Song Lam Nghe An is still struggling with the foreign player issue.
The disappointing performances of their foreign players have left Song Lam Nghe An grappling with the dilemma of whether to retain or release them. This has been a perennial problem for the Nghe An team in recent seasons.
In recent seasons, with the exception of the iconic Michael Olaha, it has been very rare.Lam River, Nghe AnRetaining a foreign player for more than one season stems from two main reasons: the club's limited financial resources and a lack of patience in its strategy for utilizing foreign personnel.
In reality, from Sebastian Zaracho and Benjamin Kuku to Oseni and Mario Arqués, Song Lam Nghe An has replaced two or even three foreign players each season. In some cases, replacements are entirely understandable when performances don't meet expectations.
Raphael Succes played in 11 matches but only managed one assist; center-back Mario Zebic had a lackluster performance; and Abdul Basit only featured in the starting lineup 6 times – a number that failed to convince the coaching staff.
However, many foreign players also made their mark, leaving fans in Nghe An province regretful when they had to leave the team. A prime example is striker Ganiyu Oseni with 6 goals and 2 assists, contributing to Song Lam Nghe An finishing in 5th place. Center-back Vytas Gašpuitis also left a strong impression in the 2023 season, bringing considerable stability to the defense.
Most recently, the departure of the duo Benjamin Kuku and Sebastian Zaracho has also caused much regret. Kuku isn't a sharp striker, but his 6 goals and 5 assists speak volumes about the Nigerian forward's influence in Song Lam Nghe An's fight to avoid relegation. Zaracho was disappointing in the early stages of the season, but improved significantly and became one of the bright spots in the second half. Notably, the Paraguayan center-back is currently shining brightly for Guaraní, helping his hometown team compete for the Paraguayan championship.
Many people are wondering: If Song Lam Nghe An re-signs Benjamin Kuku and Sebastian Zaracho, could the team from Nghe An province have a more positive appearance this season?
Especially since the two new recruits from Trinidad & Tobago haven't yet found the necessary consistency. The strikerReon Dale MooreHe scored 3 goals to help Song Lam Nghe An secure two important victories, but also received two red cards and went scoreless in 7 matches.
Despite contributing two goals, center-back Justin Garcia has yet to provide complete reassurance to Song Lam Nghe An's defense. In the matches he has played in, the Nghe An team has yet to keep a clean sheet. Furthermore, the 30-year-old defender even received a red card in his debut match, costing his team a defeat.
The biggest disappointment has to be midfielder Carlos Enrique. After 11 appearances, the Colombian player's contributions have been almost zero. Carlos Enrique is struggling to compete for a position with domestic midfielders like Quang Vinh, Bá Quyền, and Xuân Bình. This raises serious questions about the Colombian player's future: will he be able to stay until the end of the season?
However, the dilemma facing the Song Lam Nghe An management and coach Van Sy Son is far from simple. If they release Carlos Enrique, the Nghe An team will waste both time and money, given their limited financial resources. But if they continue to place their trust in a foreign player who hasn't yet proven himself, the risk of wasting resources is very high.
Coach Van Sy Son still hopes that the Colombian midfielder will improve his form during the nearly three-month break from the V.League to better integrate into the team's playing style – similar to how Zaracho made a breakthrough in the second half of last season. However, patience has its limits. If Enrique fails to improve, Song Lam Nghe An will be forced to make a drastic decision to find a more suitable foreign player.
Meanwhile, the duo of Reon Dale Moore and Justin Garcia are likely to be retained. Time will help the Trinidad & Tobago pair find stability in the second half of the season, thereby contributing more to the Vinh-based team. Especially since Reon Dale Moore and Justin Garcia have made quite a good impression on coach Van Sy Son. Therefore, fans in Nghe An still have reason to hope for the improvement of these two players.
It can be said that, in a challenging season, the issue of foreign players is playing a crucial role in determining the fate of Song Lam Nghe An. To keep or to let go, to be patient or decisive – all will be difficult choices that must be made.Coach Van Sy SonAnd the management must consider this carefully if they want to guide the team through this turbulent period.
