Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem is the most successful military leader in the V-League but is still fired After only 10 rounds, V-League 2021 has seen 5 leaders leave their seats, accounting for more than a third of the total number of coaches working in the No.1 tournament in Vietnam. What is behind these departures? Is it merely due to poor performance? The “grinder” coach is activated After the 9th round of V-League 2021, coach Phan Thanh Hung announced his farewell to Becamex Binh Duong club to treat newly discovered heart disease. However, this is not necessarily the whole cause. The recent unfavorable results have made the atmosphere in the Thu land team tense. There was even information appearing that there was an internal problem with Becamex Binh Duong. However, Mr. Hung asserted that his leave was simply due to health factors. Putting aside the obstacles surrounding Mr. Hung’s departure, fans must be surprised when he is the 5th captain in the V-League 2021 to leave from the beginning of the season. So far, the Saigon Club has said goodbye to two coaches, including Mr. Vu Tien Thanh and Mr. Masahiro Shimoda (Japan). Coach Pham Minh Duc, who has been with the Hong Linh Ha Tinh club for many years, has also gone away. More remarkable is the case of coach Chu Dinh Nghiem, who helped Hanoi FC win 3 V-League championships, 2 National Cups and 3 National Super Cups were also fired. Except for coach Vu Tien Thanh, who had to leave his chair due to the team’s change of strategy, the common point of these rulers is poor performance. Becamex Binh Duong stopped, winning only 2 of the last 7 matches and was far behind in the championship race by HAGL. Hong Linh Ha Tinh, after the 2020 season, made a strong impression, having failed, won only 6 points (up to round 9), ranked last on the rankings. Hanoi FC as usual still started off quite slowly but it felt like the capital team was arrested, while coach Chu Dinh Nghiem could not make a change. In the midst of that context, changing the general is inevitable. Saigon club is no exception. Last season, the team in pink ran for the championship to the final rounds, but this season it was in the bottom half of the rankings. Coach Shimoda’s football philosophy is not considered suitable for the current Saigon staff. What is the cause? The fact that 4/14 V-League 2021 teams changed captains shows that the number one tournament in Vietnam is becoming a coaching furnace. Commentator Vu Quang Huy admits, the main reason is due to the high competitiveness in V-League 2021. “With the old format, each team has 26 rounds of effort so there can be errors or breaks in terms of performance. But this new format made the situation even more tense, teams only had 13 laps to race to stage 1. Losing a game or two was seen near the danger round. If we want to make an immediate change, there is only a way to change the general because this often brings a positive effect, at least mentally for the player, ”Mr. Huy analyzed. Former player Nguyen Hong Son has the same opinion. He emphasized that the current level of the V-League teams is not too far apart, so the tension in each match and each round is pushed up. In addition, Mr. Son also said that the expectation of the bosses and investors in the team is growing and when the coach cannot bring about high achievements, the departure is inevitable. From a broader perspective, expert Le The Tho affirmed that most of the coaches working in the V-League possess moderate professional qualifications. “Some people are not capable, they are not well-educated, refuse to learn and apply the achievements of world football, since there is no modern coaching method but only by experience. You try to count if there are teams that have won the V-League, there is a team that does not thanks to strong forces, excellent foreign soldiers, the role of the coach is very weak. If the coaching force does not upgrade, the V-League is difficult to develop professionally “, Mr. Tho commented. Former player Nguyen Hong Son also shared the assessment that some coaches in the V-League have not met the requirements for the development of Vietnamese football. “Whatever you say, although there are still limitations, the V-League is going up. Professional requirements are higher and higher, but very few V-League coaches can meet them. Here, we must understand that the training or competition cycle must consist of several phases. How to prepare, what to build, how to staff, how to enter the tournament and how to kick, after 5 rounds of playing or what should be changed next season. Not many V-League coaches have such a vision, so if the pressure increases, they will find it difficult to work, ”said the former Vietnamese midfielder. For his part, commentator Vu Quang Huy again said that the V-League coach team is not bad. According to Mr. Huy, the No. 1 football tournament in Vietnam has a good young coach, personality and know how to update from international documents. “Of course, a good coach does not necessarily have a good record, football is like that. Mostly, the coaches do not have enough staff to implement their ideas ”, Mr. Huy affirmed. In addition to the 5 coaches who have lost their positions, some other rulers in the V-League 2021 are also in a dangerous situation such as coach Nguyen Anh Tuan of the Hai Phong club and coach Alexandre Polking of the HCM City club. These two teams have played wildly over the past time and both stand near the group holding the red light.

Thus, Hong Linh Ha Tinh is the 4th professional football team led by the Nghe An strategist.

Immediately after news coach Pham Minh Duc broke up Hong Linh Ha TinhMost of the fans predict that coach Nguyen Thanh Cong will be the new “captain” of the team that is standing at the last position on the stage 1 rankings. V.League 2021. Because at that time, the strategist born in 1977 had just left Quang Nam and was once impressed as a “firefighter” at the Saigon Club, Thanh Hoa and Quang Nam, the team currently playing in the First Division.

Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong when he also led Saigon club. Photo: Trong Vu

Remember, the first time Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong being “hot seated” is at the beginning of the return leg of V.League 2018. Due to the poor performance of the Saigon Club (losing 2 consecutive matches to HAGL and SLNA), the leaders of the team at Thong Nhat Stadium have decided to replace head coach Phan Van Tai Em with assistant Nguyen Thanh Cong. This is a bold “move” by the leaders of the Saigon Club, because the youngest son of former coach Nguyen Thanh Vinh does not have much experience in training in the V.League arena.

However, it did not take long for coach Nguyen Thanh Cong to clear the skepticism from experts and fans of the Saigon football team. Under the “shaping hand” of former SLNA striker, the Saigon Club’s style has been gradually perfected. At the end of the V.League 2018, teachers and coaches Nguyen Thanh Cong won 31 points and finished in 8th place, 7 points more than the team that had to compete in the play-off match of Nam Dinh (24 points in Nam Dinh). .

A year later, in the next season led Saigon ClubCoach Nguyen Thanh Cong shows his ability to direct more clearly. With the squad quality not having many positive changes, the team at Thong Nhat Stadium still performed a very uncomfortable game. Thanks to that, after 26 rounds, the Saigon Club won 36 points (5 points more than V.League 2018) and finished 5th, standing above famous teams such as SLNA, HAGL, SHB Da. Nang, Quang Nam or Thanh Hoa.

Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong when he also led Thanh Hoa. Photo: Manh Cuong

Unfortunately for family reasons, coach Nguyen Thanh Cong had to leave the Saigon club to return to his hometown. It was not until the first stage of V.League 2020 passed 3 rounds, coach Nguyen Thanh Cong “re-exported” the pitch. Receiving the invitation of the election of De, the strategist from Nghe An agreed to help Thanh Hoa overcome the crisis. At the time coach Nguyen Thanh Cong took over the “hot seat” left by coach Fabio Lopez, the Thanh team still had not won any points at the first stage of V.League 2020 (lost all 3 matches).

The appearance of coach Nguyen Thanh Cong completely changed the face of Thanh Hoa. From a group of exhausted and frail under coach Fabio Lopez, suddenly the Thanh team became a formidable opponent. Before having to carry the luggage to leave Thanh (disagreeing with the election of De), coach Nguyen Thanh Cong helped Hoang Dinh Tung and his teammates win 14 points (4 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses), and at the same time exit the danger zone (get up to 8th place).

Not long ago, when returning home, Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong received a “call for help” from Quang Nam’s leadership. At that time, the Quang origin team was also buried in the last position on the V.League 2020 stage 2 rankings. Chairman Nguyen Hao’s aim is to hope coach Nguyen Thanh Cong will bring the home team of Tam Stadium. Safe landing period. Despite great efforts, the victories against Nam Dinh, SHB Da Nang and Hai Phong still could not help Quang Nam “escape”.

Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong (middle) when he was leading Quang Nam. Photo: AS

Instead of leaving the “shipwreck” Quang Nam to seek opportunities in a team playing in the V.League, coach Nguyen Thanh Cong chose to continue working with Dinh Thanh Trung, Huynh Tan Sinh, Nguyen Anh. Hung … conquered the promotion ticket. But then the adventure of coach Nguyen Thanh Cong at Tam Ky Stadium also stopped, when Quang Nam did not win any victory after the first 4 matches in the first stage of the National Championship 2021 (draw 2, lost 2). .

Just finished handing over the work to his successor, Coach Duong Hong Son, coach Nguyen Thanh Cong’s cell phone received a call from the Board of Directors of Hong Linh Ha Tinh. Before the enthusiastic invitation of the head of the team “Hong Mountain”, the 44-year-old strategist agreed to sit in the “hot chair” that once belonged to coach Pham Minh Duc. A rather brave decision of coach Nguyen Thanh Cong, in the current situation (Hong Linh Ha Tinh is standing in the “book team” position on the V.League 2021 stage 1 rankings, with only 6 points).

Witnessing the journey of coach Nguyen Thanh Cong over the years, football experts and fans of the country have called him “welder” – nickname of coach Claudio Ranieri – who used to lead football teams. age like Parma, Cagliari, Fiorentina, Juventus, AS Roma, Napoli, Inter Milan, Sampdoria (Italy), Valencia, Atletico Madrid (Spain), Chelsea, Leicester City, Fulham (England), Monaco, Nantes (France). .. The reason coach Claudio Ranieri is called “welder guy”, because the moment he takes over the “hot chair”, most teams are in a form crisis.

Wait and see, whether “the welder Vietnamese version” – Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong can “revive” a Hong Linh Ha Tinh who is “clinically dead” or not?

The statement of the military leader with the nickname “Mourinho Vietnam” is very interesting, because it reflects exactly what the domestic strikers are showing at the V.League this season.

Positive signs

In December 2020, Coach Park Hang-seo created a big debate among experts about the use of too many foreign strikers by V.League as the reason for the Vietnamese team to have a shortage of good strikers. The Korean strategist even suggested that VPF should build a certain mechanism for U21 players to enter the V.League arena.

Mr. Park gave very specific numbers: 47 foreign soldiers played in the 2020 season, of which 70% were in the striker line. Obviously the opportunities for domestic strikers are very limited. The most outstanding people and national players like Cong Phuong, Van Toan, Tien Linh, Van Duc, Duc Chinh all scored no more than 6 goals.

There was a time when Mr. Park had to summon and trust using an old general like Anh Duc to understand the general situation of the internal strikers in the V.League.

Everything has changed dramatically this season. The best strikers of Vietnam Tel are all playing too well. Van Toan was twice voted the best player of the month, now has 6 goals in 9 rounds. Cong Phuong, despite playing further from goal than before, had 5 goals, equal to Tien Linh and Van Duc.

A total of these 4 strikers have 21 goals, occupying 4/6 leading positions in the scoring list in the V.League. The two foreign strikers standing with them are Rafaelson of SHB Da Nang and Eydison of Than Quang Ninh (with 5 goals).

Domestic strikers are shining at the V.League 2021.

Domestic strikers scoring in a row is a very positive sign, because it not only reflects the quality of the players, but more importantly, it is also a change in mindset to play in the general ground. .League.

As Mr. Pham Minh Duc, Vietnamese players have very good technique and when they shine in the V.League, it means that the tournament has also become more technical.

Previously, many teams “set white” to score goals for foreign strikers. The downline just bounces up for strikers with outstanding form and fitness to manage.

To ensure their achievements, coaches are forced to use strong foreign soldiers with impressive power and height, but many players’ soccer skills are only average or below this level.

The internal strikers shine mainly because the teams have accepted to build their play around them, using tactics that are more suitable for the technique and the body of the players. Not only the teams are different, but Coach Park Hang-seo also benefits from this change.

More comprehensive, more dangerous

Personally, the players have also made changes to become more dangerous. Van Toan, who is sublimating in the colors of Hoang Anh Gia Lai, has “removed” the label of “disruptive striker”.

Previously, the striker from Hai Duong was often mentioned only with a short breakout speed. Now, he is transforming into a dangerous table scorer by omniscience. His six goals included a left-foot, right-footed shot in the penalty area and a long shot.

Playing under the guidance of a coach who was once Southeast Asia’s number one striker like Kiatisak is a great advantage for Van Toan. The striker’s play has gradually become perfected, helping him become a permanent threat to the opponent’s goal.

Chevaughn Walsh, one of the foreign strikers, was disappointed.

Along with Van Toan, Cong Phuong also changed. Backed down to play lower than before, the striker from Nghe An has plenty of room to show off his elite skills.

Cong Phuong was significantly less cumbersome under Kiatisak’s sharpening, more diligent, and had two goals from left-footed kicks that were not commonly seen before.

The way Kiatisak uses Cong Phuong is also an interesting suggestion for Mr. Park, in the context of Vietnam Tel is facing many difficulties in human resources in the middle line.

Can not fail to mention Phan Van Duc. The 1996-born striker’s rising career was interrupted by consecutive injuries, but fortunately it did not take away the qualities of the player considered more than 50% of Song Lam Nghe An’s strength. this time. Even Van Duc at present is even more unpredictable because of his assertiveness.

The German goals “creak” from the beginning of the season have many super products, made by extremely classy kicks. Van Duc is a smart player, always making a reasonable decision in each moment and now, he is more dangerous when he gradually becomes a mutant.

The “evolution” of strikers will bring Mr. Park Hang-seo more solutions on attack. Van Duc, Van Toan, Cong Phuong and even Tien Linh have different qualities, suitable for each opponent.

When they are in the best state, Vietnamese telecom products will become unpredictable, especially when Quang Hai is also showing signs of recovery.

Foreign strikers are only secondary

Coach Pham Minh Duc has a reason to criticize foreign strikers when Hong Linh Ha Tinh has lost 3/4 of the penalty since the beginning of the season because he believes in foreign strikers.

In the first match of the V.League 2021, Claudecir set up a “double” shot to miss 11 meters against Than Quang Ninh, causing Hong Linh Ha Tinh to lose 1-2.

When it came to the “reverse final” of Saigon FC, it was Chevaughn Walsh’s turn to end the game at a time when the team was leading 0-1. Failure to Saigon FC led Mr. Duc to decide to resign, giving hot seats to coach Nguyen Thanh Cong.

Ho Chi Minh City club is probably “saddest” the most V.League because of its foreign strikers. The trio of Joao Paulo, Dario Silva and Junior Barrios cost the Thong Nhat team nearly millions of dollars, but only scored a total of 2 goals this season.

At Hoang Anh Gia Lai, striker Washington Brandao is one of three players to play without missing a minute from the beginning of the season next to goalkeeper Huynh Tuan Linh and midfielder Nguyen Huu Tuan, but only 2 goals.

The main task of Washington Brandao is to draw and attract the attention of the opponent’s defenders so that Cong Phuong and Van Toan have space.