Central defense

[Martin-Reza]

I think we are not doing well in that department currently. We failed to keep a clean sheet in any of the 4 World Cup qualifiers so far. And it wasn't like our goalkeeper did bad, he actually was one of our best players so far, if not the best.

We allow far too many chances. I think we have 3 main problems:

1) Concentration slips: Our defenders are strong in one-on-ones and in the air, but too often lapses allow the opposition to get great chances. A recent example was Aghili sleeping while Park headed the loose ball in from close range.

2) Speed: We all know our centerbacks are not very fast. This makes problems in defending more upfront, rather we often defend deep which is counterproductive to trying to play an offensive aggressive game.

3) Build-up: Both Hosseini and Aghili rely on too many high balls, most of them being recovered by the opponent rather easily.

I think all 3 problems concern both centerbacks, but Aghili is worse in two of the three departments, I'm not sure about speed. Hosseini clearly is the better defender in my eyes, he anticipation and ability to read the game outclasses Aghili. I personally don't think the other 2 regulary called up defenders, Ghorbani and Bengar, are better than Aghili in any of the 3 departments though, and also worse in others. I also don't think Montazeri is better than Ghorbani.

I really would like to see Rahman Rezaei and Mohammad Nosrati reinvited. Both showed several far better performances against stronger opponents then our current defenders, especially Aghili, currently show.

As for other interesting options like Omranzadeh, I must say I unfortunately didn't have the chance to observe them often enough.

[purple_haze]

I completely agree. In fact I said this already last year, or maybe even before.
This is an area were we are in deep trouble even compared to asian level countries, let alone at higher international stage like if we were to qualify for WC.
I stressed this even more after the game against Kuwait last year, in which the better one was having an off day and was combined with a worse version of himself, Bengar. I said back then that it was an enigma to me, why we were constantly using 2 similar, almost copy of each other, defenders in CD, instead of a combination of different qualities. All of the current ones, are basically the same with Hosseini being the better one and the rest just lower quality of the same type, which is decent in the air and brute force muscle power, slow on the ground and not much to not any brain usage in between.

If we could have a combination of muscle power and and at least speed (with intelligence being a bonus) we could at least improve.

To me the usage of the same ineffective duo in every freaking friendly, instead of trying other combinations is as much a waste as using Kaebi in every meaningless match instead of letting Khosro Heydari have a go at it.

[mehdy]

Yeah,Daei should try more many CD's in friendly match.

I agree with Nosrati and Montazeri.

Unfortunately,Hadi Shakouri didn't play,bcz of Koushki,Montazeri,Ghorbani.
I think he is good candidate too.
He　can send accurate long pass,good in the air and has a good speed.

Martin jan,I always check Omranzadeh.
However,he spend bad season,though he scored 5 goals...

[zzgloo]

Martin jaan.....
I could n't have said it better myself.....I also recommand to add
#4- Thier inability in " First touch ",against high crosses aganist our Goal.

[Doctor DOOM]

Good post, Martin.

Perhaps we need to revisit the 4 man defense.
perhaps we need to bring in a sweeper who controls the defensive line from behind. formations are just numbers. no reason in not changing them if it suits the needs of the team.

why not try a diamond 4 man defense with aghili or hosseini a few yards behind the rest?
Hosseini did something similar in qatar's asian games with our Omid team.



apart from this, I still maintain we could try using montazeri or asadi for one of CD's in our test games. they both have shown good game reading and pace. who knows? maybe they are the new rahman rezaeis of this era.
----------

as for the lobs, I think it is the COACH's responsibility to pull them aside and FORCE them to understand "when nekunam or kazemi or zareh or ... comes deep to recieve a pass, then bloody well pass to him"

[Hajagha]

I really would like to see Rahman Rezaei and Mohammad Nosrati reinvited..

Very disapointing suggestion from a person like you. Have you watched these guys recently? I guess not.

[maij]

Notice how many times they jump together for the same ball !!!!!!!!! ) . Both are extremely disappointing in ball distribution and guilty of comical clearances..... A professional coach can clean up these lose ends and perhaps make a difference.

[Martin-Reza]

I then and when see Nosrati but I saw almost every game from Rahman since he returned and say he is head and shoulders above Aghili. I wouldn't hesitate a moment to invite and put him in the starting lineup. Nosrati's shape is not that convincing, but still I rate him very much higher than Bengar or Ghorbani and as he can play leftback a lil' bit too, I'd have him on the bench maybe.

Rezaei played in Italy for 6 years and is physical still very fit, I have no doubts that he is far better than Aghili.

If it's no problem to play Bagheri in a position we have excellent options in, I don't know why we shouldn't play the best Asian defender ever when he's 33.

[kaz]

Pejman Montazeri should be a must. Fast, smart, good build and can start play. Two slow CBs like Jalal and Aghily are just asking for trouble.

[yashar_fasihnia]

i like montazeri too, he is faster than the other CBs in iran and is very good with his feet.
however, i think he is not very dominant in the air and needs to work on that.

but i definitely agree that bengar and ghorbani are at best, average for even asian levels.

i think montazeri should slowly slowly be injected into TM as a sub, while rahman rezaei could still help us considering our lack of options for decent CBs in iran right now...

[Doctor DOOM]

I havent watched rahman's game recently, but if martin says he's been playing very well, then I dont see why we shd hesitate to try him out too. But is he QUICKER than either of hosseini or aghili ? Coz we're discussing this mainly becoz they lack speed and agility. otherwise in heading and aerial battles, they're as good as anyone else.

I tend to agree with montazeri's inclusion.
I only wish ppl OTHER than ss fans would enumerate his benefits so it would make his case more solid. unfortunately, it is seen often that red fans will try to push for their team's players and see no reason for their subbing, and same with the blue fans.
I hardly see a red/blue fan vehemently support the other team's player! Much like sepahan's fans who'd see hajsafi, navidkia, aghili, nouri, .... head & shoulders above everyone else!

btw, this is not to say you guys are like that. but in general forum, this is the prevalent issue with red/blue fans!

[Martin-Reza]

^ Good question. Hard to judge from TV, but I doubt he is significally quicker. I don't think he is slower though but I'd say he definitely is more agile than Aghili and he is used to defend further upfront in the field. Also he has less concentration slips and he is better in build-up, barely using high balls. This could be observed well in the derby, although you of course also made a valid point about this also being a tactical issue also concerning the midfielders earlier in this thread.

Overall I must say Rezaei > Aghili in almost every department.

[Doctor DOOM]

^ If all that holds true, then we reach the next obstacle: daei and his personal relationship with rahman.
a make or break issue!

[yashar_fasihnia]

haha...there we go, now we have given doctor peyman one more reason to complain about Daei

[purple_haze]

I tend to agree with montazeri's inclusion.
I only wish ppl OTHER than ss fans would enumerate his benefits so it would make his case more solid. unfortunately, it is seen often that red fans will try to push for their team's players and see no reason for their subbing, and same with the blue fans.
I hardly see a red/blue fan vehemently support the other team's player! Much like sepahan's fans who'd see hajsafi, navidkia, aghili, nouri, .... head & shoulders above everyone else!

btw, this is not to say you guys are like that. but in general forum, this is the prevalent issue with red/blue fans!

Well, yeah it's mostly in the general forum, because I as a die hard perspolisi have been repeatedly saying that I'd like to see Montazeri tested, because he has at the very least far better ball handling skills than both Aghili and Hosseini. I've also been nagging about Khosro Heydari getting a chance, I gave Kazemi a lot of praise for his excellent match recently and I've always admired Jabbari and think he should be a given starter. So there you go a perspolisi pushing the case of 4 blue players. Same thing about Hajsafi and Navidkia from Sepahan.
But it's about TM and it's as you said mostly, I repeat mostly and not only, in the general forum that a bunch of kids run around, putting down other teams' players to further glorify their own team.