Song Lam Nghe An lost in the 'Nghe derby', why?

Monotonous gameplay

With the home field advantage and facing an opponent in a crisis of form and a coaching staff shake-up like Hong Linh Ha Tinh, it would have been a great opportunity for coach Ngo Quang Truong and his team to win all 3 points. Unfortunately, the Vinh team had to accept a comprehensive defeat.

Witness the scenePhan Van Ducand his "powerless" teammates gave victory to his army.Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong, the fans of Song Lam Nghe An could not help but be disappointed. The home team's attacks and formations were like "hitting their heads against the wall".

SLNA lost quickly to HL Ha Tinh. Photo courtesy of Duc Anh

In an afternoon when the brightest star Phan Van Duc was completely neutralized, the remaining teammates could do nothing but cross the ball inside to take advantage of the aerial ability of foreign player Bruno Henrique. In general, the crosses and hanging balls of the Song Lam Nghe An players were only below average in accuracy.

Therefore, the defense ofHong Linh Ha Tinhwith the command of Kelly Kester did not have much difficulty to successfully neutralize. Looking at the way the yellow players fumbled with the ball at their feet, then passed it wrong and created conditions for the opponent to make quick counter-attacks, it was enough to see the style of play ofLam River Nghe Anhow monotonous, how harmless.

Phan Van Duc did not score, SLNA could not win. Photo courtesy of Duc Anh

What happened in the match against Hong Linh Ha Tinh clearly reflected the inability of the coaching staff of Song Lam Nghe An to deal with the problem of "leading midfielder". According to statistics, with the appearance of Nguyen Van Duc and then Tran Manh Quynh next to Bui Dinh Chau, the home team only had 46% possession of the ball. Note that Hong Linh Ha Tinh is not as good at controlling the ball as Hanoi FC and HAGL.

Lack of talented "conductor"

It is not an exaggeration to say that the coaching staff of Song Lam Nghe An currently has central midfielders who are better at tackling and blocking than at building up the play. Currently, players like Bui Dinh Chau and Ho Sy Sam have a playing style that leans towards strength, while the young duo Nguyen Van Duc and Tran Manh Quynh are still inexperienced in the game.

Although, in important moments (when the team was behind), the coaching staff of Song Lam Nghe An often pushed foreign player Igor Jelic to play in the central midfielder position, but it still did not bring the desired results. In fact, this change even made the home team's defense more "fragile". The second goal conceded in the match against Hong Linh Ha Tinh is a typical example.

The void left by Ho Khac Ngoc (in yellow shirt) has yet to be filled. Photo courtesy of Trung Kien

Actually, no.Coach Ngo Quang Truongand his colleagues did not notice the above problem. Remember, right after Ho Khac Ngoc left Vinh Stadium (late 2019), experts and football fans of Nghe An warned the coaching staff of Song Lam Nghe An about the gap in the central position of the midfield.

Unfortunately, instead of recruiting a true "conductor", the Nghe An team put their faith in their existing internal resources. At the beginning of this season, the coaching staff of Song Lam Nghe An also tried to "put out the fire" by recruiting Phan Dinh Thang, a former player from Quang Nam. But after only a few matches, the midfielder wearing the number 22 shirt has shown the true ability of a player who only specializes in reserve.

The risk of the coaching staff of Song Lam Nghe An with the central midfielder position is causing the team to suffer not small consequences. Perhaps, more than ever, coach Ngo Quang Truong and his colleagues are waiting for the return of Dang Van Lam. Because there is still no answer to the question: "The conductor" of Song Lam Nghe An, who is he?