Argy

Guys, we are in for a treat vs Hungary. Tziolis is 100% in starting XI, no Mitroglou, so best case we start with Koulouris who will be invisible and worst case the tactician Skibbe will play a hopeless false 9 like he did today. In Skibbe's eyes, no forward was a better option than Donis who played CF vs Bayern Munich 2 weeks ago. Greece continues to make bad teams look good and it will bite them in the ass. What a let down after a great first quarter of an hour. An embarrassment.

Unlocking this thread as, on September 5th, Pano signed with Nottingham Forest on a 2-year deal.

Karnezis had a good game in Napoli's 2-1 win over Lazio on the weekend.

Very important to callup Vlachodimo for the upcoming matches. If he wants to play for Germany that it should be voiced and he will thus become a foreigner and no need to mention him again. An invitation should be extended though.

Arsenal fans are the most obnoxious I've ever seen. Most of them had their mind made up on Sokratis before he hit the pitch and are looking for anything to reinforce their prejudice. They played Man City and Chelsea. Couldn't have asked for a more difficult first two games while he is still in the midst of getting comfortable; Best team in PL Man City and London rival powerhouse Chelsea. He has been very good. The players around him, including his midfield have not helped whatsoever as they got outplayed in both games. His partner, Mustafi, does not make things easier either as Sokrati is clearly the better of the two. Their comments on lack of pace, they really don't know what they are talking about. His robust style of play make fans that don't know much about him assume that he is slow, which is quite the opposite, as he was considered one of the quickest CBs in the Bundesliga. Most fans just read the misinformation on twitter and reiterate it without knowing much. Has he slowed down? Maybe a bit, I don't know. Maybe not. They call him old, yet he just turned 30 in June, which is prime for a CB. Like I said, obnoxious and they don't seem to rate players from Greece, which doesn't help their opinions. Paokarag4, you are right though, the mature, educated Arsenal fan is getting won over by two solid performances in the toughest of circumstances.

David Ospina just arrived at Napoli. So safe to say Karnezis' short and not so sweet run as Napoli #1 is over. Unfortunate.

England would be tough I agree.

If Sokratis' work ethic and attitude, and Manolas' competitiveness rub off on Retsos and Mavropanos, among others, we will be set in the CB position for the next decade, if not more. The talent is there.

Tziolis was serviceable DM for a coupe of years, but those are long gone. Katsouranis was a CL level player for a good many years. Hard to compare the two.

I see him being moved before the window closes unfortunately. I would prefer seeing him in a bigger league than Turkey though.

Hearing good things, but we are so bottom heavy on this team that it is very hard earning a callup as a CB. Could be a good opportunity to give him a nod in the coming games seeing Retsos and Kyriakos Papadopoulos will be out injured.

It's tricky to judge anyone's individual performance, including the club as a whole versus a powerhouse like Manchester City. They are a level above anyone else in the PL and Arsenal will not be facing such a talented, organized and fluid side every week. All things considered, Sok was very solid today. Goals were not on him, did a good job marking Aguero out of the game, and already looks like a leader vocally and through example at the back. Expecting him only to get more comfortable with the new system and his teammates in the next few weeks. Tough task vs Chelsea next week. Sould be interesting.

Wonderful.

haha yea exactly. How do you pass up on a player that will likely be a top 4 CB at Arsenal this season? Especially considering your #3 and #4 NT CBs are injured.

24 for a keeper is like 21 in any other position. He still has time. Here's hoping.

I would think teams would take NL as seriously as Euro qualifying seeing there are real implications. Whereas friendlies were used mostly to try out players/formations. Am I wrong?

Fetfa has looked good? I haven't seen any Oly games, glad to hear this.

Stefanos Kapino has been transferred from Nottingham Forest to 1.Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for 1 million euros. Big move considering he earned very few starts for Forest last year. Hopefully he gets his opportunity and seizes it. Still young and potential for a bright future for club and country.

George, I'm sure you've seen the NT games. Is the most gaping hole not our forward creativity and possession in the midfield? I like some of our attacking midfielders individually, but they have mostly been impotent with the NT. I think Donis should be one of the first names on the team sheet and Fetfa should be given some serious minutes and some room to adjust if called up. Fortounis, Mantalos and Pelkas have my support, but have never really matched up to their opponents' midfields, even ones that are weaker on paper. Time to close Toro Greeks Abroad thread. Any further discussions can be held in the Greek National Team or Olympiacos FC forums.

I'd say we need attacking midfield before DM. Zeca and Samaris can hold the fort if they can get some relief in the form of ball possession from their teammates.

Thanks

On July 28, the 33 year-old Torosidis returned to Olympiacos after 5 years playing in Italy for both Roma and Bologna. It was time for a move back home where I think he can have another successful couple of years. I will keep this thread open a few more days before it is locked.

Same here. Nothing has been announced yet.

Reports are now indicating that KPap will undergo yet another knee surgery that will keep him out for the next 5 months. He will remain with relegated Hamburg. This could be the beginning of the end for a player who was once one of the more promising Greeks of his generation. Sad.

It is being reported by Sport24 and according to several German sources, that he is on his way out of Hamburg, who have been relegated to 2.Bundesliga. Apparently FC Krasnodar is pursuing him closely; They finished 4th in the Russian Premier League last season.