The plight of Ali Karimi

[Martin-Reza]

Yes, an experienced player like him should have controlled himself better. And it's not the first time. Also I agree wearing a jersey of your opponent (or any other club not being your club) is of course highly unprofessional.

[Paradigm]

Ali Karimi , or indeed any player , should never be excluded from Team Melli depending on the situation and circumstances. There has been many examples of an older player being used in a game or two to fill a gap or serve a tactical plan.
The point here is that Ali Karimi has really served his purpose in Team Melli and should NOT be counted upon or forced to be part of the team. There is no question about his skills whatsoever , however , there are lots of questions about his commitment , motivation , communication , stamina and physical condition. No professional coach will select a player based on one single factor.
During his prime , Ali Karimi did not win a single league title with Al Ahli of Dubai , and apart from the gold medal of the Asian games Bangkok 1998 where he was a peripheral player , he never won any tournament for Team Melli ....so , logically speaking , his God given skills in dribbling and passing , has hardly served his teams in the past.
What significant development has happened to Karimi in order to be considered as a key element of Asian Cup 2011 squad? surely , dribbling a few Sepahan defenders (who are all soorakhs to start with , hence the problems we have at Team Melli) does not qualify him for such role.
This is a GREAT opportunity to introduce new blood in Team Melli , else like a typical Iranian football fan , you will be swearing at Karimi like you did against Daei for being in TM while unproductive.

I just have two questions, let's forget the past. Is Ali Karimi currently the best playmaker in the IPL or not? Is he in great form or not? You just watched him lead his team to beat Persepolis, he did the same to Sepahan two weeks ago. Based on the current evidence, any rational and objective person will say that if TM were to play a crucial game now, then the head coach should have Karimi invited.

One other thing is, I have always said that Kia and Hash should have retired after the AC '07. Their re-invitation was a blunder by all subsequent coaches to GN. I do want new players discovered and talents developed, but I think in case of Karimi (age 31) if we were to have two older players in the TM squad to add balance and experience, it would be fully deserving of him and Nekounam (who is approaching 30).

[maij]

I just have two questions, let's forget the past. Is Ali Karimi currently the best playmaker in the IPL or not? Is he in great form or not? You just watched him lead his team to beat Persepolis, he did the same to Sepahan two weeks ago. Based on the current evidence, any rational and objective person will say that if TM were to play a crucial game now, then the head coach should have Karimi invited.

Sorry , but who am I to decide who is the best playmaker in the IPL or if Karimi is great or not ??? I neither have a thermometer nor any device to measure such standards. My viewpoints are subjective and could be 100% wrong.

What is the mechanism in judging the greatness of a player versus others ? You see the guy in one match against Sepahan and you decide he is the greatest ??? How many other players you see in IPL on regular basis ??

on the selection of players , I have already made my point VERY CLEAR that no player should be excluded from selection based on the circumstances and that includes Karimi.

One other thing is, I have always said that Kia and Hash should have retired after the AC '07. Their re-invitation was a blunder by all subsequent coaches to GN. I do want new players discovered and talents developed, but I think in case of Karimi (age 31) if we were to have two older players in the TM squad to add balance and experience, it would be fully deserving of him and Nekounam (who is approaching 30).

That is your point of view , and fundamentally there is very little wrong with it except that Karimi does not have the heart , discipline , stamina or physique to be a 90 minute effective player at international level.

[Doctor DOOM]

I must say majid's solution (of not excluding anyone) sounds better than mine (which was ruling out karimi altogether) as he may be used sparingly and occasionally if the situation is THAT DESPERATE.

I still reserve my opinion that he will not be able to sustain this form for the AC. and I seriously doubt we'd be in ANY desperate situation during the qualifiers.
so if he keeps up this form till the AC, well, what the hell, keep him in the squad and mostly on the bench for really dire, desperate and difficult circumstances.

but for the position of the team's REGULAR playmaker, I am absolutely opposed to investing in him instead of those younger.

[Martin-Reza]

I must say majid's solution (of not excluding anyone) sounds better than mine (which was ruling out karimi altogether) as he may be used sparingly and occasionally if the situation is THAT DESPERATE.
I still reserve my opinion that he will not be able to sustain this form for the AC. and I seriously doubt we'd be in ANY desperate situation during the qualifiers.
so if he keeps up this form till the AC, well, what the hell, keep him in the squad and mostly on the bench for really dire, desperate and difficult circumstances.
but for the position of the team's REGULAR playmaker, I am absolutely opposed to investing in him instead of those younger.

I pretty much agree. Add him for AC if he keeps form and agrees not to be a regular starter.

[Doctor DOOM]

and anyway, we got asia's Beckham back in TM, as the playmaker/freekick specialist. so no worries there.

[maij]

and anyway, we got asia's Beckham back in TM, as the playmaker/freekick specialist. so no worries there.

Who is that ?

Mobali ?

[maij]

Hehehehe...

Now ...whatever Ali Karimi is , he is not very funny or a comedian, but in a short interview on navad tonight , he made me laugh.

Karimi was commenting on some remarks attributed to Ferdowsipour who was insinuating that Karimi does not want to travel to Kerman for the game against Mes Kerman because of his fear of flying or taking a train (I am not sure which )
Karimi said , whether and how I travel to Kerman is my business not Ferdowsipour's. Then the reporter insisted on Karimi to say what mode of transport he is taking to Kerman . Karimi said " By a horse"

Bless him....

[toofan]

karimi could well be used like totti or del piero for tm.

he still is the best iranian midfielder today i rekon.

[persianallstars]

Hehehehe...

Now ...whatever Ali Karimi is , he is not very funny or a comedian, but in a short interview on navad tonight , he made me laugh.

Karimi was commenting on some remarks attributed to Ferdowsipour who was insinuating that Karimi does not want to travel to Kerman for the game against Mes Kerman because of his fear of flying or taking a train (I am not sure which )
Karimi said , whether and how I travel to Kerman is my business not Ferdowsipour's. Then the reporter insisted on Karimi to say what mode of transport he is taking to Kerman . Karimi said " By a horse"

Bless him....

lool are there any links to watch the interview?

[maij]

lool are there any links to watch the interview?

I normally record Navad for later viewing , but since I was watching it live , I di not bother this time....


BUt...it is still very funny....

" Rooye Asp miram Kerman....be shoma che!!!! "

[Hajagha]

lool are there any links to watch the interview?

You can watch Navad on Persianhub.

[Keshwardoost]

There can be little doubt Karimi currently is one of the most influential players in IPL. And you shouldn't ignore the most influential players, regardless of their age, unless there are issues of discipline or fitness which rule them out.

As for now, it might be an advantage he stepped down, because now some younger players need to overtake responsibility. They'll either prove themselves, or show themselves as not good enough. But once the core of a new team is built, and Karimi manages to continue playing like that, he should be added.

Since I have my doubts about him playing tempo football for 90 minutes, this will only work if he generally agrees on a substitute's role.

I would say I fully agree with this statement. In the heart I want to se Karimi play again. But its in WC he should have played then and thats over now. And to be realistic he wont be here if we qualify to next wc and we (hopefully) wont and dont need a new Bagheri similar comeback in Karimis case by then.

IF Karimi is in todays shape by next Asian Cup, and that is if he is it. Id love to se him in it, but not before we have a team that is allready built with a solid core and Karimi would be a boosting add, as Martin Reza so nicefully said. Would love to se him end his carrer with a AC and a nice dispay, eaven if it would be as a second half sub.

With that said, i dont think we will ever se a player such as Karimi in TM again. We might se a Azizi, Might se a Bagheri, Might se a Nekounam or Mahdavikia if we are lucky. Maybe eaven a Daei if we are really really lucky. But i dont expect to se a Karimi in my lifetime again, and it makes me sad that he didnt/I didnt got the chance to se him play in this upcoming WC,

Thats probably why so many wants to se him play, because they deep inside know that he is a special player that we wont have again. Sadly we have to put those feelings aside and bite the crappy apple and play in a new team eaven if he would be a starter right now

[maij]

[Martin-Reza]

Hm, what I don't get is why doesn't the management simply ask Ali Karimi to leave during the transfer period, telling him he has no future at the club anymore? Normally no player wants to stay where he isn't wanted. Why all this fuzz then?

I think Karimi will find a club easily. Ok, PP and SS are no option, but the Esfahani teams undoubtedly would be eager to sign him. So would other ambitious teams like Teraktorsazi or Saba.

And in UAE undoubtedly there are surely still a couple of teams willing to sign him.