Vietnam national team reform: Reusing coach Troussier's 'experimental plan'

Former coach Philippe Troussier's plan to place Phan Tuan Tai as a left-sided center-back has been tested again by acting coach Dinh Hong Vinh in the Vietnam national team.

Vietnam team tests new defense

The Vietnamese team conceded 7 goals after only 2 internal friendly matches with Nam Dinh Club (lost 0-4) and Hanoi Police Club (won 4-3).

Part of the reason comes from the fact that interim coach Dinh Hong Vinh has tested many defenders. In which, both old and new factors have been given equal opportunities to show their abilities.

While senior central defenders such as Duy Manh, Thanh Chung, and Tien Dung were put on the field in the first half, "strange" faces such as Quang Kiet, Hoang Phuc, and Van Toi played in the second half. Notably, Mr. Dinh Hong Vinh repeated the experimental plan that former coach Philippe Troussier had pursued before, which was to place Tuan Tai as a left-sided central defender in the match against CAHN Club.

Phan Tuan Tai (blue shirt) in the Vietnamese national team jersey

PHOTO: NAM DINH CLUB

That was a controversial experiment (later used for real) by Mr. Troussier in the Vietnam national team. Tuan Tai was originally a left-back, with a skillful left foot, capable of climbing the sidelines and crossing the ball well. However, to increase the ability to control and deploy the game from the defense, the French coach arranged Tuan Tai to play as a left-sided center-back.

The result of the experiment was a run of seven consecutive defeats in all competitions, before coach Troussier left his position.

Of course, the fault in the 5-month streak of bad matches is not solely Tuan Tai's, but clearly, the player of The Cong Viettel has played inconsistently, in a position that is probably not for a player who is thin and weak in competition.

Tuan Tai's central defender position is also a typical example of Mr. Troussier's unsuccessful innovation in the Vietnam national team, when tactical innovations did not bring about effectiveness.

Where does the revolution come from?

When taking over the Vietnam team, coach Kim Sang-sik simply returned everything to the old order.

Tuan Tai no longer has a place, because the player born in 2001 cannot defend as well as Duy Manh in the left center-back position, nor is he skillful, strong and fast enough like Van Vi and Cao Pendant Quang Vinh in the left-back position.

Coach Kim Sang-sik mainly experimented in midfield and forward lines, where the risk of failure would be exchanged for less. In defense, he prioritized maintaining stability, using faces with existing names and experience built up under coach Park Hang-seo. The defensive framework of Duy Manh, Thanh Chung, and Tien Dung helped the Vietnamese team concede only 6 goals in 8 matches on the way to winning the AFF Cup 2024.

Thanh Chung (right) made many mistakes at Hanoi Club

PHOTO: NAM DINH CLUB

However, the defense needs more competition, as Duy Manh (29), Thanh Chung (28) and Tien Dung (30) are all about to pass the other side of the slope. At the same time, Duy Manh and Thanh Chung are both on the decline with Hanoi FC, while Tien Dung has been just average and adequate for many years.

Therefore, the September training session was the first time under coach Kim Sang-sik that the defense was given a major overhaul. The Vietnamese team exhausted the most potential central defenders in the V-League such as Hoang Phuc (Ho Chi Minh City Police Club) and Van Toi (Hai Phong).

Even a central defender who could not stay in the U.23 Vietnam team like Quang Kiet (HAGL) was also tested because he has a height of 1.96 m which no other Vietnamese player has reached for a long time.

From this perspective, it is not surprising that Mr. Troussier's failed plan was re-enacted. In the match against CAHN Club, Tuan Tai played well. He helped the defense to develop the ball more cohesively and smoothly.

However, the all-domestic squad of CAHN Club is not enough "test" to verify Tuan Tai.

The personnel shuffle in all lines shows that this is the most open and flexible Vietnamese team in many years. The fire of change has appeared, although it may not bring success, but it is bright enough to light the way for Mr. Kim and his team to walk in the coming period.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-cai-to-dung-lai-ca-phuong-an-thu-nghiem-cua-hlv-troussier-185250909093304887.htm