It is hard to score against CQ's team .

[Lorestani]

Keep in mind that CQ took over a team wrought with defensive problems. Rife with physiological issues and completely weak in most areas. What he did In the last 5 years was that he systematically has built a strong team from the bottom up! A team that will stand tall long after he is gone. CQ has built a legacy! No coach has done this for us ever! We should all thank him for this !

Not so sure. I think you underestimate the destructive power of whoever Iranian coach might succeed CQ. It's way easier to fuck things up than to build them.

[Doctor DOOM]

basically , considering only Uzbekistan, Qatar, UAE , iraq and korea, starting from the final round pf 2014 WCQ's to date, we've played 11 games against these teams, scored 11 (one goal every 90 minutes ) and conceded 4 (1 goal every 250-260 minutes).

If you asked me, I'd be happy with the latter stats, but would like more of the former. Something like a goal every 60 minutes or less would be more satisfactory


But from the start of CQ's tenure, we can add two more games against qatar: 1-1 & 2-2.
Which brings the tally to 13 games, 14 scored (still not enough. Almost 1 goal every 85 min), 7 conceded (around one every 130 min) . Now, given the conceded goals. we cant really say it is that hard to score on our team. Even in asia.

[Bessos]

Actually the more precise saying is '' A good defense wins you LEAGUES, a good Offense, wins you TOURNAMENTS''

In a tournament, You could have a rock solid defense and allow 0 goals, if you dont score or have a productive offense, you'd be eliminated in the group stage itself.
Why is it different from the league format? In a league format you get 30+ games, depending on the number of teams, with teams ranging from weaker than you to stronger than you. I repeat 30+ games. Meaning you can have ups and down, and a decent amount of chances to ''come back'' or recover after slip ups.


In tournaments usually the first stage is group format, with you playing 2 or 3 games. Followed by 1 game at a time. You slip up in one game, you're pretty much on the ledge.
You dont get too many chances to 'come back'' or gather points or ... . in other words, you have a very limited window to get points.


Therefore these are two very different formats where criteria for success also differ

According to your analysis Iran is good in formats such as the WCQ, but will always perform below expectations when it comes to World Cup / Asian Cup.

[Doctor DOOM]

According to your analysis Iran is good in formats such as the WCQ, but will always perform below expectations when it comes to World Cup / Asian Cup.

If uou ask me I wouldnt mix the qualifiers which is a continental one with the actual WC. In the former we basically meet teams that are only slightly better than us, those on par with us and mostly those that are inferior.
In WC we are the minnows. Lets not fool ourselves.

So I'd keep the two separate.


Now to the league vs tourny. If you read my post again, I dont count the 8-10 games of WCQ's as league. League gives you enough time to bounce back. You have shitload of games.


Here is the key. In qualifiers, because of the limited number of games, the only time you MAY BE ALLOWED to get away with a slip up is EARLY into the campaign. Even then, your recovery is not ensured. You fall behind and you may try to catch up and sometimes your rivals keep gathering points (sort of like Uzbeks the last time around, who just missed it. Or the one with Daei as our coach and we fell behind by having too many draws and we just couldnt catch up no matter how we tried ... even winning at home and drawing away in last few games )

But if you slip up late, then it's almost sayonara ... barring miracles or a few extremely lucky events.
I still count the qualifiers closer to tournys than leagues. Imo

[Doctor DOOM]

In fact Daei's tenure os prime example why we shd approach the WCQs as tournys and aim to .'SCORE MORE'' (which ensures wins) than ''concede less'' (which may end in draws)

[BacheLot]

almost, any Goalkeeper can look like a world beater playing for CQ's TM..!!
all you gotta do grab a couple of high balls sent in to your box and try to block out an effort or 2 mostly sent from outside the box with at least 5-6 defenders in the way in your box, and you got your shut-out..!!
the reason we concede so few goals, even vs excellent offensive teams isnt necessarily because we have an excellent backline, it is mostly because every time we loose possession we got 10-11 men tracking back behind the ball in an organized fashion with always one man right in the face of the ball carrier rushing him to make quick decision as to what to do with it ..! Its an ALL OUT PRESSING TEAM DEFENSE..!
our Whole Team defense under CQ, is indeed very well organized and planned..!! many new comers regardless of their playing positions are not offered significant minutes by Carlos , until he is confident that they have gotten a decent grasp of what is expected of them Defensively whenever/wherever the opponents possess the ball..!!
The Sole Forward is just about the Only positional player who isnt required to strictly adhere to his system's of tight man marking and given the ok to not track too far back past our MF, but even he is not allowed to just wonder off deep in the opponents half just waiting for us to regain possession..!!
in a case of Sardar, due to his good size and heading abilities he is even expected to track all the way back in our defensive box to clear out aerial dangers from CKs and Setpieces ..!
Off course Our Offense will naturally struggle due to this OVER EMPHASIS on High Energy Team Defense..!! it takes A LOOOT OF Energy to keep trying to build offensive rhythm from your own half and thats why lesser quality players in better fitness and form get more playing minutes ahead of higher caliber players who lack that optimal fitness to cope with the intense energy needed to play as he prescribes..!
CQ's overall playing philosophy is simple , Defend with high Intensity and With big numbers...! Overall Objective is to Not Concede ..! and wait for a either a set-piece scoring opportunity or mistake from opponent to pounce on with a quick counter or just send in frequent crosses and high balls over the top and hope for boys to latch on one for goal...!!
he is certainly believer in "Good Offense Excites but Good D wins Championships and gets results"..!!
He is Purely a results-driven coach who bases most of his GAME/TOURNAMENT PLANS around the STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF THEIR SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME..!!

[inarsenewetrust]

hows Akhbari, Havent seen much of him but seems like good physique, young GK?

[FeLFeL]

Actually the more precise saying is '' A good defense wins you LEAGUES, a good Offense, wins you TOURNAMENTS''

In a tournament, You could have a rock solid defense and allow 0 goals, if you dont score or have a productive offense, you'd be eliminated in the group stage itself.
Why is it different from the league format? In a league format you get 30+ games, depending on the number of teams, with teams ranging from weaker than you to stronger than you. I repeat 30+ games. Meaning you can have ups and down, and a decent amount of chances to ''come back'' or recover after slip ups.


In tournaments usually the first stage is group format, with you playing 2 or 3 games. Followed by 1 game at a time. You slip up in one game, you're pretty much on the ledge.
You dont get too many chances to 'come back'' or gather points or ... . in other words, you have a very limited window to get points.


Therefore these are two very different formats where criteria for success also differ

I agree but there are always exceptions like Portugal in Euro '16

[Doctor DOOM]

^ ... hence the term ''exception'' (as opposed to the rule)

[milad_b]

almost, any Goalkeeper can look like a world beater playing for CQ's TM..!!
all you gotta do grab a couple of high balls sent in to your box and try to block out an effort or 2 mostly sent from outside the box with at least 5-6 defenders in the way in your box, and you got your shut-out..!!
the reason we concede so few goals, even vs excellent offensive teams isnt necessarily because we have an excellent backline, it is mostly because every time we loose possession we got 10-11 men tracking back behind the ball in an organized fashion with always one man right in the face of the ball carrier rushing him to make quick decision as to what to do with it ..! Its an ALL OUT PRESSING TEAM DEFENSE..!
our Whole Team defense under CQ, is indeed very well organized and planned..!! many new comers regardless of their playing positions are not offered significant minutes by Carlos , until he is confident that they have gotten a decent grasp of what is expected of them Defensively whenever/wherever the opponents possess the ball..!!
The Sole Forward is just about the Only positional player who isnt required to strictly adhere to his system's of tight man marking and given the ok to not track too far back past our MF, but even he is not allowed to just wonder off deep in the opponents half just waiting for us to regain possession..!!
in a case of Sardar, due to his good size and heading abilities he is even expected to track all the way back in our defensive box to clear out aerial dangers from CKs and Setpieces ..!
Off course Our Offense will naturally struggle due to this OVER EMPHASIS on High Energy Team Defense..!! it takes A LOOOT OF Energy to keep trying to build offensive rhythm from your own half and thats why lesser quality players in better fitness and form get more playing minutes ahead of higher caliber players who lack that optimal fitness to cope with the intense energy needed to play as he prescribes..!
CQ's overall playing philosophy is simple , Defend with high Intensity and With big numbers...! Overall Objective is to Not Concede ..! and wait for a either a set-piece scoring opportunity or mistake from opponent to pounce on with a quick counter or just send in frequent crosses and high balls over the top and hope for boys to latch on one for goal...!!
he is certainly believer in "Good Offense Excites but Good D wins Championships and gets results"..!!
He is Purely a results-driven coach who bases most of his GAME/TOURNAMENT PLANS around their STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF THEIR SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME..!!

I agree with you and thats really worrying . remember what happened to us in WC 14 playing against Bosnia and Herzegovina

[BacheLot]

I agree with you and thats really worrying . remember what happened to us in WC 14 playing against Bosnia and Herzegovina

but tbfair, we had already played the number 1 seed in our group (Argentines) yet we were still Alive in the Competition by gameday 3, that was already a major improvement over our prior 3 appearances ..! but yea, that is when TM's One dimensionality (Defensive) and Carlos's Over-Reliance on Defense came to bite us in the ass and did us in..!!
Because we needed a win(3points) in that game for a chance to progress out of the groups and not only that (with the Nigerians scoring 2goals vs argentines in the final day) that meant that we had to beat the Bosnian with 3 goals or more and not concede any either so we could over-take the Nigerians on Tie-breakers ..!
him taking along a bunch of inaptitude, primarily defensive players (stupidly-enough amongst them an obviously injured one), in place of few other much higher caliber Offensive players even though they may have been a bit raw, not particularly suitable to his defensive tactics, or not in peak fitness at that time (like, Azmoun, AK8, KB) cost us a more competitive showing vs Bosnia, the vital match we had to win and win big to go to groups ..!
sorta of an impossibility really when you look at things objectively..!!
somewhat Polar opposite to TM, Nigerians adapted an all out offensive WC tactics and were rewarded a place in the final16 for it..!
So perhaps DD is right, for better chance of success in Tournaments(WC, AC) TM may need to adapt and rely on a more daring but much better rewarding Offensive approach..!!

considering our current predicament with lack of prep times and friendlies, I think its best not to rock the boat and just Grind ourself WC18 Qualifications with our same ol tried and trusted Defensive tactics. But after hopefully we Qualify for Russia 18, CQ may need to focus on adding a more obvious and formidable Offensive Dimension to his TM, and hell we sure seem to be having an excellent crop of Young Attacking Talent in our disposal currently for it..!!