Dean97

That’s exactly what I said on another forum. There’s a big disconnection between the friendlies and main games and I don’t know why. I feel like JVS panics in the main games and throws out his philosophy or the players don’t believe in themselves to do it in the qualifiers. In the game against Kosovo we didn’t value the ball and we were letting them have possession, which doesn’t make any sense against a team like that.

Feel exactly the same way. How can you go from wanting to attack to sitting back and defending against Kosovo and Georgia. The guy hasn’t learned anything. Still continues to pick players like Bakasetas and Bouchalakis for our midfield. I personally believe JVS and Bakasetas have cost us qualification. JVS is more to blame. I don’t think our players are that bad. JVS just didn’t set up the team correctly. We needed wingers badly this game. The aim should’ve been to attack and go at this team as much as possible.

It’s sad. Don’t know why we can’t do the simple things right like passing and moving into space. No one in the midfield to lead the team going forward like Fortounis did at times. No intent to attack. Shocking performance.

Since the day JVS took over those players you mentioned should’ve been the spine of the team. What’s wrong with picking and rotating CBs like Nikolaou, Retsos, Mavropanos and Hatzidiakos? But no he has to pick 33 year old Tzavellas and a LB like Stafylidis and Giannoulis at CB. Tzolis and Alexandropoulos should be starting every time now. Douvikas, Pavlidis and Fountas should be our strikers. Fortounis and Fetfatzidis are still our most creative players we’ve got. Add Galanopoulos, Bouchalakis, Androutsos, Vlachodimos, Tsimikas and Masouras and you have a team. What’s wrong with that?

He should’ve taken off Bakasetas. Can’t believe the treatment this guy gets.

I’d take Mavropanos over Svarnas and Tzavellas any day. There a reason he went from Pas Giannina to Arsenal at a young age. He’s a beast in Germany aswell. He isn’t the problem. Tzavellas and Bakasetas are the ones we should be blaming.

Truly unacceptable. Being content with a 1-0 against a team like that means the coach deserves to be terminated. Seems like JVS has no faith in the players he’s chosen.

There was no movement aswell. No one to take charge in going forward and no one helping. He set us up to defend like we were playing against a Spain.

Unbelievable. How can he set us up to defend all game against Kosovo? His mantra was all about attacking, possession and movement. Where was that today?? He set us up for disaster. What always irritates me the most about this team is when we are in the lead after 1-0 we always back off and become too content with the the 1 goal. That’s something I hate. Your supposed to look and try and score another. I said we needed to score more than 1. I don’t know who’s more to blame. Even the system and players we played we should’ve put this team away. They were trash. Tzavellas got bullied hard in that last goal. There big striker over powered and towered over him like he was nothing. His height as a cb was always going to be a problem. Bakasetas absolutely terrible in the 2nd half. Apart from his assist that Douvikas put away he did absolutely nothing. Fortounis was missed. A player like Fountas isn’t a sub player. The guy looks and shows a lot of quality. He can also score goals. He’s someone that can do a job anywhere you put him in attack. Someone who can be valuable for the team. I believe we are definitely out after this game. The Sweden game will most likely end up as a loss or draw which isn’t good enough. Another tournament we won’t make… I say bring in someone who knows about our players and talent pool but I don’t think anyone will want to coach us or has the knowledge of our players and knows who is better than who. Truly a disappointing time for us fans.

Great post and I agree 100%. We need to qualify. I’d be more than happy if we qualify with JVS and then get in a proper coach for the tournament. If we lose one of these games coming up then we are out I believe. JVS has made some very poor decisions in the past especially with our more talented players. Even when Fortounis was healthy he was being misused and under utilised. He had no mercy with Fetfatzidis and Siovas and got rid of them like they were nothing. Not convincing Manolas and Sokratis to come back is another thing. This fascination with Bakasetas has to stop. I read online there were squad line ups rumoured for Kosovo. One had Bakasetas in it and one didn’t. I’d go with the line up without him. This one player can stop the team from progressing. Especially the position he plays, which is very crucial in attack.

A draw or loss against Kosovo should mean JVS gets the sack. Can’t lose against them. Have to win. Sweden will be hard, we might be defending all game like we did against Spain. I just hope we win our next 2 games. That all I could wish for. His trust and loyalty of Bakasetas will make him get the sack in my opinion. Bakasetas shouldn’t and can’t lead us into a major tournament. If we eliminate him we’ll look like a good team and can possibly make something happen and also qualify.

Does anyone know a good and free streaming site to watch this game? Thanks.

Wow. That’s great to hear. We need them. Looks like Greece’s chances have gone up now. Now that you say Zeca is suspended, this should mean Alexandropoulos plays. Alexandropoulos is a great CM and I hope he starts against Kosovo which will be a difficult game.

In my opinion we should see this… Vlachodimos Androutsos Mavropanos Retsos Tsimi Galanopoulos Alexandropoulos Masouras Fountas Tzolis Giakoumakis I believe Vlachodimos is our best keeper. Tzolakis and Dioudis should be back ups. Androutsos should be rewarded after his performances in the friendlies, as he was a breath of fresh air especially in possession and when attacking. Mavropanos is our best CB apart from Manolas. He has all the ability to lead from the back. More aggressive than Hatzidiakos and is better on the ball then Tzavellas and Kyriakos. He has performed very well in Germany too. Retsos is my personal favourite. A bit unrealistic that he starts but I believe he should because before his injuries he was in the team all the time. He is also talented and can play across the back line and even defensive midfield. If people have watched him play they’ll know how smart he is and how good he is on the ball. He’s also returned and performing really well. Tsimikas our best LB with Giannoulis as 2nd choice. Tsimikas will also be playing going forward for Liverpool. Midfield and attack is the most important. Galanopoulos is ahead of Kourbelis and Zeca for me. He can do the job defensively and is slightly better going forward than those 2 because he is more technical. Another favourite of mine is Alexandropoulos. This guy should be in our team. He has it all. I also believe he’s better than Bouchalakis. He’s also faster and more skilful. He controls the midfield better also in my opinion. Masouras and Tzolis on the wings. No surprises there. No in is better than them. Fountas I believe has to replace Bakasetas in the 11. I remember Fountas played a nice long through ball to Fortounis to score against Austria in a friendly. He is also currently on fire and has been scoring. 5 goals in 6 games to be exact. Giakoumakis upfront. I would’ve put Douvikas there as he’s had a good pre season. But he can be back up for now. What are your opinions about my starting line up and analysis? We have games coming up in September so we need the 6 points.

Thanks for the reply. Seems Liscescu will give Vrakas chances this season. I could be wrong.

What do you guys think of Vrakas? Is he any good?

I agree. They’ve also had coaches that didn’t believe in them. Fetfa was doing really good in Italy and then all of a sudden got benched. Ninis had a string of bad luck along the way. Especially with injuries. I think them not making decent careers for themselves shouldn’t hide the fact that for the national team they are our best. Every time they’ve played they have made a difference and created a spark for the team unlike our current wingers and midfielders.

There must be a structure issue in Greece. Clearly our players aren’t developing. We need to be playing our best players possible. We can’t afford to be leaving out players with skill and speed. We aren’t Italy, Spain or Portugal. Manolas and Sokratis should still be playing. It’s what’s best for the team. I still can’t believe we are relying on a 33 year old Tzavellas and an injury prone Papadopoulos, who I like and I think he’s still good but he doesn’t deserve to play over Siovas, Manolas and Sokratis I believe. Bakasetas at CAM and Bakakis, it’s a mess. We seem to have good youth but they fail to go to that next step and there development I think is hindered because of the way the academies in Greece are being run. I think Olympiakos is the only decent club with a decent academy in Greece. We aren’t nurturing our players properly. We’ve had players like Ninis, Fetfatzidis, Katidis, Gianniotas and Vellios who all showed talent at a young age and Greece have failed to make them evolve into superstars. Now I’m seeing players like Tzolis, Alexandropoulos, Pinakas, Tzolakis and Kalogeropoulos perform well in the league and I hope they can make better careers for themselves. As they are future of the national team.

That’s good for him. Michelis seems like he has talent. Hopefully he gets his chances.

Great move in my opinion. Gets to play Europa and also play alongside Hatzidiakos.

Greece rarely produces top class midfielders and attackers. Most of them become average or trash. We mostly produce defenders and some keepers. It’s understandable to get over excited at a 18 year old Ninis or Fetfatzidis or Spanoudakis showcasing top class skill and vision at there age. The reason for this excitement is because it gives us some hope that we can produce top class players like that for Greece. We are desperate to have players that know how to create and finish there chances. Same with this kid, showed great technique and class but has become mediocre in his career. The majority of our young players end up becoming mediocre career wise. The media and the way the Greek culture is doesn’t help with there development also I think. Players like Fetfa and Ninis are still quality players in my opinion, especially with what we’ve seen from the national team currently. It’s unfortunate that these players made the wrong decisions and also the injuries they’ve dealt with. Don’t know what happened with this guy though… Our players that we have on the national team now are too basic in my opinion. I’m talking about Bakasetas, Bouchalakis, Kourbelis, Zeca. Even Masouras, Pelkas and Tzolis are basic but at least have some skill and pace to be useful. Maybe because these players are limited. Fortounis is the only one capable (on his good day) to create and score for the team. He’s the only one. Ninis and Fetfa who’ve had mediocre careers still have the ability and skill and intelligence on the field to make Greece look more of a threat to opposing teams. Compared to what we’ve got they still are good enough. But the media and the teams they play for don’t convince some people but if you look when they have the ball at there feet they are great to watch and effective. I’d rather have an 18 year old in the Greek league who knows what he’s doing because of his skill and intelligence than someone who is 26 or 27 playing abroad that can’t even turn his marker because of his limitations. We need to look at ability and heart.

This is a big disadvantage for Olympiakos and Greece, especially Greece. This gives Bakasetas an advantage to start against Sweden.

How long will he be out for?

Also as a reward, both Pelkas and Masouras deserve to start our next game. Especially Masouras. Androutsos has also proven himself.

Funny thing is Bakasetas has scored and assisted the most out of everyone in the team since JVS took over. 3 goals and 3 assists. I would be the first one to criticise him as I don’t think he’s good enough for this team. I still think he’s not good enough. If only JVS had the same amount of trust and patience in a guy like Fetfatzidis we would be doing much better than what we are. Every game Bakasetas has played he’s ruined every attack we try to make. I wouldn’t have him anywhere in this team. We keep saying this, but nothing changes. JVS couldn’t pick a worse player to put as captain aswell. I don’t dislike the guy as a person but as a player he’s out worst if we’re being honest. At least Bouchalakis can play 1 touch passes and can control the ball a bit better. Bakasetas doesn’t provide anything in defence or attack. He’s slow, loses the ball 9/10 times and passes side ways and backwards. He also has no skill on the ball. He’s only had one or two decent shots on target in 30 something games he’s played. He must have a terrific agent. That’s the only explanation.