Now is the time for the coaching staff to begin preparations for the World Cup, while ensuring we secure at least 10 of the remaining 12 points. Due to lack of quality in the group, this can be done at the same time. The pressing issues, as far as I see them:
* We need to have a plan for every situation. I am actually reasonably confident of us chasing a game (except for leaving our CBs exposed, more on that below), but we need better tactical changes for when we are trying to hold onto a lead in the World Cup. We cannot rely on someone like Sarlak as our main defensive sub.
* Our main weakness is Shoja. He has had a very poor last few games. It isn’t just his poor passes and positioning. He gives away extremely AMATEUR fouls. There have been so many times he has given away a foul in our own half against a striker where he has jumped on the strikers back for a header, when there was no danger at all. At the WC, we will be punished on set pieces. It’s a dumb foul to give away, and he does it at least twice a game. It is infuriating.
* Our pressing will work against weak Asian/Arab opponents (I am actually very impressed that we have finally started doing this against these teams who struggle to play under pressure), but this sort of defence will NOT work against stronger teams. We need a defensive plan to sit deep as well, if we press strong teams we will be extremely exposed at the back. The only times we have looked vulnerable this WCQ campaign is when the opposition passes their way around our press, exposing gaps in the midfield and space in front of CBs. Arab teams play “bezan ziresh” when pressed high, Europeans and South Americans will be comfortable.
* I think we need to stick to a midfield 3, with Amiri, Ezza and Ahmad. This means Taremi on the left of a 4-2-3-1, and also means that one of AJ/Gholi start from the bench, depending on the opponent. We can switch to a front 2 if behind, but against strong opponents we cannot play a front 2.
The remaining games need to be used to address these problems, as we know we won’t have many quality friendlies before WC next year.
* We need to have a plan for every situation. I am actually reasonably confident of us chasing a game (except for leaving our CBs exposed, more on that below), but we need better tactical changes for when we are trying to hold onto a lead in the World Cup. We cannot rely on someone like Sarlak as our main defensive sub.
* Our main weakness is Shoja. He has had a very poor last few games. It isn’t just his poor passes and positioning. He gives away extremely AMATEUR fouls. There have been so many times he has given away a foul in our own half against a striker where he has jumped on the strikers back for a header, when there was no danger at all. At the WC, we will be punished on set pieces. It’s a dumb foul to give away, and he does it at least twice a game. It is infuriating.
* Our pressing will work against weak Asian/Arab opponents (I am actually very impressed that we have finally started doing this against these teams who struggle to play under pressure), but this sort of defence will NOT work against stronger teams. We need a defensive plan to sit deep as well, if we press strong teams we will be extremely exposed at the back. The only times we have looked vulnerable this WCQ campaign is when the opposition passes their way around our press, exposing gaps in the midfield and space in front of CBs. Arab teams play “bezan ziresh” when pressed high, Europeans and South Americans will be comfortable.
* I think we need to stick to a midfield 3, with Amiri, Ezza and Ahmad. This means Taremi on the left of a 4-2-3-1, and also means that one of AJ/Gholi start from the bench, depending on the opponent. We can switch to a front 2 if behind, but against strong opponents we cannot play a front 2.
The remaining games need to be used to address these problems, as we know we won’t have many quality friendlies before WC next year.
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