Queiroz defends his decisions about Team Melli’s squad

[Pedram123]

A risk which has been taken by more then a few head coaches, especially if they are considering to exclude the experienced player in future important games.

]Dropping regulars to give others a chance, and not using experienced guys as back-up and instead using youth, is very risky[/B], but admirable and potentially very rewarding.

The safe option would've been to call up previously established names like Hosseini, Ghafouri, Haghighi etc. even as backup, as well as popular players like Rezaei.

[OzzyOscy]

For a country like Iran WCQ is important preperation for the world cup.
Everyone has their own opinion/s.
Your mentality is to play it safe (correct me if i am wrong) and you also believe that experimenting with another CB excluding Hosseini, could have made us lose points and get worse results - Again correct me If i am wrong this is the impression that i get from your words.
However facts are facts.
We do know that CQ is not a risk taker in footballing terms - And no this does not just apply to the Iran job, but his previous coaching jobs as well - criticized by both Portugese and Madrid fans, except for his stint as assistant trainer for Ferguson.
Perhaps CQ strengths lies in preperation and behind the scene planning where he trully succeeds, rather then the main head coach. Having said, for Iranian standards he is the best we got in that aspect - But internationally, i do not believe this is the case.

Dropping regulars to give others a chance, and not using experienced guys as back-up and instead using youth, is very risky, but admirable and potentially very rewarding.

The safe option would've been to call up previously established names like Hosseini, Ghafouri, Haghighi etc. even as backup, as well as popular players like Rezaei.

Real should be risk-takers to break down defences. Iran shouldn't be risk-takers, they're the ones that need to be solid and smart. And despite what Portuguese fans say, he did well in all his stints with Portugal. Won the youth version of the World Cup both times with Portugal U-20s, was a late Dino Baggio goal away from getting Portugal to only their third ever World Cup for USA 1994, and in his second stint they reached the 2nd round, knocked out by eventual champions Spain.

[Pedram123]

Hosseini only played in the qualifiers because Montazeri was injured. Otherwise, the first choice pairing was Montazeri and PAG. Also, the World Cup Qualifiers are not a place to experiment and test new players- friendlies are. You play your most proven players to ensure qualification. As soon as we qualified mathematically, Hosseini was out and the other defenders were tested. Ando played some games in the WC qualifiers too but he is nowhere near the team. Same way Rahman Ahmadi became the first choice goalie for the qualifiers but then Haghighi took his place. CQ probably wanted Haghighi to be goalie all along but couldn't afford to experiment with him in those crucial last 3 qualifiers.

For a country like Iran WCQ is important preperation for the world cup.
Everyone has their own opinion/s.
Your mentality is to play it safe (correct me if i am wrong) and you also believe that experimenting with another CB excluding Hosseini, could have made us lose points and get worse results - Again correct me If i am wrong this is the impression that i get from your words.

However facts are facts.
We do know that CQ is not a risk taker in footballing terms - And no this does not just apply to the Iran job, but his previous coaching jobs as well - criticized by both Portugese and Madrid fans, except for his stint as assistant trainer for Ferguson.
Perhaps CQ strengths lies in preperation and behind the scene planning where he trully succeeds, rather then the main head coach. Having said, for Iranian standards he is the best we got in that aspect - But internationally, i do not believe this is the case.

[Saam]

I raise statements with facts not necessarily to contemplate what decision is correct or incorrect.
I do have a problem however, if Hosseini was not aware that he would not be included in the WQ roster - Now that to me is a mistake (Read carefully i am not talking about the decision for him not to be selected)
And Furthermore if Hosseini was not to participate in the world cup why did he play so many games for us in the WCQ? OK we use him for most of our qualifying games but then when it comes to the world cup we will not use him? I do not see the logic.
In my eyes the transition to replace him with another CB has not been smooth - Now i am not pointing fingers and saying that this is merely CQ's fault, but the probability, is that several different events led to this unfortunate incident, and yes, be sure that CQ had a hand in this mistake as well - Even if he only had a small hand to play in it.

Hosseini only played in the qualifiers because Montazeri was injured. Otherwise, the first choice pairing was Montazeri and PAG. Also, the World Cup Qualifiers are not a place to experiment and test new players- friendlies are. You play your most proven players to ensure qualification. As soon as we qualified mathematically, Hosseini was out and the other defenders were tested. Ando played some games in the WC qualifiers too but he is nowhere near the team. Same way Rahman Ahmadi became the first choice goalie for the qualifiers but then Haghighi took his place. CQ probably wanted Haghighi to be goalie all along but couldn't afford to experiment with him in those crucial last 3 qualifiers.

[Pedram123]

I raise statements with facts not necessarily to contemplate what decision is correct or incorrect.
I do have a problem however, if Hosseini was not aware that he would not be included in the WQ roster - Now that to me is a mistake (Read carefully i am not talking about the decision for him not to be selected)
And Furthermore if Hosseini was not to participate in the world cup why did he play so many games for us in the WCQ? OK we use him for most of our qualifying games but then when it comes to the world cup we will not use him? I do not see the logic.
In my eyes the transition to replace him with another CB has not been smooth - Now i am not pointing fingers and saying that this is merely CQ's fault, but the probability, is that several different events led to this unfortunate incident, and yes, be sure that CQ had a hand in this mistake as well - Even if he only had a small hand to play in it.

Of course, what is to say taking SJH to the WC is not a mistake? Has anyone seen the future? For example, if CQ had decided to drop Pouladi before the Asia Cup we would have all gone up in arms, saying you are dropping the best defender. But what was the result of Pouladi being there, we potentially lost the QF due to his red card. So which one was the mistake, taking him or dropping him. In that case, I think taking him was a mistake.
We are talking of a football game, talking of a judgement call based on no particular science (unlike being a doctor or pilot) how much more judgemental can it get? Although I might not agree with every decision that CQ makes, i think it is better to let the professional who has show us over and over again that he will make the tough call make the call that is not based on high emotions but rational thinking.

[Leicester City]

I disagree with CQ on this point.

Jalal may be slow. However, he has superb positioning and decision-making. Even if he's not appropriate for CQ's chosen formation/tactics, I just can't see how he wouldn't be invaluable if we're trying to defend a lead with 15 minutes to go against Portugal - he'd be an ideal addition to a packed defence.

When Jalal made that off the goal clearance I though he was definitely 2000000000000000000000000% going to be on the team, I just hope his decision doesn't come back and bite us. We will see on Monday.

[Omids]

A coach is a title.
A doctor is a title.
A pilot is a title.

CQ is a better coach then I am.
A doctor is a better doctor then I am.
A pilot is a better pilot then I am.

But what do they have all in common?
They are human.

Some of the best coaches have made some of their biggest mistakes.
Some of the best doctors have made some of their biggest mistakes.
Some of the best pilots have made some of their biggest mistakes (some leading to tragic plane crash and death of hundreds)

Just because one is a coach, does not mean he cannot make mistakes.

Of course, what is to say taking SJH to the WC is not a mistake? Has anyone seen the future? For example, if CQ had decided to drop Pouladi before the Asia Cup we would have all gone up in arms, saying you are dropping the best defender. But what was the result of Pouladi being there, we potentially lost the QF due to his red card. So which one was the mistake, taking him or dropping him. In that case, I think taking him was a mistake.

We are talking of a football game, talking of a judgement call based on no particular science (unlike being a doctor or pilot) how much more judgemental can it get? Although I might not agree with every decision that CQ makes, i think it is better to let the professional who has show us over and over again that he will make the tough call make the call that is not based on high emotions but rational thinking.

[RaginG Inferno]

I disagree with CQ on this point.

Jalal may be slow. However, he has superb positioning and decision-making. Even if he's not appropriate for CQ's chosen formation/tactics, I just can't see how he wouldn't be invaluable if we're trying to defend a lead with 15 minutes to go against Portugal - he'd be an ideal addition to a packed defence.

[krol]

Mr. CQ said he doesn't want to criticize a player directly, that's probably why he is coming up with less important reasons for not choosing these players.

Bingo.
Being crossed off is crushing enough for the player, but some expect CQ to hold a news conference and say, "Hosseini is a great guy but at 36 he's slower and in no shape to take on Ronaldo after 2 games against Morocco and Spain. And let's face it, even in his prime he couldn't distribute the ball"!

Of course he can't say the exact reasons! He has to say something vague and mostly complimentary. That's pretty much what any decent coach would do in this situation.

[Pedram123]

A coach is a title.
A doctor is a title.
A pilot is a title.

CQ is a better coach then I am.
A doctor is a better doctor then I am.
A pilot is a better pilot then I am.

But what do they have all in common?
They are human.

Some of the best coaches have made some of their biggest mistakes.
Some of the best doctors have made some of their biggest mistakes.
Some of the best pilots have made some of their biggest mistakes (some leading to tragic plane crash and death of hundreds)

Just because one is a coach, does not mean he cannot make mistakes.

Any coaches here? Those of us who have coached teams extensively know that a Coach who spends a lot of time with the players during practices, scrimmages, and games gets to know his or her players much better than a spectator even if that spectator is a coach himself or herself. This is because the coach of the team gets to observe his players a lot more (on the order of 15 times or even more) than a spectator who just watches the games. This is not to say coaches don't make mistakes, but just saying that you have to put a lot of weight to the amount of time a coach gets to observe his players than us who just see them during the games. Both Mr. Hosseini and Ghafoori were in a number of camps with Mr. CQ, and he got to observe them for a long time.

As for these specific players: Mr. Hosseini was never a fast player, and due to his age he is even slower. Fact of life, and a big minus in the eyes of any coach. And about Mr. Ghafoori: he basically hurt himself tremendously in the last game by failing to control the ball and keep it to himself twice in a row. Granted the second time he sprinted and barely saved the ball from being intercepted. But no one was close to him, and the game was in Iran in front of our own fans. Coach sees that and thinks, ok both situations could have been disastrous because we were attacking and those balls could have resulted into counter attacks and goals. The stage will be the World Cup not a friendly game, most fans will be booing us, not screaming "Iran Iran" (for the most part), and the intercepting player is Jordi Alba from Spain not a youngster from a third rated U23 team. If you can't have the confidence in a simple friendly game and lose balls like that, then you may probably totally mess up in a world cup game.

Mr. CQ said he doesn't want to criticize a player directly, that's probably why he is coming up with less important reasons for not choosing these players.

[ehsan singapore]

I think Gucci knows

maybe, i am not sure

[OFFSIDE_1]

There's no need for berating. He's there to talk to them and making them understand why they are not selected. And he's there to explain us his reasons based on facts.

You can do that in a professional and constructive/respectable manner. But I guess because we are used to unprofessional behavior and lack of communication skill from all our people let alone coaches (and CQ in specific these days) that's the only option we can envision.

Actually CQ is being very professional about this. There is a conversation that happens in the locker room between a coach and a player which you and I don't hear about, and one that happens between the coach and the outside world, which is the fans and the media. By giving a general reason to the public, CQ avoids having to debate the reasons in the media for the next 2 months, creating one distraction after another and let's face it, we have enough trashy journalist in Iran that would love to drag these discussions out for months. The more details you give, the more this turns into a circus. Heck, even our mullahs in majlis are even debating this :-)

[Iran Doost]

Any coaches here? Those of us who have coached teams extensively know that a Coach who spends a lot of time with the players during practices, scrimmages, and games gets to know his or her players much better than a spectator even if that spectator is a coach himself or herself. This is because the coach of the team gets to observe his players a lot more (on the order of 15 times or even more) than a spectator who just watches the games. This is not to say coaches don't make mistakes, but just saying that you have to put a lot of weight to the amount of time a coach gets to observe his players than us who just see them during the games. Both Mr. Hosseini and Ghafoori were in a number of camps with Mr. CQ, and he got to observe them for a long time.

As for these specific players: Mr. Hosseini was never a fast player, and due to his age he is even slower. Fact of life, and a big minus in the eyes of any coach. And about Mr. Ghafoori: he basically hurt himself tremendously in the last game by failing to control the ball and keep it to himself twice in a row. Granted the second time he sprinted and barely saved the ball from being intercepted. But no one was close to him, and the game was in Iran in front of our own fans. Coach sees that and thinks, ok both situations could have been disastrous because we were attacking and those balls could have resulted into counter attacks and goals. The stage will be the World Cup not a friendly game, most fans will be booing us, not screaming "Iran Iran" (for the most part), and the intercepting player is Jordi Alba from Spain not a youngster from a third rated U23 team. If you can't have the confidence in a simple friendly game and lose balls like that, then you may probably totally mess up in a world cup game.

Mr. CQ said he doesn't want to criticize a player directly, that's probably why he is coming up with less important reasons for not choosing these players.

[Leicester City]

if he does not know what he is doing, then maybe ghaelnoyi and branko know?or maybe you know?

I think Gucci knows

[Leicester City]

Lol why do you expect to understand what Queiroz does as a coach? It's like you walking into a heart surgery and saying that you disagree with how the surgeon is doing the work cause you think there is too much blood... Queiroz didn't get to where he is by doing things and making decisions that you and I could make by watching the players play a couple of games on TV / in stadiums.

Ok, we will see in the friendlies and WC and come back to this. I could be right or you could. But being a coach does not exempt him from making mistakes.