Editorial: About time Hossein

After two short spells in Qatar and UAE, Kabi finally signed for a European club. Too bad it wasn't for a Premiership club but congratulations to him anyway! If you want to play football, Europe is the place.

As I wrote in the Jamaice game editorial, Kabi is unquestionable Iran's most talented right back ever (right defender in a four back). Heck, he's Asia's most talented wingback/fullback ever too. PSV and Spurs Lee who's had the biggest success so far as an Asian player in that role comes nowhere near the talent and potential of Kabi. Though what talent means Ali Karimi and Andranik Teymourian has both proved to us, each in a different way.

Kabi who made his national team debut being sixteen as right back has ever since occupied that position all for himself. Now being 21 he has already 55 caps and has for a few years already been one of the cornerstones of the team. Though for the last year since Ghalenoei is in charge Kabi has had his first half-crisis in the national team. A change of system to a three back, which meant that Kabi had to fight for a right wing spot with Captain Mahdavikia is one of the reasons. The other is, Ghalenoei's idea of playing his captain in the right back position and has Kabi compete with Kazemyan for the right wing. Kabi of course have played right wing and also striker but is at his best at right back, where his aggressive defending and attacking skills are best used. Though this is in Asia, playing in the Championship could be a different story.

Hossein is excellent in building up plays with and great in wall passing him through as a right back. If we though consider him playing right back but playing under tactics that prioritize long balls directly to forward one of his greatest strengths will pass by unnoticed. If we imagine the opposition playing the same tactics and even worse, having a tall striker going out wide on his left side, to create a mismatch with Kabi for the long balls, Kabi's greatest weakness, his height could be exposed. Another worry is the crosses coming in from the opposition's right wing; a few of them shouldn't be a worry but teams that insist to get in crosses from the right side could be a problem.

This is why the Premiership would fit Kabi better, less long balls and more football being played. Though in the Championship he will have time to learn the language and culture and set him up for greater challenges in the Premiership. Cause there is no doubt about it, Kabi is destined for top European sides.

Leicester has recently also signed Jason Chambers from Watford and Martin Allen might play him as right back and have Kabi in front of him on the wing. It's hard to say if it's good news or bad news for Kabi to play as right winger, but surely he will develop further as a player and increase his competitiveness. The good news is that he won't face the same difficulties in the defence but instead bigger demands will burden his shoulders in attack.

Anyhow, it was about time Hossein!