Ghotbi to invite Shojaei back to Team Melli.

[maij]

After ignoring Shojaei and not listing him on the team roster due to his harsh criticism in the media ( which Shojaei always disputed or denied ), Afshin Ghotbi seems to be ready to invite the Osasuna midfielder back to Team Melli squad for the upcoming friendly matches against China PR and Korea Republic on 3rd and 7th September respectively.

By such a move , Ghotbi wants to show that he has no quarrel with the midfield player and is ready to reconcile any differences that might have occurred earlier. On the list which is expected to be published within a couple of days , Farhad Majidi will find himself as part of the team again. Majidi's on and off selection was due to his good display in the first weeks of the league specially the goal he scored against Peykan.

Surprisingly , Ando Teymourian , a player who has not been involved in a competitive league match for a long time , is also expected to be on the list.

One player who will be missing , unless some kind of miracle occurs is Ali Karimi. Although Karimi has been fired from his club but the indication points toward reconciliation , technically speaking it should not prevent him being picked by the Team Melli coach unless the club files a complaint and objects to such move. However , neither Ghotbi nor IFF other officials have shown any enthusiasm for his selection. Despite some support from within Team Melli coaches for Karimi's inclusion in the team based on merits and to improve the diplomacy part , the chances are slim , although not entirely impossible , to include Karimi for the Far East trip. Karimi's exclusion leaves a serious doubt on his final selection to Asian Cup 2011.

Team Melli has been marred by some discontent amongst the players and the management. Ghotbi counts on the some influential players to make this trip to Far east a success in preparation for the upcoming Asian Cup in Qatar.

[maij]

The list is out for the Far East tour and the only surprise is the exclusion of Farhad Majidi. The reason for such exclusion , despite many favorable support in the Team Melli coaching teams , is not quite clear yet.

However , as expected, Masoud Shojaei has been invited in again and will get another opportunity to both redeem himself and improve his relationship with Ghotbi during the Far East trip.

Ali Karimi is out and the fact that his club Steel Azin has sacked him , made the decision much easier on Ghotbi and IFF. They can always argue the point that he is out of the club due disciplinary measures , although there is no verdict of guilt and nothing has been proven even at club level that Karimi is in fact guilty. This fortunate event for IFF , means that there is no or very little pressure to explain Karimi's absence.

Karimi renewed problem with the football authority was displayed again in Austria camp where he made his displeasure known to the coach and manager.

[Martin-Reza]

I still think Karimi's exclusion is not final. Ghotbi knows that sooner or later he will have to announce Karimi's exclusion for AC. If he already knew now, he'd probably get this past him, in order to avoid much havoc shortly ahead of AC.

As for Majidi, I also think the door is theoretically still open to him. Majidi is an experienced player who can adapt to the team quickly and doesn't need to be tested and given much time to coordinate with the teammates. So an addition shortly before AC is not unlikely imo.

[Ali Chicago]

I doubt Shojai's inclusion or exclusion make a major impact. Shojaie and Nekoo are great players but not impact players.
All it takes in a country like Iran is few bad results (and they will kiss Karimis' feet to come back). A typical Ashti konoon. Although I am not sure even that will help at this stage. From he next generation of Iranian footballers Kazemian, Mobali, Badavi, Kameli mofrad, Nekonam only Nekoo somewhat stood out and even he isn't an impact player (remember Kia in Iran USA game, Aziz in Aussie game, Karimi in that 4-3 win against South Korea in Asian cup). I guess we need to wait until the youth generation that play in the Mr. Doosti's ( think it is U17 or U19) team, to get excited about the TM again.

[toofan]

i dont even wanna see shojae play for tm at the moment.

[Nokhodi]

I doubt Shojai's inclusion or exclusion make a major impact. Shojaie and Nekoo are great players but not impact players.
All it takes in a country like Iran is few bad results (and they will kiss Karimis' feet to come back). A typical Ashti konoon. Although I am not sure even that will help at this stage. From he next generation of Iranian footballers Kazemian, Mobali, Badavi, Kameli mofrad, Nekonam only Nekoo somewhat stood out and even he isn't an impact player (remember Kia in Iran USA game, Aziz in Aussie game, Karimi in that 4-3 win against South Korea in Asian cup). I guess we need to wait until the youth generation that play in the Mr. Doosti's ( think it is U17 or U19) team, to get excited about the TM again.

If we hadn't lost to Saudi and tied Saudi, Shojaei and Nekounam would be heroes right now. Shojaei scored goals against Saudi and South Korea, but our players couldn't hold the lead. Same thing happened for Nekounam in the home leg versus South Korea.

[Adesor Vafaseya]

looking at it from a different point of view also means:

a clear message to Shojaee: we dont have problems to kick bigger names than yours out of TM, so you have a 2nd chance now! stay and behave!


The above does not mean, that I personally agree 100% with the above approach BUT it is what is happening apparently.

[maij]

looking at it from a different point of view also means:

a clear message to Shojaee: we dont have problems to kick bigger names than yours out of TM, so you have a 2nd chance now! stay and behave!


The above does not mean, that I personally agree 100% with the above approach BUT it is what is happening apparently.

...And I think it is a good message , if it is directed towards discipline.

Frankly , I haven never been too thrilled to see players acting up on the coach. In Iran the problem is amplified, The more the player becomes famous ( and becoming famous it is NOT always due to his good performance on the pitch) , the more he thinks highly of his own skills in team management and coaching. To top that , some players think it is their duty to speak out in public against the coach. Lack of professional attitude just makes thing more diffivult to control.


On the other side, I also do not think that any player should be ruled out if he is on form and his performance can benefit the team. Karimi , Shojaei and Nekounam are perhaps the backbone of the team , however , they should not be the players that make a huge difference and without them , the team would not perform.


Which takes us to the second messages. One must not judge on one performance , however I could not help notice how poor and awful Nekounam was in the last match he played for TM against Armenia ( not to mention his silly 2nd yellow card). The message should also be given to the future Nekounam's that a poor performance means exclusion from the team regardless of the name.

But... I doubt that Ghotbi has relayed the second message...else players like Teymourian and Mirzapour , would never have made the list.

[maij]

I still think Karimi's exclusion is not final. Ghotbi knows that sooner or later he will have to announce Karimi's exclusionfor AC. If he already knew now, he'd probably get this past him, in order to avoid much havoc shortly ahead of AC.

As for Majidi, I also think the door is theoretically still open to him. Majidi is an experienced player who can adapt to the team quickly and doesn't need to be tested and given much time to coordinate with the teammates. So an addition shortly before AC is not unlikely imo.

Do you really mean exclusion or is it a mistake and you mean inclusion.

[zzgloo]

Do you really mean exclusion or is it a mistake and you mean inclusion.

perhaps I should let martin Reza to explain.....

But, to me, martin means, Exclusion ,......that is to say, Ghotbi is planning to " Not Invite " karimi, but looking for the right moment to justify that.

[maij]

perhaps I should let martin Reza to explain.....

But, to me, martin means, Exclusion ,......that is to say, Ghotbi is planning to " Not Invite " karimi, but looking for the right moment to justify that.

Ooohhh......In that case , I don't know if that is wise thing to do under the circumstances.

[Ali Chicago]

If we hadn't lost to Saudi and tied Saudi, Shojaei and Nekounam would be heroes right now. Shojaei scored goals against Saudi and South Korea, but our players couldn't hold the lead. Same thing happened for Nekounam in the home leg versus South Korea.

Well maybe they would have been heros, but from footballing point of view, they never will be players at the caliber of likes of Kia, Karimi or Daie, Bagherie in their hay days. Since you mentioned S. Korea game, remember the goal that Park scored in Seoul to tie the game against us, Nekoo had a big blame in that goal (as a DM he has to guard that part of the field where Park made his move). I am not that unfair and won't judge a player by one mistake. As a soccer player you make 100s of mistakes. But big stars make big IMPACTS in big games. That is why Diego Milito becomes the UEFA footballer of the year (due to his two golas in the final of UEFA club championship) and not Lionel Messi. That is what is called an IMPACT player.

Nekoo is a solid player but still far from a high caliber DM in the European football (hence he plays in Osasouna and has interest from a Panatinaicous). Shojaie at best is a very good player at the Asian level. This post by no means is a disrespect to both great players (Shojaiee and Nekoonam) and their services to the TM.

Do'nt forget Karimi, Kia, Daie were Asian playes of the year (not sure if Karim Bagheri ever got that title or not). Nekoo got nominated once but didn't win and to best of my knowledge Shojaie never even got that high. Point is our football past 2002 WC Qualification matches didnt' produce any stars. Still we have to debate whether Karimi will play in the TM and hope he does his Magic. To me it seems Nekoo was the last consistant high caliber player was added to the TM by Blaz. Iranian football is a football based on individual creativity and stars. I just hope Mr. Doosti's U19 team introudces the next generation of our stars, until then we will have a lackluster TM (even if we bring Del Boske (ya right)) to coach our national team.