Saeid Ezatolahi @ FC Rostov 2019-2020

[mehdi13]

It really shouldn't be difficult to understand that in 2012 he was a 15 year old kid and a youth player for Malavan and that he left for the Atletico Madrid youth team in 2014 when he was 17 years of age, and that he made his debut as a senior at Rostov when he was 18 years of age.

If his birthday is October 1, 1996 please tell me how old he was making his professional debut for Malavan on October 26, 2012?

[Sepehr9]

He had 21 appearances for Malavan in IPL with more minutes in 2012-13 than either of the last two seasons in Europe. If he debuted in October 2012, then thats when his professional career started. We can discount one at Atletico with youth and C teams, I wasn’t thinking about that one.

It really shouldn't be difficult to understand that in 2012 he was a 15 year old kid and a youth player for Malavan and that he left for the Atletico Madrid youth team in 2014 when he was 17 years of age, and that he made his debut as a senior at Rostov when he was 18 years of age.

[mehdi13]

I'm not sure if you are able to count properly. Ezatolahi is 23 years of age now, when the new season starts the lad will be 24 years of age a few months later. Considering that the seasons all start around august/september, this means that in august/september 2012 Ezatolahi was 15 years of age (and 16 in October 2012), 23-8=15 mate.
Back in 2012 he was playing for the youth team of Malavan, later he moved to the youth team of Atletico Madrid after a great world cup U16 where Iran had reached the semi finals under his guidance. His senior career started at Rostov in 2015 when he was 18 years of age.
Point is that a fit Ezatolahi is the best central midfielder Iran has, and it only makes sense to play your best.

He had 21 appearances for Malavan in IPL with more minutes in 2012-13 than either of the last two seasons in Europe. If he debuted in October 2012, then thats when his professional career started. We can discount one at Atletico with youth and C teams, I wasn’t thinking about that one.

[The]

Ezza came in Eupen after a serious injury in England (almost one year without playing), it is understandable that it costs him a lot of playing time in Eupen. Just before the belgian league break, he was getting better and better there.

That further proves my point that right now is not the time to rely on him. TM isn't a place for a player who has played 8 games total in 2 years to rehab and get back in shape. Let him play some club games regularly, and if (big if) we make it to the next round of WCQ, he can join the squad.
I also would not want Ghoddos (at least as a starter) on the team for the same reasons (been away from football for a long time because of legal issues and then the French league cancellation), although he has played more in the past two year than Saeid.

[mehdi13]

Ezza came in Eupen after a serious injury in England (almost one year without playing), it is understandable that it costs him a lot of playing time in Eupen. Just before the belgian league break, he was getting better and better there.

I agree with you about his poor physical condition. That is why is he was not playing. I’m not saying he’s shit, even though I believe his potential from the Atletico days is gone. He can still be of service to TM, just not right now. He has to get his club situation and fitness sorted out first. Even in TM, if he is not starting, he should be at his best to be able test the other players in camp. I don’t wanna exclude him for life, just the October and November qualifiers. They are too important.

[Sepehr9]

He made his debut in 2012-13. He is almost 24 now and entering his 9th season as a professional. He has actually played 82 games in his career, not 38. Averaging just over 10 games per season. But yeah shireh and a spot in TM is his birthright.

I'm not sure if you are able to count properly. Ezatolahi is 23 years of age now, when the new season starts the lad will be 24 years of age a few months later. Considering that the seasons all start around august/september, this means that in august/september 2012 Ezatolahi was 15 years of age (and 16 in October 2012), 23-8=15 mate.

Back in 2012 he was playing for the youth team of Malavan, later he moved to the youth team of Atletico Madrid after a great world cup U16 where Iran had reached the semi finals under his guidance. His senior career started at Rostov in 2015 when he was 18 years of age.

Point is that a fit Ezatolahi is the best central midfielder Iran has, and it only makes sense to play your best.

[PSGman#19]

1. No, it’s not his birthright.

2. Good thing there wasn’t a 31 year old IPL/QSL player like Ebrahimi in that same Eupen team, starting regularly, while Saeed was watching from the stands, or bench if he was lucky. That would be really embarrassing.

Ezza came in Eupen after a serious injury in England (almost one year without playing), it is understandable that it costs him a lot of playing time in Eupen. Just before the belgian league break, he was getting better and better there.

[The]

He made his debut in 2012-13. He is almost 24 now and entering his 9th season as a professional. He has actually played 82 games in his career, not 38. Averaging just over 10 games per season. But yeah shireh and a spot in TM is his birthright.

fair enough, I was only counting professional Club matches according to Soccerway.

[mehdi13]

Yes it is his birthright if nobody proves to be better. Of course if you consider that some IPL nobody should take his spot, then I recommend to consider one of my friends who is doing wonders as a DM in his sunday league.

1. No, it’s not his birthright.

2. Good thing there wasn’t a 31 year old IPL/QSL player like Ebrahimi in that same Eupen team, starting regularly, while Saeed was watching from the stands, or bench if he was lucky. That would be really embarrassing.

[PSGman#19]

He made his debut in 2012-13. He is almost 24 now and entering his 9th season as a professional. He has actually played 82 games in his career, not 38. Averaging just over 10 games per season. But yeah shireh and a spot in TM is his birthright.

Yes it is his birthright if nobody proves to be better. Of course if you consider that some IPL nobody should take his spot, then I recommend to consider one of my friends who is doing wonders as a DM in his sunday league.

[mehdi13]

The guy is only 23 years of age, how can he already have played 8 seasons? That would mean that he started playing with the seniors when he was only 15 years of age lol.

Also, since it appears that you have a Chrystal Ball, could you tell us when covid-19 will be over or when there will be a vaccin?

No what grants him the spot in the national team is the fact that he is by far the best central midfielder we have, only Ebrahimi comes near his level.

He made his debut in 2012-13. He is almost 24 now and entering his 9th season as a professional. He has actually played 82 games in his career, not 38. Averaging just over 10 games per season. But yeah shireh and a spot in TM is his birthright.

[Sepehr9]

I am not one to rate PGPL highly at all, but even with that factor, I'd still say Saeid needs to play a full season somewhere ( it could be the Mongolian 5th division for all I care) before we rely on him as our main CM again. He's a shadow of his former self at the moment.

I also disagree with the fact that he's been very reliable for Team Melli. He's definitely shown weakness at times which quickly get overlooked because of his reputation.

I firmly believe we have players who are currently better options than him, and good enough for the level of competition we are facing in the WCQ.

Everytime Ezatolahi plays for TM he is outstanding, with the highlights being the world cup games against Spain and Portugal where he was the leader of our midfield at only 21 years of age.

In terms of raw talent no Iranian midfielder comes even close to him. I don't care where he plays in the future, when he is fit then he should start.

[Sepehr9]

Since the day the sport of football was invented, There have been countless examples of young promising players whose careers fizzled out as they entered their mid-20s. I don't see why Saeid would be exempt from this. The kid has played 32 professional matches in 8 seasons! I repeat 32 games in 8 seasons!
Maybe, just maybe... playing in Athletico Madrid's youth team for a couple months over 6 years ago, shouldn't get him a spot in a national team for the rest of his career.
As it stands those "forever IPL players" are in better shape, and have done more in the past two years to deserve a spot than Ezzi.
And before anyone brings up, injuries and other excuses for him... how about we wait for him to play full season of football before we rely on him as our main CM for the national team.

The guy is only 23 years of age, how can he already have played 8 seasons? That would mean that he started playing with the seniors when he was only 15 years of age lol.

Also, since it appears that you have a Chrystal Ball, could you tell us when covid-19 will be over or when there will be a vaccin?

No what grants him the spot in the national team is the fact that he is by far the best central midfielder we have, only Ebrahimi comes near his level.

[PSGman#19]

I am not one to rate PGPL highly at all, but even with that factor, I'd still say Saeid needs to play a full season somewhere ( it could be the Mongolian 5th division for all I care) before we rely on him as our main CM again. He's a shadow of his former self at the moment.
I also disagree with the fact that he's been very reliable for Team Melli. He's definitely shown weakness at times which quickly get overlooked because of his reputation.
I firmly believe we have players who are currently better options than him, and good enough for the level of competition we are facing in the WCQ.

With the same logic, Wilmots had rights to skip off JB because he didn't play for an IPL in-form Mohebi. Ezza has a physical presence we need in midfield. We all see how good we did without him lately..

As CQ said, the level of fitness is really low in IPL. The options you mentionned may look good in our local "slow" league but we need someone who has an euro experience and train with high level teams. Also The players you listed may be good at the moment, but it is very probable they won't last long.

I disagree to sanction someone who had the guts to move in Europe at a young age, resisted Qatar and IPL called and stayed in Europe with various loans. We can be disappointed by his performance but he also suffered a bad injury that badly stopped him in England and Belgium. Covid also stopped his belgian experience while he was playing more and more.
If some players had to be sanctionned, it has to be the ones that stops their Euro career too early or the talent ones that stay for ever in IPL/QSL

[The]

He has very often be reliable for our national team. This + Training and having zero playing time in Europe is more valuable than being Ballon d'or in the mickey mouse league called IPL. Of course it doesn't apply to huge talents playing in IPL and aiming to move in Europe (like Allahyar). But the list you wrote isn't in this case. I don't see any of these playing in Europe one day.

I am not one to rate PGPL highly at all, but even with that factor, I'd still say Saeid needs to play a full season somewhere ( it could be the Mongolian 5th division for all I care) before we rely on him as our main CM again. He's a shadow of his former self at the moment.

I also disagree with the fact that he's been very reliable for Team Melli. He's definitely shown weakness at times which quickly get overlooked because of his reputation.

I firmly believe we have players who are currently better options than him, and good enough for the level of competition we are facing in the WCQ.