J1078

Apparently it’s official Manolas will be back according to reports. Copy and pasted from Facebook post. ❗ According to several media, the return of 29-year-old center defender Kostas Manolas is imminent. John van ' t Schip is said to have recalled Manolas for the qualification because he was not removed from the squad forever. Now a comeback is to come for the games against Spain 🇪🇦 and Georgia 🇬🇪. As it stands with Papastathopoulos and Siovas as well as Mitroglou is not yet known. 🇬🇷

Just out on Sportime “According to Sportime, John van't Schip is seriously considering selecting Kostas Manolas for the Ethniki after 16 months for the upcoming 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Spain & Georgia in March. The Napoli defender last appeared in the 1-1 draw with Liechtenstein at OAKA.” sportime

Do we have any friendlies before our game against Spain? If so when and who do we play?

I understand your thinking of wanting to go for it, I just think against Spain it will expose us very bad and we may let in 3-4 if we do that, remember goal differential means something if it comes down to two teams being tied at the end.. I think they need to approach this game with a conservative style and if we see an opportunity hopefully we can catch them on the counter. I would prefer to see Manolas over Socratis, hopefully JVS can see the importance of having a player like that against a big name team like Spain. Zeca will be in for his hustle, and liminos with his speed will surely start. I’m not to sure about Bakakis I know we don’t have many options but I think Spain will expose him pretty easily..

4 would be great but 3 is an absolute must or we are screwed, and especially if Spain dominate the group like we think they will they would have qualified by the time they play there last match against Sweden meaning they may rest some stars.

I don’t think crowds right now will matter as I can’t see any place allowing fans but for future games I agree. I guess Crete will no longer be an option? Is that off the table now?

I’n all honesty in order for us to have a chance at 2nd in this group JVS has to call up Manolas and Siovas and then you have a back line of them with Hatz and Tsimikas. You need to bench Bakasetas and have Fortounis in the middle and the wingers should be Tziolis, Liminos, Masouras and Fountas. I would also like to see Donis he has good one on one speed and quick feet. As far as our Midfield its an Issue and so is the striker position. Pavlidis hasn’t showed me anything.

What happened to Crete? I would play anywhere else rather then OAKA

Spain would have qualified by the time they play Sweden for the last game, I hope they don’t rest players and make it easier for Sweden to take something from that game..

You Cannot go into this qualifier with Mantalos on the wing or Bakasetas in the middle. I think right now on the wing you need to start Tzolis and Liminos on the wing with Fortounis in the middle. As far as a striker goes i don't know what the answer is maybe try Fountas??? I know Mitro might sign with Oly but i don't think we want to go down that road again as he has completely fallen out of form and will not present anything to the team unless you literally feed him the ball. As far as our midfield this has been an ongoing problem and our current duos are not the answer. Manolas and Siovas need to be revisited before this campaign starts because our current back line will get shredded against the top seeded teams in our group.

That will be key As Greece can not afford to drop one single point to either Georgia or Kosovo, if they do they are done as I don’t see Sweden getting anything but wins against those teams. Also we need to realize this won’t be anything like the nations league where we had majority of possession as Spain we know but Sweden will control more of the ball so we better shore up our defence and put the best possible players available if we want the best chance at taking points from Sweden. I’m games against Sweden and Spain you know you will have guys back so your hoping to catch something on the counter attack.

I don’t think it’s completely hopeless, Will it be difficult? 100% it will. Can JVS Continue with the same line up against these teams? Short answer No. But m not going to be like that clown @Torontobluewho comes on hear and just trolls everyone like a clown putting up laughing emojis everywhere.. The guy is talking like everyone on hear said we will advance and beat Sweden and Spain.. No one said that everyone recognized this team has a difficult task ahead.. Are chances high that we finish 2nd? No, Obviously Sweden are favoured to take second but is it an impossible task? I don’t think so. But let’s see what happens. Maybe being in such a difficult group may force JVS to call on Manolas and finally put Fortounis in the middle and sit Bakasetas.. You never know.. JVS is happy the way the team is adapting to his style of play but in his mind after seeing the team play in Nations league he has to think if he fields the same line up against so much better competition there is no chance of advancing. Maybe this will force him to finally make the much needed changes.

Spain will run away with this group. For us there are no easy games we are capable to drop points to Georgia and Kosovo as we've witnessed. In regards to Sweden we don't really fair well against Scandinavian teams. This draw is difficult but as @Ellada2004 said it could have been worse.

We would have had Azerbaijan instead of Kosovo but do to restraints Serbia and Kosovo can’t be in the same group so they moved Kosovo with us

SPAIN SWEDEN GREECE GEORGIA KOSOVO

We just got Georgia

Well that sucks So far Spain Sweden Greece

try this and see if it works. FIFA World Cup 2022™ - News - UEFA preliminary draw for Qatar 2022 to be streamed live - FIFA.com

The most important team for us will come out of pot 2.. Chances are who ever comes out of the first pot will take the group so having a weaker team in group 2 is key for us.. Also let’s hope we don’t draw Bosnia again out of pot 4.

That would be a dream group for us...

I figured with the world cup qualifying draw tomorrow I would start a new thread like in some of the other forums. The Draw takes place tomorrow Monday Dec 7th at 12pm est. Pot 1: Belgium, France, England, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands Pot 2: Switzerland, Wales, Poland, Sweden, Austria, Ukraine, Serbia, Turkey, Slovakia, Romania Pot 3: Russia, Ireland, Czech Republic, Norway, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Scotland, Greece, Finland Pot 4: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Israel, Belarus, Georgia, Luxemburg Pot 5: Armenia, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia, Andorra Pot 6: Malta, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar, San Marino

Φαν Σιπ: 'Θα κριθούμε από την προκριματική φάση του Μουντιάλ' | SPORT 24

Exactly.... If Fortounis is a starter he will 100% be on the wing while Bakasetas who is s%$#! starts in the middle.. This logic makes zero sense..

JVS tests positive for covid.

I don't know who the answer is but unless we can come up with a solid duo at CM we will be limited as to how far this team can go. I like Zeca he hustles and is full energy but him alongside Bouchalakis or Kourbelas are not the answer they are not good enough. This was a huge problem ever since post 2014 world cup and still we don't have a competent duo.