Van Duc - Tuan Tai are thriving, SLNA is still unstable on the V.League rankings

Impressions of Van Duc and Tuan Tai

SLNA currently has two strikers sharing the lead in the number of goals scored in V-League 2018 and the National Cup. Phan Van Duc and Le Hoang Thien (Sai ​​Gon FC) are the two best domestic strikers in V.League 2018 up to now with 4 goals.

Meanwhile, also with 4 goals, Ho Tuan Tai and Cong Phuong are leading the scoring list in the 2018 National Cup. It has been a long time since Nghe An had a player at the top of the domestic scoring list.

Phan Van Duc is playing quite impressively. Photo: Internet

Up to now, Van Duc is the player with the most minutes of V-League 2018 in the tournament, he played all 8 matches with 720 minutes of playing. If counting all 3 fronts, Van Duc played 16/17 matches of SLNA with 1,367 minutes and is the SLNA player with the most playing minutes.

Tuan Tai also played 16/17 matches but only 1,221 minutes and is also among the Nghe An players who played the most.

Up to now, on 3 fronts V-League, National Cup and AFC Cup, Van Duc has scored 4, 2, 1 goals respectively, a total of 7 goals. Tuan Tai also has 7 goals but the order is 1, 4, 2. They are 1 goal more than Cong Phuong (HAGL) and Dinh Tung (FLC Thanh Hoa).

Up to now, this duo has scored a total of 5/8 goals for SLNA in V.League, 6/7 goals in the 2018 National Cup. SLNA played very well in the National Cup with 3 consecutive victories, but in V.League, they drew 3, lost 1 and only won 1 match in the last 5 rounds. Only 7 points after 8 rounds, ranked 13/14 and only 3 points more than Nam Dinh, not commensurate with SLNA's position.

Not only Van Duc and Tuan Tai played impressively, but conductor Khac Ngoc also had 5 assists. Coach Duc Thang currently has 4 national players: Khac Ngoc, Ngoc Hai, Van Duc, Xuan Manh, not to mention Manh Hung, Dinh Hoang, Tuan Tai, Van Khanh... who have also been called up to the national team. So what has caused the Nghe An team to perform so poorly?

More than just trauma

The duo Van Duc and Tuan Tai scored 11/15 goals in the two domestic arenas. Photo: Internet

Admittedly, injuries and penalty cards are the objective reasons why SLNA has only recently had its strongest squad. However, compared to last season, this year SLNA's midfield holds the ball much better, even when playing against Than Quang Ninh or FLC Thanh Hoa - teams in the upper group. The ability to score goals is also more diverse, with 8/15 goals from set pieces and high balls.

However, being too dependent on Khac Ngoc's creation makes it easy for the opponent to "read". On Vinh field, Nam Dinh coach Van Sy only needed to send 1 player to "kill" Khac Ngoc, making it very difficult for SLNA to create scoring situations.

To put it in technical terms, SLNA has almost no viable option 2 when the pre-match preparation is at a standstill. The duo Van Duc and Tuan Tai have scored 11/15 goals in the 2 domestic arenas, but if they encounter a match where they are not in good shape, the opponent can "sleep soundly". Van Duc often changes wings, but his teammate on the other side has not shared the fire with this young player, so the opponent can defend more easily.

SLNA’s schedule is quite difficult, right after meeting HAGL, the Vinh team will have to face a tough opponent, Hanoi. This is also the time for SLNA’s coaching staff and players to show their mettle before the first “turn” of the season.