Dean97

I hate to break it to everyone but the likes of Fetfatzidis, Kone and Pelkas won't get get called up. Especially the first 2. Lazaros will likely take Donis spot. Zeca and Samaris will probably start also. I hope Fortounis plays the game of his life against Croatia. We need him to step up.

Does anyone know what's happening with Torosidis? Also what about Stafylidis? I don't mind that Mantalos is out, still wish him a speedy recovery. Donis is more of a huge loss.

Now we're talking!

We are probably going to see Zeca and Stafylidis on the wings. I hope Donis will be fine. Mantalos is replaceable, he hasn't lived up to the hype, that's also because he's been put on the wing. I believe if Donis is fine we will see one of Zeca or Stafylidis on the other wing.

Where am I re!

The biggest disappointment is Ninis. Then Fetfatzidis. Ninis had everything on his side. Talent, youth, the media and the country behind him. Its very unfortunate that his career has led to what it's led. Same can be said for other players like Tatos, Vlachodimos and Koutsianikoulis. Now we turn to the likes of Lampou, Manthatis, Limnios and Androutsos.

This is good to see. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1918527405135192&id=1598480473806555

I agree.

Time is the only factor. We need in my opinion do blood some new players. Our right back position is very low in terms depth. Unless you count Maniatis or Retsos. I don't. Bakakis is not a long term option. Kitsiou I don't know when he will breakout, it's such suspense with him. Left back we have Stafylidis and Lykogiannis who can fight for that spot. Younger talent like Katranis and Tsimikas who I rate can be right behind. Manolas and Papadopoulos should be around in the next 5-10 years. Another thing we have to notice is that Mitroglou is almost 30. Karelis just came back from a very serious knee injury and Bakasetas is not that great.

Really? Farout hope he becomes something, as well as the rest of our youth.

Yes true but if your going to call up Tziolis, call up Fetfatzidis too. Be smart about it. I forgot Skibbe is blind...

Thank you my friend. I couldn't have said it better.

Skibbe wants a defensive wingers who track back all the time. I don't understand how hard is it to tell a player to track back. Who cares if they don't like it. If they don't like it they can stay on the bench. Tell Fetfatzidis to track back simple. If he doesn't do it take him off. His attacking style is definitely needed, also he is a winger.

Fetfatzidis plays in Saudi. He is arguably the best talent to come out of Greece. Tziolis plays in the same league and gets chosen. Wheres the logic? You are saying that 2nd division players don't belong in the team and Skibbe still chooses them. Also Ive heard Skibbe in an interview saying he wants the best possible players in the national team. We all know there are better players than Maniatis, Tziolis and Tzavellas. If we can't choose players like Gianniotas and Bouchalakis then who are we going to choose? If Skibbe wants the best players then Holebas and Fetfatzidis should be first on the list. More than half of our team are not national team material with your statement. What are we doing? More importantly where are we heading?

Gianniotas can be used off the bench. I didn't he has to start, but saying he is not national team worthy is a joke. He comes on makes an impact. His style of play is the reason why he makes an impact.

I wanted to discuss something about our youth players coming up. Players such as Lamprou, Limnios, Androutsos, Risvanis, Manthatis and so on. I was wondering, how would we know if these players will become bigger players than the likes of Sokratis, Fortounis and Mitroglou? One way in my opinion is by comparing the ages. For example. What did Fortounis do when he was 18-19? He played for some German team in the second division from Asteras. He then was chosen in the Euro squad in 2012. He is now playing for Olympiakos at the age of 24 and is a captain as well. Can we say has he progressed from those years? The answer is yes. Can he play in a better league? maybe. He is just an example. The question is what are the young players of this current generation who are 18-20 doing right now. Lamprou went from Panathinaikos to Iraklis to PAOK to Panionios. He is 19. Androutsos, 19, is currently at Olympiakos, who is rumored to go abroad soon. Douvikas is an up and coming player from Asteras. I can tell everyone now that Donis, 21, will have a better career than Mantalos and Fortounis. To go from Panathinaikos youth to Juventus youth is a big step up. He was only 16. He is now playing in the Bundesliga. Can everyone see my point? I know it takes time for some players. Some are very talented like K.Papadopoulos. 18 year old starting for Schalke. Retsos 19 playing for Leverkusen is a big step aswell. So far Donis and Retsos are doing well in progressing at a young age. Who will be next is the question?

How is Gianniotas and Bouchalakis not national team standard? Tziolis plays in Saudi Arabia and still gets picked. Where is Fetfatzidis? Every time Gianniotas plays for the Ethniki he proves why he should play. He has scored 2 goals in 4 appearances. That is a better ratio than Fortounis and Mantalos. They might be on the bench in the second division but they are better than Vellios, Diamantakos and Tziolis.

Chatzigiovanis is creative. I don't know if he is playing regularly but there is something there with the player. Limnios is very talented in my opinion. Lamprou is doing decent at Panionios. Aswell as the players Boxou mentioned, we have some creative players but I'm not entirely sure who is the one that will surpass Fortounis or Mantalos. We are lucky at the moment we have them 2 currently.

Spanoudakis is a talent. I don't know why he is not even in the u21s. Mourgos I don't know much of. Diamantakos has provided nothing, aswell as Vellios. Bakasetas hasnt done much but is more reliable than the previous 2. Gianniotas is a good weapon off the bench. Tziolis plays in Saudi and should not be called up. So there are players that can eventually replace these players, such as: Tziolis for Kourbelis Bakasetas for Pelkas Diamantakos for Karelis Vellios for Bouchalakis Maniatis for Siopis Tzavellas for Lykogiannis With these adjustments the team looks better.

The biggest problem is that we don't play our natural wingers. This is why we don't score enough. Gianniotas should be played. Donis also. They are creative and they get in good scoring chances. Stafylidis should stay at Leftback and Mantalos should behind Mitroglou. Other wing options are Lazaros and maybe Pelkas. Fortounis should play in a deeper midfield position that brings the ball up through the middle. Bakasetas and Diamantakos should not be called up along with Tziolis. Give players like Masouras, Pelkas, Galanopoulos and Androutsos a chance. I'd like to see Siopis play. My problem with him is his size. He can run and hustle all day. He is very agile and good with the ball. Kourbelis i don't know much of. He can position himself very well I've noticed and is reliable. That's why he is captain. Tachtsidis is very good to have. His size one thing and his vision is another. Zeca should be the starter for now.

Samaris is needed. I still think he offers something. He is much better than Tziolis. Defensively better than Tachtsidis and has experience. I expect him to score though and I expected to pick out smart through balls to our wingers and Mitroglou, he hasn't shown much vision like Tachtsidis. That is what he hasn't done yet. His passes are good, has good height and had some skill with the ball. Blaming him for that one goal Belgium scored doesn't justify him to sit out.

That's massive news. I hope it's true. He is a real professional. This kid has ambitions.

The thing is without Manolas, Sokratis and Mitroglou we wouldn't be in the situation we are in now. Donis is a huge loss and that is an understatement. Players like Samaris, Mantalos and Fortounis have to do more. Stafylidis and Zeca are doing fine. Karelis won't be ready for November. If we can get more from the three I mentioned above then we should be fine.

I agree. But Mourgos and Spanoudakis should be at least be playing in their first teams, in order to be considered call-ups.

We have become a team again. I'm glad what Sokratis said about how it is a blessing to be born Greek. I believe with a Greek heart we can take on anyone and destroy them especially if you are united and a team and thats what we have become. Now we look forward to this match full of confidence and eagerness to make the world cup. Manolas will be a loss if he is not playing. Papadopoulos should do fine. Donis and Fortounis should start. With Lazaros, Mantalos and maybe Karelis as bench options. Tziolis and Maniatis should be done after this as Siopis and Kourbelis are ready to prove their worth. Zeca is a good player with a motor and Samaris and Tachtsidis are the best holding midfielders in Greece. Since Karagounis and Katsouranis retired they should be given the reigns as the 2 midfielders. Fortounis should be ahead of them as the number 10.