Tag: Winfried Schäfer

Mick McDermott raises the anger against Queiroz!

Mehr New sport service published an article on the recent exchanges between FFIRI personnel of Team Melli and Omid Team. The article is highly critical of Queiroz and his assistants and once again ignited the arguments against the Portuguese coach, who is never ever more than inches away from controversy.

Here is a brief excerpt

Mick McDermott the assistant coach of the team Melli, in response to Hamid Estilli’s remarks which he said that “I would go to the World Cup at my own expense and await the federation’s response to use the PAC Center”, the right hand man of Queiroz said “It seems that Mr. Estilli is confusing Team Melli with the circus! If you are looking to use the bear for a circus, you should use the bears that you have left in Myanmar.”

This is the comment of Carlos Queiroz s assistant. The Portuguese man who has been using such offensive and vulgar literature for many years over and over against some of Iran’s most respected sports personnel, soccer directors and officials including civil servants. He has now delegated  this task to his soldier to fire back at Hamid Estili

McDermott has used the same “bad” literature as Carlos Queiroz. The literature of “insult” to an Iranian legend is just like the style of the Portuguese professor and his student who will naturally follow suite.

Experts and the media have repeatedly criticized Queiroz and his subordinates for these coarse manners. Rude remarks, lack of respect and contempt, is contradictory to the Iranian culture, Queiroz camp has infuriated many respected personalities and it seems they are adamant to continue while there seems that nothing is going to repel them. Surely, a feeble head of the Federation who is on a shaky ground himself has neither the courage nor the desire to put them straight.

What kind of glory and successes has Queiroz and his coaching team achieved for Iran to justify such insults to everyone, is beyond comprehension!.  Which great success has been made for Iranian football, which is so outrageous to the footballers and honors of this country?

Hamid Estilli will always remain the hero in the history of Iranian football for that strike on the USA team in 1998, if Queiroz and his assistants have done a great job in the FIFA World Cup 2018, when they won a single match thanks to the their opponents’ own goal and drew once with a last minute penalty, the like of Estili have done many honors too.

If the Queiroz end result in the World Cup was praised by the leader of the Revolution, Hamid Estilli, with a goal against the United States, was especially praised by the Supreme Leader, and they kissed the goal scorer on the forehead.

Why Queiroz and his assistants think that they have done miracles for this football.?Team Melli won praise for the  good results in the World Cup, but which critic and football expert said that Iran’s played a beautiful game and showcased audience? Who is the fair expert who has forgotten the long minutes of “Hail Mary” style of football against Morocco, Spain and albeit to much less against Portugal?

Team Melli head coach and his assistants should know their limits and not extend their legs beyond their bed cover. Of course, in reality, they are not to be blamed, the blame is solely on the federation’s officials, who, from day one, did not take the correct action against misdemeanors of Queiroz for whatever reasons.

All what Hamid Estili said, which Queiroz and his assistant found offensive (..) , was a demand by Estili, the appointed Manager of Omid Team (U 23), for his squad to utilize the facilities of the national team camp. Is this training camp built for Queiroz and his assistants and players only?? It seems like that because the mere request by Estili has ignited the wrath of Queiroz coaching staff.

 

Who is Michael “Mick” McDermott

Born 1974 in Belfast,  Northern Ireland.  Irish former professional player, McDermott has held various coaching roles in professional football clubs as well as at the international level over the past 15 years. He has held coaching positions at some of Asia’s biggest Clubs; Al Ain FC (Abu Dhabi), Esteghlal FC (Tehran), Al Nasr FC (Dubai).

In 2011 he was part of Carlos Queiroz coaching staff. In 2012 he left his job with Team Melli citing family issues, but then joined Al Nasr club of Dubai in the same capacity of assistant coach. However, in 2017 he turned up in Iran once again this time as the assistant coach of Esteghlal lead by the German head coach Winfried Schäfer.  His contract was terminated in October 2017 and then he re-joined Carlos Queiroz in Team Melli where he is currently an Assistant Coach.

 

Queiroz Domestic League contempt

Queiroz’s verbal arson and laying into the Domestic Persian Gulf League in such cruel, public fashion in front of the Europeans journalists is yet another proof that nothing has changed with this self-serving head coach

True to the form book, he lashed out about the poor standards of Iran’s Persian Gulf League players, their coaches and the system of training deployed.

Queiroz has always had contempt for the league in Iran. He hardly attends league matches, preferring to watch the Legionnaires in Europe. It is a good break for him too, of course. For domestic league the lower ranks in Team Melli training Cadre do the mundane job of watching potential talents and future Team Melli players.

His justification for the low grade of the domestic league and players goes beyond technicalities too as there is some personal issues in it. It started more than 4 years ago when the league coaches vehemently rejected his grandeur plans of suspending the Persian Gulf League and focusing on Team Melli as the ideal preparation  for FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014.

He even warned or at least insinuated that if his plans are not implemented, Team Melli will be humiliated in Brazil against the might of Argentina! The whole of Iran and particularly the government must listen to him and abide to his wishes or else!

 

Apparently only the ‘idealists coaches and idiots’ in the local media dismissed his threats or doomsday scenario as a hoax. Many considered it yet another Queiroz’s “I know- better- than- you- all” rhetoric !  

In reality, Team Melli played one of its matches in the World Cup against Argentina. It was only the magnificence of one Lionel Messi, with his last gasp goal, that spoiled the party. It was nothing like the Saudi’s 8-0 drubbing by the hands of the German in 2002 or even the 7-1 humiliation of the host Brazil against the Champions Germany in the same World Cup 2014.

Queiroz was at it again during the post-match press conference after the Algeria win in Graz.

When Queiroz starts talking down the country’s assets and domestic players in such cruel, discourteous manner in public, he knows very well that he is untouchable. There is no culpability, no accountability and he certainly will not be questioned by the feeble Head of IRIFF, Mehdi Taj.

The Paradox of Queiroz claims are mind boggling too. Although he has little regards for the domestic league player, not a secret by a long shot, claiming their standards are way too low for the World Cup, he still demands that the league should be abandoned so that players are released fully for Team Melli!

Now, if they are not good enough to play in World Cup or have a long way to go, and everyone knows, even the Imam Juma of Sanandaj , that the nucleus of his team in Russia will be the Legionnaires, why deprive the clubs from revenue, players from competitions and fans from enjoying watching football matches?

Luckily, Carlos Queiroz is not the only experienced European coach making a living in Iran. Winfried “Winnie” Schäfer ,  who won the African Nations Cup in 2002 with Cameroon and now coaching Esteghlal, and Branko Ivankovic the famous coach of Persepolis and former Team Melli head coach, have both dismissed Queiroz claims. The German took a swipe at Queiroz today after a fine win by Esteghlal in the league against Naft Tehran 2-1. The winner was a last minute goal ironically scored by the rising star of Iranian football Omid Noorafakn, a product of the domestic league.

“All Esteghlal players members of Team Melli played very well and proved how good they are. Esteghlal players are quite ready to play in the World Cup, no doubts” Schäfer said in the post-match press conference.

 

 

Preview of Thailand Team.

The Thai team nicknamed “War Elephants” played a series of its best football during the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers.

The display by the Thail team returned much of the lost faith by the fans to the extent that the home matches in Rajamangala National Stadium reached capacity crowds. Thailand almost defeated Australia at their home and then defeated Oman 3-0 away. This was in addition to the draw against Saudi Arabia. These results were all indicative of a good team in the making with many young starlets given the opportunity and excelling. Such reflects the strength in depth of the Thai football which always produced plenty of good players, but as a group, they haverarely managed to cap on their skills and win trophies.

The German coach  Winfried Schäfer who succeeded Bryan Robson in 2012 , was set to mount a serious challenge against the West Asian teams Iran , Kuwait and Lebanon in the AFC Asian Cup 2015 Qualifying group. Thailand was looking for at least being 2nd in the group.  However, the first defeat against Kuwait at home in the qualifiers damped the enthusiasm of the team as cracks started to build up. It was a shock result for the Thai fans, who expected a comfortable win against no so powerful Kuwait.

Thailand still had a lot of time to recover from that loss and Lebanon, despite recent good results, would have been a tough test for the next match but again , not insurmountable opposition. This time, the Thai team was overhauled by Winfried Schäfer in the hope of getting an away win.

Veteran Surat Sukha was inducted in the team in the hope of solidifying the defense.

All the efforts of Winfried Schäfer was up in the air and the hope of qualifying to Austarlai in 2015 seem to fall apart after Thailand was ripped apart by Lebanon 5-2 in another shock result. The only saving grace perhaps was the scoring of two goals by Thitiphan Puangjan who came in as a substitute after half an hour.

In June 2013, Schäfer resigned his post as the Head Coach of Thailand. The FA of Thailand appointed Kiatisak Senamuang as the new caretaker coach for national team. His first task was friendly match against China PR on June 15, which he won 5–1.

It is not known which of the two teams will be playing against Team Melli tomorrow , but what is apparent is that Kiatisak will be desperate for at least one point in Tehran. It is unlikely that The Thai will go for an offensive game plan, preferring to let Team Melli do all the attacking , while they try to hit the hosts on the counter with their pacey players and then hoping for the best. Team Melli , despite being quite shy in scoring recently , could very well change in this match while oozing with confidence. Their mind at easce with qualification already assured to the World Cup, and setting comfortably at the top of the Asian Cup qualkifuication group, the team should give its best.

Tuesday will be a battle between a solidified 5 man Thai defense , backed by 4 more midfield players against an offensive Team Melli trying to score as many as they did against Lebanon.

The two different teams that represented Thailand in the competition so ar:

 

Against Kuwait in Bangkok: 1- 3

[1]Kawin Thamsatchanan ; [2] Panupong Wongsa (c), [3]    Theerathon Bunmathan,  [4] Chonlatit Jantakam,  [11]  Anucha Kitpongsri (59’ [13] Chatree Chimtale ), [7] Datsakorn Thonglao, [10] Teerasil Dangda, [12] Adul Lahso (82’ [17] Apipoo Suntornpanave) ,  [19] Phichitphong Choeichiu, [23] Piyaphon Buntao, [16] Jakkapan Pornsai (72’ [20] Chanathip)

GOAL: Chanathip

YELLOW: [4] Chonlatit Jantakam, [7] Datsakorn Thonglao

Own goal: Bunmathan

 

Against Lebanon in Beirut 2-5

 [23] Siwarak Tedsungnoen ; [3] Theerathon Bunmathan, [21]Prayat, [6] Narubadin, [15]Surat Sukha, [7] Datsakorn Thonglao (c), [10] Teerasil Dangda, [11] Anucha Kitpongsri ((46’ [20] Chanathip), [14] Anthony Petch Ampaipitakwong, [16] Jakkapan Pornsai (31′ [19] Thitiphan Puangjan), [4] Apiwat Ngualamhin (54′ [5] Atit Daosawang

[6] Narubadin, [4] Apiwat Ngualamhin

GOALS: Thitiphan Puangjan (2)