Discussion: Quality of IPL So Far. 2015/2016 Season vs 2016/2017

[pres80]

I didn't really follow IPL that much prior to last season. I kept an eye on scores and player moves etc. but I started to watch more and more games last season.

Last season I thought that the quality of the league had really improved a lot compared to 4 or 5 years ago. A lot of young players were playing, the playing styles were actually decent.

Teams like Zobahan and Perspolis were actually fun to follow and Mansourian's Naft was also interesting to keep an eye on.

The league had a more professional feel to it (still lacking in this department but just better than before).

Perspolis was the stand out for me last season although they did not manage to win the overall league.

This season however I feel there has been a significant drop in quality already.

This could be partially due to Branko acting like a bit of an ass and Mansourian having a terrible start. Zobahan is also not doing so well.

I also don't really see the same nice play by PP anymore and feel that they play with much less of an organised game plan compared to last year.

So far I can only say that Saipa has been doing better than expected for me and Torabi is playing well. Other than that I haven't really enjoyed the league like last season.

Last season the league was good enough to have some great players to add to TM but this season I can't see any clearly talented players who have a chance of being added to TM.

Was interested to hear your guys's opinions on why there has been such a drop off in league quality, or if you don't agree with me I would be interested to hear your side and see maybe I am missing the nice things about the league this time around.

[arash123]

There is so much turnaround in IPL teams that it takes itby midseason to really gel together.

[Hosseini]

Baba that Saipa- Foolad game was World Class!!

[Ghermez Agha]

Last seasons PGL campaign was the best yet IMO, so much competition all the way up until the last day. Lots of good games...both Derbys were very entertaining too. There were 3 teams fighting for the title up until the last day and another 3-4 for an ACL spot....really couldn't have been much tighter. Hopefully the young talents continue to emerge, that's another thing our league has gotten better with over the years. Before you would never see youngsters be given opportunities until they were 21-22 at least, now we have 18-19 year olds playing on a consistent basis almost.

[PersianLegion]

Persepolis and SS Tehran have declined for sure.

[naderb94]

I would say two years ago was the best season we have had. Having Sepahan-Tractor-Naft going down to the final seconds on the final day with that controversy was amazing to watch. Tbh, the league is in great shape whenever teams like PP or SS aren't on top of the table. It shows great competition in the league when the likes of Naft, Saipa, SS Khuzestan, Foolad, Zobahan, etc competing for the top spot. I am hoping this year would be good, but it looks clear that we are going to see PP or Tractor fight for the title unless Sepahan gels together and compete with them

[AIrani]

Government must exit funding IPL teams. This is # 1.

# 2: Legal system to investigate teams must be independent.

# 3: Agents do not care what happens as long as they make some money.

# 4: Government TV channels must not control broadcasting rights.

There are more, but the top four are above.

[PersianLegion]

I would say two years ago was the best season we have had. Having Sepahan-Tractor-Naft going down to the final seconds on the final day with that controversy was amazing to watch. Tbh, the league is in great shape whenever teams like PP or SS aren't on top of the table. It shows great competition in the league when the likes of Naft, Saipa, SS Khuzestan, Foolad, Zobahan, etc competing for the top spot. I am hoping this year would be good, but it looks clear that we are going to see PP or Tractor fight for the title unless Sepahan gels together and compete with them

Such a bitter Sepahan fan. Persepolis and SS Tehran are two deeply rooted clubs in Iran, some people need to deal with this instead of their hatred.

I wish all Iranian major clubs (Foolad Khuzestan, Sepahan, Persepolis, SS Tehran, even Tractor Sazi which makes us embarrassed on ACL most of the times) to come stronger every year because then we will witness better quality matches and find more talents for our NT.

[naderb94]

Such a bitter Sepahan fan. Persepolis and SS Tehran are two deeply rooted clubs in Iran, some people need to deal with this instead of their hatred.

I wish all Iranian major clubs (Foolad Khuzestan, Sepahan, Persepolis, SS Tehran, even Tractor Sazi which makes us embarrassed on ACL most of the times) to come stronger every year because then we will witness better quality matches and find more talents for our NT.

I can never respect such clubs such as Perspolis or SS Tehran for the way they handle transfers and simply buy out the competition along with destroying careers of TM potential players. I grew up as a boy supporting SS Tehran until I reached an age where I realized that nothing beats supporting your home city's team. I have no respect for Tractor either for their mafia games and the way they get all the young sarbazi players. However, I do respect the Tractor fanbase and their passion for their team. Quite easily the most passionate and craziest fanbase in all of Iran. Only teams I respect in Iran are Sepahan ofcourse, Zobahan, Naft, Foolad, and any club that can produce their own players rather than simply buy everyone.

[PersianLegion]

If it wasn't for Persepolis and SS Tehran many of our legionnaires wouldn't see the lights of European football or get the media attention. It is the players to blame when they join the big teams and get caught up with Hashieh and BS not the club. Some Iranian football players' mentality of joining SS or Persepolis and being famous is the maximum level of their dreams. These people won't progress because of their own personal issues. They can not handle fame and being in spot light. Borhani and Taremi are few examples, so I won't count on them no matter how many goals they score or lose.

Why should I blame the club? Club gives them an opportunity to shine and after that it is up to themselves to choose their path. Karimi, Mahdavi Kia, Daei, Azizi, Bagheri, Peyrovani, Minavand, Shahroudi, Majidi, Mansourian, Din Mohamadi, Hashemian, Pashazadeh, Nekounam, Ando, ... were members of SS and Persepolis at some point, why they chose their path different from others?

Sepahan was financially strong at some point and used to attract many Iranian young talents as well, should we blame them for everything happening to people who joined Sepahan and declined in the process?

[DireStraits]

So far I have seen some good games from Naft Tehran Naft Abadan and Teraktor.
Perspolice has a top defense but in the offense they are not so good.
Esteghlal is not used to the new players yet.

[naderb94]

If it wasn't for Persepolis and SS Tehran many of our legionnaires wouldn't see the lights of European football or get the media attention. It is the players to blame when they join the big teams and get caught up with Hashieh and BS not the club. Some Iranian football players' mentality of joining SS or Persepolis and being famous is the maximum level of their dreams. These people won't progress because of their own personal issues. They can not handle fame and being in spot light. Borhani and Taremi are few examples, so I won't count on them no matter how many goals they score or lose.

Why should I blame the club? Club gives them an opportunity to shine and after that it is up to themselves to choose their path. Karimi, Mahdavi Kia, Daei, Azizi, Bagheri, Peyrovani, Minavand, Shahroudi, Majidi, Mansourian, Din Mohamadi, Hashemian, Pashazadeh, Nekounam, Ando, ... were members of SS and Persepolis at some point, why they chose their path different from others?

Sepahan was financially strong at some point and used to attract many Iranian young talents as well, should we blame them for everything happening to people who joined Sepahan and declined in the process?

However, in the case of Sepahan, they can actually produce their own talent and not buy out the competition. All those players you mentioned for SS or PP, not one was produced through the PP or SS academy.
Sepahan has produced numerous young talents for our football such as Ali Karimi, Navidkia, Hajsafi, Sharifi, Azmoun etc.

[PersianLegion]

However, in the case of Sepahan, they can actually produce their own talent and not buy out the competition. All those players you mentioned for SS or PP, not one was produced through the PP or SS academy.
Sepahan has produced numerous young talents for our football such as Ali Karimi, Navidkia, Hajsafi, Sharifi, Azmoun etc.

Bar Azmoun out. He explained how bad he was treated by Sepahan while he was in Isfahan.

[naderb94]

Bar Azmoun out. He explained how bad he was treated by Sepahan while he was in Isfahan.

Even if I take Azmoun out, the rest of those players are still Sepahan youth products.... Could you still name me any worthy PP or SS products?

[Sly]

I would say two years ago was the best season we have had. Having Sepahan-Tractor-Naft going down to the final seconds on the final day with that controversy was amazing to watch. Tbh, the league is in great shape whenever teams like PP or SS aren't on top of the table. It shows great competition in the league when the likes of Naft, Saipa, SS Khuzestan, Foolad, Zobahan, etc competing for the top spot. I am hoping this year would be good, but it looks clear that we are going to see PP or Tractor fight for the title unless Sepahan gels together and compete with them

Completely agree!

Everytime pespes and eses are down in the IPL table, you see so much better football and more competitive games from top 3-5 teams! Sorry to the fans of both team but this is the truth!