Song Lam Nghe An faces a storm of injuries.

Injury storm

A wave of injuries has hit Vinh Stadium, leaving many key players out of the game.Lam River, Nghe AnUnable to play. The defense line was particularly severely affected, with several key players such as Tran Nam Hai, Ho Van Cuong, Ho Khac Luong, and Le Nguyen Hoang not yet recovered in time to make their debut in the new season.

In the case of Tran Nam Hai, before the start of the V-League 2024/25 season, the central defender suffered a toe injury. Therefore, Nam Hai was unable to participate with his teammates in the match against SHB Da Nang and it is highly likely that he will also miss the away game in Pleiku.

As for Ho Van Cuong, Ho Khac Luong, and Le Nguyen Hoang, although they have recovered from injuries, coach Pham Anh Tuan is hesitant to use them because they haven't yet met the required physical fitness and match fitness levels. It's understood that if Van Cuong and Khac Luong train diligently, they will likely be available to play in rounds 3 or 4 of the 2024/25 V-League. However, in the first few matches, the Nghe An team's coaching staff will only use them for a short period at the end of the game. This is a solution to help Ho Van Cuong and Ho Khac Luong quickly regain their match fitness and minimize the impact on the team's overall performance.

Besides the defensive line-up crisis, Phan Bá Quyền is also unavailable in midfield due to recovering from injury.

Furthermore, Song Lam Nghe An's defense also faced a major disadvantage as center-back Zaracho was suspended due to receiving a red card in the first round.

Therefore, in the next 3 to 4 matches, Song Lam Nghe An will face many difficulties in defense. However, the club from Nghe An still has a bit of luck as in the first few rounds of the season they only have to face mid-table teams in the V-League.

"Make do with what you have."

Despite the absence of several key players, coach Pham Anh Tuan is likely to continue using the 3-4-3 formation in the upcoming rounds.

First, it can be stated that, with the absence of Nam Hai, Zaracho, Ho Khac Luong, and Le Nguyen Hoang, Song Lam Nghe An currently has a rather weak defense. The team from Nghe An only has Le Van Thanh, Xuan Binh, Phan Van Thanh, and Nguyen Mai Hoang who can play in the central defender position. Therefore, the Song Lam Nghe An coaching staff needs a solution to reduce the opponent's attacking strength. To achieve this, a counter-attacking defensive strategy is the option that coach Pham Anh Tuan will most likely consider.

If this tactic is employed, Olaha will still play a crucial role as a link between the defense and the attack. In addition, the captain of the Nghe An club will also be tasked with drawing away opposing players, creating opportunities for his teammates.

Especially if employing a counter-attacking strategy, Kuku will have plenty of opportunities to shine. With his speed, physique, and excellent stamina, he will have an advantage in lightning-fast counter-attacks.

It can be affirmed that Song Lam Nghe An is facing numerous difficulties with a series of players unable to play due to injuries and suspensions. However, if the Song Lam Nghe An coaching staff knows how to "make do with what they have," there is still a chance for the team to earn the points they desire. Especially since in the next two rounds, Song Lam Nghe An only has to face mid-table V-League teams such as Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Hong Linh Ha Tinh.