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**Keano** · 10-20-2025, 11:32 AM

We've historically taken our weaker opponents lightly and got punished for not showing the deserved respect to these opponents. Having said that GN still gotta go, he is just not good for TM.

**Rooyintan** · 10-21-2025, 08:41 PM

Originally posted by Keano View Post

We've historically taken our weaker opponents lightly and got punished for not showing the deserved respect to these opponents. Having said that GN still gotta go, he is just not good for TM.

I am not a fan of GN. However, at the time of his appointment he was the best available choice. It would be a severe mistake to dismiss him at this time. Last time when FFIRI got rid of Skocic and appointed CQ, it was a huge mistake.
Under CQ, TM won Uruguay and drew Senegal in friendlies but so what. Just before the WC, TM lost to Tunisia 2:0 and then in the first match in WC22 got demolished 6:2 by England. Winning Wales was last minutes of the game.

To be honest, under GN, 2023 and 2024 have been very good with the exception of loss to Qatar at the 2024 AC. Also, WCQ have been reasonably good since what matters is to finish on top in the group and win points, again the only disappointment was loss to Qatar.

TM has lots of injuries, GN has been experimenting with many players. Yes, loss to Uzbekistan in CAFA final and Russia in friendly is disappointing and heartbreaking, but it is not worrying. Hopefull, we will see Sadegh Moharrami, Sardar Azmoun, Kasra Taheri, Mehdi Ghayedi, Aref Gholizadeh return from injuries.

It is absurd and unjust when Javgir Iroonis start singling out people (whether it's GN, Taj, Ramin Rezaeian, Rouzbeh Cheshmi, Saeed Ezatollahi, Shoja Khalilzadeh, Ali Nemati, etc) and bombard them with insults or ask for their removal. Every World Cup since 2006, there's been problems political as well as absurd stupidity by the fans and media.

GN's assistant coaches if changed would be the better option. However, that is very unlikely. For Example in the ideal world, good options for Assistant Coaches would be Alexander Nouri, Poya Asbaghi, Alireza Mansourian, Karim Bagheri.

From what I've noticed, Left Back is the biggest issue followed by Center Back. I personally feel that Milad Mohammadi and even the former captain Ehsan Haji Safi are the better options since anyone else who filled that position failed big time. Hence, I do like to see Haji Safi as backup for Mohammadi.

For Center Back, there has been inconsistency issue. Before Kanaanizadegan and Khalilzadeh partnership was formidable but now with constant swapping of players Hazbavi, Nemati, Kaananizadegan, Khalilzadeh at times play well but other times make mistakes.

For Right Back, Rezaeian at the moment is the best option, he crosses the ball well and runs ok. However, Hardani and Yousefi been very disappointing and at times they've made right side exposed as well. Hopefully, Moharrami would be starter and Rezaeian as backup.

Players I think should not go to the WC are Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Aria Yousefi, Shahriyar Moghanlou, Abolfazl Jalali.

What I like to see happen is for Kasra Taheri, Allahyar Sayyadmanesh, MJ Hosseinnejad to get lots of playing time.

After the World Cup, a good foreign coach should be appointed or alternatively appoint Hossein Abdi.

**Keshwardoost** · 10-22-2025, 05:35 AM

Originally posted by Rooyintan View Post

It is absurd and unjust when Javgir Iroonis start singling out people (whether it's GN, Taj, Ramin Rezaeian, Rouzbeh Cheshmi, Saeed Ezatollahi, Shoja Khalilzadeh, Ali Nemati, etc) and bombard them with insults or ask for their removal. Every World Cup since 2006, there's been problems political as well as absurd stupidity by the fans and media.

Couldnt said it better myselt, best post iv read in a long time!

**Keano** · 10-22-2025, 10:28 AM

Originally posted by Rooyintan View Post

I am not a fan of GN. However, at the time of his appointment he was the best available choice. It would be a severe mistake to dismiss him at this time. Last time when FFIRI got rid of Skocic and appointed CQ, it was a huge mistake.
Under CQ, TM won Uruguay and drew Senegal in friendlies but so what. Just before the WC, TM lost to Tunisia 2:0 and then in the first match in WC22 got demolished 6:2 by England. Winning Wales was last minutes of the game.

To be honest, under GN, 2023 and 2024 have been very good with the exception of loss to Qatar at the 2024 AC. Also, WCQ have been reasonably good since what matters is to finish on top in the group and win points, again the only disappointment was loss to Qatar.

TM has lots of injuries, GN has been experimenting with many players. Yes, loss to Uzbekistan in CAFA final and Russia in friendly is disappointing and heartbreaking, but it is not worrying. Hopefull, we will see Sadegh Moharrami, Sardar Azmoun, Kasra Taheri, Mehdi Ghayedi, Aref Gholizadeh return from injuries.

It is absurd and unjust when Javgir Iroonis start singling out people (whether it's GN, Taj, Ramin Rezaeian, Rouzbeh Cheshmi, Saeed Ezatollahi, Shoja Khalilzadeh, Ali Nemati, etc) and bombard them with insults or ask for their removal. Every World Cup since 2006, there's been problems political as well as absurd stupidity by the fans and media.

GN's assistant coaches if changed would be the better option. However, that is very unlikely. For Example in the ideal world, good options for Assistant Coaches would be Alexander Nouri, Poya Asbaghi, Alireza Mansourian, Karim Bagheri.

From what I've noticed, Left Back is the biggest issue followed by Center Back. I personally feel that Milad Mohammadi and even the former captain Ehsan Haji Safi are the better options since anyone else who filled that position failed big time. Hence, I do like to see Haji Safi as backup for Mohammadi.

For Center Back, there has been inconsistency issue. Before Kanaanizadegan and Khalilzadeh partnership was formidable but now with constant swapping of players Hazbavi, Nemati, Kaananizadegan, Khalilzadeh at times play well but other times make mistakes.

For Right Back, Rezaeian at the moment is the best option, he crosses the ball well and runs ok. However, Hardani and Yousefi been very disappointing and at times they've made right side exposed as well. Hopefully, Moharrami would be starter and Rezaeian as backup.

Players I think should not go to the WC are Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Aria Yousefi, Shahriyar Moghanlou, Abolfazl Jalali.

What I like to see happen is for Kasra Taheri, Allahyar Sayyadmanesh, MJ Hosseinnejad to get lots of playing time.

After the World Cup, a good foreign coach should be appointed or alternatively appoint Hossein Abdi.

So you believe TM under GN performs well? Our defense has seen its most vulnerable days almost ever, conceding goals from the likes of Afghanistan, Kyrgyzistan, etc. Failing to display a decent football...

**Rooyintan** · 10-22-2025, 03:54 PM

Originally posted by Keano View Post

So you believe TM under GN performs well? Our defense has seen its most vulnerable days almost ever, conceding goals from the likes of Afghanistan, Kyrgyzistan, etc. Failing to display a decent football...

I'm not happy about TM conceding goals versus Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, DPR Korea, Syria, Palestine, Hong Kong. However, we need to think realistically.

1) fans and media mentioning conceding goals versus the teams mentioned above or mention FIFA ranking for Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Angola, Kenya but not mentioning the same with regards to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Bahrain when Carlos Queiroz and previous coaches lost matches to them makes me wonder what could be behind such double standards? Twice loss to Iraq, one loss each to Oman and Lebanon under Queiroz is unforgivable. Lebanon had never even scored a goal against Team Melli, then they score and won. Where were likes of Ferdowsipour, Misaghi and other journalists, former footballers who continue to constantly slam Team Melli?

So reasons could be:
- arrogance, discrimination and racism (seeing Arabs as equals or superior because of Quran) but feeling that Persian-speaking countries Afghanistan and Tajikistan, other countries of Central Asia, South East Asia, Africa and DPR Korea are inferior to Iran
- personal vendetta against Ghalenoei
- can't take it that Team Melli is gonna participate with an Iranian Head Coach
- anti-USA sentiment is behind all this, since the 2026 World Cup is going to be hosted in USA, they are using Social Media and mainstream media to launch attacks on TM and pressure for Team Melli to boycott the World Cup
- for other reasons, they insult TM, GN, FFIRI so the entire football establishment collapse or weaken, so then they celebrate Team Melli's humiliation just like last time when Kurds were doing their Kurdish dance in the streets of Iran waving USA flag.

2) fans and media nagging why Team Melli does not play friendly matches with strong teams such as Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Italy, Germany, etc and keep mentioning Japan and South Korea are playing strong teams but why not Iran.
- what world do those people live in?
When there is Islamic Republic of Iran in power since 1979 who chants "Marg bar Amrika", "Marg bar Israel", funds Hamas, Hezbollah, Houti and others, don't recognize Israel as a sovereign nation, has a history of attacks on embassies and consulates of countries (such as USA, UK, Saudi Arabia, Norway, etc), had a recent war with Israel (June 2025), almost the weakest currency in the World, useless passport (with visa restrictions for travel to most countries in the World) then how can a strong FIFA ranking of 21 put Iran on a par with Japan, South Korea, Australia, Saudi Arabia, etc? expecting same treatment as those countries? Don't they know about the global anti-Iran sentiment?

**Rooyintan** · 10-22-2025, 04:06 PM

Originally posted by Keshwardoost View Post

Couldnt said it better myselt, best post iv read in a long time!

Thank you very much for your kind words. I am a realistic person. I am not a fan of Ghalenoei but at the same time I can't stand unjust criticism or double standards. Comparing results under Ghalenoei to previous coaches clearly shows that TM so far has not humiliated Iran. The team needs to improve but is not in a worrying situation.

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Team Melli All-time losses to lower FIFA ranked opponents

Team Melli All-time losses to lower FIFA ranked opponents

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