The plight of Ali Karimi

[maij]

Karimi was a player who needed energy for his playing style. I'm afraid his physique doesn't allow him to play like he used to anymore, so unless he can change his playing style fundamentally, which I doubt, his only chance to regain his past status is to somehow improve his fitness.

I am afraid that is true.....

Motivation and hunger seems to have abandoned him. I don't know what is on his mind , but he really is in dire need of some soul searching.

It is pathetic to hear that the most famous Iranian player is struggling in a mediocre league.

[Mr.Good]

I think Karimi had always had problems with motivation.
I remember in 2003-2004, Karimi had an awful season with AlAhli. Many fans and the media were criticizing him. In that year, AlAhli reached the cup final. before that game AlAhli had a visit from the crown prince of Dubai. The next day in the final game, Karimi played brilliantly and scored two goals winning the final for his team. following that game Karimi bags 30k gift from the crown prince. And after that he had his only good tournament (AC2004) and also won the AFC player of the year.

[Doctor DOOM]

DD so you claim Karimi should be considered as possible replacement for Gholamnejad, our only backup for Kaebi in the roster (beside your favourite Zare)? No wonder you are surprised by 90% of a coach's decision - all the coach's mistake, not yours of course

if this ^ is what you've understood from that post, ... then I cant help you anymore

[Dubxl152]

Karimi is in a hole right now but i wouldnt count him out. He has already made a ton of money, he still has the ability to be a game changer even with his loss of quickness. But he must belive in himself and want it. He has made some poor career choice's but its not too late to have a few more stellar years. If i were to give him advice, id tell him to ask for a smaller contract and try and move into the Turkish league mid table club, show his worth and cash in.

Regardless we havent seen the last of him.

[Ali Chicago]

Zandis live body scored a crucial goal against China in Asian cup, not
to mention his goal against UAE, which got us the first win after 4 games!
Andos live body also scored a goal against Indonasia! in Asian Cup where
inspite of our huge star power we had only scored 1 goal against Indonasia
until 78 minute.
When was the last time Karimis live or deadbody scored, or made an
assisst or made a difference in the game? Do you see him run the length of
the field? I would love for him to get back to shape and play, but you can
not take a spot just based on potentials alone. If he takes TM serious, he
would force himself on Daei by showing form and readiness.

U are comparing apples and oragnes here. The guy does't play in the TM (so how do u expect to score a goal). Game isn't about scoring in the first place anyways.

Even more importantly, it is interesting to see scoring against UAE that we always beat (except once in a friendly), beat twice under GN, has become such an important event.

Guess there is no point in discussing this any further, if this is your yard stick for comparison.

[Ali Chicago]

Ando's alive body is playing in Premier League, Karimi's alive body is even rejected throughout Asia. Apparently not many coaches share your view. And Gholamnejad is a rightback, so it makes little sense comparing him to an OM.

If you are tring to twist my post to make yoru point, guess we shouldnt' bother anymore. Where did i say, Karimi plays in right back, as your post suggests?!!!
Having said that, Mr. Daie played Gholamnezhad in Kuwait game in midfield I beleive, so please no creative twisting of facts. I listed many other players, so I find it amazing among them you select only Gholmanezhad and make such a claim.

As far as Ando playing!!!! in EPL. Last time, I checked his name was on the club roster, but he didnt' get much of a playing time. That club btw is Bolton. And now Fulham, that whole bunch of Americna players are playing there and by no means is considered a good club in EPL.

Many players although very talented, didn't get very good contract, what is that Argentine players who had a contract with Sevilla and get into dispute and left La Liga? He is great player that went back to Argentine and plays in their NT as well, but no good contract. This can have several reasons.

Anyhow, it seems there is this underlaying current by some PFDC members to undermine Karimi and his abilities. To refresh your mind, Karimi was the Asain players of the year. Something that not many Iranian player will be able to achieve in the recent and coming years.

I repeat IMO a dead Ali Karimi worth Ando, Sadeghi, Gholamnezhad combined. We just agree to disagree I guess.

[pajamNL]

AC, i can understand your feelings towards Karimi, because, he was and still is a player with a huge potential (on Asian level). But why disrespecting Ando this much?
You, as a strong follower of Iranian soccer, should agree that if coaches hadn't changed, Ando was in a way better situation at his old club Bolton.
Plus EPL is a very strong, if not the strongest league in the World!!
So even the weakest EPL club is a huge challenge for ANY iranian player!

Karimi had his chance at Bayern and ruined it. I guess we all can agree on that one?
Karimi IMHO isn't a player that truly lived/live for his work/game. He did what he did with his GOD given talent, just to make a living and now, at a age of 29, earned quite a bit, he isn't all too motivated. Because of his lost of motivation, but season, 2 seasons in a row now! He should understand that he has to work HARD to gain back his reputation. It isnt like a few good seasons gives u a lifetime reputation....

[maij]

[Mr.Good]

^
This is gold Agha Majid.
Bless your fingers.

[Ali Chicago]

AC, i can understand your feelings towards Karimi, because, he was and still is a player with a huge potential (on Asian level). But why disrespecting Ando this much?
You, as a strong follower of Iranian soccer, should agree that if coaches hadn't changed, Ando was in a way better situation at his old club Bolton.
Plus EPL is a very strong, if not the strongest league in the World!!
So even the weakest EPL club is a huge challenge for ANY iranian player!
Karimi had his chance at Bayern and ruined it. I guess we all can agree on that one?
Karimi IMHO isn't a player that truly lived/live for his work/game. He did what he did with his GOD given talent, just to make a living and now, at a age of 29, earned quite a bit, he isn't all too motivated. Because of his lost of motivation, but season, 2 seasons in a row now! He should understand that he has to work HARD to gain back his reputation. It isnt like a few good seasons gives u a lifetime reputation....

If only I had a dime for everytime I heard the comment "because the coach, selected player X, he must be good".

I dont' think I insulted Ando. I simply listed what he did last season. If my comments was insulting to Ando (as an Iranian fan) I appologize from him. Yet, I still can't see how my comment was insulting to him. I merely compared where Bolton is and where Bayren is. Karimi in his worst day, was sub to players like Demicelis and Shwain Steiger, etc. I wish to see any Iranian player, and I mean any Iranian player (Daie himself included) ever was a impact player as Karimi was in Bayern.

Daie was selected by Bayern for his Aerial game and to best of my knowledge he played way ( I mean way way less than Ali Karimi and Daie never got seriously injured in Bayern to loose his spot). Who am I kidding, Daie never had a starting position in Bayern to loose it in the first place.

Anyhow, there is no point in arguing this thing to death. It amazes me to see how much negativity and undermining toward Ali Karimi.

Mark my words, the day, Iran doesn't do well in WC qualifications, you will see a backlash against Ali Daie 100 times worst than backlash against him pre WC2006. And at that time, many of the todays Karimi's critics won't say a peep.

Bash ta sobhe dolatash bedamad, ke een hanooz az natayej sahar ast. Time will show.

In this day and age, there is no place for professional Players who turn up and think that by their sheer name and reputation alone, they can deliver without performing. ....

It is this very wrong mentality that is ruining great potentials.
Fans should make it known that they will only support and cheer for players who do their best on the match day , media should play a role in encouraging and demanding that players perform and deliver and if the player is in crises, at least offer moral support to entice him back to his form rather than tear him apart.Karimi has to perform and prove his worth. If he is saturated with money and has lost interest, that is his personal choice and I, as a fan, really regret such decision.

And a post like this, is supporting the player with the best potential based on your own writing? I wish you tell me or any other PFDC memeber how do you back your claims u made in the above post!!! See the bolded parts? How do you know Karimi isn't doing his best during the match as you claim?
And how a post like you made above is "at least offer moral support to entice him back to his form rather than tear him apart"? How your post is different than doubting a player like him?

We as human being have a bias (myself included) and it seems to handpick events or news that only support our point of view. At times, only a defeat or a disaster is a hard slap in our face (like WC 2006) that wakes us up. Who am I kidding, apparently it didn't. See who is the head coach of the TM now.
On that note, I close this discussion. Let's agree to disagree on this.

[Doctor DOOM]

Majid jan, be fair.

in the last 2-3 gmes karimi played, he was among the best players on the pitch.
how can you say he wasnt motivated or didnt perform or ... ?

if you review those games you'd notice he has added another dimension to his game by tangling with the opponent with the ball and more often than not, winning the ball for us. this, I never saw in the old karimi.
he backtracks and helps the defense, aside from his usual game.

now how can this new karimi be labeled saturated and un-motivated is beyond me.

[maij]

Majid jan, be fair.

in the last 2-3 gmes karimi played, he was among the best players on the pitch.
how can you say he wasnt motivated or didnt perform or ... ?

if you review those games you'd notice he has added another dimension to his game by tangling with the opponent with the ball and more often than not, winning the ball for us. this, I never saw in the old karimi.
he backtracks and helps the defense, aside from his usual game.

now how can this new karimi be labeled saturated and un-motivated is beyond me.

I am not referring to one or two games. I am referring to his general attitude.

How many Qatar league matches did you watch last season & How do you rate his performance ?

I am a supporter of Karimi and I want to see him do well. I like this player like any other Team Melli player.....If you have noticed Peyman jan, I don't have a machine gum to shoot any player the minutes he does soemthing wrong , and I don not insult them either.
However , when I feel that there is something that needs attention , I say so.

In Karimi's case , there is something that is preventing his true potential from being reached , perhaps more to do with side issues and some other stuff that is not for public consumption.

In Kuwait game , Karimi was one of the better players, but he soon faded out, like the true Karimi we know.

[maij]

And a post like this, is supporting the player with the best potential based on your own writing? I wish you tell me or any other PFDC memeber how do you back your claims u made in the above post!!! See the bolded parts? How do you know Karimi isn't doing his best during the match as you claim?
And how a post like you made above is "at least offer moral support to entice him back to his form rather than tear him apart"? How your post is different than doubting a player like him?

We as human being have a bias (myself included) and it seems to handpick events or news that only support our point of view. At times, only a defeat or a disaster is a hard slap in our face (like WC 2006) that wakes us up. Who am I kidding, apparently it didn't. See who is the head coach of the TM now.
On that note, I close this discussion. Let's agree to disagree on this.

I honestly don't have a clue what you are talking about....but let's leave it at that....

[Doctor DOOM]

you see, majid jan, when I read those words "potential", "fade out", automatically I look at sadeghi and zareh, who ARE stable TM fixtures now, and ask are THESE guys reaching the potential pertaining to the level of a NATIONAL TEAM ?

why do we hold these high standards for X and not for Y ?
why do we say "karimi fades out near the end" but we refuse to admit sadeghi just disappears totally for long periods ?
why do we turn a blind eye to utter abysmal performances for one player, but expect another to play like ronaldinho and if he doesnt, we say "he's no good , he's not TM material, he's slow, ... " ??

anyway, I'm just referring to the duality of selection and standards practiced in player selection & assessment at TM.
I dont think it is wrong to expect the same high standards that we hold against the likes of karimi, madanchi, mobaali, shirzad, mohamadi, kia, .... to be held against the likes of sadeghi and zareh too.

[kaz]

The Al-Ahli news was a hit-piece that has no relevance on Karimi's current form. For christ's sake, the club claimed that they refuse to LURE him. What does that mean? Karimi would not ask to be lured.

He also has another year left in his 2 year contract with the Qatari side. He has something like 5 goals and close to, if not, 20 assists.

Karimi is simply a different player now than what he was in his youth. It takes some stamina and quick feet to be the Karimi of old - dribbling past players like it was nothing. This Karimi has dealt with injury and, to an extent, age. He is a more complete footballer. We used to always bag Karimi for his non-existent passing game now he is an excellent passer of the ball in both right and left foot. Even Karimi at his relative worst is better than the best of most of our players.

Ali Karimi in Asian cup - where he was supposedly very bad (funny thing is the Aussie media couldn't stop raving about him):