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kbxk508

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Posts posted by kbxk508

  1. Reality is, our chances are 0.1% or less. Many would say 0%. Real pity. Our only hope is, if we can score 1-0 in 1st half and find a 2nd without conceding and with enough time to make them sweat. This guy Alefantos makes a lot of sense. Zeca has to man mark Modric. We need run in the midfield and on the flanks. It's doable. We will know in the first 15 minutes if the players give it a go.

    After the match, Scibbe said "Όλοι μπορούν να κάνουν λάθη. Είμαστε ομάδα και όλοι μπορούν να κάνουν λάθη στο γήπεδο. Ακόμα και ο προπονητής μπορεί να κάνει λάθη. Σήμερα δεν νομίζω ότι εγώ έκανα πολλά λάθη". He needs to do better.  

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  2. Bet365 has a Croatia win at 1.36, then 4.60 for a draw and a Greece win at 13.00. So what. Not long ago we came through with a lot worse odds than that. Greece has been written off before. That's good. Good thing is we still have a fit, Karnezis, Tzavellas, K Pap, Retsos,  Stafylidis, Tziolis, Zeca, Samaris, Tachtsides, Laz, Bakasetas, Fortounis, Gianniotas and Mitroglou.

    K Pap and Tziolis experience are going to be key. In the absence of Toro, Soc (maybe) and Manolas, they will need to play smart, and show as leaders on the field. Backs, are firmly against the wall.

    Yes. It would be awesome if we could catch them by surprise, and counter with an away goal or two.

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  3. Yeah, I think that we need to believe that this team has goals in it. Tziolis scored in Cyprus so who knows he may go on a roll and get a 2nd.

    K Pap is good in the air. Stafylidis and Tzavellas can hit them from outside the box. Fortounis scored 3 and is due another soon. Zecca, Samaris and Laz have all scored for the Ethniki. Gianniotis has scored 2, from limited chances. 

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  4. 10 hours ago, Ellada2004 said:

    Wtf how's he banned fringing FIFA

    FIFA said Manolas was judged to be guilty of "intentionally seeking a yellow card" in a World Cup qualifying game.

    • FIFA have banned Kostas Manolas for the first leg of Greece's World Cup play-off
    • The defender was found guilty of intentionally getting booked against Cyprus
    • The booking triggered a one-match ban which cleaned his record for play-offs
    • He will be unavailable for Greece's away leg at Croatia but can play the home tie 

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5047531/FIFA-hand-Greece-s-Kostas-Manolas-World-Cup-play-ban.html#ixzz4xQn8TAAH

  5. I can’t see Scibbe changing NT unless forced by injury.

     

    Karnezis

    Toro Manolas Soc Tzavellas

    Zeca Tziolis

    Mantalos Fortounis Donis

    Mitroglou

     

    If Donis inj. Stafylidis takes his spot. He may start with Stafylidis and drop Mantalos or Donis.

    If Toro inj. Maniatis or Retsos come in.

    If Manolas or Soc inj. K Pap comes in.

    Lazaros and/or Gianotis will sub for Mantalos, Fortounis or Donis.

    Samaris sub for Stafylidis, or an AM.

    Anything different to this would be a surprise.

  6. Hmm. Sounds like a grade two or grade three adductor strain.

    As a general rule, grade one groin strains should be rested from sporting activity for about 3 weeks, and grade two / grade three injuries for about 4 to 6 weeks.

    This is not an injury you want to rush back from, unless you risk longer term problems.

    Looks like we will be without him for both games and that means we will be without Socratis and Manolas for game 1.

  7. My prediction:

    POT 1: Portugal or Switzerland, Wales, Italy, Croatia

    POT 2: Sweden, Denmark, Northern Ireland, Greece

    If Croatia fails,

    Sweden may go into POT 1 and Ukraine into POT 2.

     

    Whatever the outcome, we will be heavy underdogs, but if we are at our best we won't be easy. We conceded just 5 goals in our 8 games against the top 4 teams in our Group.  

     

    I think back to Tzavellas goal in the last kick of the match, in the 95' min vs Bosnia in Greece. Got us a point. How valuable did that turn out to be.

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  8. 9 hours ago, Dean97 said:

    I didn't watch the game but I keep on hearing people say that Fortounis is not as passionate as he should be. This is a problem and it's starting irritate me. He is a good talent and with a bit more hustle he can be a great talent that can one day be playing in La Liga or Bundesliga. If he doesn't show hustle in the next match he can get out the of the starting 11 and stay on the bench.

    I actually thought Fortounis did pretty well. He took all of our free kicks near the box and corners, and is pretty much our dead ball specialist.

    If you look at the highlights. 1st half nearly sets up Manolas for a headed goal, misses narrowly. Takes the corner that leads to Tziolis goal. Then makes a good run into the box, but Mantalos can't get it to him. In the 2nd half, takes the corner that sets up Torosides for a free header on goal. Also, I recall one play in 2nd half where he makes a run into box but Mitroglou shoots wide from a narrow angle when a pass was there for him to tap in. Got a knock to his knee late in the game in what was a pretty gutsy challenge, when team mates were getting tired.

    Cyprus were surprisingly a tough opponent.

     

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  9. A win is a win, but we may regret missed chances, e.g. Torosides header 2nd half, Mantalos 1 on 1 in 1st half and hitting the post in 2nd half. Mitroglou shooting from a tight angle when Fortounis made a good run in the box.

    Our goal difference is +4, and our only chance now, is to beat Gibraltar and hope for one of the following results:

    1. Slovenia to draw or beat Scotland

    2. Ireland to draw or beat Wales

    3. Serbia lose or draw with Georgia

    4. Ukraine and Croatia draw

    Other possibilities are unlikely e.g. Northern Ireland would need to lose by 2 or more goals vs Azerbaijan at home and Denmark would need to lose by 4 goals to Romania. Sweden +10 goal difference, can only go out if Holland beats them by 5 or 6 goals.

    Samaris and Manolas both got yellow cards and will miss the match with Gibraltar.

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  10. Greece has 10 pts and goal difference +3, after discarding the result with Gibraltar (6th placed team in Group H). Aside from relying on Belgium drawing or beating Bosnia, then

    If Greece can beat Cyprus and Gibraltar in last 2 matches, Greece standing with respect to 2nd spot will be 13 pts and goal difference +4 or better.

    Will this be good enough?

    Group D:

    Serbia 18

    Wales 14

    Ireland 13

    Worst scenario: Wales finish on 20 pts with wins away to Georgia (6/10) and at home to Ireland (9/10). This would make it mathematically impossible for Greece to better them as a 2nd placed qualifier.

    2nd scenario: Ireland finish on 19 pts with wins at home to Moldova (6/10) and away to Wales (9/10). In this scenario, if Greece wins both its final 2 matches, we would be equal points with Ireland. Greece's goal difference is +3 (7) and Ireland 0 (7). Ireland would have to better Greece's result by 3 or more goals. Unlikely. 

    Best scenario for Greece: Georgia draw with Wales (6/10) / Ireland draw or defeat Wales (9/10).

    Group A:

    France 17

    Sweden 16

    Netherlands 13

    Bulgaria 12

    France play Bulgaria away. Bulgaria have won all 4 home qualifiers, but lost 4-1 to France in France.

    Sweden at home to Luxembourg (7/10) and Netherlands away to Belarus (7/10) should be easy wins for them.

    Netherlands play at home to Sweden (10/10)

    Worst scenario: France and Sweden finish on 20 or more points.

    Best scenario for Greece: Netherlands beat Sweden at home (10/10). In this scenario, assuming Sweden and Netherlands win easy matches on 7/10, then both finish on 19pts if Netherlands can beat Sweden. Sweden's goal difference +3 (6) and Netherlands +2 (7) if Belarus is 6th placed in Group A.

    Group E: 

    Poland 19

    Montenegro 16

    Denmark 16

    Key matches: Montenegro at home with Denmark (5/10) and away to Poland (8/10), Denmark at home with Romania (8/10).

    Poland play Armenia at home (5/10) and I expect them to win.

    Best scenario: Montenegro draws Denmark / draws or loses Poland / Denmark draws or loses to Romania OR Montenegro beats Denmark / loses to Poland. Montenegro goal difference +3 (6) and Denmark goal difference +4 (6). 

    Prediction: Too many results need to go our way for this Group and I can't see anything but a Denmark win vs Romania. 

    Group F: 

    England 20

    Slovakia 15

    Slovenia 14

    Scotland 14

    Key matches: Slovakia away to Scotland (5/10) and Slovenia at England (5/10).

    If Slovakia beat Scotland away would mean they are virtually guaranteed top 2 finish as their last match is at home with Malta (8/10). Assuming Slovakia draw with Scotland (5/10) then beat Malta, then they finish with 19pts +6 goal difference. Greece would need to beat Cyprus by more than 3 goals to better Slovakia.

    Best scenario: Scotland beat Slovakia (5/10), England beat or draws Slovenia (5/10), Scotland draws Slovenia (8/10)

    Group I:

    Croatia 16

    Iceland 16

    Turkey 14

    Ukraine 14

    Ukraine plays Kosovo (6/10) and Iceland plays Kosovo (9/10) which should be easy wins.

    Best scenario: Turkey beats Iceland at home (6/10) and draws Finland away (6/10), Croatia draws Finland at home (6/10), Croatia draws or beats Ukraine away (9/10)

    Bottom line: If Croatia beat Finland and Turkey fails to beat Iceland then at least 2 teams will finish on 20 points <assuming Kosovo don't cause an upset>

    ...

    Ps: All of this is meaningless, if we can't beat Cyprus or Bosnia doesn't drop points with either Belgium or Estonia.

  11. Form guide last 5 matches

    Greece: L D D D D

    Cyprus: L W W L D

    The thing that bugs me is not that Cyprus are still a chance of making 2nd therefore guaranteed to give us a tough match, and I believe they will, but that even if we beat them and Gibraltar we are not guaranteed a playoff.

    It's a game of small margins. A missed chance hear or there is all it takes to miss out. We need to make sure we get max points in Cyprus and prey that Bosnia drops points, and results in other Groups go our way. Our match with Gibraltar regardless of how much we win it, will not improve our points and goal difference with respect to being in top 8 2nd place teams.

     

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