Song Lam Nghe An: Attacking without...a goal!

Surely that is also the time for coaches to "dissect the tape" to see more clearly the advantages and disadvantages in team formation and tactical operations to supplement and gradually improve in the upcoming long-term matches.

The first issue that needs to be addressed is whether the “super attack” formation that coach Quang Truong arranged in the two recent matches against Saigon FC and B. Binh Duong really had beautiful and effective attacks or not? Or was it just a way of “attacking to…defend”, as many people say?

Starting lineup SLNA - B. Binh Duong. Graphics: TK

With the wings "designed" as 2 penetrating and constantly swapping strikers to cause chaos for the opponent, even these 2 explosive positions (Van Duc and Tuan Tai) depending on the situation can play as the 3rd and 4th virtual strikers; meanwhile, the 2 foreign players P. Onyekachi and G. Santos are the highest striker pair to press the opponent's central defender, not to mention the running to stretch the opponent's defense... it was thought that SLNA would make waves against all opponents.

SLNA - B. Binh Duong. Photo: Xuan Thuy

But the reality was completely the opposite. SLNA was constantly pressed, only occasionally having a few coherent situations. Only one goal was scored from a set piece and perhaps the team only expected the brilliance of Van Duc or Tuan Tai, the rest was out of sync, lacking coordination, especially the two foreign players even though this duo was not exactly… given free rein to turn around and find goals.

Why? The answer is that SLNA lacks a midfield, the central midfielders cannot hold the ball and change positions as quickly as possible. The team cannot “stand”, cannot “make” the ball while the two wings are forced to retreat to participate in defense and have little chance to advance and pressure the opponent.

Without the "supply" from the second line, not even the long passes like Que Ngoc Hai before, the two foreign strikers often "run empty-handed" and if they have the ball, they are in a 1v2 situation, making it very difficult to make a difference.

Meanwhile, SLNA's "lucky" strikers are still far from real opportunities, except for set pieces and must be "classy" and eager to return after a whole year like Van Duc to be able to bring a goal as precious as a shower in the middle of a hot summer!

A “super attacking” squad but unable to attack continuously or quickly. Photo: VPF

A "super-attacking" formation but unable to attack continuously or quickly, forced to play defense - counter-attack, is essentially the bankruptcy of all tactical calculations or is it "a known story, talked about over and over again" that SLNA's experienced coaching staff knows well; or is our team just like that, we have to live within our means, play as far as we know, there is no other way?

Some people say that it is a "too much on top, too little on bottom" formation, unbalanced, putting pressure on the defense, and vulnerable to attacks because there is no active defense line from near to far.

Once the holding midfielder is weak, the organizing midfielder loses his role, leaving a huge gap in the middle of the field for the opponent to freely roam. This explains why for most of the second half of the away match against Saigon FC, Van Duc's hope was tightly pressed, unable to burst out on the left wing.

Then in the match against B. Binh Duong, Van Duc also had to drop deep to receive the ball, and personally organize a classy pass for Tuan Tai, as a "model" for a transition situation while the whole team seemed to be able to easily advance but was forced back, becoming confused and passive in front of the opponent.

SLNA in a training session. Photo: Duc Anh

But whatever is said, it is clear that the current formation that Quang Truong has arranged and arranged is lacking the type of player with a comprehensive vision from behind, then the type of player who plays "fiercely" in the middle of the field, making opponents afraid, lacking the type of "workers" who diligently clean up, and even more lacking the type of talented player, the artist who embroiders flowers, weaves brocade, making opponents dizzy, constantly creating waves in the stands...

Just hope that, in the difficult situation, wisdom will "appear" from the coaching staff and the players. Like the way Van Duc switched from defense to counterattack as mentioned above, like the way Tuan Tai passed the ball from the right wing perfectly, like Sy Nam's free kicks that were no less than his seniors and Van Duc's "quick" opportunity-taking situation in the match against B. Binh Duong (round 2).

Finally, in the context of climbing passes and overcoming slopes, Quang Truong's seemingly "super-attacking" formation is first of all also a "super-defensive" formation like SLNA's tradition, knowing how to use strength to compensate for weakness, advantages to compensate for disadvantages, persistently looking for opportunities and turning strength into strength, advantages into advantages.

That is also the way to know yourself and others, when the football team knew how to reach the top in the past, even though the "poor" competed with the "rich", the round ball always contains many interesting things, unpredictable...