PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION | vs. Bahrain - Asian Cup 2015

[Martin-Reza]

I think the lineup we'll use is quite obvious, just right-back and right midfield are question marks. Any thoughts?

[K. Nader]

RB will either go to Rezaian or Heydari... most likely Heydari. Aside from Pouladi who has been absent from Team Melli for some time and required match praxis, none of the other major defenders (Sadeghi, Hosseini, or Heydari) were used.

Before the match, I'd have said that Ghafouri was going to be favoured for the RB position but it seems that CQ prefers him in a RW position (similar to what we saw of Heydari in the WC). The players that CQ deploys shows that he likes tall, physically imposing, and aggressive players. Players like Pouraliganji and Rezaian have these qualities which makes them excellent prospects for the future (especially considering that they're 24 and 22, respectively).

All this being said, I'm not sure if CQ will take a gamble on a defender with only one cap. Despite all his shortcomings, Heydari has experience and that's what CQ may resort to.

Nevertheless, people have been waiting for CQ to really set up 'his' team. I think we saw a preview of that yesterday. With the likes of Haghighi, Rezaian, Pouraliganji, Azmoun, Jahanbakhsh, Hajsafi, Dejagah, Rafiei, and Gucci, the future (at the NT level anyway) looks bright.

[ehsan singapore]

our 3 midfield is jahanbaksh,dejagah and one more most likely shojayi,hajsayi azmoun will be super subs

[CHaMiLLionaire]

I think the lineup we'll use is quite obvious, just right-back and right midfield are question marks. Any thoughts?

I doubt there will be much experimentation.

Haghighi
Beikzadeh
Sadeghi
Hosseini
Pouladi
Ando
Neko
Shojaei(Rafei)
JB
Gucci(sardar)
Dejagah(Hajsafi)


PS. I read some of your tweets, do you really think even with the lack of preparation- that we will exit the tournament at the group stages? Without a doubt, preparation plays a key part...but our talent and tactical awareness should see us through to the semi finals easily.. especially with the route available. What I'm saying is mostly based on paper... but nevertheless- you can't count Iran out yet. Anything but a win against Bahrain, and we are potentially in trouble.

[Kiarash]

PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION | vs. Bahrain - Asian Cup 2015

Let's not forget CQ often makes surprising decisions, so I think we may see one of the outstanding players in the Iraq game at the kick off vs Bahrain.

I hope Azmoun will start instead of Gucci. He's on fire.

[K. Nader]

In the Gucci vs. Azmoun argument, I'm an advocate of both. I would personally line-up our team as follows:

--------------------Gucci------------------
Jahanbakhsh--Azmoun------Dejagah

This may be against popular opinion but the best offensive line up is one without Ando. A 4-4-2 allows Gucci to play alongside Azmoun, with Hajsafi on the left, Dejagah in the centre, and AJB on the right. Nekounam would then stand behind them as the sole DM.

As much as well all love Ando, he's not a player that naturally creates attacks. Yes he's lobbed the ball forward before which has led to goals but he's far removed from having the passing acumen of Nekounam, Dejagah, Hajsafi, Azmoun, Gucci, and AJB. Ando's value is shown in games against the likes of Korea, Australia, and Japan.

[Abtin]

^ You want Arab players to walk off the pitch, crying?

[CHaMiLLionaire]

In the Gucci vs. Azmoun argument, I'm an advocate of both. I would personally line-up our team as follows:

--------------------Gucci------------------
Jahanbakhsh--Azmoun------Dejagah

This may be against popular opinion but the best offensive line up is one without Ando. A 4-4-2 allows Gucci to play alongside Azmoun, with Hajsafi on the left, Dejagah in the centre, and AJB on the right. Nekounam would then stand behind them as the sole DM.

As much as well all love Ando, he's not a player that naturally creates attacks. Yes he's lobbed the ball forward before which has led to goals but he's far removed from having the passing acumen of Nekounam, Dejagah, Hajsafi, Azmoun, Gucci, and AJB. Ando's value is shown in games against the likes of Korea, Australia, and Japan.

Everyone would love that too...however do you think CQ will play with this formation? Doubtful....

Even in the prep match, Ansarifard was a left winger, not a second striker.

[ehsan singapore]

CQ tactic is to pressure the apponent from up and make them make a mistake or get them tiread, play fast tempo,fast one touch and hit them on counter

[K. Nader]

Everyone would love that too...however do you think CQ will play with this formation? Doubtful....

Even in the prep match, Ansarifard was a left winger, not a second striker.

As you mention, it's unlikely. The line-up in the first match will dictate what's to come for the rest of the tournament. The one exception may be the final group match against UAE (assuming we've won our first two). In it, we may see an experiment 'B' side similar to what Ghotbi did in 2011.

[Abtin]

Do we have a sick cover picture for Facebook somewhere?

[Taz]

How comes people have automatically dropped Hajsafi from their starting XIs in favour of Pouladi? I genuinely think none of the Iraq XI will start against Bahrain.

Pouladi is liked greatly by CQ, obviously, but I don't think he'll be preferred over Hajsafi due to the fact that Hajsafi will probably be in better shape but more importantly, the fact that in this tournament, we're going to require a bit more attacking prowess from our full-backs as I'm sure we'll show more ambition in getting forward compared to the WC, particularly in the group stages and especially in this first game. Pouladi may come in as the tournament progresses and we start anti-football-ing our way to the championship

My tournament side (and I'd probably say it's what CQ will go with too):

[Abtin]

Hajsafi is a must start.

[littlepersia17]

PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION | vs. Bahrain - Asian Cup 2015

Guys can pouraliganji play right back?

[KeonKish]

Re: PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION | vs. Bahrain - Asian Cup 2015

In the Gucci vs. Azmoun argument, I'm an advocate of both. I would personally line-up our team as follows:

--------------------Gucci------------------
Jahanbakhsh--Azmoun------Dejagah

This may be against popular opinion but the best offensive line up is one without Ando. A 4-4-2 allows Gucci to play alongside Azmoun, with Hajsafi on the left, Dejagah in the centre, and AJB on the right. Nekounam would then stand behind them as the sole DM.

As much as well all love Ando, he's not a player that naturally creates attacks. Yes he's lobbed the ball forward before which has led to goals but he's far removed from having the passing acumen of Nekounam, Dejagah, Hajsafi, Azmoun, Gucci, and AJB. Ando's value is shown in games against the likes of Korea, Australia, and Japan.

It's a very exposed team. Ando closes gaps and spreads the ball pretty well. He's definitely not as creative as Nekounam but in any AC match I want him to be on the field.

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