2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup

[Nokhodi]

Overall, there is a gameplan. Lots of mistakes, but there is a plan and it will get better.
Could use more clinical and efficient forwards too.

[St_Mark]

Iran U23 1: 3 Iraq U23

TM U23 Was toothless today and gave up balls in every line.
Iraq was a better team with better game plan and deserved the result.
Didn’t see anything from Javad & Yadegar to deserve invitation, but its too early they will have 3 official game to prove they deserve.
Hope Mahdavi Kia learned from this game and about his players.

[taremiscores]

Great stadium, decent pitch, nice HD live feed. Kudos to Iraqi FA and Sports authorities.

We have reached a point of envying Iraqi nowadays.

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I did not see anything special from the Dutch-based forward. He was good in first game as a sub, perhaps that's his best role.

Why weren't Younes Delfi and Amir Hosseinzadeh invited for the Asian Cup U23? They would help solve our issues up front.

[inarsenewetrust]

We have reached a point of envying Iraqi nowadays.

---

I did not see anything special from the Dutch-based forward. He was good in first game as a sub, perhaps that's his best role.

Why weren't Younes Delfi and Amir Hosseinzadeh invited for the Asian Cup U23? They would help solve our issues up front.

hosseinzadeh and allahyar have been called up for senior team. Not sure what delfi current fitness status is. A lot of these guys wouldnt even be their backups if selection was primarily u23 and not u21 (Sobhan Khaghani of SS, Mohebbi of Peykan, Koushki in Foolad would be the next best front players in u23). So its not surprising to see fluctuations in their performance from game to game. For many, this was the most competitive football they have played in a short space of time in months/all year

[taremiscores]

hosseinzadeh and allahyar have been called up for senior team. Not sure what delfi current fitness status is. A lot of these guys wouldnt even be their backups if selection was primarily u23 and not u21 (Sobhan Khaghani of SS, Mohebbi of Peykan, Koushki in Foolad would be the next best front players in u23). So its not surprising to see fluctuations in their performance from game to game. For many, this was the most competitive football they have played in a short space of time in months/all year

Delfi should be there. I know he's in Iran now signing a contract with Persepolis - it's rumoured. We could have used his size and skill. Rostami is physically not there yet, he needs to grow into his body more. He's only 18. Even with that, he almost scored today.

I posted a while back that the PGL is one of the oldest leagues in the world (2nd or 3rd). Young players not getting regular time in the league has really hurt us. I had high hopes for the "roshan-fekr" type of managers like Javad, who played in the highest and best league in the world - to transfer and give the youngsters a real go. But the opposite has happened at Foolad.

BTW, one of Iraq's players also is a starter in the national team - he scored a goal today. So it was good to get these friendlies in a hostile environment.

[diz]

[St_Mark]

[diz]

"Abadan tasliat"

[St_Mark]

hosseinzadeh and allahyar have been called up for senior team. Not sure what delfi current fitness status is. A lot of these guys wouldnt even be their backups if selection was primarily u23 and not u21 (Sobhan Khaghani of SS, Mohebbi of Peykan, Koushki in Foolad would be the next best front players in u23). So its not surprising to see fluctuations in their performance from game to game. For many, this was the most competitive football they have played in a short space of time in months/all year

.

Dear
You are right and without trying to evaluate o rcriticis coach and his decisions (that is for after June 15 ) I will just mention point or two.

*- This excuse of " but we are younger team" is not really good excuse after a defeat. It was Mkia choice and he could have add few U23 players who are eligible and experienced. This was just a friendly game but one more performance like that next week, we are out, that is simple and what lessons and experience we can gain? ..
*- Mkia hardly has seen this player only during 2-3 weeks of training. He is not in Iran and rely on his assistant for monitoring young players , that is not sufficient.

Example:a comparison
For qualification we had Hamedifar, Salami as DM, both strong and big with PGL experience and Mkia replacing them with Sadeghinasab ( Mes ), then Pilaram both without PGL experience and size.

Pilaram ( Jam Jonoubi) is 20.6 y old. total min of games in Azadegan about 300 minutes.
Imani Sabet ( Paykan ) is 22 years with total 2,181 minutes in PGL.
SAbet played more than Fallah and almost equal than Khoda (2,214)
There is no comparison between the two . Why denying his chance? Today Sabet complained in public about it.

SABET IMANI
Date	Comp	Opponent	Start	Min
19/10/2021	PGL	Naft	Y	90
25/10/2021	PGL	SorkhPooshan FC	Y	90
05/11/2021	PGL	Tractor Sazi	Y	84
12/11/2021	PGL	Zob Ahan	Y	90
19/11/2021	PGL	Fajr Sepasi	Y	90
24/11/2021	PGL	Nassaji	N	1
29/11/2021	PGL	Gol Gohar	Y	90
04/12/2021	PGL	Sanat Naft	N	10
09/12/2021	PGL	Esteghlal	N	13
15/12/2021	PGL	Persepolis	N	5
24/12/2021	PGL	Sepahan	Y	90
29/12/2021	PGL	Padideh	Y	90
03/01/2022	PGL	Foolad	Y	90
08/01/2022	PGL	Aluminium Arak	Y	90
13/01/2022	PGL	Mes Rafsanjan	Y	90
23/01/2022	PGL	Naft	Y	90
13/02/2022	PGL	SorkhPooshan FC	Y	90
23/02/2022	PGL	Tractor Sazi	Y	90
				1283

*- Yadegar is very talented and hopefully he will turn into an star but he is with U23 only because of his relation with Mkia. Rostami has not been with U17, U18 but invited for U23. He should be selected for U20 along Doustali for u20 Asian cup.

He has only played limited time for his u21 club. Compare it with Nokhodkar with experience of U17m 19 and 23. or even Mohkamkar of Sepahan. Navid kia trusted him and played in recent ACL game . Navid Kia did not even played yousefi but played Mohkamkar against Al Duhali ( as a Sub).

Hopefully they will advance from their group and will make us all happy.
We will have time after June 15 to debate these tipics.

[St_Mark]

U23- Update
Travelling change

U23 was schedule to go to Turkey then to Tashkent.
Iran & Iraq agreed to fly together with a charter directly from Iraq to Tashkent, much better plan , Thanks Iraq Federation for hospitality.

[St_Mark]

[St_Mark]

U23 had recovery session and Mkia spoke about last game and aim for improvement.

Note:
Iraq games was ideal for Ian U23 under current condition. Mkia pointed out games was to evaluate the team and figure out weakness and areas for improvement.

*-I had issues with plan to travel to Najaf and Karbala at this time. They could have schedule it in the way back as a reward.
**- Mkia for second half replace 10-11 players to test them mostly. Substitution in such a way is not the best way as it makes team confuse andbreaks the Harmoney and set plans. Best way was to have two different 11 players lineup for each half.
**- Replacing Khoda with Rostami was questionable sub , it made the D line venerable in 2nd half, Roatami is not a DM kind player.

[St_Mark]

Team arrived about 3:00 AM in Tashkent
Expected light training this evening.

[St_Mark]

while waiting to be processed at airport.

[St_Mark]