Albania vs. San Marino - World Cup Qualifiers Europe - September 8, 2021

[CanaYouDoIt]

Hi guys

I‘m new to this page. This was exactly what I was looking for this whole time. A place where albanian football fans can discuss elaborate etc.

On the game:

How can you start the game with Balaj and let Broja sit on the bench? I mean I get it if you say that he hasn‘t played yet for Southampton but I dont think that Albania has the luxury to leave such a talent out of the starting eleven. Even more so when you just compare the difference in quality between him and the rest of the strikers.

On the formation:
I‘m pretty sure you have already discussed this. You dont choose a formation and decide which player has to fill in a position he never played. We just dont have the players for the 352. Kumbulla and Djimsiti know this formation but the rest of our team dont. The 2 midfieldplayers in the center have to be quick on the feet and agile and have the required endurance. Neither Gjasula or Abrashi can meet this criteria (anymore). Trashi and Doka are limited as wingbacks. Hysaj is no wingback. One of the two strikers needs to be fast and to combine well with the advanced midfielder. Something Uzuni and Bajrami showed and which made me quite happy. The other striker on the other hand needs to always be ready and have good technical abilities, ball control and be a good finisher. Balajs only strenght is his well strenght. He is strong as a bull but his IQ is very low. He is slow. He is technically very bad. Broja showed what Albania was missing. Im not only talking about his goal but his decision making (the run on the right wing and the cross) and his goal he almost created by himself - something balaj never did and just is not able to do.

Conclusion and Forecast:

We played a good game. However the decisions made by Reja before the game in nominating Roshi, Balaj, hoxhallari, cepele (unproven talent) and his decision to put them on. His decision to prefer Balaj to Broja. His stubborn insistance on the 352 make me believe that he is just not the right coach for us.

I think we should replace Balaj with Vrioni. Replace Roshi with Muci or Sahiti. Unfortunately Armando Dobra has been loaned to Colchestet United. I love him as a player. Maybe Kolaj becomes the player I believe he can become. Cokaj is playing every game in croatia and deserves a final introduction to this team. He should take over from abrashi.

In general:
We have to change our mentality of feeling inferior to almost every team and trying to play hard and physical football. We have good technical players. We can play good football. The U21 boys showed us excatly that.

That is why I think it is all down to the coach who with his decisions is slowing down the transition, evolution or even revolution. Sorry to hear that he has some health concerns but I think we need a different coach. Maybe it is time to hire a albanian coach? B. Hasi? Ilir Daja? Skender Gega? I mean Gega played some exciting games with partizan in the europe league against some very difficult opponents.

Welcome ! Totally agree with everything said, it seems obvious doesn't it ? Obvious to everyone but Reja.

[ZenMaster]

Welcome Teodor!

[Simboli i Diellit]

Hysaj, Bare and Manaj will be back in the lineup. Knowing Reja if he could he’d still play the same players he had against Poland. I’m expecting this from him considering what’s left with Broja, Laci and maybe even Mihaj getting some playing time on the second half :

Strakosha
Ismajli - Kumbulla - Djimsiti
Roshi - Bare - Gjasula- Hysaj
—- Bajrami - Uzuni
—- Manaj

[Klejdi1023]

Hysaj, Bare and Manaj will be back in the lineup. Knowing Reja if he could he’d still play the same players he had against Poland. I’m expecting this from him considering what’s left with Broja, Laci and maybe even Mihaj getting some playing time on the second half :

Strakosha
Ismajli - Kumbulla - Djimsiti
Roshi - Bare - Gjasula- Hysaj
—- Bajrami - Uzuni
—- Manaj

Gjasula is suspended. I think he goes with Ramadani, Bare and Bajrami in cm, maybe even Laci over Bare. Unless Cika recovers, then yea Uzuni and Manaj up top. At the end of the day it’s San Marino, so it doesn’t really matter that much, just don’t wanna see that goon Balaj playing.

[Simboli i Diellit]

Forgot about his suspention. Cika could be avaiable for some minutes in the second half but that muscular stretch takes usually 10 days to completely heal. Ramadani isn’t good enough for San Marino From the last interview Reja said he’ll make some changes uptop and i don’t think he’ll put Balaj there after missing that sitter.

[Princ]

Bare does not deserve to play another minute after putting the final nail in our coffin at Poland. Last 2 matches with him on the pitch (1 official, 1 friendly) and we have eaten 7 goals!

Laci completely changed the tempo of the game against the Hungarians while contributing to our biggest win in years!

Starters Abrashi-Bajrami-Gjasula did the trick and all should be ahead in the selection, leaving Bare to compete with Ramadani as the 5th string option (barring injury or disqualification).

[CanaYouDoIt]

Bare is not the reason for those losses . Djimsiti also played those games and I wouldn’t blame him for those losses either .

Abrashi won’t play btw through injury, watch him out there with Bajrami , finally have some technically secure players .

[RedFootballs]

I'm really liking how this team is coming along. Even in the Poland game, we won most of the duels ground and air and controlled the game at points, just like vs Wales and Hungary. We have a more talented group of players than we give them credit for.

[Aurora Bulkualis]

I think we're overrating our players. If Broja didn't pull that out of his ass, the fanbase would have lost their mind.

[RedFootballs]

I think we're overrating our players. If Broja didn't pull that out of his ass, the fanbase would have lost their mind.

0-0 with a team like Hungary is a good result, it's not one that would satisfy bc of how bad we lost to Poland but remember this is a team that nearly qualified out of a group with Germany France and Portugal at the Euros a few months ago.

Players like Laci and Doka showed they can be alternatives if the game calls for it.