Branko's logics!

[maij]

Despite my own unequivocal support for Branko , I do see some Mayeli-Kohan (lajbazi) attitude in him.

Like always , I trust him as a coach and the list is fine but far from perfect.
I don’t understand the logics of selection of Madanchi , Navidkia , Zandi and also my own patience is wearing thin on the justifications for his selection of Daei!

The three players have all been performing under-par, Madanchi is just not international class player at this moment, and I really doubt that is able to perform well in Team Melli if selection was based on merits and performance.
Navidkia , was one of the finest players in IPL and a star in the making before his unfortunate long term injury and the transfer to Germany. He is back in Sepahan on loan , and I have seen a couple of his matches recently. He is not EVEN a shadow of the old Navidkia , yet he seems to have a permanent seal of approval from Branko.!!!

Zandi , a fine player with class , but he has hardly played this season. He is not wanted at his club and lacks competitive practice matches. However, in Branko’s dictionary, that means nothing , even if Zandi is on the bench for his club for the next three years , the man will be selected!!!

Daei ‘s selection in the squad is fine. He adds equilibrium, sanity, discipline and experience to the squad, but the fact that he is there means automatic selection in the starting line-up!!!!

Mobali has performed very well in the Emirates league but he is not in the list. Yes, he has been given many chances before and I agree that he has not been that brilliant in performing for Team Melli whenever he got playing time. I can hardly remember a moment of brilliance in his appearances, but to me he is a much better class player than Madanchi and based on current form , he is also way above Navidkia.

It is evident that Ivankovic puts more emphasis on reputation and trust rather than current form. Most coaches in the world would pick up players based on current form. It is Branko’s choice , there is no definite right or wrong in such an approach. I think this is a risky approach , though , that could easily backfire.
Hope it works…….

Drood bar team Melli….

[faraz]

Agreed.

I think Zandi may be becoming the same old Zandi again, but Ma'adanchi and Navidkia are 2 questionable choices. Mobali's exclusion is also very questionable, and it seems from the moment that Mobali stomped on Daei, he hasn't been chosen. I don't know how much that has to really do with the situation, but it gets me thinking.

[Mr.Good]

Lets look at it from another prespective,
Lack of playing time in a league like Bundesliga is not similar to lack of playing time in IPL.
Last year Hashemian did not get more than a handfull of minutes in Bayern. He wasnt even subbed in in many games in a row. but he came to TM, scored two important goals agianst Qatar, and two very important goals against Japan. Its true that Zandi did not play much. But whenever he was subbed in, played good.

As for Mobali, His problem IMHO is that he holds on the ball too much. somthing like the Karimi pre AC2004. It its true that he plays great in Emirates league, but he is the star of that team, some players in AlShabab cannot even pass the ball correctly sometimes.
Another problem with Mobali are the issues surrounding him. He has too many die hard fans in the media that are willing to cause problems for TM for the sake of Mobali. Those people expected Mobali to be used ahead of the likes of Karimi and Mehdi. well, lets say that these kind of people are always present in the media, but in Mobali's case, Mobali did not cooldown the contraversies. Instead of supporting his team and coach, he either did not say anything or complained.
If I were in Branko's shoes, I will always put the line on dicipline even if the player was a superstar like Mehdi. Maybe Mobali is not causing all of these hooplas, but thats the was it is for now. lets see how it will cool.

[maij]

Mr.Good has Good points (pun intended).

However, I still can not digest the fact that a sub-standard or player with no or little competition time can substitute a player who is performing well in the national team.

If Bundesliga is such an important criteria to the extent that just being there ( even with no playing time ) is a guarantee for Team Melli selection , then let the rest of the players pack up , especially those at IPL , because no matter how much they excel, they will be ignored or Bundesliga players have the priority on selection!!

I really do not think that this is wise or ethical. Of course , I am not saying that this is what Branko is thinking , but it has been a point of severe criticism against him on the media and frankly he tends to be pro legionnaires.

I say , let the best man win. I do respect all TM players and to me it makes no difference if Mobali is in and Madanchi is out provided that this selection is on merits. There are always those secret hidden reasons that coaches cling to in their selections justifications , which me and you are not smart to figure out , but some facts cannot be changed or hidden no matter how hard one tries.

[Mr.Good]

Majid jaan,

I did not say just being in Bundesliga is enough to be a TM player. what I wanted to say is that for a player not to play regularly in Bundesliga is not similar to a player not playing regularly in IPL. If you dont see Zandi playing, it does not translate into him not being in shape, because whenever Zandi was subbed in, he was effective. Just like how Hashemian was with Bayern. The quality of managment and trainning makes the player to be in shape always or else they will make him pack and go home.

Excelling in IPL is also a factor, How do you explain the likes of Jabbari and Teymoorian being invited?
we just have to accept that some players are at a different class.

[maij]

I do accept that players do differ in class and I thought I have made my point of view very clear about it.

What seems clear also is that CLASS is evaluated very differently by you, me and Branko. That is expected of course and the coach is ultimately accountable for his decision.

I personally do not find Madanchi as a class player while Mobali to me is definitely a class act. Perhaps his image was marginally marred by one irresponsible act ( the horrible foul on Daei) but he should not be victimized and crucified for it permanently.


About Zandi , I doubt that Branko has regularly monitored his few minutes per game that he played for his team and those few minutes were excellent ( unless you know something that I don’t). And...if whenever Zandi was subbed in, he was effective , why on earth he is a substitute ??? perhaps we have another ‘Lajbaz’ in Kaiserslautern coach...but somehow I doubt that. You have certainly indicated the value of the Bundesliga and I assume that professionalism and standards are quite high compared to IPL.


Anyway ..... such differences in opinion always occurs during selection of players...In general I always supported Branko and I still do. It just seems to me that I sometimes run out of justification for his selections although such differences of views are marginal and does not affect the overall strength and capability of the team.

[Fabulous]

good points

i think the final 23 will definately be picked from this squad (unless you see a player do so well in the remaining IPL matches)

mobali without a doubt deserves a spot, but i dont believe its because of branko's stubbornes in this case. as i said before i think its politics-related after what he did to ali daei he wont be invited unless he apologizes

regarding the other ones (zandi/navidkia/madanchi) i think they are ok but if these 3 are there then there are players like yavarzadeh who should definately be there. this case is the stubborness of branko to stick to a set of players than keep on changing and trying a few others.

but at least this list is better than his other ones

[Mansoor]

Majid jaan, I agree with you on NavidKia and Daei. I don't agree on Zandi and Mobali. I am tossed on Madanchi waiting to see how he performs outside Perspolis.

Madanchi has shown a lot of energy and speedy runs and nice crosses. The problem I see with him is that he is lost tactically playing there. And we all know why. I would like to see how he performs under better circumstances and better players around him. Madanchi had disappointed me before but I am beginning to see progress in his style of play. He is husstling a lot.

Zandi, I totally disagree. I have to go with Mr.Good's observation. It was very well explained. I just hope Zandi doesn't play left midfield again as I don't see him fit for that spot. He is a central midfielder.

Again, on Mobali, I think it has been the combination of two: a)lack of shinning in any chances he got, specially when Branko needed him the most against Japan in Japan. b) Also, too much controversy surrounding him. Branko has shown he likes to stay away from players as such. I think Daei-Mobali issue would be carried into the camp, as well as Mobali-"fanatics" will again insist he should start instead of Karimi

On Navidkia and Daei, I can't agree more Majid Agha. Very well said.

[maij]

Mansoor jan, if it was a couple of years back I would have shared your enthusiasm for Madanchi, but apart from his "husstling and enregy" I have not seen anything to excite me in his performance....You perhaps could be right and the guy could be the next Ali Karimi, but yours truely cannot see the potential as yet right now.....

Zandi is a fine player , no doubt. This is not the argument though. The argument or the question was ...Should a coach stick and pick up a player while this player is (I) out of favor at club level (II) lacks competative practise matches (III) is benched due to other reasons ??

In Europe generally , and England particularly, players in Zandi's category NORMALLY do not get picked or if they do , they do not get much playing time.

[Hajagha]

Branko is already see himself as a coach with "three remaining show games", so he is not willing to risk any thing for better or worse. Don't worry about Madanchi or Navidikia, we will have the same squad, the same tactic, the same problems in those three games in WC without the mentioned players being even in the final list.

Another shadow team in WC.

Cheers