When Vietnamese Football 'Tactical Analysis' Becomes a Joke: Lessons from an Empty Assessment

Today, across Vietnamese football forums, a document called 'Comprehensive Assessment' is being shared widely. Not because it is good, but because it is completely empty. All sections read 'no content,' 'no information,' 'no data.' The conclusive verdict is simply: 'Unable to analyze.' People laugh and mock, but I see a deeper tragedy. How long have we accepted tactical analysis articles based purely on feeling? Over 90 minutes, people only bring up possession percentage as if it were the perfect metric. Possession is an illusion—my belief, a nightmare for the lazy-minded. Without data on passes into the final third, pressing intensity, or expected goals, how dare we call that analysis? Look at the latest V.League rounds. I watched Becamex Binh Duong host Hanoi FC at Go Dau Stadium. The home side won 2-0. Reports emphasized that Becamex Binh Duong had only 38% possession yet won convincingly. That is an interesting detail, but if we stop there, we are no better than those who count meaningless touches. I want to know: how many lightning counterattacks did they execute? How many times did Hanoi FC lose the ball in their own half? Nobody provides those numbers. Our journalists stand on the pitch but look elsewhere. That is why the empty assessment exists. It reflects a reality: writers have nothing to write, so they fabricate so-called 'in-depth analysis.' Some outlets, eager for clicks, throw around phrases like 'the difference came from tactics,' yet fail to offer a single concrete figure. Recently, I read an analysis of Vietnam's national team in a World Cup qualifier. The author wrote that 'the team pressed well,' but what does good pressing mean? How many times did they recover the ball within five seconds of losing it? Nothing. That is no different from a farce. I have experience watching leagues across Asia and Europe, where clubs invest in data infrastructure. Every move is recorded. That is what makes tactical analysis worthwhile. In Vietnamese football, we live in an era where everything is based on memory and emotion. Empty stadiums did not kill football; they exposed the mask of those who call themselves authentic. When there is no crowd to cheer, we see clearly which team is truly organized and which is merely chasing the ball. Some will argue: 'Football isn't math; emotion matters.' Of course, fans' passion matters most. But when it comes to tactical analysis, data is what helps us understand the iceberg below the surface. Esports teaches football what it doesn't want to hear: numbers do not forgive emotion. In a match, if you are constantly pinned back, you may feel you are playing well, but the reality is you are losing on every metric. My logic is simple: measure before you judge. So why do we accept pointless articles? Because most readers lack a habit of verification. They see the word 'statistics' in a newspaper and believe it without knowing where it came from. A few years ago, when I predicted a team would lose despite having more possession, I was ridiculed. People do not hate those who make wrong predictions; they hate those who are right before their time. The era of Vietnamese football analytics is coming, but it cannot arrive if even the media itself does not understand data. To escape this situation, the VPF must publish detailed match statistics. Currently, V.League clubs seem to treat data as private property. No website offers comprehensive numbers for passes, tackles, or chances created. Without data, journalists can only use ornate language to mask emptiness. The lesson from that comprehensive assessment is a wake-up call. We cannot keep painting a picture without paint. For example, in the Vietnam-Japan match in the final round of World Cup 2026 qualifying, I watched and noticed that despite Vietnam having only 27% possession, they still created several clear chances in the second half. Unfortunately, the press only focused on possession and concluded Japan dominated completely. But for those watching closely, Japan's defense was shaken at times. Without Opta or Stats Perform, we would never know that Nguyen Quang Hai made a key pass with a higher expected goal value than his teammates. It was all subjective. In Europe, even small clubs can access data. Brentford used data to recruit unknown but effective players. In Vietnam, clubs do not even publish pass accuracy. As a member of the media, I have to estimate with my own eyes, which is unprofessional. Empty stadiums did not kill football; they exposed the mask. Without data, all analysis is just drawing a snake and adding feet. I have worked with many foreign coaches in the V.League. They always complain about the lack of statistical information. One coach told me: 'We have to record every moment with video to have our own data.' That explains why they outperform local coaches, who have not been trained in analysis. Modern football is football of numbers, not of noise.