Daei's Choice for UAE Game

FNA - Rumors say Javad Nekounam and national team captain Mehdi Mahdavikia will be looked aside together with Javad Kazemyan when Iran play a must win game against UAE, could it be true?

No other coach in the world would even think about leaving Mahdavikia, Nekounam and Kazemyan out of the squad, Daei isn't either according to an IFF official. But is it true? Add Hashemian's boycott to that and the headache gets even bigger.

Daei has barely started out and already he could be digging a big whole that will be very tough to climb out of. Iran had/has a superior squad and team to its current opponents who all together have zero European based players. Compared to Iran they also have zero World Cup and Champions League experience. The list goes on further but what is the point?

In the crucial away game to Kuwait Daei astonished all football personalities in Iran by playing Gholamnejad, Sadeghi and Beigzadeh from start. Add to that Bengar in defense and Vahedi in attack and Daei had basically put aside Ira in Iran and kept only the n. If we are to take Daei's side Bengar might have been forced on as Aghili wasn't available, or was he? Vahedi scored a fantastic solo goal that might have justified his starting position? Last but not least the rumors aren't true and Iran will have a big and strong squad available throughout the month of June.

Though Daei now is not the time for changing the whole team around or using Gholamnejad instead of Kabi or even Mahdavikia. Now is not the time for using Ebrahim Sadeghi or even Kianosh Rahmati instead of Javad Nekounam.

Vahid Hashemian should change his mind and the coaching staff has to fly down to Germany and visit him. Nekounam and Mahdavikia not only have to be included in the squad but be given a starting position against UAE. Iman Mobali and Javad Kazemyan have to be part of the squad just like Zandi and Shapourzadeh and fighting it fairly out with the others. Sadeghi and Gholamnejad simply have no place in the starting 11, even an 18-year old Ehsan Hajsafi should be considered above Sadeghi in a central midfield position against UAE. Hossein Kabi has not been shining lately however he will outperform Gholamnejad in 10 out of 10 games against UAE on June 2. Lack of playing time is no issue for Andranik and he also has to play at least 70 minutes (80 if Iran is winning) against UAE. Madanchi and Shojaei are two more UAE-based players who will do well against the national team just as they do week in and week out in the league against the same players. Vahedi and Khalili from Perspolis could/should be in the squad; the headache is if any of them should play from start?

Another headache for Daei is which system to use; he will have to decide about picking the 11 first and then the system, or the system first and then the 11. Ali Karimi should be reminded of the two games he played against UAE in the World Cup playoff games in 2001 and Iran should be reminded of the last four games against UAE!