What is SLNA's problem now?

In fact, winning or losing in football is normal, but the current approach of SLNA's coaching staff to the match has too many things to discuss. First of all, we must acknowledge the efforts ofCoach Huy Hoangwhen daring to boldly innovate SLNA's playing style.

SLNA situation

Coach Huy Hoang still has a lot of work to do. Photo: Hai Ho

In the last 2 matches, SLNA applied the 3-5-2 tactical formation and the ball possession time was up to 58% and 55%. This is something that for many reasons, the 2 predecessors of Coach Quang Truong and Duc Thang have not been able to do.

Many experts agree that SLNA's weakest point at the moment is moving without the ball. Nghe An players are strong in their ability to fight back and regain the ball from their opponents, but they do not have many options for passing the ball or launching attacks. Teammates do not move or support the players with the ball, so the opponents can easily surround them and prevent SLNA from organizing attacks. The high, long balls without high accuracy from Nghe An players are easily neutralized by the defenses of B.Binh Duong and T.Binh Dinh.

SLNA under coach Huy Hoang still lacks an attacking conductor in the midfield. Olaha plays low, does a good job of blocking but is not an attacking midfielder like J. Lynch of Binh Dinh. Foreign players Basit and Ojong Mark have poor personal skills and cannot operate independently like Rafaelson. The midfield lacks a midfielder with the ability to cover the ball and shoot from a distance like Brazilian midfielder Hendrio.

SLNA's arrangement of an assistant 1 specializing in tactical and match analysis who is not a player and does not have a coaching degree means that when facing a deadlock, Coach Huy Hoang does not have timely professional advice. It is unclear whether sponsor Tan Long has seen this and adjusted so that assistants Van Quyen, Nhu Thuat, Bui Minh and Duc Thang can promote their professional roles. SLNA has boldly abandoned the bland 4-4-2 formation, but in fact, wanting to play 3-5-2 at this time is not simple. SLNA players are "stepping on" each other's feet and passing the ball incorrectly because they are not used to the change, because the quality of the Nghe An team's players is currently uneven.

Top 3 target?

Xuan Manh and his teammates tried hard but could not avoid defeat for the home team. Photo: Chung Nguyen

Many people think that the top 3 target that sponsor Tan Long assigned to SLNA's coaching staff and players this season is too heavy. With the inexperienced coaching staff (forgot to appoint the first vice-captain), head coach Huy Hoang, who is leading the team to fight in the V.League for the first time, and having to build a style of play that is true to SLNA's identity, is really too much. With only half of the new Binh Dinh players on the field, without veteran faces like Dinh Trong, Xuan Tu, Van Thuan, coach Duc Thang still easily got 3 points at Vinh Stadium.

In fact, tens of thousands of Nghe An fans want SLNA to return to its traditional identity and soon return to the V.League race. However, the goal of winning a medal "immediately" at the 2022 V.League as Tan Long wishes is making it difficult for SLNA's coaching staff and players. Not only SLNA, but other teams such as HAGL, Ho Chi Minh City, and Saigon FC are hasty and spend money to buy foreign players and coaches, but they cannot succeed immediately.

The ancients have a saying “Haste makes waste”, that saying is true for SLNA’s current situation. But no matter what, coach Huy Hoang still has to quickly find new foreign players and improve the playing style, requiring his players to move more, ensuring there is always more than one option for passing the ball. HAGL is a big challenge on Vinh Stadium awaiting SLNA.