TM-News-

[M.U.F.C]

On the actual topic of friendlies and not allegiances to CQ, I must ask those wanting us to play Sweden and other European good teams before the AC 2015, in what ways do you think such games will help us at the moment?

I know we all want to see quality friendlies, but being realistic with yourselves, what do you all think would happen if we play Sweden tomorrow? We are unprepared, our players do not have any chemistry together after being away from each other for months, and you want them to defend against Zlatan Ibrahimovic?

The entire game would be a replay of Brazil, with us having 9-10 men in the box at all times attempting to defend and save face to not have Zlatan score 5 on us.

I will not say either side of the argument on friendlies is wrong, but these are just questions that pop into my head. I am not attacking anyone personally or categorizing them in any way.

My personal opinion is that, for now, we are doing the right thing to play teams that are as weak or a little weaker than our competition at the group stage of AC 2015. We need to get used to teams that play compact defenses and are gritty, raw players. We need to learn and have chemistry in attack heading into the AC.

Realistically, do any of you think our offense would gain anything from playing Sweden? We are lacking in playmaking and goalscoring, not defense. Let's get those up to snuff, then maybe we can play Sweden and other better teams after the AC when our cohesion and confidence is higher if we have a good tournament.

None of the fans asked for friendly matches against top national teams in the world like Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Netherlands (My favorite national team from childhood to now after Iran), etc.

We could play friendly matches against teams like Costa Rica, Peru, and Paraguay. If not, why we do not play against teams like Uzbekistan, New Zealnd, Oman, etc like other Asian National teams??????

Why Iran plays against a team that is 15 in Portuguese league??????? Why Benfica??? What the young playes or all players learned from those games? (Non-Iranian Big-Soccer fans mentioned that) Do not you think Iran with players like Dejagah, Jahanbakhsh, Nekounam, etc was classier than playing against club sides?? Iran Vs Benfica match is like Germany Vs. Atletico Madrid match. Do not you think Germany is classier than playing against Atletico Madrid?? Iran Vs Estoril match is like Japan Vs Stoke City. Do not you think Japan is classier than playing against that club? CQ insisted Portugal camp and those matches against clubs to give chance to Portuguese clubs to play against a national team for their first time in history. Anyway, group stage exit from AC 2015 is my prediction at this point.

[Afat11]

None of the fans asked for friendly matches against top national teams in the world like Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Netherlands (My favorite national team from childhood to now after Iran), etc.
We could play friendly matches against teams like Costa Rica, Peru, and Paraguay. If not, why we do not play against teams like Uzbekistan, New Zealnd, Oman, etc like other Asian National teams??????
Why Iran plays against a team that is 15 in Portuguese league??????? Why Benfica??? What the young playes or all players learned from those games? (Non-Iranian Big-Soccer fans mentioned that) Do not you think Iran with players like Dejagah, Jahanbakhsh, Nekounam, etc was classier than playing against club sides?? Iran Vs Benfica match is like Germany Vs. Atletico Madrid match. Do not you think Germany is classier than playing against Atletico Madrid?? Iran Vs Estoril match is like Japan Vs Stoke City. Do not you think Japan is classier than playing against that club? CQ insisted Portugal camp and those matches against clubs to give chance to Portuguese clubs to play against a national team for their first time in history. Anyway, group stage exit from AC 2015 is my prediction at this point.

I wasn't saying that playing clubs is the way to go. I also want us to play teams like Uzbekistan, Iraq, and other teams more to our caliber, but I still don't think we are even ready to play teams like Costa Rica, Peru, etc.

These teams have speed and tactics. 2 things that our team is currently lacking and needs to work on. I think the Portuguese friendlies were due to the fact that CQ was signed up so late, and they were matches of necessity rather than the top choices. Obviously we aren't doing that anymore until Asian Cup, so I think the friendlies served their purpose on short notice.

My post was supporting playing teams such as Kenya, Iraq, and even teams like Thailand. Iran needs to work on its offense, and it simply cannot grow at this moment in time playing teams that are cohesive and speedy. We will sit back and try to defend the whole game, and it will be a waste of FIFA match-day in my eyes.

We need to play some weaker teams now to give the newer players like Jahanbakhsh and Azmoun confidence. Going into the Asian Cup, they can feel more comfortable when they have the ball at their feet to attack.

Post-Asian Cup, I'm all with you though, we need to then start playing real teams. CQ has built a strong foundation in the team, and they just need confidence and practice in order to jump back into being able to compete with the top 40 teams of the world.

I say Sweden/Costa Rica/Peru after the Asian Cup. I really don't see them helping us now. I don't think the Portugal camp did much either, but what can you expect on short notice? If it did anything, it gave Jahanbakhsh and Azmoun confidence boosts, which we will need in Australia.

[Bi-honar]

1. [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

2. They are not eliminated YET but are all on the brink of elimination or at risk of being eliminated. My apologies for not clearly understanding what you meant as it seems you were referring to the preliminary round. Also I don't understand or know when FIFA rankings became an accurate measurement of teams capabilities....if that would be the case then Trinidad and Tobago and also Cape Verde.

3. Couldn't agree with you more, but have you seen Kenya play? If so, then it's just a difference of opinion and you definitely have every right to have your own opinion. Personally I have watched them play over the last 5-6 years here and there in qualifiers and they have given some big teams in their continent great games, I don't think losing to other minnows narrowly once or twice makes them a team worthy of nothing.

I don't think CQ has more choices then what is at hand and that's where the criticism gets stupid IMO. It is the job of the federation to get friendlies, not the head coach. We have to prepare what we are heading for and a team like Kenya will prepare us for teams in our group.

GA jaan, you are right about FIFA rankings not being that accurate, but we're talking about +/- 20 spots really, not +/-100 spots. Kenya is currently ranked 116th for a reason - they've even struggled against the 3 teams I named (one of which I honestly had not even heard of as a country). Yes, when you talk about them being good 5-6 years ago they were actually ranked 68th in the world - a little bit below the range of Guinea when we played them earlier this year and frankly a worthy opponent at the time if we were just preparing for the Asian Cup. But 116th is a totally different story IMHO.

As far as the Zimbabwe game, I hope your interpretation of what CQ said is right, but the way I read it he just didn't confirm it, rather than denying it altogether. Someone posted a memo from the football fed earlier in the thread, so who knows what's going on.

On your last point, I totally agree with you that it's the job of IFF to arrange the friendlies, but they only do so at the request of CQ and he said many times before the WC that he didn't want to play better teams. Also, not once has he said that he requested a friendly that IFF could not deliver on and as you know, he's not really the shy type when it comes to the media or criticizing the federation. Ultimately, although you could be right, I don't think it's CQ's desire to play any teams other than those we're playing.

And I don't have a problem with playing Kenya or Palestine for a charity match with our "B" or an experimental young team - I just don't think we should be playing them with our "A" team and in preparation for a major tournament. Imagine how humiliating and crushing it would be to the morale of the players if we have a bad day and lost to or tied Palestine three weeks before the Asian Cup? On the other hand, imagine how much of a morale boost a tie against a strong team would be? For god's sake, we held Nigeria and Argnetina in the WC - we really don't need to be putzing around with Palestine and Kenya.

I wasn't saying that playing clubs is the way to go. I also want us to play teams like Uzbekistan, Iraq, and other teams more to our caliber, but I still don't think we are even ready to play teams like Costa Rica, Peru, etc.

This is the part of the argument I really struggle with. Almost all of us agree that we played a good game against Argentina 4 months ago. If we were ready to play Argentina 4 months ago, why are we not ready to play a team like Costa Rica? Also, CQ has been with the team for almost 4 years now. How much longer do we have to wait to be ready to play Costa Rica? Honestly, I can't even believe I'm asking that question.

[O-ZoNe]

^ Nothing ventured nothing gained. Friendlies also known as test matches are supposed to be challenging. You are supposed to evaluate how you stack up against similar opponents that you might face. Test tactics, and look at the calibre of your squad. You also may want to use it as a tactic to throw off your opponents.

Unfortunately, we always seem to play "inferior" teams, using only 1 tactic, the same one we use in all our games, and really no surprise to the Iranian game plan at all. Ok, so let's not play Sweden before AC, fine...but again, what does Sweden do for us after AC and well 3 years before the next WC? What will be evaluating? Is this really a wise way to spend million + dollars? I would rather actually play Sweden before AC and Benfica after...I just feel the priorities are all tangled, and am not sure if it's CQ, IFF, a combination, or neither to blame.

[sarbaz]

Kaffashian said today that the Sweeden match is a %100 done deal for March 31 in Sweeden
We will also play either Kenya or an Arab team (it could be Iraq)for sure on November 13 th and they are taking the south korea friendly very seriously.
He also said that TM in South Africa camp will play 2 club teams and 2 national teams.

[Abtin]

Kaffashian said today that the Sweeden match is a %100 done deal for March 31 in Sweeden
We will also play either Kenya or an Arab team (it could be Iraq)for sure on November 13 th and they are taking the south korea friendly very seriously.
He also said that TM in South Africa camp will play 2 club teams and 2 national teams.

Sounds good! BUT, 4 games in South Africa sounds too good to be true.

[aenima_8]

"FIFA President Blatter Congratulates Iran Football Federation
October 29, 2014

TEHRAN (Tasnim) - FIFA President Sepp Blatter congratulated head of Iran Football Federation (IFF) Ali Kaffashian for all good work the federation has done to promote football in the country.

“Many thanks for sending me a copy of the Iran Football Federation’s Annual Report for the Year 2014 and congratulations for all the good work you are doing to promote football in your country.

“I have preserved fond memories of my visit to Iran one year ago, when I was able to visit your headquarters and see the first hand the high level of organization in your country at all levels,” Blatter wrote a letter to Kaffashian."

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"Harambee Stars to confront Iran in friendly

Dennis Mabuka/Goal Kenya.
Oct 29, 2014

Football Kenya Federation reveal to Goal they have lined up another build-up duel for Bobby Williamson's side on November 14 against the Asians
Harambee Stars have lined up a friendly against Iran at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on November 14.

Football Kenya Federation President Sam Nyamweya has revealed to Goal that Iran have asked Kenya to send a team for the friendly, that falls in day set aside for international matches by governing body Fifa.

“We have received an invitation from Iran Football Federation to play their national team on November 14. This is another opportunity for our technical bench to continue building a formidable outfit for our country.

“We will definitely honour the build up and coach Bobby Williamson will be asked to name travelling squad in due course. We want to have as many build up matches as possible to help Williamson and his technical bench to get right combination for Harambee Stars’.”

This will be a third straight friendly for Kenya and Williamson in recent months. After taking over from Adel Amrouche, Williamson was in charge as Kenya lost 1-0 to Egypt in Aswan City before going down 3-0 to Morocco’s Atlas Lions in Marrakech.

Iran - who are ranked 51 on Fifa rankings - are certain to offer a tough test to Harambee Stars, who are placed 65 places below the Asians.

The Asian team, which is handled by former Real Madrid and Portugal head coach Carlos Quieroz, participated at Fifa World Cup in Brazil, coming last in a group that included finalists Argentina, Africa champions Nigeria, alongside Bosnia Herzegovina."

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[Abtin]

You see, of IFF could just get used to plan months in advance instead of their usual koskhol bazi, we could actually have decent friendlies when there is time for it..

[O-ZoNe]

“This is another opportunity for our technical bench to continue building a formidable outfit for our country...We want to have as many build up matches as possible to help Williamson and his technical bench to get right combination for Harambee Stars’.”

This will be a third straight friendly for Kenya and Williamson in recent months. After taking over from Adel Amrouche, Williamson was in charge as Kenya lost 1-0 to Egypt in Aswan City before going down 3-0 to Morocco’s Atlas Lions in Marrakech.

Iran - who are ranked 51 on Fifa rankings - are certain to offer a tough test to Harambee Stars, who are placed 65 places below the Asians.

This is the attitude we must have...

[PSGman#19]

On the actual topic of friendlies and not allegiances to CQ, I must ask those wanting us to play Sweden and other European good teams before the AC 2015, in what ways do you think such games will help us at the moment?
I know we all want to see quality friendlies, but being realistic with yourselves, what do you all think would happen if we play Sweden tomorrow? We are unprepared, our players do not have any chemistry together after being away from each other for months, and you want them to defend against Zlatan Ibrahimovic?
The entire game would be a replay of Brazil, with us having 9-10 men in the box at all times attempting to defend and save face to not have Zlatan score 5 on us.
I will not say either side of the argument on friendlies is wrong, but these are just questions that pop into my head. I am not attacking anyone personally or categorizing them in any way.
My personal opinion is that, for now, we are doing the right thing to play teams that are as weak or a little weaker than our competition at the group stage of AC 2015. We need to get used to teams that play compact defenses and are gritty, raw players. We need to learn and have chemistry in attack heading into the AC.
Realistically, do any of you think our offense would gain anything from playing Sweden? We are lacking in playmaking and goalscoring, not defense. Let's get those up to snuff, then maybe we can play Sweden and other better teams after the AC when our cohesion and confidence is higher if we have a good tournament.

If we play Sweden, we shouldn't park the bus as in the world cup but try to play our game without any fear, even if we have to concede 5 goals.

I respect Australia for having played Brazil and France 6 months before the WC (6/0 each time), they learnt about it and did a very good WC in a tough group.