Song Lam Nghe An shouldn't try to buy more foreign players!

(Baonghean.vn) - With the second half of the 2017 V.League season fast approaching, most teams have finalized their rosters and are just waiting for the resumption of play. However, SLNA is facing difficulties in selecting foreign players.

On June 24th, SLNA will begin the second half of the season with a home match against Than Quang Ninh in Round 14 of the V.League. To secure another foreign player to join Olaha Michael for this match, SLNA is actively conducting trials for potential new foreign players.

SLNA is still considered to have good quality domestic players - Photo: QT

It's worth noting that despite trying out nearly a dozen foreign players over the past period, SLNA still hasn't found a single player they're satisfied with. Given SLNA's current strength, with the players and resources they have, a favorable position at the end of the season is entirely possible if they can acquire a quality foreign player.

Currently, SLNA's need for foreign players to share the burden with domestic players is perfectly reasonable. This is because domestic players still have limitations in terms of physique, stamina, and tackling ability. Meanwhile, other teams prioritize using two foreign strikers.

Unfortunately, SLNA lacks the financial resources to buy quality strikers. Even Olaha, who was retained until the end of the season, is still a young player and plays quite naively in a fierce environment like the V.League.

Time is running out, and SLNA lacks the financial resources to find a quality foreign player at a reasonable price. Secondly, even if they were lucky enough to find another player, the time is too short for them to integrate, adapt to the weather conditions, living environment, and the team's playing style. Thirdly, the quality of foreign players needs to be consistent; Olaha isn't a top-class player, so even with another good foreign player, success would be difficult.

For SLNA, avoiding relegation isn't the main concern, so fans want domestic strikers to be given more opportunities to help them mature. In the recent match against Hanoi, a very strong opponent in the National Cup, SLNA fielded a team with only one foreign player, Olaha. Even on a day when Olaha continued to have poor form, the SLNA domestic players still showed determination and stood firm against the reigning V.League champions, eventually defeating them on penalties. Therefore, mentality and spirit are the main issues for the Nghe An team right now.

According to Mr. Tran Huu Thuat, Chairman of the SLNA Supporters' Club: "Now that the second half of the season is approaching, we still haven't recruited any more foreign players. Why not decide to only use one foreign player, play with whatever players we have, and prioritize using domestic strikers?"

More importantly, instead of using the money spent on recruiting foreign players to increase the salaries of young players currently on trial, whose wages are very low and insufficient to cover their expenses... How can they focus on playing football and improve their performance under such circumstances? Not to mention the psychological pressure of not getting regular playing time.”

Striker Ho Tuan Tai only made 8 appearances from the bench in the 2017 V.League season and scored only 1 goal - Photo: QT

Mr. Tran Huu Thuat's voice also reflects the wishes of many fans in Nghe An province. Perhaps it's time for SLNA to boldly do things differently. After all, the issue of foreign players has been unresolved for several years now, not just in the 2017 V.League season.

At the end of the season, SLNA still managed to inspire its fans, which is already a success. And that success doesn't necessarily have to be thanks to foreign players. Unless, of course, they are truly world-class players...

QT