ausgreek

Ethniki may have started to appear more experienced around the middle with Samaris, perhaps KPaps and Zeca with his age - and afew more international games under his belt and we look more settled. The ranking may well go toward top 25 for us. Added to them are Taxi, Arab and Tziolll. There is more consistency these days and I hope the ethnoes keep it going, top 25 with a WC qualification.

Holebas's recent interview that I noticed on Agona sport, he claims that he has stopped making himself available purely because of the coach Skibbe. In his view, the coach doe not often select on form, rather on the boys club favourites. He may have a point, though, there have been many players tried during Skibbe's time. Holebas also said he takes his form very seriously and he didn't become unavailable due to his age. These issues often come up in sport I have found. He would still be a talented player for the Ethniki, although, Staf has grown into a top player.

As you touched on Deano, the rest of the midfield can look so much better with better wingers. As can the stricker. Out of sorts Mantalos or later on Karelis on the left is a patch up job continuing. I bet Bakasetas is better more centrally and he is out on the RW. This is not doing him justice. His shot on goal is world class, so he has to wait on an opportunity centrally. Basically, if your good enough your old enough, you have 18 year olds fighting wars and people highly dependant on them; what, the young players can't play high level soccer? Eveytime youth get a shot, they usually repay you. If it takes half a dozen matches, so be it-off the bench There are no excuses for playing players out of position, given they don't perform there. The pirates are suffering as I and others seem to be. World class players are given a shot as teenagers and become great players ie. Hames Rodriguez, Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, now Marcus Rashford etc.

We have a lack of wingers cause the coaches past and present are reluctant to give them a fair shot. Expand the talent pool, two LW and two RW to start with and all of a sudden there are wingers. Let there be wingers!! This way we can speculate less and see progress more. The only way to know. An out of sorts Mantalos stuck on the left is Not any more productive that an enthusiastic natural winger. Just bite the bullet! Gianniotas, Manthatis covering the right; Donis and perhaps Kolovos to cover the left. Skibbe should have them in the squad and keep giving them a run. Just do it re coach! Yulla.

Chelsea chasing Manolas from Roma...must be a good player. I would say future captain. May be more composed than Sokratis in that role. What the Pirates have been showing is more solidarity, chemistry look again as though they can take on all teams and be respectable, even against the likes of Faroe Islands.

Is Alexandros Tziolis the new Kats? The elder statesman effect according to the Skibbe. If so, he will be there till he's 36.

I meant 2 DM's before, not fullbacks, apologies. Gianniotas has attacking prowess. The Skibbe should trust him more.

That would mean Taxi goes fwd as the AM when on the attack. Fortounis or Mantalos would offer more going fwd. Another option we could have is a second striker option like Karelis or Bakasetas - (as either are not wingbacks). The Skibbe is a 4 2 3 1 man, like most Greece coaches have been with the team. Probably always had two fullbacks since I can remember.

Kpaps best pos is CB. He is a starting player for the Pirates though, agreed. This would mean Samaris would be on the bench and as far as the last match indicated, Virus deserves to be there as he was outstanding. Can anyone see Samaris being benched for KPaps or even Taxi? More chance of me having a chance with Kylie Jenner.

Ok boythessss! There are these are our front three options, so which one wins? 1 Donis Mitro Karelis 2 Mantalos Mitro Donis 3 Manthatis Mitro Donis 4 Manthatis Mitro Pelkas 5 Mantalos Mitro Pelkas 6 Mantalos Mitro Kone 7 Mantalos Mitro Lazaros 8 Karnezis Kapino Glykos 9 Donis Mitro Kone 10 Bakasetas Mitro Mantalos 11 Donis Mitro Bouchalakis So, which combination is best then? (don't say Fetfa or Cholevas))

Do I hear a front three being Donis Mitroglou and Karelis; going once, twice.. Could play Zeca at 6 and Samaris at 8 as Andrea is a better box to box.

Dimitrios Kolovos is listed as 1 LW, 2 AM or 3 SS. He is a fwd according to Transfermkt. Also, Fountas has dropped off the radar, he is a LW. Pelkas is good there. Any of these in that position ahead of Mantalos. A Donis is listed as a 1 CF, 2 SS and 3 LW, yet he came on for Bakasetas on the RW if I'm not mistaken. Well, that must be his 4th position. He can probably play as a keeper as well.

That was a shocking miss from Mantalos, great pass from Donis though. They had an offside earlier in the match that looked ok, could of lost the match. We got away with that one. Karnezis and Zeka looked outstanding.

Donis at RW, Kolovos at LW, Fortounis at AM then?

The Skibbe has tried Bakasetas, now he should try Viktor Klonaridis who is also a second stricker/winger. Donis is also a CF, good back up, along with Vellios for Mitrogou. Donis also showed he is a good winger and a threatening attacker. Good to see Mitro is inspired and working for results out there too.

That would work too. I was just thinking that Mantalos keeps playing out of position, it has Not worked and he could finally get a shot at AM again. Then again, good wing play could bring either Fortounis or Mantalos ( at AM), into the play a lot better and therefore Mitroglou too. Mantalos must be frustrated that he is not given that shot whilst Fortounis is not in good form with the Ethniki-it may seem. I wonder if anyone would not play Stafylidis at LB, if Cholevas was still in the mix? Stafyli has come a long way and is now vital. With Sokratis sitting out Estonia match with his yellow card, Kyriako goes in there and Oikonomou may retain his spot in my previously posted squad.

After swinging my kompoloi I got from Greece, it came to me that the next team that the Skibbe reads out should be: (Coach likes 4 2 3 1 format) Orestis Toro Manolas Sokratis Stafyli Samaris Zeca Gianniotas Mantalos Donis Mitroglou Subs: Vellios Fortounis Manthatis Tachtsidis Siopis Kourbelis Maniatis Kyriakos Tzavellas Kapino Karelis still injured.

Looking at the assumptions of the performance of Mantalos and Fortounis, it sounds more and more like Mantalos should be AM, Fortounis at LW. I don't accept that Fortounis has a mortgage on AM position as Mitro has on CF position. Staf went so well that he may end up being LW and Tzav coming straight back in at LB, on a more permanent basis.

This game will be tighter than being on a night out with me and it's my shout for drinks.

My buddy Spiro just came out of the salon after he got colour, while he was on the Greek sports site on his phone, as he does at work,, he read that Retsos is in the squad, along with Lykogianni, and Donis. When you add Oikonomou, Androutsos, Manthatis, Manolas, Gianniotas, and possibly Barkas (Glykos is now injured), this is a very young squad, and that is a healthy way to be for the Pirates. Not an aging side by any means. Tziolis can teach them about having a big motor, skill, speed and leading by example.

The Pirates will show the team spirit of Sydney Olympic of a bygone era and will defeat the Baltic Origin culture. Toro will play like Yankos did, full of heart!

Pirates will win 2-1; Samaris, KPaps and Taxi won't be the three best players.

If Kolovos is fit and Manthatis is in the squad, Gianniotas might not get a look in this time, when you consider Staf and Mantalos will be the wingers.

Like to get Fetfa, Ninis and Lazaros to Sydney FC. Arnie make it happen.

We have Tziolis the fire breathing dragon-pirate.