Still waiting for CQ to convince

[Navid H]

Hajsafi's goal was actually the exact result of a rehearsed and planned move.
If you look at the replay, Hajsafi fakes like he is going to join the crowd in the box but backs out at the last minute. This way, the defenders lose track of him and he is free to take a shot. Hajsafi was exactly where he was supposed to be and the play worked to perfection. Watch 22:30 of this video to see what I'm talking about.

You can't expect the national team coach who has limited time with the players to fix the ills of Iran's amateur league. When Hosseini was asked whether we could make the 2nd round of the WC he responded - "I play for the biggest club in Iran and we don't even have a decent field to practice on, how can we even talk about the 2nd round of the WC?!"

People expect CQ to form some beautiful free flowing passing system out of thin air when there are maybe 2 fields in Iran where that type of game is even possible. CQ has taken the team and instilled organization, tactical and mental discipline, physical toughness, and most importantly team spirit. That is all you can ask of a coach in his position. If that hasn't convinced you, then you are rarely going to be convinced.

[maly3648]

The biggest problem is really what people "expect" from a coach ! This was always a "disease" in our country ... As if, with all problems we are facing, with the players we actually have, we should be able to do miracles ! Beating any team "easily" etc ... Hey guys wake up ! So far, we don't have world class players, we don't have world class stamina nor do we have world class facilities and despite that, you want us to show "world class" show or what ? Quiroz can't invent new players, they are there, he can't invent new framework and has to use the players the way they have been shaped from scratch (meaning in crap fields and with lots of shortcomings when it comes to decision making, passing etc ...) they play and do their best providing the qualities and weaknesses they have. Maximum we can do is to optimize the potential we have but we start with a potential and this one is what it is, what do you expect exactly ? That we win Asian cup easily ??? Crazy ... We can win this Asia Cup but it will be very tough as teams like Japan and Australia are very strong as well so don't expect us to "show" miracles guys ...

[BacheLot]

nothing against CQ..!! i'd still want him to remain even if we didn't make it out of the group stage..!! to me his value to our football is far more than just his preferred system of play and tactics ..!

nevertheless, I'm still concerned about how 1 dimensional we've become tactically, Highly defensive/CounterAttacking Only..!!
lets face it, most indications are that if we happen to Concede First

[Kaveh Ahangar]

I am pleased that we have made it to the quarterfinals, as group winners, with no goals conceded.

We have to be realistic in our expectations. At this point in time, with pathetic resources and no support from the federation, CQ has got the best out of his players at the right time with a system that works.
Let's be grateful for that.

[Doctor DOOM]

^ something UAE"s young coach could have done, which is merely to sit back and absorb pressure ... as all they needed was a draw, not a win. Instead they attacked. Most probably looking for that insurance goal that would put their group topping beyond a doubt. A very logical strategy .... but to be used in certain cases. Not against a bigger team that has become a defensive-counterattacking one .... of late.

You basically handed your doom to your opponent (who really wanted/thrived in this tactic) , in a silver tray! And that's why I think he was inexperienced ... or not experienced, Wiley enough for such an occasion.

But if you face a defensive-counterattacking team and if you sit back and hunker down, then you basically force them to depart from their main form and tactics. You force them to rethink their plan and come up with new ones that are very different from what they've been doing.
Some teams can come up with new plans , the veritable ''plan B"', and some can't - as they hardly had tried anything other than their main strategy.

Now people, deep down, ... which slot would CQ's team fall in?

[OFFSIDE_1]

" something UAE"s young coach could have done, which is merely to sit back and absorb pressure ."

You just made the case for why CQ's strategy was the right strategy.

UAE will have plenty of time to reflect on the correctness of their strategy as they get thrashed by the Japanese team. Yes, the younger uae coach was outsmarted by the experienced Iran coach.

[Doctor DOOM]

^ I agree, the UAE coach got outsmarted by CQ. Very correct.
But as long as you're picking on one half of the argument, you might want to try the other ; which is had it been a more experienced coach, they'd have forced CQ to come up with a plan B. Now what are the chances of that we see such a plan?

And what if the Iraqi coach tries this? Or further down the line, the Korean or Japanese or Aussies coaches who ARE more experienced, and also in possession of better defenses, try this?

Because then, it is teams on the level facing each other. Not us against teams that are lower than us. It'll be a whole new ball game when we face a decent team with good players, proper tactics, proper defense and teamwork and experienced enough to hurt opponents (maybe through their own counterattacking tactics).
What would CQ do? Still sit back and defend?

[OFFSIDE_1]

^If you have an offensive minded team, you cannot just flip the switch and overnight become a defensive team relying on the transition game. Remember, it's not just the coach wanting a particular strategy, they also have to have the right players in place to make the strategy work. A player like abdul rahman will not sit back and turn into an Ando teymourian type player just because the coach wants him to be. if the scenario you mentioned above happens, then we are in much better shape because this is a system we know in and out and we have the players for it. The system we play only works if you have an opportunistic player like Gucci upfront, who creates opportunities for himself because of mistakes made by the opponent. The system we play works because you have an explosive player like Dejagah or a tough nosed DM like Ando.

No strategy is perfect, and ours is no exception. The key however is that the team has bought into the system and plays it to perfection (almost). No one can argue against the results. There is no question that we have our weaknesses and every time I see a long ball from the backfield, I am reminded of it. We also don't know how this team will react if they have to come back from a goal deficit. You ask for plan A, plan B and etc ..... a team with a pathetic preparation as ours, will never have anything beyond plan A.

[Doctor DOOM]

I'd rather test my Audi against a BMW or Merc, rather than a Hyundai or Kia .... to know exactly what it is capable of. Or as we say ''ayaaresh chandeh''. Beating Kia's and Hyundai's wouldn't prove it to me.


We've become a defensive team under CQ. I get that. That is his prerogative to pick and choose HIS players that suits HIS preferred style (hence an overload of defensive players with very little creative players in his squads).

But the ''successful'' defensive teams have an extra chromosome that the regular defensive teams don't have. And that is despite being defensive, THEY KNOW HOW TO CREATE THEIR OWN CHANCES TO WIN. They don't ONLY rely on opponent's mistakes or lapses or opportune moments to get their goals.

Teams that thrive on opponents mistakes for most of their successes will eventually meet other teams that don't make that many mistakes, Players that wouldn't have so many lapses.






All this is , btw, besides the very real scenarios such as them actually conceding first, which totally throws their strategy out the window. But this topic is for another time and thread.
Or what if they meet another defensive team, but one with fewer mistakes n lapses? What then?

[Bi-honar]

...which is had it been a more experienced coach, they'd have forced CQ to come up with a plan B. Now what are the chances of that we see such a plan?

To be fair Doctor, we were playing Plan B in the 1st 15-20 minutes of the game and the last 10-15 minutes.

I suspect the heat and humidity was just too much in Brisbane to stick with that plan for the entire game, so the team opted (willingly or without having the choice) to conserve energy, let UAE run around and then hit them late in the game when they were most tired, with a goal they could not recover from.

And if you think about it, we did score within just 10 minutes of switching to that plan! I do agree that we left it a bit too late in this game and I also share your concerns about our opponents scoring the 1st goal. The Bosnia game is of course the only example of that and it didn't turn out well.

At this point, we can only hope that everyone learnt their lessons from that game. One lesson that we did learn from that game and have most certainly implemented is rotating players so they're not too fatigued for the next game.

Again, we can just hope at this point that's not the only lesson we learnt from that game. Just have to wait and see, but I am very hopeful.

[Amin_]

I could somehow live with the way we played at the WC, but personally I am not in favor of such defensive tactics, especially in an Asian tournament against Arab teams. I've grown up with Dutch football and I like attacking football, so that is just my personal preference and opinion.

I know football has changed, but ten years ago I would never have thought that in a game against the UAE and co. we would be the ones sitting back defending and letting them making the play, and that on a neutral field (actually more like a home game for us with all those fans).

We have a tight defensive line, but we can't rule out the luck factor either. So what worries me a bit is if we get scored against first. I'm not sure whether we have the ability to overcome that easily.

Anyway, so far so good, so no real complaints here as long as we get the results. It's been way too long that we brought the cup home, so if we have to play defensively/ugly in order to win the whole thing, then so be it!

What is commandable is that it looks like CQ has created a very tight and motivated group who are willing to go all out. Credit to him for that!

Like I said when GN was the coach at the AC: Whether we hate or love the coach and/or some players, at such a big tournament we should put that aside for a while and all be united and support our boys 100%!

[eerooni]

Bottom Line CQ played to his teams maximum potential and watching all 3 games, I can tell you , the team played brilliant!! We defended well, and created enough chances to score a winning goal or two. Now granted we don't score enough goals. and this can be a major problem if we concede, so the most we can be critical about is not scoring more goals. IMO, if Iraq scores early on we will have problems as our defensive strategy will now have to be converted to all out attack for at least 2 goals and then revert back to defensive. This will require abundance energy, running and time. so yes, its a risk to defend first because better coaches can exploit this. The good news is that we have more talent, and depth than Iraq to continue our defensive strategy and win the game.

[Ali.Karimi79]

Still waiting for CQ to convince

I simply don't want another Bosnia scenario. Because to me CQs tactics is not capable of handling this when we concede first and need to make the game.

[Doctor DOOM]

Today, I am so delighted and feel like a million bucks. Today I had a race with a Kia in my Audi and just L.O.V.E.D. the fact that despite he beat me to most of the corners (probably I being too scared to use any gear above 3rd may have something to do with that), I finally beat that Kia by a nose at the finish line.
Feel magnificent. just cant fit into my skin.



So what if the Kia was a 1999 model?
what's important is that my Audi A6 beat him by at least a couple of inches.

it just proves I am on Par with Rikonen and Schummy in driving expertise.

[foadm_2000]

Today, I am so delighted and feel like a million bucks. Today I had a race with a Kia in my Audi and just L.O.V.E.D. the fact that despite he beat me to most of the corners (probably I being too scared to use any gear above 3rd may have something to do with that), I finally beat that Kia by a nose at the finish line.
Feel magnificent. just cant fit into my skin.

Haha that was a good one
False analogy though