In my last post I spoke about possible routes to the final. It would be a miracle if we got that far. We are not a contender to win this tournament with this level of coaching and performance.
We're a glorified manager-less side relying on the talent and experience of players to produce an attacking display good enough to win games in 90 minutes but at the mercy of any half decent coach with a decent game plan to nullify our attacking talent and expose our frailties. You can't get lucky enough to scrape through 7 games in a row playing without an identity.
Defensively, we're a shambles. We've struggled to look impenetrable for more than a 10-15 minute spell in 2 games against minnow nations. I wasn't sure if the rough lunatic approach Palestine took in the opener impaired how our team played but it's clear were a "big nation" just waiting to be upset by a 2nd rate Asian side like China or Uzbekistan or embarrassed by an actual side of our reputation like Japan, Korea or Australia.
For those people years ago who would slate CQ when we were winning by a goal or two against 2nd and 3rd rate Asian teams, bemoaning our lack of attacking potency / goals but looking like we'd never concede a goal... You can't tell me this is better. You can't want to see this wild randomness, hoping our opposition are just too shit to take the chances we're giving them.
Another thing, when people here extoll the virtues of playing week in week out in IPL and Arab leagues over being a squad player in Europe... Know that Saman Ghoddos has just shown you in 2 games why we should be wishing all of our players move to Europe. The man was chasing down defenders and the goalie on the press at 93 minutes, leading to a turnover of possession, when subs who'd been on the pitch 10 minutes were standing around watching.
Also, Mohebi looked like he'd never played football before. The guy looked like he's won a fan competition to be given a 10 minute TM cameo.
We're a glorified manager-less side relying on the talent and experience of players to produce an attacking display good enough to win games in 90 minutes but at the mercy of any half decent coach with a decent game plan to nullify our attacking talent and expose our frailties. You can't get lucky enough to scrape through 7 games in a row playing without an identity.
Defensively, we're a shambles. We've struggled to look impenetrable for more than a 10-15 minute spell in 2 games against minnow nations. I wasn't sure if the rough lunatic approach Palestine took in the opener impaired how our team played but it's clear were a "big nation" just waiting to be upset by a 2nd rate Asian side like China or Uzbekistan or embarrassed by an actual side of our reputation like Japan, Korea or Australia.
For those people years ago who would slate CQ when we were winning by a goal or two against 2nd and 3rd rate Asian teams, bemoaning our lack of attacking potency / goals but looking like we'd never concede a goal... You can't tell me this is better. You can't want to see this wild randomness, hoping our opposition are just too shit to take the chances we're giving them.
Another thing, when people here extoll the virtues of playing week in week out in IPL and Arab leagues over being a squad player in Europe... Know that Saman Ghoddos has just shown you in 2 games why we should be wishing all of our players move to Europe. The man was chasing down defenders and the goalie on the press at 93 minutes, leading to a turnover of possession, when subs who'd been on the pitch 10 minutes were standing around watching.
Also, Mohebi looked like he'd never played football before. The guy looked like he's won a fan competition to be given a 10 minute TM cameo.
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