Albanian Football Forum

Aurora Bulkualis wrote: ↑Sat Oct 14, 2023 5:20 am With Ajeti back, that defence is a DB era team. Berisha, Hysaj, Ajeti, Gym. Only diff is Mitaj for Agolli.

It's crazy considering that tourney was >7 years ago, and the qualifiers started 9 years ago.

Albania had a potentially talented group of players even post Euro 2016, but there's something with these Swiss raised Albanians and their habit to decline after a couple of years of playing good football. Players like Ajeti, Gjimshiti, Veseli, Aliji, Lenjani, Sh. Gashi, Xhaka, Abrashi etc would become even better was probably what everyone thought. Kosova was fooled too, thinking they struck gold with the Swiss Albos.

Sylvinho deserve credit for giving opportunity to Asani but it's crazy to say Asani was discovered by Sylvinho as albanian media pretends. It's obvious nobody could even imagine impact that Asani had on this qualifiers cycle so Reja deserves all criticism for not giving chance to Asani even on friendlies but we should be also fair that Reja didn't had resources that Sylvinho has, so Reja because of age or whatever "delegated" competences of monitoring Kategoria Superiore to his albanian staff Bulku and Salihi. Best thing Sylvinho did since joined our national team was isolating totally Kombetarja parasites as Bulku&co. It's really crazy Bushi, Bulku, Salihi have zero previous experiences as managers and they use Kombetarja and youth teams as school to learn and they keep losing qualifying cycle after another and they still keep their jobs. Legend as Cana who had clearly leader attributes could been such exception or ex player who shows early signs of brilliance as manager but first job as manager to be U17, U19 or U21 it's total madness.

With Ajeti back, that defence is a DB era team. Berisha, Hysaj, Ajeti, Gym. Only diff is Mitaj for Agolli.

It's crazy considering that tourney was >7 years ago, and the qualifiers started 9 years ago.

Just make Cikalleshi a "locker room guy".

Aurora Bulkualis wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 11:13 pm

IndritFieri1 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 7:03 pm I think Broja might take Cikalleshis place.

I have never hated a player in the national team since the time of Andi Lila as a winger.

Lila as a winger made more sense than Cika at CF. It was DB essentially giving up on offence and just locked down that side of the field. And ironically he gave the only assist ever at a major tourney.

I remember when he was younger Cika wasn't this useless. He had good hold up play and played well as a target man. Now he's got nothing.

Yeah man he was able to get some crazy shots a few years back. Now he's lost even the few capabilities he had.

Aurora Bulkualis wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 11:13 pm

IndritFieri1 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 7:03 pm I think Broja might take Cikalleshis place.

I have never hated a player in the national team since the time of Andi Lila as a winger.

Lila as a winger made more sense than Cika at CF. It was DB essentially giving up on offence and just locked down that side of the field. And ironically he gave the only assist ever at a major tourney.

I remember when he was younger Cika wasn't this useless. He had good hold up play and played well as a target man. Now he's got nothing.

Yes. Di Biasi had to play Lila due to necessity and fielding a team that fit his style of aggressiveness and pressing. Lila fit his style and in his defense the team was much less talented then it was now. The quality of difference between Lila and the subsitute wasn't that big and Di Biasi really fielded a team of below average players. Looking back at it Di Baisi did a great job with that roster and establishing an identity of that squad.

Under Reja, this team played such selfish football that it was hard to watch at times. Everyone trying to be a hero..

Refreshing to see us playing all for one, one for all under Sylvinho. Breaking forward with quick outlet passes and making the right decisions in the final third. Players understanding that the WIN is most important not individual accolades.

Lila got a hockey assist against Romania but it was Memushaj who sent the cross to Sadiku. Either way Lila was an important player during our legendary run with De Biasi.

My cousin came up through the youth ranks and when I asked him who the best players he played with were, he said Andi Lila and Arber Abilaliaj.

IndritFieri1 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 7:03 pm I think Broja might take Cikalleshis place.

I have never hated a player in the national team since the time of Andi Lila as a winger.

Lila as a winger made more sense than Cika at CF. It was DB essentially giving up on offence and just locked down that side of the field. And ironically he gave the only assist ever at a major tourney.

I remember when he was younger Cika wasn't this useless. He had good hold up play and played well as a target man. Now he's got nothing.

IndritFieri1 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 7:03 pm I think Broja might take Cikalleshis place.

I have never hated a player in the national team since the time of Andi Lila as a winger.

lol what a lineup those were. De Biasi would basically play Wingbacks with fullbacks + 2 defensive mids.