Iran NT 2021

    sounds like Alekno is still in favor of offense over reception / defense for the choice of OHs.

    I think people are going to be surprised when they see Alekno with Iran NT. he lost weight big time. he had his first press conference today and journalists asked him even about that ! they asked him if there is something wrong with the foods here and he made a joke he started his diet" 10 days before coming to Iran because he wanted to look handsome on the Iranian bench!


    they asked him about so many non-related things specially that 2012 Olympics final's substitution. he also said Javad Karimi was overweight when he joined the camp. that's why Alekno dropped him this early. and he was upset because of Karimi's poor mentality to not keep himself in shape when he was injured in Belgium.


    and Manavinejad is injured and will be replaced by Sharifi for the VNL. he will train with the junior team in case Alekno calls him up again.


    MOJI9772-1000x667.jpg

    Vladimir Alekno invited 17+2 players for a mini-camp before announcing his final list.


    Setter: Marouf, Karimi, Vadi

    Opposite: Ghafour, Kazemi, Saadat

    OH: Ebadipour, M.Salehi, Sharifi, Fayyazi, Esfandiar

    MB: Mousavi, Mojarrad, M.Gholami, Abedini

    Libero: Marandi, A.Salehi


    also Farhad Ghaemi and Mojtaba Mirzajanpour are invited to train with the team. to see if they are physically ready.


    this is almost the VNL team with only two changes, Alekno dropped two guys who were starters with Kolakovic! Shafiei was expected but dropping Hazratpour and inviting Marandi was very surprising.

    Quote from WZP

    Iranian roster for Tokyo:

    R: Marouf, Karimi
    A: Ghafour, Kazemi
    S: Mousavi, Mojarad, Gholami
    P: Ebadipour, M.Salehi, Esfandiar, Marandi
    L: A. Salehi

    some cheap unofficial media reported that list yesterday but IRIVF denied it


    whoever "guessed" this list did a good job. I believe it will be something like this eventually but at the moment they have 19 players in the camp and nothing is final.

    Alekno shortened his list to just 16 players, Vadi, Saadat and Ghaemi left the training.


    here is the list of remaining 16


    Setter: Marouf, Karimi

    Opposite: Ghafour, Kazemi

    OH: Ebadipour, M.Salehi, Sharifi, Fayyazi, Esfandiar, Mirzajanpour

    MB: Mousavi, Mojarrad, M.Gholami, Abedini

    Libero: Marandi, A.Salehi

    I think Alekno has taken high risks by bringing only 3 OHs. Ebadipour is far from being stable to stay on court the whole tournament. It's a bit surprising that Fayazi wasn't selected (because of injury?) - I think Iran needs two defensive OHs more than one OH and one back-row specialist.

    Quote from andrea

    I think Alekno has taken high risks by bringing only 3 OHs. Ebadipour is far from being stable to stay on court the whole tournament. It's a bit surprising that Fayazi wasn't selected (because of injury?) - I think Iran needs two defensive OHs more than one OH and one back-row specialist.

    having Marandi in the team was "expected" based on some interviews but I have to say I'm very surprised to see Sharifi there. Alekno rarely used him in VNL


    btw this list is not final. at least not yet. they said that few days ago that at some point they "have" to register a list for FIVB but whoever still in the camp still has a chance to make it. from that 16-man list, they dropped Esfandiar yesterday, 15 players are still there. I believe Sharifi and Mirzajanpour are competing for one spot while the other OH is either Fayyazi or the libero Marandi. the reserve MB is also between Gholami and Abedini.

    Quote from mosi

    btw this list is not final. at least not yet. they said that few days ago that at some point they "have" to register a list for FIVB but whoever still in the camp still has a chance to make it. from that 16-man list, they dropped Esfandiar yesterday, 15 players are still there. I believe Sharifi and Mirzajanpour are competing for one spot while the other OH is either Fayyazi or the libero Marandi. the reserve MB is also between Gholami and Abedini.

    Aren't changes on submitted lists possible only in case of injuries, because Olympics are about to start in two weeks from now? It would be interesting to admit publicly that this is a fake official list, lol.

    Quote from mosi

    having Marandi in the team was "expected" based on some interviews but I have to say I'm very surprised to see Sharifi there. Alekno rarely used him in VNL


    btw this list is not final. at least not yet. they said that few days ago that at some point they "have" to register a list for FIVB but whoever still in the camp still has a chance to make it. from that 16-man list, they dropped Esfandiar yesterday, 15 players are still there. I believe Sharifi and Mirzajanpour are competing for one spot while the other OH is either Fayyazi or the libero Marandi. the reserve MB is also between Gholami and Abedini.

    Did those interviews disclose the reasoning behind the selection of Marandi? IIRC, he's not in VNL at all.

    Quote from andrea

    Did those interviews disclose the reasoning behind the selection of Marandi? IIRC, he's not in VNL at all.

    not really, clearly Iran had problems with reception but I don't know how a second libero can help. it was just obvious that Alekno invited Marandi for a reason. personally I can't understand what Marandi can add to the team more than Hazratpour. but well I guess Alekno knows more than me about volleyball :lol:


    btw Pourya Fayazi (his real name is Babak though) announced retirement from the national team on his social media couple hours ago. so I guess that means that list is really final. or at least Marandi is going to Tokyo for sure.

    Quote from mosi

    not really, clearly Iran had problems with reception but I don't know how a second libero can help. it was just obvious that Alekno invited Marandi for a reason. personally I can't understand what Marandi can add to the team more than Hazratpour. but well I guess Alekno knows more than me about volleyball :lol:


    btw Pourya Fayazi (his real name is Babak though) announced retirement from the national team on his social media couple hours ago. so I guess that means that list is really final. or at least Marandi is going to Tokyo for sure.

    Thanks. I've also read that Ghaemi is very dissatisfied with the treatment of the Iran Volleyball Federation. Do you know the details about the whole saga?

    Quote from andrea

    Thanks. I've also read that Ghaemi is very dissatisfied with the treatment of the Iran Volleyball Federation. Do you know the details about the whole saga?

    oh yeah he was very angry. while I understand him. his interview was total BS. he attacked Alekno and some unknown phantom mafia group inside the NT!


    he was in Alekno's wide list. but didn't accept the call, saying he is busy with his marriage and wants to temporarily (or permanently) retire from the NT. nobody really missed him he had a mediocre season in the league.


    after VNL apparently IRIVF president talked to Alekno about inviting Ghaemi again. claiming he is good in reception and can solve our problems. while nobody knows the detail of their conversation I can guess, Alekno told him something like "OK let me see him in training". Ghaemi came to the NT camp and trained just two days with them (Alekno was absent in the first day) and then when Alekno arrived in Iran he dropped Ghaemi (and Saadat and Vadi) in his first day. Ghaemi found that disrespectful claiming the coach didn't even see me enough in training. and in his interview he called Alekno a puppet, a greedy man who just wants money etc. Ghaemi claims IRIVF president called him personally and guarantee him a place in final 12. while others deny that "guarantee" part. NT manager claims he said to Ghaemi that Alekno calls the shots and he may drop anybody at any minute.


    I think they shouldn't invite Ghaemi in first place. he used to be good but he was terrible in past 2 years. he didn't even last long in Qatar league. I also don't think Alekno ever had a plan to use him. he just didn't want to turn down his boss's request quickly.

    Gotcha. Sounds like the federation is the culprit; if a NT coach is fully in charge, they should not force Alekno to observe certain players. Alekno obviously has no interest in Ghaemi and had a shortlist in his mind when he's back to Iran, and therefore dropped him on the 1st day of training.


    While the Iranian Volleyball Federation managed to hire Alekno as the NT coach, which should be the best possible option, the time may be too short for Alekno to adapt to the team style and make an impact. I think reaching the QF is a realistic goal for the team. Anything better should be treated as a bonus.

    just finished watching Alekno's press conference.


    he said he has 14 players in the camp but he is not still sure about only one player (Mirzajanpour who is training hard but still not fully recovered) while he didn't mention a name but I think the last spot is between him and Sharifi. he also has 4 MBs but I think it's clear that he will drop Abedini.


    he also explained in length about Ghaemi. he was very upset about Ghaemi's interview. he said his plan was to use Fayazi but despite Fayazi's hard work he still needs one more month to recover from his injury. he thanked Fayazi so many times during the press conference. but he said he knew from a month ago that Fayazi is not going to make it. and then he asked about Ghaemi to see if he is "ready" but he was told Ghaemi is not training seriously.

    when he was in Russia (after VNL and before traveling to Iran) team manager asked him if it's possible to test Ghaemi and Alekno claims I said OK let me see him and just one day was enough for him to see Ghaemi is far from a good shape. Alekno said he didn't want to torture Ghaemi and put him in unnecessary pressure. so dropped him very early.


    he also once again made it clear that he has no intention to continue his job after the Olympics. we already knew that Iran will have a local coach for the Asian Championship ( a mixture of senior and junior teams will participate) they will probably think about the long term plan after the Asian Champs.

    This team is confirmed now. Mirzajanpour didn't make it at the end.


    I have to say it's still hard to believe that Sharifi is going to play in Tokyo. he wasn't even in the VNL original squad (he got in when Manavinejad got injured) and Alekno didn't even use him for the first half of VNL. and he didn't really "shine" when he got some playing time. I can't understand why but I'm sure Alekno has his own reasons.


    but one thing is for sure, Iran will be in big trouble if either Ebadipour or M.Salehi has a bad day. Sharifi is going to Tokyo only because Fayazi, Mirzajanpour and Manavinejad got injured (and didn't fully recover in time) and Esfandiar didn't convince Alekno in VNL. Alekno claimed he gave Esfandiar lots of opportunities. more than what he deserved but he is overweight and his reception and block are mediocre (his reception is actually terrible) it's clear that Esfandiar was his choice but then he changed his mind.