Hey guys, I wanted to post my observation here and hear your thoughts about it! I thought since it is a long post and a new discussion it deserved its own thread!
I have watched every team melli game since 2006, and this world cup qualifying campaign made me realize what a special coach we have. My favorite part of Carlos' coaching is what he does in terms of creating / using utility players, where he makes them adapt into a new position, while bringing all the traits from their previous position. This allows for seamless transitions between attack and defense. That is why some players like Taremi, (previously Masoud), Dejagah, Amiri, and Hajsafi, always play. Because they get the tactic, and they execute the new position and relay on their strengths from the previous position.
The only non-utility players are the goalie, Seyed Jalal, Ezatolahi, Azmoun (interestingly, they are all in the center of field in their position) and maybe Jahanbakhsh.
Everyone else:
Defenders:
- Rezaeian & Ghafouri (plays as RB, but is a RM)
- Pouraliganji (plays as CB but was a CM)
- Cheshmi (plays as CB but was a CDM)
- Montazeri (played as a RB but was a CB)
- Mohammadi (I guess he is a full LB now, but I believe he was LM before) (previously he made Pouladi into a LB after he was a LM)
Midfield:
- Ezatolahi & Ebrahimi (both CDM)
- Hajsafi (plays LB or CDM, but is a LM)
- Dejagah (plays as CAM but was a winger)
- Ghoddos (plays as CAM but is a center striker/winger)
- Masoud (for the longest time he played Masoud as LM (although it did not work)
- Jahanbakhsh (I guess he is mostly a winger, but he sometimes plays him as CAM)
- Torabi (winger but played as CAM today vs Togo)
Strikers:
- Taremi (plays as LW, when he is a center striker)
- Azmoun & Gucci (pure center striker)
- Ansarifard (CF plays as RW)
As you can see, his main tactic is making players into utility players. With the CM/CDM's as CB's, you have faster CB's, and CB's that have excellent ball control and distribution which is rare. With the RB and LB, you had midfielders who are quick at going forward, excellent at crossing, dribble well, and can shoot from distance. The CDM take on mainly defensive duties (although he always plays with two very different CDMs who complement each other's roles), he has stirkers as wingers which greatly adds to the offensive threat, and relies on the wingers to come into the middle of the field using their physical strength, and he has one strong striker always there ready for the cross (Azmoun).
All of this heavily relies on one position, the very important CAM. Which for the longest time he played Masoud, now that Dejagah has transitioned into that role, he has really added to our counter attacking capability; and this is what is so exciting about Ghoddos!! He has better shooting, passing and speed than Dejagah today, (but not as good dribbling or ball control) but if he can adapt to the team he will be our key player, I promise you!!
Carlos is a tactical genius, and over the past 7 years he has created a team where he made players take on new positions, and guided them to fit his tactics while they learned the new position. It is stuff like this that allowed us to qualify without losing, and without conceding a goal for so long. Now we will use these friendlies to sharpen our attacking ability, and we will go to the round of 16, I am sure of it!
Also lets not forget his main philosophy that drove our success "unity". When you are united off the field, you are united on the field too (and you can see it when everyone defends, no one is selfish in attack, and everyone celebrates together regardless of who scored).
We are lucky to have you
Carlos
Thanks for reading!!
PFDC
I have watched every team melli game since 2006, and this world cup qualifying campaign made me realize what a special coach we have. My favorite part of Carlos' coaching is what he does in terms of creating / using utility players, where he makes them adapt into a new position, while bringing all the traits from their previous position. This allows for seamless transitions between attack and defense. That is why some players like Taremi, (previously Masoud), Dejagah, Amiri, and Hajsafi, always play. Because they get the tactic, and they execute the new position and relay on their strengths from the previous position.
The only non-utility players are the goalie, Seyed Jalal, Ezatolahi, Azmoun (interestingly, they are all in the center of field in their position) and maybe Jahanbakhsh.
Everyone else:
Defenders:
- Rezaeian & Ghafouri (plays as RB, but is a RM)
- Pouraliganji (plays as CB but was a CM)
- Cheshmi (plays as CB but was a CDM)
- Montazeri (played as a RB but was a CB)
- Mohammadi (I guess he is a full LB now, but I believe he was LM before) (previously he made Pouladi into a LB after he was a LM)
Midfield:
- Ezatolahi & Ebrahimi (both CDM)
- Hajsafi (plays LB or CDM, but is a LM)
- Dejagah (plays as CAM but was a winger)
- Ghoddos (plays as CAM but is a center striker/winger)
- Masoud (for the longest time he played Masoud as LM (although it did not work)
- Jahanbakhsh (I guess he is mostly a winger, but he sometimes plays him as CAM)
- Torabi (winger but played as CAM today vs Togo)
Strikers:
- Taremi (plays as LW, when he is a center striker)
- Azmoun & Gucci (pure center striker)
- Ansarifard (CF plays as RW)
As you can see, his main tactic is making players into utility players. With the CM/CDM's as CB's, you have faster CB's, and CB's that have excellent ball control and distribution which is rare. With the RB and LB, you had midfielders who are quick at going forward, excellent at crossing, dribble well, and can shoot from distance. The CDM take on mainly defensive duties (although he always plays with two very different CDMs who complement each other's roles), he has stirkers as wingers which greatly adds to the offensive threat, and relies on the wingers to come into the middle of the field using their physical strength, and he has one strong striker always there ready for the cross (Azmoun).
All of this heavily relies on one position, the very important CAM. Which for the longest time he played Masoud, now that Dejagah has transitioned into that role, he has really added to our counter attacking capability; and this is what is so exciting about Ghoddos!! He has better shooting, passing and speed than Dejagah today, (but not as good dribbling or ball control) but if he can adapt to the team he will be our key player, I promise you!!
Carlos is a tactical genius, and over the past 7 years he has created a team where he made players take on new positions, and guided them to fit his tactics while they learned the new position. It is stuff like this that allowed us to qualify without losing, and without conceding a goal for so long. Now we will use these friendlies to sharpen our attacking ability, and we will go to the round of 16, I am sure of it!
Also lets not forget his main philosophy that drove our success "unity". When you are united off the field, you are united on the field too (and you can see it when everyone defends, no one is selfish in attack, and everyone celebrates together regardless of who scored).
We are lucky to have you
Carlos Thanks for reading!!
PFDC
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