ausgreek

Are you serious Asteras, the players refused to train at 6:30 and revolted??? The more I read, the more I find out about the ethnici's attitude problem, the more the underlying reasons for the performances become increasingly evident. They can't just blame anyone else but themselves now. They must learn humility cause they are not buying in with this coach either. Sergio must schedule 6:30 training sessions as standard from now, and which ever player opens his mouth to remotely criticize this change, to be told to pack his bags and piss off! Certain coaching staff too if necessary! Do it to four or five of them and make a statement! Serg does this, and he will get them to buy in, they should start to dread preparations for the ethnici cause they see this opportunity for party when picked in the ethnici. Strict conditions would weed out the lazy bastards. Till this happens and they get results, they should wear a green jersey, not to further hyjack the blue and white of Greece, when they play.

And I thought when Ranieri was replaced, the EPO will do the right thing, so they go and sign up a 73 yr old. Soon we will need to start again cause he also does not inspire young people. There are models that work. The team Must be between around 22-28, with the odd older. Maybe two- three players, and not 35ish. Ethnici also need a coach 45-55 years old-max. Young men, even with egos, buy-in with a leader not too old and deemed past it. Which m---a signed this fellow? What the ethnici also need to try others, leave out Kone, Christodoulopoulos, Tziolis, Katsouranis, Vyntra, Torotsidis and Tavlaridis or Avraam even. I want to err on the side of youth! Sokratis as captain, with Kyriakos as vice captain, upon his return. There is a massive lack of cohesion, actually in defence in particular too. Need to use All these current matches for team work, to build steadily for world cup---Boythes!!

Four games to go for four wins. Spartans, gird your loins!! We go to battle!

If Fortounis is infact ruled out, tarnished fingernail or tan went orange or something, SEEERG baby should not muck about and opt for Takis Fyssas or Dimitrios Papadopoulos to replace him. They won euro in '04 so this way we stick with experienced mids, crucial infact. Leave it to Karagounis to organise.

love you Kats!

You know, sto kato kato, the selecting of the national teams over the years, like now, even though there has been success at times, with all the oldies still getting a run, reminds me of a group of friends going to a rave party in 70's gear, and everyone is 18-22 years of age. They ask for marujiana, they get laughed at, and told there are only pills, and told they are kidding, they are geriatrics! We must get with the times. A successful model for player squads is proven to be 22-28 years of age, with the ODD 30 year old. That's the model. Now fit the names into that model. Fullstop!!!! Need energy in these games maaan..

Boythes, I feel like we are all related, talking around the souvla with the beers crapping on, agreeing, disagreeing and perving at the attractive spouses. It would be an advantage to play a 4 3 3 formation but, the gameplan won't be a high line, or up-tempo possession based style. Looks too defensive with Kats and Tziolis in the mix. 4 2 3 1 looks like it will end up. Samaris would take on the Maniatis role, maybe box to box mid. Taxi, Ninis with the skill, Kone with something, Fetta with the olives. We have a chance out there. Kyriakos will be missed. Well done on his transfer in Bundesliga.

Based on the track record for the National Team on a consistency basis, Katsouranis, Tziolis, Tavlaridis and Vyntra still got in the squad. I, like everyone else, want to give a new coach the benefit of the doubt, till we are all worn down. Then, we let him have it, as per usual. Why wait till after the fact this time? He is a decorated coach, but I'm only interested in what he shows now. He just showed he has no structure to offer for the future, no hard edge. Therefore, he is a mal. Hope we win anyway. The younger guys of the future in the squad would be the reason, if Greece win.

Lazo, Kone, Katsouranis, Vyntra, take your pick. All not starters based on a long journey of not overly-inspiring efforts.Nothing flippant about them pal.

Chris, is it a better option to have the like of Fetfatzidus, Tachtsidis, Ninis or Fortounis in midfield, and use the like of Samaris as a runner on the wings, later in the second half of matches? Throw in Kone and Lazaros in these roles. These types don't have a high skill factor in comparison to the first lot. I don't think Samaras will be used on the wing ever again. He has made the permanent progression to CF, or even bench now, speed is not his fortay.

The answer is yes, Serg will pick his team. It will happen at halftime of the match. This is to keep us all guessing. Professionalism usually Just escapes our heritage team. We should having our players flying in as we speak! Training on Thursday with desperation. We don't do desperation I guess.

I'm convinced Ellas would win if the coach promised each player72 virgins each, and 5000 hectares of land with lots of cattle! Get on this.

If Karagounis over-steps his mark of just motivating and encouraging, by being too influential, kick him out. It's Sergio's team now. Oost! na poume.

Too right Akritis. Under-estimating national teams only exposes one's naivety to the game. If Hellas win 5-0, all well and good. If they go into the match expecting to do this, they will lose 3-0. All in the attitude.

Good work boythes. Look, if the national team is picked on the basis of 22-28 years of age, consistently, we will usually get optimum results. There should be exceptions to the rule ofcourse, the odd 30 year old. I remember an ESPN soccer program on fox previewing the world cup, there is a panel of four. When Greece was mentioned, it was quick, and along the lines of, 'oh, Katsouranis, Karagounis and Salpingitis, your not serious.' We must avoid being basket cases, even in the small details. I agreed with them to a certain degree. Not happy about that either.

I appreciate your honest appraisal GrkCdn22. Salpi was on decline, and I would steer away from anointing him as captain as he won't carry the team forward into the future. The captain of Hellas is in waiting, its Sokratis, therefore, Markarian has to not waste this opportunity. Maybe an even more agile goalkeeper could be given a start. Karnezis is ok, he can do a job. Like to see Kapino get a decent run now.

One of the glaring problems Ranieri's tenure revealed, was that he allowed the players to dictate terms. Salpi was one of the best in his prime, but by the time the votes came in for the new captain for Hellas, he and three others were past it, on the national stage at least. History often shows that players Don't know when its all over! They will take the money till they are physically kicked out of the dressing room! An assertive coach brings with him change, either straight away, or within two games. Out with those whom he feels won't fit into the new philosophy, or are bucking the system. I keep saying, make Sokratis captain for the Russian campaign in particular-Now! Get rid of Almost all older guys so Sokratis is imediatey respected. How many times do I have to stress this point Santos, Ranieri and Markarian?? There is a mind set that players aren't ready, yet often show they are, and we then all say why wasn't this guy brought in earlier? Because some player that is past it is holding him up, that's why. Gekas, Salpi, Vyntra, Katsouranis, Tziolis, Avraam and I'll be bold, even Torotsidis would be moved on. I would stick with Samaras, for his holding abilities up front, and Holebas for his energy, and while he can cross the ball relatively well, for a while yet.

I'm quietly confident Hellas will turn this around and win 2-0. There has been sufficient evidence that the players have been hurting from their poor performances. Fetfa and maybe even Klaus might bang them in. Overall I know there is an abundance of talent in the squad to make a dent against anyone.Lets see if this pans out.

There's this young kid Panos Armenakas running around for an Italian club I believe. He's been touted potentially as pele, maradona, ronaldo, ibrahimovic and maniatis all rolled into one. Is he eligible for Greece ? Hot talent at 16.

Boys, I read some jouno's quote a while back that when P Kone first came into the national team environment, he was infact touted as 'the new Karagounis!' That tells me that he was touted as a DM. Would that read correct to others? If so, play him there next match, I'm not crazy about him at AM..

Would Samaras holding at CF, and Fetfa as his AM, would that increase our flair? Faroes are probably more physical than many asian teams too. Faroes would do quite afew top 100 teams. Not to be under-estimated. My Thio ordered a salad and pita with our yeeroses recently. I think that's like double-dipping. The yeeros has salad, and pita. It probably isn't something I can take away as food for thought, especially if I'm to impress a date, especially of another culture know what I mean na poume? Also, No chiili sauce with yeeros, as No tzatziki with beritos - my advise to singles.

Top summary 1789. It would depend on what formation Sergio wanted to settle on too. If he opts for 4231, and Kone is a second stricker, he doesn't fit this model, he is an AM is this the place for him? In a 352 formation, Kyriakos, Manolas and Sokratis have it covered at the back, is Toro as attacking as Holebas and how are those crosses in? In the world cup, could anyone else have scored the Samaris goal the way he did. Samaris to me is an enigma, where is his best position?? He is energetic, would it be fair to say he is not technically as gifted on a consistant basis. Do we need more of Tachtsidis, Fortounis, Ninis and Klonaridis and less of Maniatis, Samaris, Kone, Lazo and the Kats-man?? What a blow that Mantalos is out injured. Give us a formation and a team based on your summation.

Lemon juice and tzatziki are the greatest inventions af all time, or close to it. Up there with zembekiko music. As I flick my kompoloi (worry beads), thio Stratos reckons Markarian will initially not be given absolute free reign on squad and team selections. Do we think he will, or will there be dodgy selections during his time, which has started? And that patates are not good for cholesterol, or my waiste-line re paithia!

Lads, I would like to see Hellas adopt a policy of forget politics and re-generate the team every world cup cycle - standard. The majority of the player squad should be around 25, or younger, not all players. It is way overdue to do this infact in Faroe Is. match, not necessarily from Poland match. No Vyntra, Moras, Katsouranis, Salpingitis. At the very latest, after the euro qualifiers to promote Sokratis to captain. This may mean the end of playing Torotsidis, even if this is a backward step initially. Just an opinion. Need to have Sokratis well respected if this was to happen. That means not too many older guys in the squad. Leave Holebas and Samaras in the team environment though, need the balance. I don't know if I'm a real fan of the chips in the yeeros. Its very overwhelming.

No, the super powers would usually win against A League sides, BUT, when it comes to Greece playing a Faroe Is. or the like, we/they shouldn't just expect to turn up and win. When they play better countries, they pull out those 1% extra efforts. This obviously didn't happen at Karaiskakis. This time they better not underestimate Faroes! That was my point digga.