Song Lam Nghe An needs to boldly change tactics

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Song Lam Nghe An is going through a difficult period in V.League 2025/26. The results are not as expected, making Nghe An fans worried. One of the most asked questions at the moment is how to maximize the strengths of the squad, especially the role of midfielder Ho Khac Ngoc. Some people think that SLNA should try to apply the 3-5-2 formation with a compact playing style like AC Milan is doing with Luka Modric. This could be the key to help the team play more effectively and reasonably.

Ho Khac Ngoc is considered the conductor of SLNA. He is capable of creative passing, controlling the tempo of the match and making decisive opening passes. However, Khac Ngoc's weaknesses have also become apparent over time. His physical strength is no longer abundant, and his ability to move widely to both attack and support defense often causes him to run out of breath at crucial moments. In the familiar 4-4-2 or 4-1-4-1 formation, the central midfielder must cover many areas, and this becomes a burden for Khac Ngoc.

If we look at AC Milan, we can see that they have solved a similar problem with Modrić. Although he is over 39 years old, thanks to being placed in the right system, Modrić still maximizes his conductor qualities. In the 3-5-2 formation, he is surrounded by muscular and mobile satellites. Thanks to that, Modrić does not have to move too much but only focuses on coordination, launching creative passes and keeping the rhythm of the match. SLNA can completely learn this way to protect and promote Khac Ngoc's strengths.

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If applying 3-5-2, SLNA will have personnel adjustments. The defense with 3 central defenders Van Thanh, Justin Garcia and Nam Hai will create a safe shield behind. The two wingers Van Huy and Van Cuong will take on the role of wing-back, both supporting defense and advancing when attacking. In the center of midfield, Phan Ba ​​Quyen will play the anchor, standing lowest, recovering the ball and covering the defense. Quang Vinh will take on the role of box-to-box, moving wide, pressing, supporting both attack and defense. Ho Khac Ngoc is in the most favorable position, not having to worry much about defense but focusing on construction and regulating the play. In attack, the duo Olaha and Moore will be the ones to take advantage of speed and strength to finish after receiving the ball from the back line.

The clear strength of this formation is the compact playing formation. The lines stand close together, keeping a reasonable distance to limit gaps. Thanks to that, SLNA is not easily exploited by the opponent in the middle, and at the same time helps Khac Ngoc not be isolated in defense. When he has the ball, he will always have many options to pass to the surrounding satellites. When losing the ball, Ba Quyen and Quang Vinh are the two people who shoulder most of the pressing and fighting, helping to reduce the pressure on the team's conductor.

Of course, the 3-5-2 is not without its risks. The two wingers must be extremely physically fit to attack and defend constantly. If concentration is lost, the space on the wings will be exploited most strongly by the opponent. In addition, for this formation to operate smoothly, the players need to have a high level of understanding. This system requires tactical discipline, the ability to keep distance and synchronized coordination. Otherwise, it is very easy for the three-man defense to be stretched and collapsed by the opponent.

However, the benefits it brings are worth considering. SLNA will make the most of Ho Khac Ngoc's creativity. The team can keep the rhythm of the match stable, creating more clear opportunities for the attack. More importantly, this arrangement helps the lines to be more balanced, avoiding the situation where Khac Ngoc has to spread his strength, thereby limiting the risk of him being overloaded or losing form. Quang Vinh and Ba Quyen will become the lungs, covering and sharing the burden, so that the team's conductor can focus on the right role of creation.

In the current context, changing the tactical diagram may be a reasonable choice for SLNA to regain the trust of the fans. 3-5-2 will be an opportunity for the team to maximize the quality of its existing personnel. If operated well, this could be the key to help SLNA improve its performance, play more reasonably, more safely and especially fully exploit the qualities of Ho Khac Ngoc.