Relegated, what does HAGL plan for next season?

HAGL has officially stayed in the V-League. However, the story of next season is the most remarkable thing for this team. Some key players have been and are considering the possibility of leaving HAGL.

Binh Dinh's 1-5 loss to Hanoi Police Club on June 3 (make-up match of round 20 of V-League 2024 - 2025) helped HAGL stay in the league. The mountain town team currently has 28 points, 7 points away from the play-off position, while there are only 2 more rounds left in the tournament. HAGL's path to staying in the league in the 2024 - 2025 season is not smooth. Technical Director Vu Tien Thanh's team struggled at times. They were caught out by their opponents and the HAGL players themselves lost their confidence. It was not until the end of the season, when they were pushed into a corner, that the entire HAGL team rose up strongly and escaped. It must also be said that the instability of many opponents such as Binh Dinh, Da Nang, Quang Nam, and Ho Chi Minh City Club at the end of the season also contributed to HAGL's safe finish, not necessarily because the mountain town team played well in the sprint stage.

Tran Minh Vuong (left) will leave HAGL after the 2024 - 2025 season.

PHOTO: MINH TRAN

HAGL’s escape journey left a big mark on midfielder Minh Vuong. This is a top-class player in Vietnamese football, a rare survivor at HAGL, after Cong Phuong, Tuan Anh, Xuan Truong, Hong Duy, Van Thanh, Van Toan… left.

But unfortunately, after the current season, Minh Vuong will leave HAGL. This raises the problem of finding replacement personnel for the Pleiku team. At the same time, if Minh Vuong is no longer in the squad, it is very likely that HAGL's playing style will also change compared to what fans have known about this team in the past few years.

Since the generation of Tuan Anh, Xuan Truong, Cong Phuong, Van Toan, Minh Vuong... appeared in the HAGL team in V-League, Mr. Duc's team has become famous for playing the most beautiful and attractive football in the country.

HAGL has always been a team that plays with a tendency to control the ball, using short passes to penetrate the opponent's defense. This style of play has been very effective under coach Kiatisak. HAGL almost won the V-League in 2021, if that year's season had not been canceled midway due to the impact of Covid-19.

What strategy does HAGL need?

Next season, the new generation of HAGL will mainly stand out in defensive positions such as goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien, central defender Pham Ly Duc, Dinh Quang Kiet, and fullback Dung Quang Nho. These players are highly regarded for their physique, ability to compete, and marking, but they are not technical masters like Cong Phuong, Tuan Anh, or Minh Vuong.

The way of playing depends on the people. Whatever the personnel of HAGL is, this team will mainly play like that. Without the talented technicians and attacking stars in the front line, HAGL will most likely not be able to play as attractively as before. Possessing players with strong physique, physical strength, and ability to compete, HAGL will likely play defensively, using the main style of play of defensive counter-attack in the next season.

And usually a team that plays defensively is not a team capable of competing for major titles. If they want to fly high, HAGL needs to invest heavily in the transfer market to recruit famous attacking stars.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tru-hang-roi-hagl-tinh-sao-cho-mua-sau-185250606211945189.htm