Dong Nai City Hit Bottom in V.League: Age and Squad Depth Become Major Problems

Dong Nai City FC dropped to the bottom of the 2026-2027 V.League table after a 0-4 defeat to Nam Dinh at Binh Phuoc Stadium in the fifth round on October 24, 2026. The result exposed major problems involving scoring, defensive organization, squad depth and the team’s high average age. After five matches, Dong Nai City FC remain winless. The team have scored no goals and conceded 10, highlighting their struggles at both ends of the pitch. The heavy defeat to Nam Dinh increased pressure on head coach Nguyen Viet Thang and his players. The comparison with Bac Ninh FC, another promoted side, is particularly unfavorable. Bac Ninh FC sit 10th among 14 teams with one win, two draws and two defeats. Bac Ninh FC have scored three goals and conceded four, showing a stronger adjustment to the top division. Dong Nai City FC do not appear weak on paper. The squad includes former senior and under-23 national team players, as well as footballers with extensive V.League experience. However, experience cannot fully replace youth, speed and the ability to maintain high intensity throughout a demanding season. The most concerning feature is the squad’s age profile. Dong Nai City FC registered 29 players for the first half of the season, including four foreign players. Sixteen players are at least 30 years old, and most of them occupy important roles. This leaves the team short of energy and reliable alternatives. Captain and central defender Huu Tuan and midfielder Sam Ngoc Duc are both 34. Cong Phuong, Xuan Truong and Le Thanh Binh are all 31. These players once represented some of Vietnam’s most recognizable footballing names, but maintaining a high level for an entire V.League match is increasingly difficult. The starting lineup’s average age underlines the problem. In the 0-3 home defeat against Cong An Ha Noi FC in the third round, Dong Nai City FC began the match with an average age of 30.5. Modern football demands constant movement, pressing, physical duels and rapid transitions, making such a high average age a serious disadvantage. A team can use several experienced players as a foundation for younger teammates. Dong Nai City FC, however, rely heavily on veterans, including players who have not consistently competed at the highest level for one or two seasons. The team can lose intensity in the second half, press less effectively and struggle to maintain compact distances between the lines. The physical disadvantage also affects defensive performance. When players cannot close down opponents quickly, the midfield becomes stretched and the back line is forced deeper. Individual mistakes and lapses in concentration then become more costly. Ten goals conceded in five matches suggest that this is not a temporary issue. Recovery is another concern. Older players generally require more time to recover from high-intensity matches. A congested schedule can increase the risk of injuries and declining form. Dong Nai City FC do not yet have enough young players to rotate the squad and reduce the workload on key veterans. Head coach Nguyen Viet Thang acknowledged the physical problem after the defeat to Nam Dinh. He said the older players had made great efforts but could not fully compensate for the lack of energy, while also emphasizing the need for younger resources. The comment accurately described the situation but also raised questions about squad construction. Nguyen Viet Thang cannot be completely separated from the current difficulties. He has held primary responsibility for recruitment and sporting direction during the past two years. The recruitment policy appears to have prioritized experience for the short-term promotion objective rather than creating a sustainable foundation for V.League football. Ahead of the 2026-2027 season, Dong Nai City FC signed only five domestic players in addition to four foreign players. That number was insufficient to improve squad depth and create meaningful competition for places. Goalkeeper Pham Van Phong is 33, while defender Nguyen Van Duc is 30, meaning the domestic additions did not produce significant rejuvenation. The foreign-player choices have also failed to deliver the expected impact. Dong Nai City FC released striker Alex Sandro, who scored 10 goals in the 2026-2026 First Division, and signed four European players: Jovic Filip, Vulic Milos, Ivan Andrei and Majdevac Andrija. None has made the expected difference so far. Jovic Filip has not made the defense more secure, while Vulic Milos, Ivan Andrei and Majdevac Andrija have not provided the attacking spark required. Failing to score after five rounds shows that Dong Nai City FC lack a reliable focal point in attack. The foreign-player changes are therefore attracting significant criticism. Nguyen Viet Thang’s limited V.League coaching experience is another factor. This is his first season managing a team in Vietnam’s top division. The gap between the First Division and V.League involves match speed, player quality, tactical pressure and media scrutiny. Those demands may have affected the team’s in-game adjustments. After the defeat to Nam Dinh, Nguyen Viet Thang admitted that he had not done enough despite giving maximum effort. He said the club needed to discuss the situation with its leadership and might require a change on the bench. His comments indicate that a coaching change is now a realistic possibility. Nevertheless, replacing the coach would not guarantee an immediate recovery. An experienced manager could reorganize the defense, manage veteran players more effectively and give younger players greater opportunities. But if the core problems involve age, depth and recruitment quality, a tactical change alone will not be enough. Dong Nai City FC need a comprehensive solution. The club must reassess each player’s physical condition, choose a style that matches the squad’s capabilities and give more opportunities to younger footballers. The leadership should also prepare a targeted recruitment plan, especially for the attack and midfield, if the transfer market allows. The immediate objectives are to score the first goal, end the winless run and improve defensive stability. The long-term objective is to rebuild the squad with a better balance between experience and youth. Without rapid changes, Dong Nai City FC will continue to face serious relegation pressure in the 2026-2027 V.League season.