Keep Hosseini, Nekounam and Ando, or let them go?

[Hosseini]

Obviously it's their personal decision, and I know people say we need to fill the team with youth, but these three guys can still do their job excellently at their respective ages. They're the glue to the team. Hosseini is an experienced leader in for the back four, and Neku and Ando both have their VITAL, separate jobs as we all know.

Now do should they stay for the WCQ? I honestly saw no weakness in either player at all, in fact they excelled in the heat of the games. So proud of these three. They all showed gheyrat, experience and a will to succeed. Really deserved more, but fate wasn't on our side this time around.

It's a personal choice, but I hope CQ STAYS and keeps them around the team even if they want to retire. I think Ando will stay for sure, but Hosseini and Nekounam's presence for the WCQ could be beneficial if they stayed to be an assistant coach.

[irani8perspolis]

they need to stay to ease us through the transition, we have found a great young talent in pouraliganji and we also have ezzatollahi coming through the ranks. I think by the end of wc2018 we will have the players to replace these three.

[CHaMiLLionaire]

I think Nekounam's last game should be the Sweden game.

Ando can still help us through the WCQ. Hosseini is a CB and can give us a few more years.

[ParthianDE]

I voted for all 3 of them to stay on.

However, in all three cases alternatives should be developed ASAP, not because those 3 aren't any good (they are great!), but so that:
a) we have more depth in all positions
b) we don't get into a Daei type of situation at some point

So I hope these alternatives get developed and will get playing time, even in serious games, while at the same time making sure these three do not take it the wrong way.
As long as they continue to be great, they should know they are #1.
Once alternatives show equally promising performances, these three should stay on, even if no longer the first choice, so that we have serious depth in those positions.

[Karimi 8]

Hosseini has not seemed to show and decline in form over the years and CB can have long careers. I think that he can for sure continue based on what I have seen in him.

Ando has been our MVP in my opinion within the last year and has always been a great player. He has experienced inconstancy in club form but for TM he is normally very fit I think he can take on the captian role and stay if he maintains his fitness.

Nekounam had a good Asia cup and is the foundation of our team but unfortunately I have seen his form decline a bit and I really don't think he can play another four years. He has had a great career and will never be replaced and is a great captian and has given us his 100% every game but I think sadly it's time for him to retire very soon. We need time to be able to find someone to start taking his position as not many have been tested so far and can't quickly be accomplished.

[Zamboor]

indeed hosseini is our Maldini

[onebloodfool]

Nekounam should retire. Its not that he is bad. In fact, he still got the goods.
But by the time World Cup 2018 comes around, Nekounam is going to be 37/38 years old.
I would say he should stick around a little for the WCQ and help us out, but then there is also a consequence to that which would be that his inevitable replacement will not get the necessary exposure and experience.

Ando should stick around and so should Jalal. At least for the WCQ. Letting them all go at once would be too much of a change and shock to the system

[Leopard]

Keep Hosseini for at least a year. Phase out neku or ando and get a new player to take one place within 4 months and then replace the other within a year.
A ramatic change will ruin the coordination. A new player playing next to either Ando or Neku can learn a lot how to fill the position. Taking out both Ando and Neku at once will create uncertainty.
The best thing that has happened is identification of Sardar as the best scorer

[HuSsAiN]

I think Hosseini and Ando will stay , and 2019 will probably be their last tournament. Ando to be captain and Hosseini vice-captain.

I'm still unsure about JN. If he doesn't retire soon, and plays in the qualifiers for 2018, you would assume he would also still want to feature in his last WC (if we go through?).

I love all three players, because they are the core of the team, and the most consistent. I'm still surprised people think Nekou had a bad tournament. People don't understand what he brings to the team, the coolness,organisation and tactical discipline.

[_Navid_]

Do we have any players who are as good or better than the 3 mentioned in their respective positions? I say NO. And until we have one they should play.

I think TM's first priority right now should be finding a proper play maker. Until then, our only way of scoring would be corners.

[Kiarash]

It's time to replace Hosseini after the Asian Cup. He gets fatigued easily and we must build for the future. By the time its 2018 he will be 36, I'd prefer to replace him with Pouraliganji.

[KeonKish]

Re: Keep Hosseini, Nekounam and Ando, or let them go?

Ando is only 31, he has plenty of time, we should use him as long as he delivers and he was one of our best this cup. Nekounam is much older, and should retire soon. Hosseini is a center back and has many years left.

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[Khashayar24]

All three players are key players for Iran but as painful it is you should let players go and let some other take their place in order to be prepared for the future tasks.
1. Javad Nekounam
He is the captain and for sure he was one of the most important key figures for Iran after the retirement of Karimi, Mahdavikia and Daei etc.
Javad will be 35 in Sept. 2015 and we need replace him latest till 2016 step by step with a younger CM. Javad did his best for Team Melli in the past decade but now we need a more energetic player in his position as the game has changed a lot.
2. Jalal Hosseini
One of the best central defenders Iran had in his history regarding fighting spirit, duels, tackles with lacking playmaking abilities such as Montazeri.
Jalal is the tower of strenghth in our defence line. Jalal will be 33 in some days and we should replace him till 2017. in 2 years he will be lacking speed and for sure paying tribute to the way he plays.
3. Andranik Teymourian
The fittest iranian player I have seen after Hamid Estili in his prime. He has more than 2 lungs and helped us a lot in the Asian Cup. We scored the goals vs. Qatar and UAE because of his fighting attitude. He will be 32 this year and he is the only player of the 3 mentioned above who could be eventually fit enough in order to be a part of Team Melli in WC 2018. He is going to be the next Team Melli captain for sure.

[HuSsAiN]

Jalal Hosseini and Nekounam never relied on speed in first place, even if they are getting older, they will just lose that snap of sharpness. They can still do a job for TM. I would only replace them if we have someone else who's more than capable of doing better

[sirvan]

Nekounam should retire. Its not that he is bad. In fact, he still got the goods.
But by the time World Cup 2018 comes around, Nekounam is going to be 37/38 years old.
I would say he should stick around a little for the WCQ and help us out, but then there is also a consequence to that which would be that his inevitable replacement will not get the necessary exposure and experience.

Ando should stick around and so should Jalal. At least for the WCQ. Letting them all go at once would be too much of a change and shock to the system

I agree mate, Hosseini and especially Ando should continue for the wcq, Javad Nekounam should retire after the Sweden friendly, as his farewell game. Since we dont play friendlies it's important that Nekounam's replacement get's experience and the first round is an excellent opportunity for that since the opposition is weaker than in the second and final round. Ando should be our new captain, and i hope Ezatollahi will be Nekounam's successor.