A warning for Hoàng Đức and Ninh Bình's 'galaxy'

Ninh Bình FC was constructed as a "galaxy" of Vietnamese football, yet their two back-to-back losses in the recent V-League season have highlighted a basic fact: numerous stars do not equal winning the title.

Since the V-League resumed, Ninh Bình has shown poor form. They lost to Công An Hà Nội and most recently were defeated by HAGL at home. This is the first time Ninh Bình has clearly revealed cracks in the system under coach Gerard Castano. While the loss to a in-form CAHN could be seen as an accident, the defeat to HAGL is truly a wake-up call.

HAGL did not need to dominate possession or raise the game's tempo. They were patient, disciplined, and sharp in transitions. Meanwhile, Ninh Bình controlled the ball and pushed forward but lacked a clear path to break through. When stuck, impatience and even a small gap behind the defense allowed HAGL to immediately turn it into a damaging counterattack.

The worrying point is that the quality of personnel has improved faster than the development of their playing style. Ninh Bình has many standout names, but their coordination hasn’t caught up. The more players added, the easier it is for the team to become disjointed, leading to uncoordinated plays and defensive missteps.

The first goal conceded against HAGL is a clear example. A mistake by newcomer Văn Thuận is not just an individual issue but shows the system is not solid enough to cover each other’s errors. When the team is not united, even a small mistake can become a breaking point.

Not only Văn Thuận, but some other high-profile signings are also struggling to adapt to new roles. Friday – a striker who once shone at Hải Phòng – came to Ninh Bình with high expectations but was assigned a very different role. Instead of being supplied the ball in his natural position, he had to drop deeper, acting as a support in a system crowded with quality forwards like Gustavo and Geovane Magno. As a result, Friday lost his usual killer instinct, making his debut appear disconnected and nearly ineffective.

The story attracting more attention is about Hoàng Đức. After winning the 2025 Vietnamese Golden Ball, this midfielder has shown signs of decline, with slower pace, less surprising moves, and diminished influence in midfield. When the "brain" of the team operates less sharply, Ninh Bình immediately loses what they need most in a dominant game: creativity and rhythm.

These two consecutive defeats not only caused a psychological setback but also directly affected the points table. Ninh Bình still stands second with 27 points after 13 matches, but the gap is not safe as Thể Công Viettel has 22 points from 11 games and still holds the advantage in matches played. At the same time, these slips have allowed CAHN to take control of the first half race.

Looking ahead to the second half, pressure will increase as distinctive teams like Hà Nội FC and Thể Công Viettel get into their stride. In a long race, consistency often matters more than brief flashes of brilliance. And this is what Ninh Bình lacks.

Ninh Bình’s ambition is justified, but to turn it into a trophy, coach Gerard Castano must quickly transform the star-studded squad into a true collective. Ninh Bình still has time to fix things, but not much to experiment. To win the championship, Ninh Bình must stop just "assembling stars" and start building a team that knows how to win, even on off days.