Song Lam needs to add a foreign center-back.

(Baonghean) - In recent matches, SLNA has frequently conceded goals in the last 20 minutes, resulting in regrettable loss of points. From the perspective of a former SLNA player who closely follows the Nghe An team, Mr. Truong Quang Vinh, who spent many years coaching the Do Luong District Youth and Children's Football Team in the Nghe An Newspaper Cup, commented:

SLNA boasts a well-balanced squad with many experienced players such as Cong Vinh, Trong Hoang, Au Van Hoan, Dinh Dong, Van Binh, Kavin, Hector, and many promising young players like Dinh Hoang, Manh Hung, Hoang Thinh, Phi Son, Ngoc Hai, and goalkeeper Nguyen Manh… This squad, with a relatively young average age, is led by coach Huu Thang with an attractive attacking style of play, which has brought new life to SLNA. This has helped SLNA achieve a series of resounding victories at the beginning of the season. However, the "phenomenon" of Song Lam did not last long, as their opponents figured out their tactics. First, there was the 1-2 defeat against HAGL at the Playcu stadium, followed by a 1-2 loss against Thanh Hoa away, then a 1-1 draw against newcomer Dong Nai at the Vinh stadium, and most recently, a 2-3 defeat against Da Nang. SLNA's weaknesses are becoming increasingly apparent and are being thoroughly exploited by their opponents.

What are those weaknesses? First, it must be said that SLNA's young players have good potential, but they lack experience. SLNA always starts the game with great enthusiasm, constantly pressing the opponent into a difficult defensive position, and Coach Huu Thang's team often scores first. This leads to complacency among the young players, and the foreign strikers miss too many scoring opportunities. If they face an opponent who gives up early, SLNA will have a resounding victory, but when facing a more experienced opponent, the SLNA players easily become complacent, and just a moment of carelessness allows the opponent to seize the opportunity to score, then surge forward and press back.

Due to their youth, lack of experience and composure, and the tendency to waste too much energy in the early stages of matches, SLNA players often become flustered and make mistakes in the final minutes when pressured by their opponents, leading to goals conceded. The fact that SLNA has only managed draws and losses in their last four matches clearly demonstrates this. In defense, players like Đình Hoàng (Văn Hoàn), Mạnh Hùng, Sơn Hà (Ngọc Hải or Hoàng Thịnh), and Đình Đồng (Ngọc Mạnh) all possess good skills, but due to coach Hữu Thắng's constant rotation, they lack consistency. Although young center-back Mạnh Hùng has been outstanding, his partner hasn't yet developed good chemistry, and Mạnh Hùng himself has made mistakes at crucial moments.

In my opinion, in the second half of the season, the young SLNA players will mature and reduce the mistakes they made in recent matches. However, SLNA still needs to add an experienced foreign center-back to partner with Mạnh Hùng to defend against aerial balls and should terminate the contract of striker Palza, who is currently playing very poorly. With just three foreign players in three different lines forming a stable central axis, the current quality domestic players revolving around that framework will make SLNA's playing style much more stable and solid.

Hoang Hao (recorded)