V-League returns, what to worry about?

Indeed, the long break is an opportunity for new teachers like Kiatisuk when he came to Hanoi Police, Duc Thang returned to Viettel, Vu Tien Thanh went to Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Daiki went to Hanoi FC... to get acquainted with his students, with the new philosophy of running the team to achieve new goals and ambitions.

With teams facing difficulties in the previous 8 rounds, coaches like Nguyen Thanh Cong, Nguyen Trong Binh, Phan Nhu Thuat... have more time to consolidate their squad, look for additional and alternative solutions, actively play friendly matches to maintain their fitness and form, take a short Tet holiday... to create stability and breakthrough when there is an opportunity...

Meanwhile, the players in the National Team, when returning to their clubs, must also immediately get into a new routine, although not as fiercely and competitively as when competing in continental tournaments. The lessons of success or failure will gradually "permeate" into their training and competition process. That is the physical response to concentrated, short-term tournaments. Those are bad habits in the V-League that must be quickly eliminated if they want to truly improve. And not only the players, the coaching staff of the Vietnam National Team, from Mr. Philippe Troussier to assistants, interpreters... must also seriously review their responsibilities, working methods, quickly adapting to new circumstances, and drawing profound lessons from recent defeats...

Mr. Troussier has repeatedly hoped that the V-League teams will use many young players in each round, creating opportunities for them to practice, compete and mature. This is correct but it is not easy for the French coach to fully satisfy. Because the teams have their own strengths and ambitions, have different goals and ways of doing things, except for Song Lam Nghe An, which basically uses young players throughout the season. It is just a pity that, among the young players in this team, Mr. Troussier has not "marked" any players for the Vietnam National Team and the hope of being present in the U23 Vietnam team is not as much as expected even though they always try to excel.

Furthermore, clubs do not operate everything like national teams, from playing style to personnel arrangement, so obviously, the difficult things are still difficult. Dinh Bac in Quang Nam has to play deep, leaving the attack to foreign players, while Thai Son is not always the main player in Dong A Thanh Hoa. Mr. Troussier does not like to use Hoang Duc in the middle of the field, but at Viettel, this player is always considered the most dangerous player... This difference requires both teachers and students to do a lot of work and spend a lot of time to have hope of success.

To see, when V-League returns, it will be the basis for Mr. Troussier to monitor the performance of each player, finding new factors for the Vietnam National Team. But things will not be easy for the French coach, because what he wants players to play "ball control" in V-League is a... frivolous story. Only Hoang Anh Gia Lai has long implemented this style of play, but it is the team that always has to compete to stay in the league. Hanoi FC or Viettel can also hold the ball well, but they do not consider it their forte. That means the teams must be flexible according to reality, according to each opponent, each game, if not to say mainly play in a "safe and secure" way, defend well and then think about attacking and counter-attacking.

Of course, it is not difficult for the teams themselves, as well as the organizers, experts, media and fans, to identify the long-standing weaknesses of the V-League. But the problem is to what extent, when, thoroughly or superficially. Referees have long been the weak link in the weaknesses, even though the V-League has used VAR. If referees were truly fair, strict, not weak-willed when players commit fouls, tricks, not entangled in matters off the field... then everything would gradually become clearer. Unfortunately, after each round, there are one or more incidents that make the media excited again, but many times people deliberately ignore and take it lightly so that the tournament... reaches the finish line safely?

When the V-League returns, it is hoped that the race between teams will become more heated, attractive and interesting, especially between the groups of teams competing for the throne and the group avoiding relegation. Will the capital teams such as Hanoi FC, Hanoi Police, Viettel... change their fortunes when they "change their generals" in the upcoming rounds? Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, Quy Nhon Binh Dinh or Dong A Thanh Hoa are also doing everything to realize their ambitions. Those are truly positive signs of the V-League. Of course, the race for the bottom group involving Khanh Hoa, Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Hong Linh Ha Tinh, Song Lam Nghe An is no less fierce, worth watching, worth talking about and promises many surprises.

It is worth waiting for the fiery, attractive and dedicated matches from the upcoming V-League matches. If the V-League continues to repeat the old ways, "rehashing the old story", it will be very worrying for the process of searching, building the force and playing style for the national teams.