ausgreek

As I was drinking my half Bravo half Turkish coffee, and watering pots with gardenias, I received a vision I will share. The Hellenes will top their group, Yes, and Belgium will be 3rd below Bosnia-Hertsegovina. They have hazos Hazard but we have Fortounis !! We are on the way back baby! Pot two will be for Bosnia. Won't-the-true-Enthniki-please stand up, please stand up, please stand up. K Papas isn't so valuable as Skibbe won't play 3 CB's, with wingbacks. Nonetheless, we will be ready after the Netherlands match.

Well, if Pepe from the Azzuri can get $40 mil in China, Mitroglou can get $60mil a year. That's why paithia, learn to kick a ball!

My maaate, skinny Stavro from Marrickville Olympic fc, told me that Greece are gonna beat Belgium 1-0. One of 2 Kostas are going to score. Belgium are going to have some shots on goal but miss most, while some shots will be saved by the keeper. Wonder if Oresti will be back otherwise the keeper will be Stefano, which is just fine.

The National team has had great coaches, but even Vicente de Bosque has moved on from Spain and they can try new systems and fresh ideas. With him Spain won everything on the planet. Skibbe's team for instance shows no character in Sydney, Very limited preperations. Then in Melbourne they looked excellent as a team, every bit as good as England did a week earlier against Australia. I'm looking forward, yet appreciate the great work of Otto Rehagel and Fernando Santos. I still have the commentary of the Euro 2004 when Charisteas headed the goal in, on a disc. A guy did me a copy, sic na poume!

As we saw, the euro qualifiers were our time for rebuilding, you can't predict exactly when it will happen, but when it comes stand aside and hope it doesn't take too long. That was the worst preparation I've seen of a team at this level, leading into the Romania match. A new coach, retirements, players without clubs, injuries, and marriage breakdowns. It all came to a head right after WC '14. At least it came after. As the talent pool isn't as Germany's, it take longer to regroup. Lets see if the Pirates are ready in this period of time. Santos could of phased in some talent off the bench on occasion, and played Fetfa or even Taxi instead of being defensive, at crucial moments of certain matches. A notable stricker to the previous world cup could of made a difference in close international games. On the other hand Santos is dogged, ultra conservative though gets the best out of the players he is I charge of, he went at the right time. It might of all gone downhill for him with the team, after the WC, undoing all the good memories of the high achievements of the WC campaign. Then, we would of been calling for his sacking, then getting Ranieri around November '14.

Since 12 Oct 15 (after the Euro abominations), Greece drew with Turkey at home, in hostile conditions, have won 3 (Hungary, Montenegro, Australia), lost 2 Iceland when they were up 2-0, and Australia, with some stars missing), 3 wins, 2 losses 1 draw is not too bad. Fair preparations for the Netherlands friendly, leading into WCQ. I'm not sure from when Skibbe took charge, might of been Montenegro but the evidence is that they are building steadily.

Santos persisted with Karagounis and Katsouranis so, Tziolis may well of been made captain before Salpingitis. We will never know.

Like to think Hellas are coming out of a rebuilding phase after a crap euro qualification attempt. They showed they can high press as a team efficiently in Melbourne. They had too many players injured or not playing by they time they played their first game against Romania, 2 years ago. Karagounis retired also, who engineered most things. They fell in a heap. To think Greece were a whisker away from the last 8 of the world cup 2 years ago, where Keylor Navas was superhuman for a period of 100 mins, he even surprised himself. Lets see the first two qualifiers to gauge if they came out of rebuilding. I'm backing them in.

Where has Taxi Fountas gone, he has stagnated.

Similar stats to Karelis, Second stiker, winger, 23 years old, 178cm height, has speed. He can play LW so I hope Skibbe brings him in for a shot. Need natural goal scorers.

Lucas Villafanez 24, is an Argentine, played U20's for them, who through his maternal great grandfather who was from Piraeus. He can play for Greece, once he sorts out his passport, and he has expressed a desire to do so. An attacking mid playing at Panathanaikos.

Toro would have to be in the back three then as Kyriako is still unavailable. Karnezis/Kapino Torosidis Manolas Sokratis Mavrias/Bakasetas/Kitsiou Samaris Maniatis Stafylidis Mantalos Fortounis Mitroglou

Aek re Gamoto-gamoto, u must bang like a dunni door in a cyclone re. Analizing and posting gives me that orgasmic feeling. I'm sure I'm talking for most here, even the mauler, formely from the inner west of Sydney. Lets hope the next team picked will be the one that plays in the WCQ. If this happens, I'm going to hit my my peak. The players are enjoying their off season, I'm sure they are as patriotic as other countries when the matches are on. I know Buffoon is like this, I would think our guys are as well in reality. Next time you find a babe, ask her if she has a thia and set me up, I'll talk to her talk the ethnikoi na poume.

Melbourne Victory in talks with Vangelis Moras How Excitement!! I'm still hopefull someone here in Oz signs Tziolis and Vyntra soon too.

le Skibbe has to entrust Samaris as a deep lying mid, he is an elder statesman now, some success at the world cup too, or he goes permanently to 8, or goes out of the team. Need Fortounis in the 10 position. He is our go guy, our best player. Good to know there is Mantalos there as well to keep pressing later in matches. The team shows structure but need Alot more consistency at finishing in front on the scoreboard. Hope they go back to back after winning in Melb, and defeat Ned.

Tantra you Hellene, with the diamond, Cholevas/Holebas/Holevas-even, would play in the diamond, Toro looked very sharp here in Oztralia. Stafy can be LB and he is young. The wider midfielders would spread right out so the fullbacks don't have to run like box 2 box mids. It could possibly work.

4 4 2 has always been the tried and true. Skibbe probably will defend and counter attack as 4 2 3 1 and in general attack turn into a 4 3 3. Whatever system works I say. The most difficult decision is LW. If Fortounis is in the middle, stuffed if I know who goes to the left.. Bakasetas plays off both feet I suppose.

Skankarani, with your side, Skibbe can play the diamond midfield style. Karnezis Torosidis © Manolas Sokratis Holebas (Cholevas/Holevas whoever) Petsos Samaris Mantalos Fortounis Karelis (2nd striker) Mykono Mitro I think Skibbe prefers to go 4 2 3 1 generally, he would then probably back some players to play as wingmen. Could go for any of Pelkas, Bakasetas, Mantalos or say Kone.

Iceland 2 England 1, that could of been Us winning that. WCQ around the corner. Would be nice if the Greece jersey was sold at Rebel sports. Online shits me.

Interesting to see what Skibbe comes up with firstly against Ned, then against Gibbering Gibraltar. It may be best to play Fortounis as an 8 and that way Mantalos stays in the team as the 10. They can even play as two no. 10's some way.

I am under a spell and it is hard to shrug off, that being I'm alittle embarrassed to say, I'm inclined to play, THE MAN Maniatis!!!!!! - next to Samaris. Like Petsos in that capacity no doubt as he is sharp too. Tachtsidis has a good passing range but I'm a fan of a player with speed so he to me is currently a squaddie. Kourbelis should superseed Taxi now against Netherlands. Can the Ethnikoi start Bakasetas and Gianniotas on both wings, who plays left, you Naturalized Ethinko, whos opinion I rate?? Ruining one 's hairstyle can play on one's mind. To play at one's optimum, this is an area that requires good preparation.

Ethno you controversial individual, I detect Skibbe's favoured 4 2 3 1 formation. you have Samaris, Petsos as D Mids and no Cholevas at LB na poume. So Gianniotas at LW with Bakasetas on the right?

In positions where the players fit the team best. Front third ranked in order; (Karelis plays as CF often with Genk with success) CF: 1 K Mitro, 2 N Karelis, 3 A Vellios 4 D Diamantakos RW: 1 D Pelkas 2 G Gianniotas 3 A Bakasetas 4 I Mystakidis LW: 1 K Fortounis 2 J Cholevas 3 P Vlachodimos 4 L Christodoulopoulos/ P Kone Is this a fair rank of these players? If Fortounis is AM, then, we get alittle thin on the left. Cholevas can move fwd or Kosta can swap in matches with P Mantalos in the front third perhaps.

No excuse the economic crisis. Poverty makes an athlete hungrier for success. Being pampered and told how good you are and selfies for facebook are what made Hellas fail in the Euro qualifiers. The little things were not being done during matches, must get them done in WCQ's.

Lazo, that is kavlotic depth in history bruthu! You smashed it.