Albanian National Team [General topic]

[redfootballsv2]

Blew the best possible chance . Bye Sylvinho I won’t miss
you

You wrote all the mistakes of the players in your reply, then you trash Sylvinho. Yes, some mistakes by him, but overall...

Serious question, which manager do you think would get more out of this team? On paper, this side is much weaker than the teams we're competing with, even if you include Muci and Mehmeti (Mehmeti I think should have started today).

[Aurora Bulkuolis]

Sylvinho coached a win, the players refused.

Sometimes you cannot hide the quality of your players forever. We have been consistently outplaying much bigger sides and we did it again today, the ball just didn't go in, meanwhile they had two great strikes from star players.

That can happen. The tactics were great and we put out a very good performance away against Poland.

I agree..

First Polish goal was individual mistake. Happens..

Second Polish goal was excellent. Nothing you can do about that..

We had chances too but didn’t have the composure to take them..

Overall gameplay and preparation was very good..

People won't want to hear it but Manaj would have been useful in this game, he was in good form for the NT.

Even Daku or a natural striker for those chances to fall to.

Anyway, we are proud of the team, great campaign, just bottled it at the final hurdle, but the progress we've made since Sylvinho took charge is tremendous.

He's probably leaving to pastures new but we should be grateful for his work, hopefully they get the next appointment right in the same way. I honestly don't see many managers producing the same results with this team, which is much weaker on paper than it is on the field.

What progress? Reja finished by losing WC qualifiers by 1 goal to Poland. Sylvinho finished by losing WC qualifiers by 1 goal to Poland.

[ReyM9]

What progress? Reja finished by losing WC qualifiers by 1 goal to Poland. Sylvinho finished by losing WC qualifiers by 1 goal to Poland.

And he relegated Albania from Nations League too...

I think it's very hard for coaches to last after 1 campaign.

[redfootballsv2]

I agree..

First Polish goal was individual mistake. Happens..

Second Polish goal was excellent. Nothing you can do about that..

We had chances too but didn’t have the composure to take them..

Overall gameplay and preparation was very good..

People won't want to hear it but Manaj would have been useful in this game, he was in good form for the NT.

Even Daku or a natural striker for those chances to fall to.

Anyway, we are proud of the team, great campaign, just bottled it at the final hurdle, but the progress we've made since Sylvinho took charge is tremendous.

He's probably leaving to pastures new but we should be grateful for his work, hopefully they get the next appointment right in the same way. I honestly don't see many managers producing the same results with this team, which is much weaker on paper than it is on the field.

What progress? Reja finished by losing WC qualifiers by 1 goal to Poland. Sylvinho finished by losing WC qualifiers by 1 goal to Poland.

Yea, because Reja made the WC playoffs, right?

Why be disingenuous in the comparison? It's not, either you qualify or you don't, there are in betweens to how well you played during a campaign.

[redfootballsv2]

What progress? Reja finished by losing WC qualifiers by 1 goal to Poland. Sylvinho finished by losing WC qualifiers by 1 goal to Poland.

And he relegated Albania from Nations League too...

I think it's very hard for coaches to last after 1 campaign.

We finished above Serbia conceding 5 goals the entire group campaign, 4 of them from England.

Put in a great performance away to Poland missing certain goals, lost 2-1.

That's not a bad campaign. That is overperforming.

Expected would be coming 3rd and losing one or both games to Serbia.

[Raketa]

Sylvinho 2 campaigns 2 top 2 finishes..

Anyway you slice it, it’s a success..

The win against Serbia away when our backs were up against the wall was historic..

As was finishing first in our group for the first time ever..

Compliments to Sylvinho!

[canayoudoit2]

Blew the best possible chance . Bye Sylvinho I won’t miss
you

You wrote all the mistakes of the players in your reply, then you trash Sylvinho. Yes, some mistakes by him, but overall...

Serious question, which manager do you think would get more out of this team? On paper, this side is much weaker than the teams we're competing with, even if you include Muci and Mehmeti (Mehmeti I think should have started today).

That the manager picked , guys who’ve continued to play poorly (or a defender making his debut) over our most inform players. Yeah I can blame the manager

[Raketa]

You have to appreciate the unselfish play from the boys..

Many chances tonight to take it themselves but always looking to pass to a teammate in a better position..

Maybe even a bit too much passing at times but set up some great chances too!

Under Reja, the mentality was every man for himself!

Nice to see them playing all for one, one for all!

[SugarRey]

Sylvinho's biggest flaw is he gets too timid in big games. How many times in big games (ie - Italy, Croatia) when we get an early lead he packs it in and plays for a draw? In those Euro matches he played to secure draws and even defeats (2-1 vs Italy) despite needing a win to get through.

Yesterday, Albania fizzled out in the second half and by the time Poland scored the equalizer we were on the ropes. No change, nothing. He brought in the Greek defender.

Syvlinho has obviously done a good job with Albania but his biggest flaw is his cowardness and lineup selections. In no world should a guy like Mehmeti or Muci should be on the bench for Bajrami who hasn't been good since 2023.

[ReyM9]

Sylvinho's biggest flaw is he gets too timid in big games. How many times in big games (ie - Italy, Croatia) when we get an early lead he packs it in and plays for a draw? In those Euro matches he played to secure draws and even defeats (2-1 vs Italy) despite needing a win to get through.

Yesterday, Albania fizzled out in the second half and by the time Poland scored the equalizer we were on the ropes. No change, nothing. He brought in the Greek defender.

Syvlinho has obviously done a good job with Albania but his biggest flaw is his cowardness and lineup selections. In no world should a guy like Mehmeti or Muci should be on the bench for Bajrami who hasn't been good since 2023.

Substitutions have always been his biggest flaw, especially the timing of them (usually too late). Albanian players don't have that kind of fitness and energy to be playing these heavy minutes. Especially those who are already out of form.

Notice he very rarely if ever makes all 5 subs. That's insane for a team so unfit.