Iran
Newcastle United would go a long way in solving their left-back conundrum by signing this versatile 25-year-old Iranian
Why Newcastle United should sign Milad Mohammadi
According to a report in Daily Mail, Premier League side Newcastle United have been offered Iranian international Milad Mohammadi from Russian club Akhmat Grozny. Manager Rafa Benitez needs to strengthen his squad in order to avoid the drop and securing a cover for the left-back position should be one his main priorities.
Mohammadi is currently playing for his national side in the ongoing Asian Cup but if the Magpies manage to sign him, he may be available mid-February. The versatile 25-year-old has been fantastic for the teams he has played for thus far.
Milad Mohammadi
Here’s why Newcastle shouldn’t hesitate in signing him during this month’s transfer window:
Magpies could solve their left-back issue
If we analyse the Newcastle squad at the moment, they are short on options at the left-back position. Paul Dummett is the only real automatic choice, who has been injured in the past few games.
In the Welshman’s absence, the manager changed his formation and went to three at the back, with Matt Ritchie playing at left wing-back. However, that doesn’t look like a long-term solution, let alone for the rest of this season. Even when Dummett returns, the Magpies cannot rely solely on him in the upcoming months.
Rafael Benitez
They are expected to be in a gruelling relegation battle involving quite a lot of teams and hence, quality in the full-back positions is a must. For that reason, signing someone like Mohammadi makes sense. The Iranian international is predominantly a left-back but he is comfortable as a right-back or a winger on either side.
In the 25-year-old, they will find a solution for their perennial left-back problem and also get a player who is versatile. All in all, the Iranian is a manager’s delight who would serve the team in the best possible manner.
In terms of abilities, Mohammadi is a rapid player who is capable of making runs up and down the pitch throughout the game. His pace allows him to recover his forward runs, which is one of the important aspects of being a successful full-back.
While going forward, the 25-year-old has the dribbling skills to beat the defender one on one and deliver crosses into the box. At the back, he possesses the defensive skills to not allow easy crosses into the box. If required, he could play as a left winger and support Paul Dummett.
Culminating all the above facts, we can only say that Newcastle shouldn’t delay in making this signing. The sooner they complete, the better it is.
Article
What can you expect from Nottingham Forest’s Dejagah and Iran in the World Cup: SWOT analysis
Iran might not be on the top of the list for football followers but their performance in the qualifying campaign this term, added to the fact that they are playing the World Cup for the second successive time, makes them worthy of viewership.
This is the first time Team Melli will be playing the main event on consecutive occasions, which is an achievement for Carlos Queiroz’s men. They may not go very far in the tournament but the experience of their coach will add to their chances of at least upsetting a team or two.
The Iranian teams of the past have been defensively good and it continues to be the case. Back in the 2014 World Cup, they conceded only 4 goals in 3 group stage games. They nearly held Argentina to a 0-0 draw before Lionel Messi scored in the stoppage time.
The problem they clearly have is the lack of goals, which is always a tough thing to do. The final squad hasn’t yet been announced but they are an experienced team with a very knowledgeable and interactive coach.
Iran are in a group with Portugal, Spain and Morocco, which means they won’t be given much of a chance to go to the next stage. However, they have kept 10 clean sheets in the qualifying campaign, which means they can be a tough nut to crack for the big boys.
Strengths
As mentioned above, Iran’s main strength is defending deep and playing on the counter with space in behind. They have been doing one part of that jigsaw very well by defending in numbers.
They play a deep 4-3-3 formation with wingers tucked alongside the full-backs while defending. The midfield three will sit in front of the backline. They have pacy wingers in Alireza Jahanbaksh and Mehdi Taremi, who can cover the ground well.
They have a young striker in Sardar Azmoun, who plays for Rubin Kazan, having scored 4 goals this season for the Russian club. Reza Ghoochannejhad is an experienced option for them and has already played one World Cup for the country. They have a strong midfield with experience and physicality. Nottingham Forest’s Ashkan Dejagah is a player to watch out for.
Weakness
Even though they concede very less, their chance of winning games is not high. This is due to the fact that they score very less in games. Their captain Ashkan Dejagah has had a knee operation, which would mean they could miss his experience in the creative department.
Coach
Carlos Queiroz is a very experienced coach with a vast know-how of the game, having worked with some of the very big men. His famous time with Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United was the one which elevated him.
He led Iran in the previous World Cup too and that background would help him guide his team this time.
Key Player
With their captain almost out of the World Cup with the knee surgery, Reza Ghoochannejhad would be the man to take the Iranian team forward with his goal scoring exploits. In central defence, Pejman Montarezi is a colossus for them with his physicality and no-nonsense defending.
World Cup history
Iran have featured five times in the World Cup, including the 2018 edition. They have won only one game so far, back in the 1998 event. They have scored only 7 goals in 12 games overall in four WC appearances so far. Team Melli haven’t ventured themselves past the group stage yet.
Verdict
There are not many who will tout Iran to even win a game in Russia but given the fact that they can defend and frustrate their opponents, they can be a nuisance. Scoring is a problem for them, which would hold them back from any progress in the tournament.
Prediction: Out in the Group Stages
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