With less than two weeks to go prior to the tournament, we can use this thread to discuss our preparations and use the other to focus more on the tournament itself. Anyway, we have 2 friendlies against Qatar (I think on the 28th and the 29th) as well as a friendly with Angola on the 2nd. Ghotbi will probably cut the four players prior to our first friendly against Qatar. Question is: Who is he most likely to drop rather than who we would want him to drop (i.e. Mirzapour).
Hard to tell, one of the goalies is definitely going to go (Most likely not Mirzapour). We also have way too many forwards, at least one will be dropped. I think both Noroozis are prime candidates to go here. In midfield one of the 3 M.Nouri, Hadadifar, and Kiani will go
Mirzapour hasnt been fit in forever. His physical strength was his only asset, and after pulling his hamstring(?) his ability to kick the ball has dwindled. He is done.
Hajsafi will never, ever learn to be a defender. Ghotbi needs to make a move. The most upsetting and troubling aspect of today's game, however, was Neko's poor performance. He is a serious liability when he plays like that! So many errant passes... and the fact that he hasn't been nearly as effective on set-pieces recently makes me wonder if he even belongs in the starting line-up, considering the fact that Ando, Nouri, and Haddadifar are all worthy of starting. Having said that, there's no doubt that Ghotbi will start him. I just hope he plays a decent game. Shojaei is another player than can easily be replaced in the starting lineup, in my opinion. I'd have no difficulty replacing him with Rezaei or even Gholami. But he's a Ghotbi favorite, and we can only hope he's on his game come Asian Cup.
This team is handicapped by both Shojaie, and Niko. It has been the case for sometime. Shojaie has not performed well in ages and his only contribution has been to lose the ball and take a dive and look for a foul call. Hajsafie is too inexperienced for his position at this level. Don't we have anyone else for that position?
I'm worried by the fact that we really have a dearth of fullbacks. It's not like we play a 3-back system... I don't know much about Rahimi, but I believe he's a fullback. That would make him literally the only natural fullback on our entire Asian Cup roster! Hajsafi, Heydari, Nosrati, and P.Nouri can play as makeshift fullbacks, but none of them really belong in that role. I wish at least Ghotbi had kept Montazeri on the roster, since he can also play as a fullback if necessary. But again, the real concern is that only one natural fullback was invited, and he's new to the team.
Apparently all the coaches have until 6 hours prior to the tournament kick off to make any changes they want to their roster. Realistically, I doubt Ghotbi will do so, unless he is forced to due to any potential injuries we may pick up in our last friendly match vs Angola.
