Argy

Nikitas, Siopis should't start over in-form Stafylidis. We need some flair and ability to counter, or at least the perception that we can.

I'm of the philosophy that the best defence is a good offence, but that all depends on the weapons we have, and they are scarce. If we had the courage to press Belgium in order to keep them honest, we would have a chance. Giving a team like Belgium 75% possession hoping that we can hold them off is highly unlikely and we would need much luck (i.e. Belgians to miss sitters, posts, crossbars) in order to get a result. How can we go in resting on that?

That's very true. Bosnia with thrash Gibraltar greater than our relatively tame 4-1 win. We have +4 goal dif on BH right now. We need to keep the score within 3 goals if we don't wanna fall too behind going into Sarajevo.

That is why the absence of KPap on DM is monumental.

To be fair, Sokratis and Manolas are better than anything they have. Killer that we are missing KPap on DM. But, yes, you are right, overall, their defense is just as strong. Everywhere else on the pitch, they dominate. Even at the striker position, regardless of Mitroglou's unbelievable form, they have so much skill and depth.

This is not necessarily a criticism, but a fact. Skibbe is emulating Otto's strategy of keeping a tight knit group of regulars that will form the core of this team. He will then have 5 or 6 interchangeable players based on form and fitness. It brought success to Otto early on, but he held on to it for too long and it ended up collapsing.

Boxou, your points are all valid, but what often happens when a team is already qualified and possesses some depth, is that they field their hungry backups trying to play themselves into the lineup going forward. Belgium's bench consists of subs who start for some of the bigger clubs in Europe, especially at the attacking position. That won`t be an easy game.

We're now going into Belgium minues two crucial players in Papadopoulos and Karnezis. The lineup is littered with impactless, below average players from the Greek league. We are in for a tough run. I cannot get over the fact that KPap is suspended for the next two qualifiers vs Belgium and Bosnia. He would have started as DM and he is by far our best player in that position.

Skibbe will likely lean on the more experienced Glykos.

Bosnia will blow Gibraltar out of the water. I say by at least 6 goals. We need a result in Belgium.

I think Samaras played a game or two in Australia. Avraam was actually born down under, though. Avraam just dropped off the face of the earth starting with his move to Turkey and then to China. People don't realize he was only 29 when he left Olympiacos and, if he had maintained form, could have easily still be playing a role in the NT as he just recently turned 32. Strange career.

Dortmund will be good for a long time, because they are great at identifying and developing talent. Because they are not Bayern/Real/Barcelona and the like, they have two paths to success, sign good players at the height of their ability, or bring in unpolished, top grade talent in different stages of their development and grow them into elite footballers. They have more often than not chosen the latter and Sokratis is an example of this. They are very deep in talent, but probably not as much in experience. This is probably their biggest flaw and sometimes costs them points in the table. No matter, they are a dominant team with some world class players.

Val, you can certainly raise valid arguments to back your point, but I am not basing this solely on what other people write, his statistics are strong and I have seen him play countless times for club and country. He is on his game more often than not, and he stands out for the pack with dominant presence in the back. I won't go as far as saying that Sokratis is better than Hummels, but they are on the same level. They're strengths are different so it is hard to compare like for like. All I will say is that between the two, if they are even pound for pound, Hummels was the sexier, more prestigious signing for Bayern.

You think it's an accident that he is considered best by some and top 3 by most? Maybe your sample size should be greater than one game.

He just scored vs Dortmund. Sokratis was on him but let him go prematurely, assuming that keeper would take possession, which resulted in the goal.

La liga? They are in Segunda.

Considering he was just in NASL, this is huge.

Would have been nice to see him in the Premier league, but Benfica is a bigger club than Sunderland.

It's beginning to become clear that Skibbe rates Kpap and will play him at CDM when Sokratis and Manolas are healthy. We are so thin in the middle of the pitch, we cannot afford to have a talent like Papadopoulos sit. Either play him in 3-CB formation or on CDM.

Nice. I got mine signed by him when he came to New York before WC14.

Signed for Heart Of Midlothian in the Scottish Premiership. They currently sit 4th in the table behind Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen.

Alanyaspor......................

Was really hoping he would sign with Montreal.

Wherever he can go get minutes and hopefully stay healthy is fitting at this point.

That`s exactly it.