Which squad will SLNA have in V. League 2022?

The number of 32 registered members is considered appropriate in the context of the complicated Covid-19 pandemic and will help clubs proactively arrange forces, prepare for any possible uncertainties to bring the season to the finish line as planned.

After the 2021 season, which was the worst and most forgettable in the team's history, SLNA, with the strength of a new sponsor, is trying to do as many things as possible, from strengthening facilities to adding players, making the team operate in a truly professional and modern direction. The announcement of 32 members participating in V. League 2022 ofSLNAThe initial steps show that those efforts, at least in terms of strength, compared to the powerful teams that many people have known for a long time.

SLNA Club gives jerseys to players who renew their contracts and sign new ones for the 2022 season. Photo courtesy of Duc Anh

First of all, there are 4 main features that stand out in the list announced at the beginning of the season of SLNA: foreign players include 3 players, including the old Olaha and a naturalized player, of course only those with potential dare to actually use 4 foreign players; The return to the old team of a series of outstanding old factors such as Ngoc Hai, Trong Hoang, Dinh Hoang...; Many notable young factors such as Xuan Tien, Manh Quynh...; Main pillars such as Van Khanh, Van Hoang, Van Duc, Xuan Manh... continue to be trusted.

To see, with this force, SLNA has enough ability to challenge powerful teams like HAGL, Hanoi FC, Viettel or T. Binh Dinh with a squad combining old and new factors, domestic and foreign players, with the fierce fighting spirit as inherent and of course, if coach Huy Hoang and his colleagues are really good at operating that dream squad?

According to our prediction, if there are no new improvements, Huy Hoang will use the 4-4-2 formation as it has been traditionally. In goal, Van Hoang, although a "professional reserve" in the national team, when returning to his hometown team, will often be sure of his place if he is not injured or has a penalty card. The defense line will include Ngoc Hai - Truong An (Melo, of Brazilian origin) - Dinh Hoang - Sy Hoang or Ho Van Cuong. The midfield line with the most players but most likely to start will be Van Duc - Xuan Manh - Trong Hoang - Van Lam or Dinh Chau. The attack line will therefore be two foreign factors Olaha and Basit.

SLNA actively prepares for the new season. Photo courtesy of Duc Anh

If he boldly changes the formation like the Vietnam national team, can Huy Hoang use the 3 central defenders including Ngoc Hai - Van Khanh - Truong An, use 2 attacking full-backs including Dinh Hoang - Trong Hoang or Xuan Manh? Van Duc as usual will stick to the left wing and be a direct link with Olaha in the attack line to do the main task of scoring goals and when necessary, drop deep to defend, waiting for the opportunity to change the state like on the national team?

Of course, the above speculations are theoretical and when everything goes smoothly for SLNA. Currently, there is some unclear data about some key players, for example, there is no information about Trong Hoang having fully recovered from his injury and really coming back stronger than before? After a long period of operating at full capacity in the Vietnam National Team, no one is sure whether the pillars like Ngoc Hai, Van Duc, Xuan Manh are 100% ready to serve the home team or still need a break to regain the necessary strength and motivation?

Young players like Xuan Tien, Van Cuong, Manh Quynh... who are focusing on U23 Vietnam are not sure to be present in time and assemble the squad if required, while Sy Hoang and Van Viet, who did not play well in U23 Vietnam before, will they be stable again as usual? Not to mention the foreign players, except for Olaha, who are familiar with them, who were not really convincing during the training process before the tournament, it is not easy to answer when the 2022 V. League rotation will clearly verify to know "who he is"?

Michaela Olaha has joined Song Lam Nghe An football team for the second time. Photo courtesy of SLNA

And most importantly, in his first time in charge of the V. League (excluding a temporary match last season), can Huy Hoang "compete" with the talents Kiatisuk, Park Choong Kyun or Phan Thanh Hung, Viet Hoang? Last season, under the guidance of Kiatisuk, the HAGL squad played at their best and this season the mountain town team continues to be supplemented with new players, of course not to play for fun and stay in the league like many previous seasons? Kiatisuk himself spoke out about his opponent SLNA when he predicted that the team would be able to win the championship, but don't forget, predictions are always just predictions and praising opponents before they even play is always the skillful character of people like Kiatisuk?

With the current position of SLNA captain, fans always "believe and worry" and only the reality on the field can prove whether everything is under control or not? Hopefully the prestige of the former captain will be raised to a new level, turning into effectiveness on the training ground, the locker room and unpredictable changes in each upcoming match. Nothing is easy and if there is no new and young, no mistakes, how can there be experience and success? Kiatisuk or Thanh Hung or anyone else must pay tuition for their initial weaknesses, right?