Karim Ansarifard, Ehsan Hajsafi, & Milad Mohammadi @ AEK Athens | 2021-2022

[Nokhodi]

Everyone is making great points.

With Hajisafi we have someone who is lacking speed and real defensive ability but can play the ball out.
With Milad, every attack we start from his end will fail but he is an aggressive defense.
It’s clear we need Vahid as LB. Someone like Ghodoos will then have to play Vahid’s usual DM role.

Unless someone magical shows up in the next few months as Lb, it is now our 2nd weakest side (after RB).

[Karimi 8]

Hahaha.. With all due respect to Ehsan he's had a decent few matches now that he's replaced Milad

I trust Hajsafi at LB over Milad and Noorafkan tbh... At least he has experience?

His only experience in TM as LB is being bad at it. He literally cost us so many goals with his man-marking. I don't understand how after 14 years he never learned how to play the position.

[Karimi 8]

I hear you, but tell me, who beside mimo do we have have that can keep up whit the pace of England and Usa?

He has the speed, but he literally can't play football anymore. I don't get what happened to him, he looks so defeated when he is playing. He can't complete a simple pass or tackle anymore. He and Hajsafi are both huge liabilities

[Nokhodi]

Hahaha.. With all due respect to Ehsan he's had a decent few matches now that he's replaced Milad

I trust Hajsafi at LB over Milad and Noorafkan tbh... At least he has experience?

What's remarkable is Hajisafi has experience with 2 World Cups (probably going to his 3rd), 3 Asian Cups, and I think even an ACL final, but he somehow doesn't learn from any of his mistakes.
in 2008-09, we really thought we had found a gem, but he got worse and worse.

[Ostad_Goosfand]

Amiri IMO is needed in midfield, so unless we play 3-5-2 we are stuck with one of the options at LB. if we play counter attacking we need his pressing ability.

potential 3-5-2

CBs: hosseini, kanaani, khalilzadeh
RWB/LWB: Amiri and moharrrami wingbacks
CM: ezatolahi, nourollahi, Ghoddos
Forward: taremi, azmoun


also possible to play ghoddos at RWB and maybe someone else (mehdipour, karimi) at CM

[Karimi 8]

What's remarkable is Hajisafi has experience with 2 World Cups (probably going to his 3rd), 3 Asian Cups, and I think even an ACL final, but he somehow doesn't learn from any of his mistakes.
in 2008-09, we really thought we had found a gem, but he got worse and worse.

I literally can't comprehend how he had 14 years to develop some basic skills in defending, and managed to NEVER develop them. He literally is the same as when he started off in that position, if not, slightly worst now. His inability to adapt is shocking. Both Shojaei and him made us a man down every time they played. I appreciate his efforts, but I hope to never see Hajsafi in TM again.

[zereshk-ali]

Amiri IMO is needed in midfield, so unless we play 3-5-2 we are stuck with one of the options at LB. if we play counter attacking we need his pressing ability.
potential 3-5-2
CBs: hosseini, kanaani, khalilzadeh
RWB/LWB: Amiri and moharrrami wingbacks
CM: ezatolahi, nourollahi, Ghoddos
Forward: taremi, azmoun
also possible to play ghoddos at RWB and maybe someone else (mehdipour, karimi) at CM

I think without a doubt he has to go with a 3-4-3/5-4-1 against England with Amiri nominally at left back but allowed to press into midfield. It gives both Amiri and Moharammi license to get forward and and try and avoid their full backs from overlapping at will. Plus both these players are more comfortable bringing the ball out than any of our other options in those positions. The extra covering centre back can also step out wide to double up on their pacey wide players and most likely one of the defensive midfielders will be given the task to pick up Kane when he drops deep. It’ll look more like a 5-4-1 out of possession with Taremi tracking back but also gives the opportunity for a Amiri/Taremi overload on one side or a Moharammi/JB overload on the opposite side when we break, whilst maintaining at least 4 at the back with the opposite full back holding and the wide CB stepping across to cover.

[inarsenewetrust]

weekly feta watch.

Hajsafi and Milad started (Hajsafi at LCM, Milad at LB) vs panathinaikos. Milad played full game, pretty solid showing and some good offensive contributions (nearly had an assist from low cross). Hajsafi from highlights had one brilliant shot that hit the bar.

Karim played the last 5 mins.

[taremiscores]

Ehsan Hajsafi scored. 1-0 for AEK

[Keshwardoost]

Ehsan Hajsafi scored. 1-0 for AEK

Misile?

[Gol Bezan]

[Iranianarsenal11]

At this point Ehsan's gotta be our starting LB at the WC...

Can't think of anyone better than him at LB right now!?!?!

[Keshwardoost]

thats more a sniper than a misile though, he shot the goalies balls off.. great goal by Haji Cafu!

[inarsenewetrust]

Ol Haji can smell the World Cup...fker doesnt die...His best form for TM came in leadup to WC/Morocco+Spain matches, in large part due to his good club form that season for panionios and Olympiakos. Even greek league is better at keeping players in shape/form than PGPL.

We will still be very liable to conceding goals from that zone, like he was responsible for goal we conceded vs russia, he was atrocious vs turkey (albeit in central mid role), and Quaresma goal was also on him (as well as many goals in previous years), yet he remains better than norafkan and milad, by some distance.

Amiri will probably make the WC but will be needed in the central midfield zone. Maybe in back 5 he can take spot as left piston (LWB), and hajsafi can sit on the bench but in a back 4 if he maintains this for a few more months at the start of next season the spot is his.

[Ghermez Agha]

thats more a sniper than a misile though, he shot the goalies balls off.. great goal by Haji Cafu!

That was actually so strategically placed. Goalie could have maybe saved it if he lowered himself just a bit but the speed at which the ball was going + the consequences of lowering his body was not worth it, don’t blame him one bit