The departure of key players at Song Lam Nghe An opens up opportunities for young players

Give young players a chance

After the 2023 season, there has been a massive wave of "migration" at Song Lam Nghe An Club. Up to now, about 7 players have said goodbye to the Vinh Stadium team. And this number certainly has not stopped there. Pillars such as Que Ngoc Hai, Pham Xuan Manh, Tran Dinh Tien, Nguyen Van Hoang... are very important names and are considered the soul of Song Lam Nghe An's lines. It can be affirmed that the gap between them and the group of people staying is probably very difficult to fill in a short time. So when the new season is approaching, the departure of a series of the above stars will pose a difficult problem for coach Phan Nhu Thuat. Forcing this young strategist to almost rebuild the playing style and tactics for the whole team.

However, that also means opening up opportunities for young talents to show off and prove their abilities. Coach Phan Nhu Thuat shared: “We will rely on the existing people to rebuild suitable tactics. I believe that with the solidarity and desire of the whole team, Song Lam Nghe An will bring new and interesting things to next season.”

Therefore, based on the current force and according to the foreign recruitment plan of Song Lam Nghe An, it is likely that coach Phan Nhu Thuat will adjust the tactical diagram and create a new framework for this club. In particular, in the defensive line, the Vinh team may no longer play with 5 defenders as before, but instead will be a combination of 2 central defenders and 2 full-backs. It is not too surprising that next season, young player Nam Hai will be chosen to play alongside a foreign player to form a powerful central defender duo for Song Lam Nghe An. The wings of the Nghe team will depend on the stability of new defenders in their twenties such as Ho Van Cuong, Vuong Van Huy, Mai Sy Hoang...

However, to make Song Lam Nghe An's defense system work smoothly will be a difficult journey. That requires a process for coach Phan Nhu Thuat and his colleagues to rebuild the lesson plan and practice tactics for the whole team.

In the midfield, the anchor midfielder position is probably the most headache for the strategist born in 1984. Because looking at the current force, it is difficult for any young player to handle this position well. We can name a few faces such as Nguyen Xuan Binh, Nguyen Van Bach, Dang Van Lam... although they have quite good expertise, their experience and ability to read situations are still limited. Therefore, coach Phan Nhu Thuat will likely test veteran Trong Hoang for the anchor midfielder position. Although the "lungless man" has turned 35, it can be seen that his physical strength is still quite good. With many years of playing football in V.league in many different teams, Trong Hoang will still be a very trustworthy player when transferred to a new role.

Song Lam Nghe An's front line is probably the place that makes fans feel most secure. With Olaha agreeing to extend his contract, Dinh Xuan Tien's remarkable growth recently, and the ability to quickly catch up with the young midfielder duo Manh Quynh and Ngo Van Luong, the Nghe An team's attack will still have many bright spots worth waiting for.

There is a saying, “the sister’s child goes, the aunt’s child grows up”. Song Lam Nghe An has lost many key players, but in return, this team possesses a young, ambitious, equally skilled force that has grown up from the Nghe An training ground. That will more or less bring new and attractive things to the home fans and the audience who regularly follow the V.League.

Continue to introduce a series of new elements

After 2 seasons implementing the strategy of rejuvenating the squad, Song Lam Nghe An has introduced a series of young players with great potential. The clearest proof is that at present, there are 7 players under the age of 21 being called up to the U23 Vietnam team. These include goalkeeper Nguyen Van Viet, Cao Van Binh, defender Ho Van Cuong, Le Nguyen Hoang, Tran Nam Hai, midfielder Dinh Xuan Tien, Le Dinh Long Vu. That shows that the young force of Song Lam Nghe An is dominating the team. This is one of the positive signs of the Vinh team entering the new season.

In addition, to ensure personnel for V.league 2023-2024, the Vinh Stadium team will certainly continue to promote a series of young players to join the first team. And the 2023 National Youth U21 Football Tournament is the channel to verify the ability of young players most accurately for coach Phan Nhu Thuat. However, with the performance in the past national youth tournaments, it can be seen that factors such as goalkeeper Cao Van Binh, Chu Van Tan, center back Le Nguyen Hoang, Vo Tien Thang, defender Tran Ngoc Dung, midfielder Phan Ba ​​Quyen, Ngo Van Bac, Quang Vinh, Le Dinh Long Vu... are all very worthy to be included in the squad of Song Lam Nghe An next season.

It can be said that the professional capacity of the next generation at the Nghe An football team is not inferior to that of their seniors. If Song Lam Nghe An continues to boldly give opportunities to those young players, they will soon mature. And it is very possible that in the near future, the strategy of rejuvenating the squad of Song Lam Nghe An will be effective, bringing sweet fruit to this team.