Koro

We've been at the same average level for the last 3 years now, actually we are probably even worse now than in 2013 or 2014. You simply don't stand a chance if you finish as the 4th seed. It is near impossible to beat a 1st seed over 5 games with homecourt disadvantage. We had a relatively easy group this season and still only finished 4th, even behind Maccabi who are nothing special, had we been in the other top 16 group I doubt we would have even made the playoffs. Big changes are needed next season in order to just finish higher in the top 16 for a start. I wouldn't mind us having a playoff series that is not against the tournament favourites and actually winnable for a change,

Yes but it was harder for Zisis to prioritise his club over NT when he was playing for teams like Bilbao and Unics, with little chance of major success and he basically moved teams every other year. At Fener now Zisis probably has a real chance of winning the Euroleague for the first time in a few years, but he is still not one of the star players on their roster and may not be around for long. Playing for the NT was one of the few highlights of his year. Contrast that to Diamantidis who was relatively settled at his club and indispensable to a PAO team that was competing for 3 trophies every season, you could say he had more to loose. I'm not saying he made the right decision by retiring at what 29/30 years, but you have to see there is a big difference in the context of these two players careers, its probably more than just whether one of them is a top class guy or not.

Thats one of the main problems I have with basketball, players prioritise club basketball over their national team. Look at the world cup last summer and how many good players didn't turn up: USA basically put out their B team after guys like James and Durant said no, France didn't have Parker, Greece didn't have Spanoulis and I know they weren't in the WC but Luol Deng and Joel Freeland haven't even bothered showing up for GB since the Olympics. But yeah I think Diamantidis was wrong to retire for Greece while he was the best player in Europe, I mean look at guys like Navarro are still playing for Spain. I get that he may have wanted to focus on PAO and you can't argue with that because he has had so much success at club level, but I think he was easily capable of committing to the NT as well. Greece has gotten more mediocre since he (and Papaloukas) retired and it may get ugly when guys like Bourousis, Spanoulis and Zisis retire.

Wow thanks for that personal insight Irlandos on an important event, which to be honest I know little about. I think my granddad had already been chucked out of Greece before the coup happened in 67. That was probably fortunate because I doubt the right-wing military would have been to kind on him if he was still there.

Islam has some really bad teachings, but one of the things that worries me the most about it is how none of them ever convert to atheism. In islam becoming an atheist is punishable by death, there were those atheist bloggers in Bangladesh who recently got killed for saying the sort of views that are common in liberal western society but are totally evil to muslims. Islam is an oppressive religion to anyone who isn't a muslim and it is even oppressive to some of its own followers, look at how they treat their women. This is why western governments should be speaking out against Islam, not like Obama and Cameron saying "Islam is a peaceful religion" just to make their oil-buddies in Saudi Arabia happy. You can probably guess I'm pretty sceptical about economic migration. Like the first video CHE posted said, with Europe having a low birth rate so just they can bring in people from another part of the world to compensate is not sustainable. Capitalism always wants cheap labour in order for those at the top to make as much money as possible, so they turn to foreigners. However there are people who have to leave their country for reasons like war and persecution and they need help to avoid human catastrophe, but Greece is not in the best position to offer such help unfortunately.

Its not that surprising. Greece may well be "left", they are desperate I guess and cannot really promote so much of their green ambitions in this situation. The global economy often gives poorer countries little option but to exploit their fossil fuels for cash, while no one in a powerful enough position is willing or able to pull their finger out over the issue of oil.

Dimi helped Boro get a scrappy 0-1 win away at Norwich tonight. I only saw the first half and he made at least one pretty good save, but looked a bit dodgy when coming to catch crosses and sometimes just punches instead. Boro are now top of the table, but Bournemouth and Watford both have a game in hand. Still looking pretty good for their chances of getting into the EPL with only 2 games left of the regular season.

If only hehe... And this thread is less centred around religion than the "Orthodox Brotherhood" thread, more about politics/economics and also ignores the nutjobs in countries like Serbia.

I see you talk about the British very positively aek66. I however view Britain back then as little better than thieves and colonial oppressors. For me no one has helped Greece that significantly, I know Russia, France and Britain sent over a few ships during the civil war to blow up some Egyptians, but that was a long time ago and all three of those countries have changed a lot. The EU is only concerned about the $$$, Britain likewise and David Cameron even wants Turkey to join the EU, the USA armed Turkey's invasion of Cyprus, Serbia is just mental war criminals bullied by Clinton and Blair and are always supporting their fellow Slavs in FYROM first. Russia has regressed under Putin's mafia-Jew run capitalism and even as the USSR was pretty frosty. Having said that Greece and Russia has had relatively friendly relations in terms of trade and arms, when you consider Greece is in NATO.

I see you talk about the British very positively aek66. I however view Britain back then as little better than thieves and colonial oppressors. For me no one has helped Greece that significantly, I know Russia, France and Britain sent over a few ships during the civil war to blow up some Egyptians, but that was a long time ago and all three of those countries have changed a lot. The EU is only concerned about the ?, Britain likewise and David Cameron even wants Turkey to join the EU, the USA armed Turkey's invasion of Cyprus, Serbia is just mental war criminals bullied by Clinton and Blair and are always supporting their fellow Slavs in FYROM first. Russia has regressed under Putin's mafia-Jew run capitalism and even as the USSR was pretty frosty. Having said that Greece and Russia has had relatively friendly relations in terms of trade and arms, when you consider Greece is in NATO.

I think you've hit the nail on the head there Irlandos. You should have seen how pro-Yank some of the guys became on GS whenever anyone brought up Russia.

Today was actually a good day for Liverpool. Scraped by the mighty Blackburn Rovers in the quarter finals of the FA Cup, on the 2nd anniversary of old Margret Thatcher's death too. :D

Well yeah, you sound like you know more about this than me CHE. hehe

Well its funny you mentioned that Pana because I've heard some people joking about them sending loads of Russian bitches over to Greece if we become allies. So maybe your in luck if Russian girls are your thing mate.

Diamantidis is one of the few athletes I genuinely like. Not just because he plays for PAO, not just because he is a legendary player, but he also seems like a top class guy.

Greece appears to be improving relations with Russia. What are your guys thoughts on this? I think this has its positives, but it also could have negative implications. Personally its anyone but the Germans at the moment. Perhaps Greece's fear of pissing off USA/NATO could stop this from developing.

Never knew you were a Villa fan NickTheGreek. You must be getting used to this by now. Villa seem to end up in a similar situation every season, but still escape the drop.

Great game tonight Aston Villa 3-3 QPR. The relegation scrap looks like it will be pretty close this season, certainly closer than the title race. Benteke scored a hattrick, starting to get back to the form he showed a couple of seasons ago. And I can't work out how Charlie Austin has not been called up to play for England yet, 17 goals already this season, but Roy Hodgeson only picks his personal favourites.

Bye bye top 4 :( Winning the FA Cup is the only way we can get anything from this season now.

Konstantopoulos is currently the starting keeper for Middlesborough who are top of the Championship. Dimi kept a clean sheet in Boro's 1-0 win over Wigan today. He could be playing in the EPL next season at this rate. I wouldn't mind seeing him in a NT squad given his decent form, but his old age will count against him.

haha Taxman I just noticed what your interests are, can't disagree with that :tup:

He needs to click on the little "help" at the bottom. Thats what I did when I had this problem (if I remember correctly), then I emailed the man and he set up an account for me.

Straight down to business Greekaus by starting a LFC forum. I'm not feeling to confident atm, Skrtel will be a big miss, but I think Sturridge may be fit. And don't get me started on the whole Sterling contract situation.

I finally got on this site, thanks to guy who helped me set up this account. Good to see some of the other lads from the GS site.