"The culprit" causing SLNA's poor performance?

Injury problem

No team in V.League 2018 has suffered as many injuries as the Nghe An team. In the first stage of the new season, SLNA headquarters is like a miniature hospital with a series of cases having to "sit and watch" due to different injuries. From goalkeeper and captain Nguyen Manh, central midfielder Ngoc Toan, right winger The Cuong to striker Phuc Tinh, then foreign player Osmar Moreira...

It is likely that Nguyen Manh will not be able to compete again until the end of the first leg. Photo: Internet

Even in the “goalkeeper” position, there was a time when coach Nguyen Duc Thang only had goalkeeper number 3 Van Tien who was completely healthy. Therefore, SLNA leaders were forced to borrow goalkeeper Vu Hai from Hai Phong to “put out the fire”.

However, before the match with Nam Dinh on May 4, goalkeeper Vu Hai suddenly suffered a shoulder injury and coach Nguyen Duc Thang had to send Van Tien onto the field from the start.

Throughout the past time, SLNA’s coaching staff has always been in a state of “lack of players” due to the team’s injury problem. In the last 5 matches in V.League 2018, the Nghe An team had to play with a handicap of 1 foreign player (not counting naturalized players).

Without “flour”, how can we “wash away the glue”, the results that coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team have just achieved are not too surprising. Simply, SLNA does not have the strongest force because of the injury problem that is raging at Vinh Stadium.

From now on, fans hope that when Nguyen Manh, Ngoc Toan, The Cuong... are no longer tormented by injuries, the Nghe An team will return to its inherent strength and danger.

Consequences of AFC Cup

Nguyen Manh is the most typical case affected by the matches at AFC Cup 2018. An inaccurate landing during SLNA's away match at Tampines Rovers in the first round (February 10) caused the goalkeeper born in 1991 to break his arm and have to rest for about 5 months. Without captain Nguyen Manh standing in goal, the Nghe An team's defense is not really solid against the opponent's attacks.

The duo Van Duc Xuan Manh have been working hard for a long time. Photo: Internet

In addition, having to play 6 matches and travel round trip between Vinh - Hanoi - Malaysia/Singapore/Indonesia has worn down the physical strength of Van Duc and his teammates. Although the SLNA coaching staff had anticipated the consequences when they frequently used reserve players in the matches of the AFC Cup 2018, they still could not help their players have the necessary physical strength.

What the Nghe An team is going through is something that experts have predicted. Just look at a team with great potential and ambition like FLC Thanh Hoa at the present time and you will understand. From a strong candidate for the 2018 V.League championship, the Thanh Hoa team is now struggling in the middle of the rankings and has just changed its head coach (former Saigon FC coach Nguyen Duc Thang has just taken over the hot seat left by coach Mihail).

The situation of SLNA and FLC Thanh Hoa is quite similar to that of Hanoi FC and Than Quang Ninh last season. Having to divide their strength to compete in the AFC Cup 2017, both Hanoi FC and Than Quang Ninh had a disappointing start in the V.League. Compared to the capital team, the mining team and the Thanh team, coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team cannot compare, at least in terms of squad depth./.