SLNA's problems at V.League 2019 through the perspective of commentator Quang Tung

PV: Hello commentator Quang Tung, how do you evaluate SLNA's squad this season?

- The quality of SLNA's squad in V.League 2019 is not too good but not bad either. Players like Dinh Hoang, Van Khanh, Khac Ngoc, Ngoc Toan have all proven themselves and maintained their form, not to mention veterans like Dinh Dong, Quang Tinh, Van Binh. SLNA's foreign players are still stable, Olaha has a good understanding of Vietnamese football and the foreign central defenders are excellent, especially Nguyen Manh has played well again.

PV: In your opinion, what is the problem SLNA is facing?

- SLNA's problem is the lack of an excellent foreign player to finish or in other words, another player to share the fire with Michael Olaha like Phan Van Duc. That is the problem SLNA needs to improve. Those shortcomings will appear with any team during the competition in V.League, not just SLNA. If Phan Van Duc plays this year and scores 9 goals like last season, everything will be different. Ho Tuan Tai has just returned from injury and has only played 2 recent matches.

Commentator Ngo Quang Tung thinks SLNA is weak in finishing. Graphics: Trung Kien

PV: Does SLNA's 5th place on the rankings truly reflect the strength of the Nghe An team?

- In the last match, SLNA lost to TP HCM, but a team with many domestic players playing like that is not much. Not too excellent, but ensuring the position, causing pressure. SLNA played 11 matches, only lost 2 matches, and had 8 matches without conceding a goal, 6 consecutive matches unbeaten, that achievement is stable. With the potential and difficulties facing, SLNA's 5th position on the rankings is normal, not a problem.

PV: Regarding SLNA's playing style after the past 11 matches, has SLNA's coaching staff done their best?

- Michael Olaha is not a key player who decides the game. He is a player who goes out there, supports and creates situations. If we have good new foreign players, Tuan Tai knows how to score goals and Phan Van Duc returns, this problem will be solved.

SLNA needs someone to "share the fire" with Michael Olaha. Photo: Duc Dong

I think SLNA's playing style is not necessarily reasonable. To apply a suitable playing style depends on the conditions and the team's people. SLNA also plays quite flexibly, sometimes going down the sidelines, sometimes passing long balls, sometimes coordinating attacks in the middle. SLNA can play in any way, the important thing is that SLNA needs to build more people to solve the problem.

PV: Besides needing to urgently add a foreign player, what does SLNA need to improve, commentator Quang Tung?

- SLNA needs to accumulate more physical strength. In many matches, like the recent match against TP HCM, SLNA played very well in the first half, maintained pressure, and suffocated the opponent, but in the second half they could not hold on any longer. If SLNA had good physical strength, it would be very difficult to defeat.

PV: What if the new foreign player also does not meet the professional requirements?

- If he plays like Michael Olaha, the domestic striker can still play well. But if there is a new foreign player who can finish and solve the situation, Tuan Tai will have to be on the bench or play out wide.

If Tuan Tai wants to compete with foreign players, he must improve himself. This depends on the way SLNA's coaching staff builds the team. If SLNA does not add foreign players or improve their finishing ability, it will be very difficult to improve their position.

Nguyen Manh deserves to return to the national team. Photo: Huu Thanh

PV: In your opinion, besides Phan Van Duc and Pham Xuan Manh, which player is capable of wearing the national team jersey?

- Maybe only Nguyen Manh, because other positions, other teams have many good players. Khac Ngoc is not capable enough to cover, nor sharp enough to create influence. Physical strength is also a problem for Khac Ngoc to balance defense and attack.

Khac Ngoc's competitiveness is not high enough, he has been given opportunities but could not stand out. Khac Ngoc's stature is limited, so he must compensate with sharpness and tenacity. Just like Xuan Truong, if he can overcome his physical strength, he will be perfect.

As for Hoang Van Khanh, when he plays for SLNA, he will play well, but if he plays for the national team, it will be different. Van Khanh's skills are not perfect yet. Perhaps Nguyen Manh will return to the national team, but it will be difficult to compete for the starting position with Van Lam, unless Van Lam's form declines too much.

"It is difficult to expect a championship in the near future for SLNA due to potential and financial factors, although the Nghe An team has human factors. Nghe An audiences never turn their backs on the team."

Commentator Ngo Quang Tung

PV: Is the fact that SLNA has not set a championship goal for a long time the reason why Vinh Stadium is not as crowded as before?

- This is very difficult to say, it is just one factor. Like the recent match against Ho Chi Minh City, Nghe An audiences still came in large numbers, mainly SLNA fans. Not aiming for the championship is not a problem, SLNA just plays well, is stable, has good results, then people will still come to the stadium in large numbers. Fans love it, it will still be the same, unless they play too badly or miserably.

PV: Returning to V.League, will Ho Chi Minh City Club overthrow the reigning champion Hanoi?

- It is possible but not certain, because V.League 2019 has only passed 11 rounds. Hanoi FC is busy competing in the AFC Cup so they may have to disperse their strength, but in the long run, Hanoi will handle it better. Ho Chi Minh City FC is not too sharp, they play steadily and are somewhat lucky.

PV: Thank you for sharing and commenting, commentator Ngo Quang Tung!

Commentator Ngo Quang Tung is a famous commentator of Vietnamese football. He was born in Hung Nguyen, Nghe An, the son of former player Ngo Xuan Quynh, the first generation of The Cong Club.

Without Phan Van Duc, how bad is SLNA's attack?

(Baonghean.vn) - Although Song Lam Nghe An is the team with the most solid defense in V.League 2019, their attack is among the least effective.