Why did Song Lam Nghe An not achieve the desired results?

The question is why the team playing at Vinh Stadium couldn't achieve the desired results?

The reality on the pitch shows that in the opponent's equalizing goals,Lam River, Nghe AnBoth teams were under pressure, with their second line dropping deep to defend, but without success. Van Viet still played well in the last line of defense, and Song Lam could have conceded even more goals if Van Viet had lacked courage and poor situational awareness. But Van Viet's good performance alone wasn't enough; with the second line wide open for the opponent, the central defense insufficient, and the flanks exploited to the maximum... as many have seen.

The root cause of all the defensive failures in the two aforementioned matches, despite having opportunities, was the thin and weak squad, unable to cope with difficult situations requiring physical strength and extensive experience. In short, Song Lam Nghe An completely lacked/did not have the ability to control the tempo of the game, force opponents to play their way, render opponents helpless in all attacking directions, and effectively anticipate all of their opponent's tactics…

Therefore, Mr. Phan Nhu Thuat frankly stated that strengthening the squad is the only way to have a chance of winning and to avoid the current bottom of the table. This means spending money to "acquire" players who haven't met expectations, especially in the defensive line, including defensive midfielders, as well as players who can drop deep to defend, the necessary versatility of all positions on the field, and the role of a star player in controlling the tempo and regulating the game.

Experts, the media, and fans alike can easily identify the most inexperienced players in the current Song Lam Nghe An squad and are hoping for a solid framework, a backbone for the team consisting of foreign players, naturalized players, or overseas Vietnamese players.

Moreover, among the current young players at Song Lam, the reality is that only a few players, like Quang Vinh or Nguyen Hoang, have basically met the requirements, while the rest need to work much harder to reach their peak performance, including Xuan Tien, Van Cuong, and Nam Hai…

Clearly, with a solid squad, whether playing proactive or passive defense, the team can still intercept aerial balls, block classic wing attacks, fill gaps in the midfield, and seal off the near and far corners where the opponent might attack. Only then can Song Lam Nghe An maintain their slender lead, and even have opportunities for counter-attacks when the opponent is fatigued or in countless unpredictable situations.

It's certainly not easy to fully address the aforementioned challenges facing the underdeveloped team, but if things remain stagnant, no matter how hard they try, the coaching staff will only shake their heads in frustration after each goal conceded and each defeat. Let's avoid a situation where things just keep going in circles, like a passing dream.Phan Nhu ThuatThen it passed to Anh Tuan, then back to Nhu Thuat, and who knows, maybe they'll bring Huy Hoang back? Or, as a vague prediction, in the not-too-distant future, the two teams will merge, retaining their old names, Song Lam Nghe Tinh, and fans will once again see a decent V.League team with a seasoned coaching staff, top domestic and foreign players, and the Vinh stadium, once cool, will once again be blazing hot like a cauldron?

But whatever happens, while waiting and hoping for reinforcements from others, the coaching staff and players of Song Lam Nghe An must take initiative to improve their physical fitness. We cannot allow a situation where starting players only play 45 minutes, or at most 65 minutes, before being substituted, or if they play longer, they basically end up walking, lying on the ground, and being carried off on a stretcher.

It must also be said that the will to overcome difficulties is not a strong point of the current youth team. After the generation of Xuan Tien and Van Cuong who won the U17 championship a while ago, the Song Lam academy has not produced any promising new generation of players, only a few individual talents like Nguyen Hoang, Long Vu, Quang Vinh, or Trong Tuan.

Unfortunately, these are young talents who played in the youth teams and were hastily promoted to the first team without going through the gradual process of being tested and proven, as was the practice in the past and considered an unchangeable principle. The case of Trong Tuan, who failed to lead Bac Ninh to the First Division, and a series of other players who also failed in the Kon Tum team, all demonstrate that the current young players of Song Lam are not the best or most promising players of their generation in Vietnamese football. The past nine rounds of matches are the clearest evidence of this young generation's capabilities. Of course, it must be acknowledged that if the team had more experienced domestic and foreign players, Nguyen Hoang or Long Vu could have achieved what young players like Ngoc My (Dong A Thanh Hoa) or Van Truong (Hanoi FC) once did, contributing to the team's overall success.

That being said, if Song Lam Nghe An can solve their squad problems, and when facing equally matched opponents, they can secure a victory, then they will have a relaxed and confident mindset to seek better results, even against wealthy and ambitious opponents. At that point, their strength will be multiplied from many sides, more fans will attend the stadium, and with luck and hard work, the team will truly return to its former glory.

Specifically, the key is to control the pace of every match as desired, meaning to "master" the game. This seems simple, something everyone knows, but currently, for Song Lam Nghe An, it's beyond their reach, leaving them struggling in a series of disappointing draws and losses. The two-month break is the time to change, to redo what they couldn't do before, using this crucial key.