Are we missing a player that is willing to take the leadership role on the pitch?

[Frank Ocean]

Ever since Nekounam left, I'm feeling that there's a huge gap that is noone really capable of filling in TM.
He was not just a great captain, but a true leader who would decide matches on his own for us.
TM really seems to be missing that kind of player right now.
This is no problem against the likes of India, Turkmenistan and Oman. But I'm really starting to get worried about the later stages in WCQ.
Dejagah had a huge decline quality wise ever since he left to play in Qatar
Ando has been really out of shape lately.
I simply cannot see young guys like Azmoun, JB or Ezatollahi deciding important games for us.
What do you think? Should we be recalling Nekounam for the final stages?

[MrMerci]

Just give it some time

[ehsan singapore]

i will say ando is a good leader so is ashkan, of course you cant compare neko to them, he had more years in tm, so that is the reason, i like ando , he remind me of roy keane, a leader and fighter who will make you do the best on the field

[teammelli91]

I have a feeling Ezatolahi may be the "sotoon" of Team Melli in the future. He is still very young, but with time + experience (more caps) will come good results.

Overall though, and thinking realistically, Hajsafi should be able to captain his team. I know he is still young but he has played for Iran for almost 10 years now. He has played with different captains including Mahdavikia and Nekounam, as well as Rahmati. I'm sure he is a smart guy and I'm sure he has learned a thing or too about what it means and takes to captain his team.

I know Ando has been the captain for a year now but he doesn't show it. Or maybe we just haven't seen it yet.

Now, and again thinking REALISTICALLY, Jalal Hosseini may be the next captain. Not just because he's one of the oldest of the bunch or even because he's experienced enough. But more so because I have seen him communicate with his teammates and instruct them during set pieces and at hard times. A good example would be Naft vs Al Ahli in the quarterfinals of the 2015 ACL. Towards the end when Naft got one goal in, he was really helping push his team forward and make sure everyone was cool and doing their jobs according to Mansourian's plan.

So in the future I see Ezatolahi, but now the realistic option would be Jalal Hosseini.

[ehsan singapore]

this is the captain list for tm
1. ando
2. dejagah
3. seyed jalal
4. hajsafi
so i dont think it will change, and i think ando is a good captain

[persepolisfan]

I think ehsan is a better captain honestly then ando. We will see

[teammelli91]

Realistically speaking:

1) Hosseini
2) Hajsafi
3) Andranik

[Hosseini]

Seyed Jalal is a great player and sets a fine example. Hajsafi has been captain since youth levels and I could definitely see him filling shoes of Neku.

Haghighi seems like he could be ok too. Jahanbaksh is up there as well for the future.

[KeonKish]

I still need to see a game with a strong opponent when ando is captain. Then I can say. I don't think hajsafi is a good captain or communicator. The same goes for dejagah.

Seyed jalal or ando for me


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[Super Shojaei]

it will take time guys be patient, we need to learn to move on without nekounam and that day is coming, i dont think we have struggled too much in the post nekounam era.

[Rooyintan]

Ando is the best choice. Second Seyed Jalal. Others need to improve themselves or behaviour to deserve wearing the arm band. In the history of Team Melli I believe Ghelichkhani, Parvin, Ghayeghran and Abedzadeh were the best captains ever.

[Z Joon]

I don't think Ando will be in our first 11 for long anyways, I'd say that he will soon become a bench player

[BacheLot]

I still need to see a game with a strong opponent when ando is captain. Then I can say. I don't think hajsafi is a good captain or communicator. The same goes for dejagah.

Seyed jalal or ando for me


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For time being, Same for me ..!
Ando was never a very vocal leader but often led by example & effort on the pitch so I was excited to have him as our captain, unfortunately his form & fitness dipped after he got the armband & has been on a steady decline since..!
He has experienced dips in form before in his career & has often bounced back stronger than before, so I'm hopeful he can regain his fitness & captain TM into Russia 18, but fear that his legs may be gone n his age has caught up with him this time & it's gonna be very tough for him to make another comeback ..!?

For time being I think we will see the armband being passed around a bit ..! In absence of Ando, Hossaini is the only other deserving & obvious choice in my book.
Tbh, I can't stand seeing ehsan with the captain armband. He has next to nothing that warrants him being our captain. I know the kid is nice has a admirable personality, but I've lost count of number of Meh performances from him in TM shirt & his careless approach to his duties on the pitch annoys me to no end, especially defensively. He is like the ultimate ALMOST but no Cigar sorta player..,! Don't care for Dejagha either, especially after his move to gutter.

I also think for the Future, Ezzatolahi definitely seems Captain Material & gonna be the most suited long serving, Neku-replacement captain. He will pick up the required experience quicker than expected, but it will take him a looong time to rid of the Youngster tag-line seeing as he is only 19, & the importance Iranian culture places on older age as the key requirement for leadership...!

[lml]

If Ando doesn't make the starting 11, Hajsafi is a good long-term candidate for the captaincy imo. He's 26, he has European experience, and he has over 75 caps for the country.

[Mr Pouya]

Doesn't matter because captaincy in Iran is about taroff and who has the most caps.