Ghotbi wants to face ...?

[maij]

line up vs Korea DPR

Rahmati
Heidari
Hosseini
Aghili
Nekounam
Khalatbari
Hajsafi
P. Nouri
Nosrati
Mobali
Ansarifard

[maij]

AFC picked up the reply to your question and made it the major topic of their prematch report: http://www.persianfootball.com/live/...ews&Itemid=175

Thanks Martin . My question to Korea coach also made the AFC's article.
I asked him about the effect of previous records of his team against Iran. Since they have never beaten Iran before , how does that affect the coach and the players?

[Martin-Reza]

Thanks Martin . My question to Korea coach also made the AFC's article.
I asked him about the effect of previous records of his team against Iran. Since they have never beaten Iran before , how does that affect the coach and the players?

Well, good job again then, because the reply to that question also made it into the second AFC prematch report:

http://www.persianfootball.com/live/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3296:iran-clash-crucial-concedes-north-korean-coach&catid=13:team-melli-news&Itemid=175

DPR Korea have never beaten Iran but Jo insisted his men were keen to alter that record, while revealing there would be no departure from their usual cagey style.

“It could have a psychological impact on the players and the coaches but now our players are mentally prepared, they have confidence and are optimistic and this can translate into performance,” he added.

[zzgloo]

Yes , I am , Bahram jan. In fact this is the 3rd Asian Cup that I attend as a reporter. Apart from football , I really enjoy the re-union with my friends in the media particularly American - Iranians and the Iranians. They are a great bunch and lots of fun. The days are hectic as we start from the morning and end up in the hotel around midnight ....


I also met an old friend from PFDC at last. He goes by the name "insider" , an American Iranian who works for AFC now. I am sure many old timers here remember him. Nice guy.

I watched Ghotbi leading the practice session today . It is quite difficult to make any firm conclusion or form any opinion in such a short time (Media are only allowed to attend the session for 15 minutes only before they are ushered out of training ground) but what encouraged me about Ghotbi was his mastery in speech and his [/FONT] persuasion skills I just hope that this is reflected on the players during the match.

I think it is going to be a touch match against North Korea tomorrow. Their defenses are built like stainless steel , very difficult to penetrate specially the way Team Melli plays. It actually could turn out to be a dull game if both teams insist on their conservative defense enforcement strategies. Hopefully and for the fans sake , I hope that both teams take a few risks,

More power to you Majid Jaan....
I also would be interested to kind of compare different Iranians,of different back grounds,aiming at same issue,with different perspectives......Iranians of Europe,of America, of persian Gulf States, of IRAN.......
Seda va Sima, has the tradition of hiring , young educated well mannered individuals,not neccessarly with Football backgrounds,to represent as media reporters..while, I assume,American,European,persian Gulf Iranian media,should have more love of Football..and are there not for the job,but for the Love !
Ghotbi will be missed in future,as far as openness,and accessability....as most other Iranian coaches, may be more closed and poletical...or even controvertial..
...................
Aside from Saudis, I found Arab teams very spirited,and on thier way to a better future......I particularly like Syria and Jordan.....While, China,may be the weakest team on this Tournement, North Korea will be another power from the east asia......
...................

[maij]

More power to you Majid Jaan....
I also would be interested to kind of compare different Iranians,of different back grounds,aiming at same issue,with different perspectives......Iranians of Europe,of America, of persian Gulf States, of IRAN.......
Seda va Sima, has the tradition of hiring , young educated well mannered individuals,not neccessarly with Football backgrounds,to represent as media reporters..while, I assume,American,European,persian Gulf Iranian media,should have more love of Football..and are there not for the job,but for the Love !
Ghotbi will be missed in future,as far as openness,and accessability....as most other Iranian coaches, may be more closed and poletical...or even controvertial..
...................
Aside from Saudis, I found Arab teams very spirited,and on thier way to a better future......I particularly like Syria and Jordan.....While, China,may be the weakest team on this Tournement, North Korea will be another power from the east asia......
...................

Bahram Jan....It is interesting to inquire about different Iranians from across the globe. You have inspired me to write a few lines about that subject within the context of football.

I will open a separate thread under "Doha memoir "

[Doctor DOOM]

GODDAMNIT .... India suddenly transformed into a freaking Italy, defensing like mad with bloody buffon in their goal!!!!!!!!!!!
the soorakh team that let in 5 and 4 against bahrain & aussies, suddenly discovered they can park the freaking bus in front of the goal?
akhe in ham vaght bood?

anyway, looks like ghotbi got his wish, and he'll meet his "brothers" (or actually brothers-in-law) !

[maij]

GODDAMNIT .... India suddenly transformed into a freaking Italy, defensing like mad with bloody buffon in their goal!!!!!!!!!!!
the soorakh team that let in 5 and 4 against bahrain & aussies, suddenly discovered they can park the freaking bus in front of the goal?
akhe in ham vaght bood?

anyway, looks like ghotbi got his wish, and he'll meet his "brothers" (or actually brothers-in-law) !

hehehheee...That is football for you Doc...They actually scored against Korea...How about that ???

[Doctor DOOM]

^ like bloody hell!



Anyway, what's done is done.
but here are a few issues worth considering:

south korea DID push themselves or at least did not have a very easy, relaxed game. not only they pushed themselves to get the fifth goal, but also they played in rain.
both of which means, the players used would need more time for recovery in 3 days' time.
yes, I know 3 days are more or less enough for recovery, but if ghotbi uses the second stringers vs. uae, then our main team would have had a week-long period to stay in shape and be fit, without the energy sapping effects of playing in rain.

this gets even more important and crucial if we consider the game could go on beyond 90 minutes and be a 120 minute game. then any precious extra day of rest makes a whole lot of difference


so while usually one would expect at least 3-4 or even 5 main players be included in tomorrow's team, but given the circumstances, the need to be fit and fresh, the short period between this game and the QF's and more importantly, the weather conditions, I think it wouldnt be such a bad idea to play almost 8-9 fresh players and rest nearly all the main team players.

or if he has more than 2 main players, he can give them 45 minutes and then sub them out for the second half, to avoid exertion.

a squad like afshin, nowroozi, talebi, bengar, gordan, mobaali, shojaei, nouri, ... would not only be incisive and quality enough, but also would allow guys like ando, nekounam, rezaei, khalatbari, aghili, hosseini, ... the much needed rest and vitality to meet the koreans who'd have had less rest days.

I say every little advantage we can garner, we shd capitalize on

[Doctor DOOM]

Building on the above theme, I think even if we start and finish the first half with focus on keeping safe, and keeping possession with the ball doing the running, it may mean a korean team that may start to lose fitness & energy by midway second half.

hell even if we keep this up to take it to the extra time, I think the koreans would be quite tired by minutes 75-80 onwards.

whereas we shd be having the likes of ando (with more than a week's rest), pejman (some 5-6 days' rest), khalatbari & rezaei (with 5-6 days' rest), even if the last 2 are late sub-ins, will really torture the korean defense with their pace and it would be just a matter of time till the defenders crumble.

so a very physical first half that would start draining the koreans' energy, with the likes of gholami, ando, nekounam , pejman, nowroozi, ... pushing the koreans' limits. and injection of pace and skills of rezaei, khalatbari and even afshin (why not) in second half sounds pretty doable for me.



but all this is dependent on having the right players rested for the uae game.
we shall see in a few hours' time



the worst thing ghotbi can do is to use more than 2-3 main players tomorrow. especially since the weather may be bad and rain could cause even more depletion of energy among the players

[Doctor DOOM]

apparently the line up for uae has been announced:

rahmati

haidari - bengar - talebi - hajsafi

ando - md. nori - hadadifard

shojaei - gholami- afshin

if true, then, apart from ando's inclusion (whom I hope will get subbed out) I am quite happy with this selection.

damesh garm

[Doctor DOOM]

Let me put something to rest here about what the coach (and some of their players) of skorea said and what some of our ppl are not aware of.

despite all the bravado and cool pretense among the koreans, I think they really ... REALLY didnt want to meet Iran.
forget what they "SAY", coz words are dime a dozen.
observe how they desperately tried to score as many goals as possible to escape meeting Iran.

in the game vs. India, apart from using 10 of the 11 players (according to the AFC) they used against australia, they scored 4 and hit the woodwork twice and had FIVE balls cleared off the line by Buffon-raja & co.
that looks like a team trying desperately HARD to top the group and avoid meeting TM.

[Doctor DOOM]

what I would like to see for the skorea game:

FIRST HALF:
I want to see a physical game from our team in the first half.
lots of possession football & pressing (on the halfway line). something that pushes and tires the koreans out.

so based on this I wouldnt mind seeing the likes of pejman-ando-nekounam as the 3 man midfield

yes, "I" ( who doesnt even like 2 man def-mid formations) am condoning the use of 3 def-mids. coz every game has its own unique strategies and necessities. and having a korean team that has had less rest than ours justifies this strategy for the 1st half.

this physical game will take its toll on the koreans. so players like ando, md. Nouri, gholami and even the low-performing shojaei can fit into this tactic with their skills to hold the ball and merely make the ball run for them.



SECOND HALF:
but I would like to see rezaei (for RW) and khalatbari (for LW) to be subbed in at around minute 60 to exploit the tired koreans with their pace and ball skills.

and hadadifard for one of pejman or ando (we'd need nekounam's heading ability for set pieces) to start creating dangers and chances for the front 3.

kick up the tempo of the game by minute 60 and press HIGH. force the tired legs of koreans to make mistakes, fall a step short or commit a foul near their box (especially having the likes of khalatbari and rezaei, this shd be highly probable).

[Doctor DOOM]

I'm keeping track of the japan-qatar game a glance every 8-10 minutes and I just saw a red card for japan and then qatar goal
so if we get through skorea, we'd be facing an embattled japan without one of their main defenders (LUCKILY ON THE RIGHT SIDE ... WHICH SUITS THE LIKES OF REZAEI & HEIDARI)

edit, it seems japan also scored after a while

now, at 2-2, all I'm wishing is for it to go to the extra time.
at that point, whoever wins I dont care, coz they'd be dead tired after a grueling 120 minutes and hopefully some more yellow/red cards to weaken them even more.

edit 2 - still 2-2 by 85th minute.
oh, goody
does it make me a bad person wishing fatigue and expulsion for our rivals? mehh ... I dont care.


on one hand I'd like to see japan lose, so after saudi's elimination, they're the last team that could surpass IRAN's record of AC trophies if they win it this year.

on the other hand, while the qatar team (int'l club) isnt all that dangerous (compared to the likes of japan or skorea), their influence in AFC and suspect refereeing (a usual staple in asian football) could pose for much danger for the teams facing them.
case in point, how the poor japanese def got his red


edit 3- goddamnit. 3-2!!
so no 120 minutes?????


wow. what a one sided refereeing!
and subhuddin is supposedly one of asia's "best" !!!!!
this is so one sided for qatar.
perhaps AFC ( and FIFA?) want qatar to achieve something before they actually conduct their WC as they must be the first nation to hold a WC who has not won A.N.Y.T.H.I.N.G. be it continental or intercontinental, not even qualified for the bloody WC !!!
so I can see how they would rig things to get qatar some silverware in the process
stupid, political fifa/afc



note: am watching the qatar goals: what a weak keeping.
I think both skorea & iran have a good shot at beating this japan

[Paradigm]

Folks, read this Korean soccer thread on http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1639370 -- there are other related threads as well. Someone there thinks SKorea always plays better in the first halves due to a certain style.

Koreans are making comments like "That must have been at the World Cup [2010]; Iran wasn't good enough to be in." They also accuse Iran of grass-rolling lol.

They seem to be more worried about Iran on the two flanks because they have a slow player there. I think Mohammad Nouri might be a good sub in the midfield, just to add some extra pressure from the center to connect with the crosses with his heading abilities.

All said, I am thinking how cool this would be if our players suddenly considered this to be a footsal tournament with Japan already through. You know how to play to win unless when faced off with Spain or Brazil.

Btw. Wolfsburg released Hasebe to Japan for the Asian Cup, yet they did now let Dejagah to go. I surmise it is because Dejagah is more needed in their squad? He played 90 minutes versus Bayern Munich last week and they tied the giants 1-1.

Doc, good thing Qatar is out. If we go through tomorrow I prefer us to play Japan, because you know the ref was gonna take sides with Qatar. If the ref has been ordered to make you lose, you pretty much are going to lose (think AC 2004 semi-finals). Qatar however, has one solid result; they won the gold in the Asian Games 2006.

South Korea kicked team melli out of the AC 2007, prevented us from qualifying to WC 2010, and in the Asian Games 2010 just a few weeks ago, they stole the bronze medal from Iran. They have come on top in any soccer encounter with Iran since 2006 that actually mattered. I hope tomorrow we have some consolation to these negative results.

Last comment here: It is amazing Japan can come from a man down and a goal down (1-2) to beat Qatar 3-2. They also scored in the last minute which goes to show they play for the whole 90 minutes. I won't be surprised if they have computer models how to change their playing system when a man down and still get the winning goal.

[maij]

Koreans are not afraid of facing Iran ? Bullcrap. They were sure in a hurry to take the ball out of Indian goal after scoring, what was that for, I wonder?

Anyway, today is the day.