Albanians abroad

[RedFootballs]

Albanian players commonly have stunted growth especially if they are starting from shitty leagues/Superliga. Many of our good players have only exploded in their mid20s and didn't show much before that, meanwhile all our 'amazing' youth players as Cepele/Avdijaj/Kabashi flop.

[CanaYouDoIt]

Albanian players commonly have stunted growth especially if they are starting from shitty leagues/Superliga. Many of our good players have only exploded in their mid20s and didn't show much before that, meanwhile all our 'amazing' youth players as Cepele/Avdijaj/Kabashi flop.

Player growth is not linear regardless of nationality , it just seems more Albanian progidies flop because there are less of them but the "bust" % is probably around the same.

But yeah Albanian players like Ismajli have their development stunted due to starting out in Albania, guys like Cikalleshi too who's finally turning out to be a decent player.

[CanaYouDoIt]

At this point our defence trounces any other department. I'd rather have an extra defender than some random midfielder or striker than won't do anything.

Strakosha with Djimsiti/Kumbulla/Ismajli/Hysaj is the best defence we've ever had. Even surpassed Berisha/Cana/Mavraj/Agolli.

Having that extra defender doesn't make us more defensively solid though, we're really not that organised and it really annoys me considering the 3ATB is supposed to be the most solid formation.

I'd like us to try a 451/4231 , would give us that extra boost in attack without hurting us too much defensively. Balliu and Xhaka are still in contention to play btw per Reja. Those 2 would be key to the change to 4 ATB.

[Klejdi1023]

At this point our defence trounces any other department. I'd rather have an extra defender than some random midfielder or striker than won't do anything.

Strakosha with Djimsiti/Kumbulla/Ismajli/Hysaj is the best defence we've ever had. Even surpassed Berisha/Cana/Mavraj/Agolli.

Having that extra defender doesn't make us more defensively solid though, we're really not that organised and it really annoys me considering the 3ATB is supposed to be the most solid formation.

I'd like us to try a 451/4231 , would give us that extra boost in attack without hurting us too much defensively. Balliu and Xhaka are still in contention to play btw per Reja. Those 2 would be key to the change to 4 ATB.

4/5/1 suits us best. We made the Euros using this formation, and time has shown that nothing else has really worked for us. If we get Bajrami, then 4/2/3/1 is best moving forward, but Im sure till Reja is out nothing will change...

[Dallku]

If you watch Albanian attackers like Muci, Cekici, Kallaku, etc.. you notice that they hide from the ball a lot. It's like they are scared of it and don't want it. Even though they are technically decent you can see that the aggression is lacking. That's very important for the next levels.

[engineer123]

Balliu, too injured to be playing for the NT, will start again tonight for Rayo Vallecano against Granada.

[Dallku]

Balliu, too injured to be playing for the NT, will start again tonight for Rayo Vallecano against Granada.

and Reja was very nice to him and Xhaka in the press conference. He pretty much excused them for their fake injuries.

De Biasi would've blasted them lol

[Princ]

Strakosha with Djimsiti/Kumbulla/Ismajli/Hysaj is the best defence we've ever had. Even surpassed Berisha/Cana/Mavraj/Agolli.

By what measure?

Berisha is the best goalkeeper in the history of Albania.

The back line of Hysaj, Cana, Mavraj, Agolli beat Portugal away, drew with Denmark at home and qualified us for the EURO finals.

[artan]

Strakosha with Djimsiti/Kumbulla/Ismajli/Hysaj is the best defence we've ever had. Even surpassed Berisha/Cana/Mavraj/Agolli.

By what measure?

Berisha is the best goalkeeper in the history of Albania.

The back line of Hysaj, Cana, Mavraj, Agolli beat Portugal away, drew with Denmark at home and qualified us for the EURO finals.

Di Biasi’s system really did that back line favors. That midfield pressed relentlessly and covered every inch of grass, they kept that back line clean. You never saw someone like agolli in a 1 vs 1 situation where he’d get easily beat by a pacey winger.

But that being said I still think Mavraj’s prime from 2014-2016 was the best defender we’ve had. He really was the Albanian Bonucci and his passing was superb. Dude carried us through that Armenia match with one leg and after the death of his dad.

[Princ]

Di Biasi’s system really did that back line favors. That midfield pressed relentlessly and covered every inch of grass, they kept that back line clean. You never saw someone like agolli in a 1 vs 1 situation where he’d get easily beat by a pacey winger.

But that being said I still think Mavraj’s prime from 2014-2016 was the best defender we’ve had. He really was the Albanian Bonucci and his passing was superb. Dude carried us through that Armenia match with one leg and after the death of his dad.

Absolutely.

You will notice that De Biasi would field only 1 attacker for some super important matchups.

On a night most similar to the upcoming date in Poland, this is who Albania put out in the middle of Belgrade.

————Berisha
Hysaj-Mavraj-Cana-Agolli
Lila-Abrashi-Kukeli-Xhaka-Lenjani
————Balaj

Cannot expect to go into tough environments trying to attack, as you will get blown away.

The team needs height, a midfield full of pitbulls, and doubled up protection down the flanks to avoid getting crushed by the superior opponent.