches because the schedule does not support clubs traveling a lot. VPF has proposed that the second phase of V.League be organized in a centralized manner and without spectators. SLNA does not seem to support this plan, but the plan to play at Vinh Stadium is very difficult to implement.

There may be some adjustments to the stadiums that will be held in the next phase of the season as HAGL and Binh Dinh wish, different from the plan of VPF proposing 9 stadiums including: Hang Day, Cam Pha, Lach Tray, Thien Truong, Thanh Hoa, Viet Tri, Youth Football Training Center (Hanoi), PVF, Thanh Tri. But the focus on competition to ensure the organization plan of the 2021 season seems to be unchangeable.

This is a pity for SLNA, because not being able to play at Vinh Stadium, SLNA will lose its spiritual support, which is a great disadvantage for SLNA, especially when the new leadership has made significant efforts with fans and the press.

Physical strength and courage

To have an official plan, it needs to be approved by VFF, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the opinions of the clubs, but perhaps right now SLNA's coaching board needs to calculate and prepare for such a dense match schedule. Obviously, the "trump card" in the relegation race, Van Duc, will find it difficult to play all 5 matches in 22 days like that? Immediately after the draw results, the coaching board must consider and calculate which matches Van Duc will play in? Which matches will he rest?

SLNA players often run out of energy quickly. Photo: Duc Anh

The relegation race is a physical torture and the competitive spirit of the players. With such a competition density, whether winning or losing, the SLNA coaching staff and players must quickly put the results behind them to focus on the next stage. It can be seen that the training intensity is quite heavy, even the heaviest in V.League, so SLNA players often "run out of battery" quickly. The two red cards at the beginning of the season, in addition to the defender standing in the wrong position, were also due to lack of strength in the speed race with the opponent.

Currently, Hai Phong, Saigon, and Ho Chi Minh City clubs, direct opponents in the V.League relegation race, are having significant reinforcements. This has forced the club's management and SLNA's coaching staff to come up with solutions to supplement personnel and practice new tactical plans. For more than 10 years, the unilateral use of 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 formations has caused the Nghe An team's playing style to lack the necessary creativity and breakthrough.

For example, Pham Xuan Manh is a player who can play on both wings, in the position of defender and midfielder, but is positioning this former national team player in the position of right-back the optimal solution? How to assemble the new foreign players to soon score a goal in the sprint race is also not a simple problem...