Ninh Binh FC falls behind in the V-League race for the finish line.

The 2-3 defeat against Hanoi FC in round 20 of the V-League has almost shattered Ninh Binh FC's championship dreams, putting them at risk of dropping out of the top 3 at the end of the season.

Ninh Binh FC was considered a surprise team in the V-League 2025-2026 season, consistently leading the standings in the first half of the season. This newly promoted team harbored ambitions of winning the championship upon their return to Vietnam's top football league, matching the achievements of clubs like Hoang Anh Gia Lai or Hanoi Police, but they faltered in the final stretch.

"The Milky Way" is out of sync.

Few newcomers have generated as much buzz as Ninh Binh FC this season. With strong backing from their owners, the club has assembled a star-studded lineup that any team would envy. From "Spider-Man" Dang Van Lam and "Maestro" Nguyen Hoang Duc to "killers" like Geovane Magno and Fred Friday, Ninh Binh FC is likened to a galaxy of stars.

However, the reality on the pitch presented a contrasting picture. By round 20, despite still being in the top 3 with 37 points, Ninh Binh FC's form was showing signs of stagnation due to a series of unconvincing results. Fans began to question: Why is a team full of stars playing such uninspired and stagnant football?

Ninh Binh FC (in red jerseys) has not lived up to fans' expectations. (Photo: VPF)

Despite possessing a star-studded squad, Ninh Binh FC has consistently struggled to find a suitable playing style with its own unique identity. Coach Vu Tien Thanh's pragmatic football philosophy, prioritizing safety, seems to be becoming too restrictive for the players.

Pragmatism or a barrier?

Coach Vu Tien Thanh is known by the nickname "the doctor who specializes in treating difficult cases" in the V-League. He brought a pragmatic philosophy to Ninh Binh FC: prioritizing defense, tightening discipline, and using long balls. Upon taking over the team, he did not hesitate to point out the physical weaknesses of his players and demanded a complete overhaul.

However, this is precisely where the conflict arises. Coach Vu Tien Thanh's "ignoring the midfield" style of play is completely out of sync with the technically gifted players Ninh Binh FC possesses. Hoang Duc is a top-class central midfielder in the region, strong in ball control to dictate and shape the game, but with Coach Vu Tien Thanh's football philosophy, he is often forced to watch the ball fly over his head from long passes by the central defenders.

Similarly, Geovane Magno is considered a "magician" of ball control, skillful in tight spaces, and capable of creating surprises in attacks down the flanks. However, that skill is constrained by a deep defensive system, causing him to lose his inherent flair.

Meanwhile, Tran Thanh Trung is a talented young player who received professional training in Bulgaria and possesses a modern approach to football. However, he has yet to find common ground with coach Vu Tien Thanh's somewhat rigid tactical approach.

Van Quyet's (Hanoi FC) comment after the 3-2 victory at Ninh Binh Arena, that "Ninh Binh would still lose even with three Hoang Ducs," was like a cold shower for the team. It exposed the reality that without a smoothly functioning system, even the most talented stars are just disconnected pieces of a puzzle.

Waste of resources

In their last nine matches, Ninh Binh FC have only managed to secure a meager 10 points. Their over-reliance on set pieces and Fred Friday's individual attacking prowess makes their playing style predictable. When facing well-structured teams like Hanoi Police or Hanoi FC, Ninh Binh FC often struggles to control the game.

Many believe that coach Vu Tien Thanh's excessive focus on "preventing" physical fitness while neglecting "nurturing" attacking thinking has negatively impacted the creativity of the domestic stars. If this doesn't change soon, Ninh Binh FC will not only waste hundreds of billions of dong in investment but also stifle the performance of key players for the Vietnamese national team.

Beautiful and effective football is always the goal that many clubs strive for. The fact that Ninh Binh FC is currently seeking a strategist with a modern attacking mindset shows that the management has recognized this issue. Ninh Binh fans don't just want wins; they also want to see graceful runs and passes that "tear apart" the opponent's defense from their idols, instead of tiring, muscular tackles.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/ninh-binh-fc-hut-hoi-dua-ve-dich-v-league-19626042620101511.htm