Xuan Truong - Khac Ngoc: Vietnamese version of Gerrard - Lampard?

Before the match between Jordan and Vietnam, coach Phan Thanh Hung (Than Quang Ninh) commented: "I guess midfielder Khac Ngoc will play a very important role in the playing style of the Vietnam team in tonight's match because from the second leg of V.League 2017 until the first rounds of V.League 2018, Khac Ngoc has shown that he is the most dangerous attacking midfielder in Vietnamese football today.

I appreciate Khac Ngoc because he possesses the best qualities to take on the role of playmaker from midfield: sharp tactical thinking, skillful technique, physical endurance, and is dangerous with his passes into the gaps of the opponent's defense.

Those factors make it likely that Coach Park Hang Seo will arrange for him to play alongside Xuan Truong to find new momentum and creativity for the Vietnamese team's midfield."

Khac Ngoc - Xuan Truong are considered the two central midfielders with the best performance in Vietnamese football recently. Photo: Internet

Contrary to the predictions of coach Phan Thanh Hung and most of the fans, coach Park Hang Seo did not include Khac Ngoc in the starting lineup. It was not until the 64th minute of the match that the player from SLNA Club was brought onto the field to replace midfielder Xuan Truong.

Mr. Park’s decision made many people feel surprised and a little disappointed. The question is: Has Coach Park Hang Seo not found the most effective solution to arrange for Khac Ngoc to play next to Xuan Truong?

Objectively speaking, Xuan Truong and Khac Ngoc are the two central midfielders with the best performance in Vietnamese football recently. Experts and fans are very excited to think about the prospect of Truong "hip" playing alongside Ngoc "de" in the center of the Vietnamese national team's midfield. Unfortunately, coach Park Hang Seo kept Khac Ngoc on the bench.

The act of putting Khac Ngoc on the field to replace Xuan Truong in the middle of the second half proves that coach Park Hang Seo does not want or cannot find a way to use these two players at the same time on the field.

Striker Anh Duc's goal against Jordan was largely thanks to midfielder Xuan Truong. Photo: Internet

Witnessing that, Vietnamese fans are extremely worried about the combination of Xuan Truong and Khac Ngoc. It seems that the "problem" that Coach Park Hang Seo is facing is quite similar to what Coach Eriksson, Coach McClaren, Coach Capello, Coach Hodgson of the England team (2004 - 2014) had to go through with the duo Gerrard - Lampard. Although considered the two best central midfielders in the Premier League era, Gerrard and Lampard always disappointed each time they played together in the England team.

Therefore, if Coach Park Hang Seo cannot solve the Xuan Truong - Khac Ngoc problem, the strength of the Vietnam National Team will be significantly affected. Of course, after only one match, nothing can be confirmed./.