HAGL reveals the limitations of Hanoi FC

The 1-3 loss to HAGL in Pleiku at round 25 was not just a misstep for Hanoi FC. It highlighted numerous problems that have existed in the team throughout recent campaigns.

The defeat at Pleiku stadium ledHanoi FCto endure a bitter conclusion in the season marking the club's 20th anniversary.

This is the moment when the management and supporters anticipated a powerful resurgence after years of no longer holding a monopoly on success.

However, instead of a title or at least a top-three spot, Hanoi FC now faces the prospect of ending the campaign outside the medal positions as they enter the final round in fourth place with no control over their own fate.

What makes this defeat hard to swallow is not the scoreline but the manner in whichHanoi FClost command of the game, squandered chances to finish off the opponent, and were ultimately punished by an 18-year-old player.

Tran Gia Bao scored a goal, set up another, and repeatedly rattled the experienced Hanoi FC defense. The image of a young HAGL talent troubling national team stars served as a wake-up call for coach Kewell's squad.

Taking a broader view of the entire season, Hanoi FC is not short on ambition or resources. Yet they lack consistency and have been operating rather sluggishly. In recent years, the club has repeatedly changed its coaching staff.

Coaches have arrived and departed, each bringing their own philosophy and construction approach. The result is that the team is constantly adapting rather than progressing.

Head coach Harry Kewellarrived with great expectations thanks to his international pedigree, but so far he has not managed to make Hanoi FC run smoothly. What the team has displayed suggests they still lack a clear identity under the Australian tactician.

The case of Pham Tuan Hai is a prime example. The 1998-born striker was once among the V-League's most lethal finishers, shone for the Vietnam national team, and was a crucial component in Hanoi FC's system under previous coaches.

Now Tuan Hai frequently starts on the bench or is deployed outside his natural role. His decline in form mirrors the confusion in the club's squad management.

Meanwhile, Van Quyet at 35 still has to bear an excessive burden. The Hanoi FC captain continues to give his all and remains the key spiritual leader, but no one can defy aging. An ambitious club cannot eternally depend on its old stalwarts.

Hanoi FC is encountering difficulties in what was once its greatest pride: youth development. Few young players have the quality to compete for spots and sustain a place in the V-League. While HAGL consistently introduces talents like Gia Bao, Minh Tam, and Trung Kien, Hanoi FC has yet to nurture a successor generation capable of taking over from the current golden crop.

In recent seasons, Hanoi FC no longer possesses foreign players who can make a decisive impact like Moses, Oseni, or Omar did in the past.

Names such as Fisher or Passira have yet to demonstrate the level of class needed to elevate the team. In an increasingly fierce contest with Nam Dinh, Cong An Ha Noi, The Cong Viettel, and Ninh Binh, the quality of foreign signings can often define an entire season.

Hanoi FC remains a powerhouse in Vietnamese football. Six V-League titles constitute an undeniable legacy. However, past glories cannot secure victories in the present.