Is 4-4-2 the future for Iran?

[Dejagah]

After seeing both our star strikers (Sardar and Gucci) perform so well on their own in the AC it seems a shame not to utilise both in our starting lineups. Let's face it, under CQ we are going to defend in two banks of 4 regardless, so it is not as if replacing a number 10 with a second striker would be a detriment to our effective defensive tactics. There were too many cases in which Azmoun or Gucci were left isolated out on their own often dealing with 4 defenders.

Not only would placing either one of Gucci or Azmoun on the bench be a waste, but also we haven't had an effective playmaker since Ali Karimi. A 4-4-2 allows us to play with an attacking line up consisting of Gucci, Azmoun, Dejagah and Jahanbakhsh. I don't know about you guys but on paper that looks delicious. If (and this is a big if) IFF can arrange some decent friendlies it would be a waste if we do not experiment in such a way with our starting 11; let me know your thoughts.

[babak_australia]

On papaer yes but this Asian Cup showed me that Jahanbaksh is no where near ready to represent Iran.

It might be my high expectations but he really disappointed me in this tournament.

Personally I have always been a fan of the 4-2-3-1 formation as I think in a defense first mentality but I would love to see your formation in a friendly and like you I would love to see Sardar and Gucci play together.

[perspolis#1]

4-4-2 is an interesting formation. Not very used nowadays, but there are many weaknesses to a 4-4-2 that we need to deal with first. The 4-4-2 puts a lot of pressure on your two center mids. We need two centermidfielders that are bifunctional and able to attack and defend. These midfielders will need to be able to hold the ball, provide through balls, and provide cover to our backline. Nekounam is not at all suited for a 4-4-2 and I dont know a player that is Iranian besides Ando who can perform such a role.

Our wingbacks and right/left midfielders need to be pacey and good crossers of the ball. We have a better chance here if Jahanbakhsh grows more and Dejagah stays fit. If our players are bad crossers we will never score. Tuenovers are especially dangerous because if we fall out of formation, we only have two CMs and two CBs covering a counter.

If we play 4-4-2 we could score many goals with the right players. It depends on who we use in the system

[ehsan singapore]

4-4-2 is good, but iran wont play 4-4-2, in 4-4-2 you have most possesion, iran dont play like that , and CQ dont like that type of formation, he will still play 4-2-3-1 formation

[HuSsAiN]

It depends what type of 4-4-2 though. Everyone talks about the flat four in midfield.. but what about the diamond 4-4-2?
-------------Nekounam------------------------
------Teymourian---------- Hajsafi---------------
-------------Ashkan---------------------------
--------Gucc--------- Azmoun---------------

Nekounam will just sit and do his role. Teymourian won't play RM, but rather like a RCM, and Hajsafi LCM, and Ashkan in the Attacking midfield role or Jahanbakhsh. The good thing with midfield is that it's compact, and will be tough to break down (you can have 3 protecting the defence with JN,Ando and Ehsan), and when you attack, you have two strikers to aim for, with Ashkan aswell in that attacking midfield. It may lack width, but that can come from the full-backs such as Ghafouri.

I doubt it will happen though.

[ehsan singapore]

i think cq has trained on 4-2-3-1 for a while make no sense to suddenly change formation

[Z Joon]

During the time CQ is the head coach of TM, we won't see anything else than the usual 4-3-3. So formation changes will most likely not happen unfortunately.

[IranPowned]

On papaer yes but this Asian Cup showed me that Jahanbaksh is no where near ready to represent Iran.

It might be my high expectations but he really disappointed me in this tournament.

Personally I have always been a fan of the 4-2-3-1 formation as I think in a defense first mentality but I would love to see your formation in a friendly and like you I would love to see Sardar and Gucci play together.

He did ok against Iraq.

[ehsan singapore]

During the time CQ is the head coach of TM, we won't see anything else than the usual 4-3-3. So formation changes will most likely not happen unfortunately.

but his formation is not bad, many coaches use the formation from morinho and diego simone, if a formation work can be extremly deadly, if you work on it and make it very good

[saeed_noro]

Future of Iran should be 4-1-3-2 with Teymourian in front of defense and Gucci and Sardar as strikers same time. Also Ansarifard, Jahanbakhsh possible striker partner. Jahanbakhsh or Amiri or Rahimi playmaker.
Also Pouraliganji not sure if he will stay/be in defense forever, as he is a middlefielder, could be also the playmaker or partner for Teymourian, as he is a great player with great pass-service. noticed in navad statistics today. I think he can become our Michael Ballack, with his headers also


--------------Azmoun--------------Gucci---------------

---Hajsafi-----------Pouraliganji----------Dejagah---

----------------------Teymourian------------------------

---Pooladi-----Hosseini----Montazeri---Ghafouri---

------------------------Haghighi------------------------


This team should qualify us for Russia.

[ehsan singapore]

Future of Iran should be 4-1-3-2 with Teymourian in front of defense and Gucci and Sardar as strikers same time. Also Ansarifard, Jahanbakhsh possible striker partner. Jahanbakhsh or Amiri or Rahimi playmaker.
Also Pouraliganji not sure if he will stay/be in defense forever, as he is a middlefielder, could be also the playmaker or partner for Teymourian, as he is a great player with great pass-service. noticed in navad statistics today. I think he can become our Michael Ballack, with his headers also


--------------Azmoun--------------Gucci---------------

---Hajsafi-----------Pouraliganji----------Dejagah---

----------------------Teymourian------------------------

---Pooladi-----Hosseini----Montazeri---Ghafouri---

------------------------Haghighi------------------------


This team should qualify us for Russia.

your formation is ambitious not sure if CQ will change to this team but is good, regarding pouralighangi,can he play so far up?i know he is a midfield but i would playhim at last man, he can control the game and is good with moving up with the ball , we need a player like that

[saeed_noro]

actually, when you look to the formation, you should not compare his position to shojaei position in 4-2-3-1.

He is defensive middlefielder next to teymourian, but more offensive part as teymourian will become our nekounam....i think for asia it is enough and we must install 4-1-3-2 instead of 4-2-3-1. I want us a little bit more offensive and ball possession although we heard today in navad once again about our match plan and style.

But i see nothing bad in defense we have hajsafi and pouraliganji with teymourian, only dejagah is a little bit more offensive. hajsafi is not needed so offensive anymore, because with two strikers...

Pouraliganji is a central midfielder, normally in front of defense, but i want him to play around teymourian, because his pass-rate is great, iranian ballack ya toni kroos beshe khubeee

[sedee91]

Actually the future is the 4-3-3 formation, due to our future TM prospects' positions abroad. We have a majority of Iranians playing abroad who are wingers, regardless whether they are attacking or defensive wingers. We do currently have The Nazari bros in Sweden and Ezatolahi in Spain playing their roles as center and defensive midfielders. Problem is we lack in a proper defense and strikers both abroad and in Iran, as we all know CQ only gathers 3 or 4 strikers compared to the pool of defenders and midfielders we have in a 23 man squad.

[EKBATAN]

my forever favorite formation is 4-3-2-1 christmas tree

[Taz]

Systems with two out and out strikers are outdated. Liverpool had to revert to it last season in an exceptional circumstance due to having to fit two of the world's best strikers into their side. Now at Asian Cup/WC Qualifying level that could be argued is the scenario we find ourselves in as Azmoun and Gucci are a level above most of the continent's players however there's really little point in changing to the system for the sake of matches against Lebanon, Philippines and Bhutan when the minute we face a top side, our two strikers are made to look a bit more ordinary and our outdated 4-4-2 gets found out for providing gaps between our defence, midfield and attack which the opposition can take advantage of.

Three at the back seems to be where the future is heading towards if we're looking to change from our trusted 4-2-3-1 but it's another system which is reliant on controlling possession which isn't what we're realistically going to be doing come the World Cup so nah, 4-2-3-1 till I die.