Your formation for Guam match.

[shahname]

I think we have to presume CQ is going to apply a 4-3-3 formation that turns into a 4-5-1 when defending.

I think following is the most probable formation.


----------Amiri-------------Azmoun--------------Dejagah---------

--------Hajsafi---------------Ando-------------Kh. Heydari--------

---M.Mohammadi-----J.Hosseini-------Montazeri------Ghafouri---

-------------------------------Haghighi------------------------------

Taremi for Azmoun/Dejagah - Alishah for Amiri - Torabi for Heydari are probable subs.

[sirvan]

4-3-3

Haghighi

Ghafouri Pouraliganji Hosseini Mohammadi

Ezatolahi Ando Hajsafi

Dejagah Azmoun Amiri

[PersianLegion]

Gholam pour

Kashani Asadi Goodarzi Khakpour

MayeliKodan AmirMafia Derakhshan

Enayati Borhani Khatibi

[greenguy4life]

Haghighi; Ghafouri-Hosseini/Kanaani-Pouraliganji-Mohammadi; Teymourian-Ezzatolahi-Hajsafi; Dejagah-Azmoun-Amiri

[Bi-honar]

IMHO, 4-3-3 is the wrong formation for both matches, for the exact same reason it was the wrong formation against Turkmenistan and for the exact same reason we (being on the other side of it) were able to successfully hold Argentina for 90 minutes in the WC.

If the 3 "strikers" in a 4-3-3 don't act like real strikers (i.e. constantly making lateral runs and switching to have a minimum of two strikers in a more central position), they'll simply get pushed to the flanks and it becomes much easier to defend against them - in essence, not played properly the formation becomes a 4-5-1 which is definitely not the most attacking formation.

We saw this in the Turkmenistan match where Azmoun essentially became the sole striker again. That's because Amiri's style of play does not fit into a 4-3-3 and personally, I don't think Ashkan has the fitness levels to be able to do that even for 60 minutes. JB is a great 4-3-3 guy, but unfortunately he's not there.

On that note, I think the most effective formation against both Guam (since they have a height advantage) and India (since they're weakest centrally) is a 3-5-2 (or 3-1-4-2 to be more exact), with the roster that we have:

-------------------Beira--------------------------
Montazeri------Hosseini-----------Mohammadi
---------------------------PAG-------------------
Ashkan-----Ando------------Ehsan-------Amiri
-------------Taremi------Azmoun---------------

2nd half subs to keep the pressure on: Ghafouri for Ashkan, Ezi for Ando, Rezaei for Taremi.

Personally, I would have picked Sharifi to play in Taremi's position and taken advantage of his long range shots with Azmoun playing slightly ahead of him. But it is what it is at this point. We only have 3 real forwards for two matches against minnows , so we wouldn't even be able to sub out our two forwards in this formation - neither of which would be able to play 90 minutes IMHO.

Sadly, I think the predictable 4-3-3 with the predictable lineup, as most of you pointed out, is the most likely scenario, but I hope to be pleasantly surprised.

[masoud nekounam]

I can almost guarantee that our line-up will either be:
Haghighi - Ghafouri, Montazeri, Hosseini, Hajsafi - Heydari, Teymourian, Ebrahimi - Dejagah, Azmoun, Amiri

Or:
Haghighi - Ghafouri, Montazeri, Hosseini, Mohammadi - Heydari, Teymourian, Hajsafi - Dejagah, Azmoun, Amiri

[BacheLot]

^
yeaup..!
most probably the first one..!!

[Malavani]

but isn't Hajsafi still in Germany? I don't think he will play vs Guam

[St_Mark]

but isn't Hajsafi still in Germany? I don't think he will play vs Guam

He & Haghighi are schedule to be in Iran tomorrow.

[Iran_19]

Haghighi
Ghaforui-Montazeri-Hosseini-Milad Mohammadi
Ando
Ashkan-Hajsafi-Amiri
Azmoun

[sirvan]

IMHO, 4-3-3 is the wrong formation for both matches, for the exact same reason it was the wrong formation against Turkmenistan and for the exact same reason we (being on the other side of it) were able to successfully hold Argentina for 90 minutes in the WC.

If the 3 "strikers" in a 4-3-3 don't act like real strikers (i.e. constantly making lateral runs and switching to have a minimum of two strikers in a more central position), they'll simply get pushed to the flanks and it becomes much easier to defend against them - in essence, not played properly the formation becomes a 4-5-1 which is definitely not the most attacking formation.

We saw this in the Turkmenistan match where Azmoun essentially became the sole striker again. That's because Amiri's style of play does not fit into a 4-3-3 and personally, I don't think Ashkan has the fitness levels to be able to do that even for 60 minutes. JB is a great 4-3-3 guy, but unfortunately he's not there.

On that note, I think the most effective formation against both Guam (since they have a height advantage) and India (since they're weakest centrally) is a 3-5-2 (or 3-1-4-2 to be more exact), with the roster that we have:

-------------------Beira--------------------------
Montazeri------Hosseini-----------Mohammadi
---------------------------PAG-------------------
Ashkan-----Ando------------Ehsan-------Amiri
-------------Taremi------Azmoun---------------

2nd half subs to keep the pressure on: Ghafouri for Ashkan, Ezi for Ando, Rezaei for Taremi.

Personally, I would have picked Sharifi to play in Taremi's position and taken advantage of his long range shots with Azmoun playing slightly ahead of him. But it is what it is at this point. We only have 3 real forwards for two matches against minnows , so we wouldn't even be able to sub out our two forwards in this formation - neither of which would be able to play 90 minutes IMHO.

Sadly, I think the predictable 4-3-3 with the predictable lineup, as most of you pointed out, is the most likely scenario, but I hope to be pleasantly surprised.

I dont agree mate, against such opponents we need to make good use of the flanks because the middle is going to be packed with 10 men behind the ball. So the idea is to use the wings, pass a rightback/leftback and get the ball in the box where Azmoun and preferably a second striker/midfielder (Hajsafi/Ezatolahi fe) who joins Azmoun and create danger and hopefully score. And the good thing about 4-3-3 is that you have more options, you can also create triangles and go through the middle fe.

You're correct when you say Amiri is not the ideal winger, but he does have the right tools, his speed, good dribble, only his passing needs to get alot better. Dejagah is a good winger though, and he will have no problem lasting 90 minutes against Guam and India, even Amiri will have no problem being dangerous against lesser opponents on the left wing.

[persiangodfather]

PAG was our best defender in the Asian cup, what happened that some of you have him out?

[Z Joon]

[TheBoss]

solid line-up. what are your subs though?

[Z Joon]

solid line-up. what are your subs though?

Sardar and Ashkan always get tired rather early so I'd go with Torabi for Dejagah, Taremi for Azmoun, Alishah for Amiri. We need as much goals as we can get