FT thoughts
Positives:
Great performance defensively second half - they raised it a notch after my HT critique of the aerial defending
MiMo's pace and positional awareness is world class - allows him to pack in tight to the centre backs and yet his mobility allows him to press the wide player when needed
The way we close down other teams and harry them on the ball is as good as any team, not just in Asia but anywhere
Our confidence and patience on the ball has improved beyond measure since the last WC (my biggest concern around CQ's tactics then)
We now need to transfer this confidence to hold the ball and knock it around to playing non-Asian teams - friendlies against a couple of decent teams are key
To go away to Korea, play most of the 2nd half with 10 men (when they are desperate for a win) and never really look threatened is superb
People are bashing Amiri but I think he gives us a real balance and shape to the team on the left hand side. Tidy player and nowhere near as bad as some people make out
Negatives:
Ezatollahi was stupid to react and needs to learn and mature from this game - in terms of pure ability and importance to the team he's key to our success but he needs to improve his lapses in concentration and some of his decision making
Referee gave a lot of soft fouls to Korea second half - they were throwing themselves around, winning fouls (but to be honest we did the same in Tehran against them)
CQ made a mistake bringing on Taremi up front. We played the last 30 with effectively 9 men. We needed mobility and I honestly think if he had kept on Gucci - with his pace and harrying against a Korea side pushing men forward for the win - we would have scored.
Positives:
Great performance defensively second half - they raised it a notch after my HT critique of the aerial defending
MiMo's pace and positional awareness is world class - allows him to pack in tight to the centre backs and yet his mobility allows him to press the wide player when needed
The way we close down other teams and harry them on the ball is as good as any team, not just in Asia but anywhere
Our confidence and patience on the ball has improved beyond measure since the last WC (my biggest concern around CQ's tactics then)
We now need to transfer this confidence to hold the ball and knock it around to playing non-Asian teams - friendlies against a couple of decent teams are key
To go away to Korea, play most of the 2nd half with 10 men (when they are desperate for a win) and never really look threatened is superb
People are bashing Amiri but I think he gives us a real balance and shape to the team on the left hand side. Tidy player and nowhere near as bad as some people make out
Negatives:
Ezatollahi was stupid to react and needs to learn and mature from this game - in terms of pure ability and importance to the team he's key to our success but he needs to improve his lapses in concentration and some of his decision making
Referee gave a lot of soft fouls to Korea second half - they were throwing themselves around, winning fouls (but to be honest we did the same in Tehran against them)
CQ made a mistake bringing on Taremi up front. We played the last 30 with effectively 9 men. We needed mobility and I honestly think if he had kept on Gucci - with his pace and harrying against a Korea side pushing men forward for the win - we would have scored.
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