TM selection for North Korea game

[KasraKhan]

The match vs N.Korea will be a very difficult match. N.Korea always plays very organized, defensive, and disciplined.

We cant afford to share points here, especially at home. We need to win the match, thats the most important thing. We need to walk away with 3 points. We cant draw at home, if we start doing that, we will find ourselves in trouble just like we were in 2002 WCQ

[Martin-Reza]

Short of Karimi winning the AFC player of the year again, he won't be invited and that is a mute point. I guess we like it or not, need to get used to see TM without Ali Karimi.

No, that is a product of your fantasy only. A scenario you and many others created in their heads and which will be hard to prove wrong, as most conspiracy theories. Also Kia already returned, does that make people step up and say "oops, the personal feelings issue was wrong"?

Karimi, just like Kia, currently is in a situation in which he could be invited but doesn't have to. Once you accept this, you will be able to do without such assumptions.

[Doctor DOOM]

anyway, all in all I think this is a good call up.

I'm happy to see Kia in there, as well as some options for strikers. especially when our best two strikers are injured ( VH and khalili ).

I think the squad will be even better after tomorrow's call ups. but that is a squad of 25-26 ppl at least.

we must see who the final 18 are, and more importantly, who STARTS the game.

-------------------

rahmati seems to be fixed as the keeper, which is good to know. altho' vaezi deserves a serious look. we may see a switch here .... or may not.


for one, I hope zareh is not used as the LB. enough is enough. we've seen again and again that this "misplacement" does not pay. either use him where he performs best ( right mid ) or dont use him at all. Shiri HAS TO be brought in for LB.

I'm also encouraged by montazeri's call up. perhaps he may answer the questions of pace in the center of our defense. but at the cost of whom? aghili or hosseini ?

With Kia's return we may yet see a more lively right flank in the team and I'm banking on the tried-n-tested duo of kia-kaabi to take care of the offense as well as defensive duties on that side.
hajsafi is in top form and I think his pace is far more useful than zandi's experience and vision against the quick koreans. But will daei go with energy or experience ?
that balances our both flanks quite nicely.


the role of the playmaker ( coz we sure as hell need one in this home game where we HAVE TO WIN ) may be up for grabs here.
jabbari's doing well . not great, but well enough to be considered.
shojaei's doing well too, but his accent on individualism may not really help the TEAM all that much. afterall dribbles dont get the team moving.
will karimi be added? that would be fantastic as he has all that's needed in the middle. better defense than shojaei. better ball skills than jabbari. better vision than shojaei. better heading than jabbari. .... etc.
lets see.

the only area of some concern is the forward line up.
rezaei was great against B and C grade asian teams. but he hasnt been able to take it up a notch against the better asian teams.
meydavodi isnt even called up.
khalatbari is in form , but still a comparative unknown.
khatibi? an enigma.


so we may see something like :

--------------------- rahmati ------------------

kaabi ----- hosseini/aghili ---- montazeri ---- shiri

kia --------- nekounam ---- shojaei -------- zandi

----------------- rezaei ---- khatbi ---------------
.............................. (seyed salehi)

but given the korean's height, wouldnt we stand a better chance to put in a tall forward to use the height advantage? like seyed salehi perhaps.

if we replace salehi with khatibi ( I'd still use hajsafi instead of zandi ), then I can say we will have a good team with enough fire power to get the 3 points.

[The-Red]

The match vs N.Korea will be a very difficult match. N.Korea always plays very organized, defensive, and disciplined.
We cant afford to share points here, especially at home. We need to win the match, thats the most important thing. We need to walk away with 3 points. We cant draw at home, if we start doing that, we will find ourselves in trouble just like we were in 2002 WCQ

exactly, to the point

[Doctor DOOM]

I'd like to amend my recommendations for the strikers.

I think putting speedy forwards isnt going to get us much. simply becoz koreans are quite speedy as it is, and more importantly, they are not going to play up the field or attack in large numbers for us to think we can utilize quick counterattacks against them.

we know if they attack, it'll be in smaller numbers and not allow much space even in their attack.
this also means they will be numerous in their defense.

so I'd say we could use two more technical or physical strikers who have the height advantage as well as strength. the strength comes handy when there are too many defenders as the forward can muscle his way in or use his bulk to shield the ball and do his thing.
pace just wont get us anything in such crowded defense areas.

so many coaches may forego using the likes of rezaei or khatibi, in favor of guys like seyed salehi , niki , ... or even better, using KARIMI as the forward. seeing how he's scoring off headers as he is tall, and he is also technical and good dribbler which helps him penetrate the numerous defense line.

[Martin-Reza]

so we may see something like :

--------------------- rahmati ------------------

kaabi ----- hosseini/aghili ---- montazeri ---- shiri

kia --------- nekounam ---- shojaei -------- zandi

----------------- rezaei ---- khatbi ---------------
.............................. (seyed salehi)

The reason why we won't see this is the fact that Shojaei can't play in one line with Nekounam (and also not a slightly more offensive role beside Nekounam) and Zandi is no real leftwinger perfectly suitable for a 4-4-2 flat. With this players a 4-1-3-2 would be more suitable, although the Zandi-leftwing-problem would remain and also this would be way too offensive against serious competition like Korea DPR who would kill us with counter attacks then.

I think with this system the question would be Kia or Shojaei on the right and we would see Hajsafi (or maybe Shojaei) instead of Zandi on the left (or a slight adaption of the system so Zandi plays more centrally), with Teymourian beside Nekounam. Also there is no doubt Zare will start as leftback, so please don't mix personal feelings and wishes with predictions. Finally I also don't see why Montazeri should debut in a WC qualifier and therefore one of our two usual centerbacks (Aghili or Hosseini) should or would be benched.

I generally think that a system with more width in midfield (like the 4-4-2 flat) could be a likely scenario looking at the selection.

[Martin-Reza]

Just as addition, I like Mojtaba Shiri and would like to see him invited and making the 18-men-squad since he would be a reliable backup for leftback and centerback. But we must not forget that he is the much more defensive alternative for leftback. Zare, like him or not, is actually a side midfielder or winger and is much more offensive minded than Mojtaba Shiri, who is actually a centerback.

[Doctor DOOM]

1- I just wrote down the names.
obviously neku will play deeper and shojaei will play more up front .

2- for YEARS we have known zandi isnt a very good left winger, but everybody keeps using him there.

if you ask me about my preferred line up it'll be:

---------------------- rahmati ---------------------

kaabi --------- montazeri ------ aghili ---------- shiri

----------------------nekounam --------------------

kia ---------------------- shojaei ------------- hajsafi

--------------- karimi ----------- salehi/niki ----------


but that's MY preference. not necessarily daei's.


===================

LLOOLL
ed: as I wrote this, niki assisted karimi score another goal against abu !!!
well, there's something to think about
maybe I shd be in charge of TM selection

[Martin-Reza]

Come on. 4-1-3-2 is ok against some pushover, but not against better Asian teams.

Mojtaba Shiri was a bit lost in central defense today, this might endanger his invitation.

[Doctor DOOM]

Come on. 4-1-3-2 is ok against some pushover, but not against better Asian teams.

Mojtaba Shiri was a bit lost in central defense today, this might endanger his invitation.

what's wrong with that formation , even against better sides?
you have all the ingredients in the midfield:
- flanks are active
- a defensive mid
- an offensive playmaker
- two forwards to provide more scoring opportunities.
- you still have 4 lines instead of 3 ( as nowadays it seems the "in" thing to have 4 lines rather than 3 !! )

------------

I agree on shiri playing central D.
ghotbi shd have kept him where he plays best: left back position.
he's been playing good quality defense for so many games. why tamper with a good thing?

I guess atsu's absence did hurt pp. but dont they have other defenders in the team so they dont have to pluck shiri out of his usual position ?

but for this to endanger his call up? I dont agree at all.
he's to be called for his usual post which is LEFT BACK. where he's been playing quite well and better than many LB's in the league. he's not being called for CENTRAL defense. we have enough players for CD: hosseini, aghili, montazeri, ghorbani ( why him ? )

heidari also was quite poor today.
I'm happy montazeri got the nod ahead of heidari for TM. he seems to be in better shape than sepehr.

=================

and lol ... I'm no one to brag or anything ... but 3 goals by my pick for the TM forward?
that shd be enough for a call up.


( oh. btw, 4 goals in 3 games are stats nobody can ignore )

[Ali Chicago]

No, that is a product of your fantasy only. A scenario you and many others created in their heads and which will be hard to prove wrong, as most conspiracy theories. Also Kia already returned, does that make people step up and say "oops, the personal feelings issue was wrong"?
Karimi, just like Kia, currently is in a situation in which he could be invited but doesn't have to. Once you accept this, you will be able to do without such assumptions.

I am so glad that we have you, who can over the internet, see all the way through my and many other fantasies.

Amazing, really amazing, how you live in your own fantasies about someone and if the sky falls, you find a way to justify it.

[The-Red]

I don't know man,,,this guy named Karimi is making a case to be in TM!!! or should I say, he has already made his case...I know he won't be invited this time probably, but let's come up with Daie's excuse to exclude him for the next set of games...assuming Karimi keeps up the form.

[Doctor DOOM]

I don't know man,,,this guy named Karimi is making a case to be in TM!!! or should I say, he has already made his case...I know he won't be invited this time probably, but let's come up with Daie's excuse to exclude him for the next set of games...assuming Karimi keeps up the form.

I hope daei does call him up.

but if he doesnt, I also would LOVE to hear the excuses this time.
I'm sure they'll be hilariously funny. at least provides a source of amusement for fans

[maij]

The best news fro me was the selection of Mohammad Reza Khalatbari. This forward has been awesome with Zob Ahan. He tore Saipa defense single handedly and already showed Pesrpolis a lessonn or two ( not that PP ddefense is anything to brag about ! )

We look very thin on the forward line.

Rahmati in goal had a few bad matches in Mes Kerman , while Rahman Ahmadi was like a pillar for Sepahan. Talebloo also had some bvey good matches, so , it will be interesting to see who gets the nod for North Korea as a starter.

Hossein's Saipa has been leaking goals right , left and center and he was responsible for some of the goals conceded. Aghili on the other hand was great for Sepahan.

[Ali Chicago]

I don't know man,,,this guy named Karimi is making a case to be in TM!!! or should I say, he has already made his case...I know he won't be invited this time probably, but let's come up with Daie's excuse to exclude him for the next set of games...assuming Karimi keeps up the form.

Karimi is Karimi as he showed his worth in a the goal against SS and three today. He doesn't need to make a case, not including him needs a case. But I am sick and tired of arguing the same point. There are players that are called "IMPACT PLAYERS". Thousands of like Sadeghi, Ando and many other (without any disrespect to them) are TM players and good and all. Someone like Karimi is an impact player. Impact players go through the ups and downs. But if you value them and let them know they are recognized as an IMPACT player they show their true "IMPACT".