MykinesFC

A more benign spin might go like this: being without a club and recovering from a serious back injury, joining the NASL for 20 games and playing in obscure Oklahoma was the perfect way to quietly get back to match fitness. Not sure I believe it, but there may be elements of truth to this.

Except it's not happening...I'm pretty sure the Hibernian story is a joke that just got repeated until it sounded plausible. It would be a step up from the NASL, but there is zero evidence.

He likely has an attitude, but he also derseves some respect. He is been a key member of the NT for many years through good and bad, and at 32 is finally getting his due as a Premier League starter. I don't blame him for retiring from the NT, I don't think that loyalty is an issue - he has put in his time and then some. I do blame Skibbe and the EPO. You don't jerk around your stars in favour of the old boys who have no reasonable reason to get a start or a cap and yet still do.

Apologies if this has already been posted....some past glories to get us pumped for tomorrow 2018 campaign - all the highlights of the 2014 qualifying. A lot of 1-0 of course but so much more. From the great start with Spyropoulos to the humiliating loss to Bosnia, the string of 1-0 and the amazing games against Romania to clinch it. Lots of excellent contributions from players who are now done for the Ethniki. As maddening as these games were, if the results for 2018 look anything like this I'd be very happy.

That was nice to see. Good luck to Avraam. I know there is not a lot of love for him around here, but I have to respect how much work he has put in to play after his injury finished him for top flight football- Turkey then China and now Japan, there are not a lot of Greeks players who can handle that kind of culture shock.

The long grind will see him get his chances at playing time eventually. It's hard to always start with the same 11 in the Championship.

I've watched a handful of Saudi games. It seems to me that the level of defending is indeed below say the Greek Super League. Like Greece there is a huge drop in quality from the top 2-4 clubs to the rest so he faces a lot of very weak teams. There is a risk that his levels could drop by playing there, but one might say the same about someone like Fortounis in Greece - sure the SL is better, but how much does facing the likes of Veria and Panthrakikos do for developing his ability and skill?

That was way more enjoyable than I thought it would be.

Guys, I get it. This is clearly a topic where opinions vary...but to mention Kone that is just trolling!

I watched the same on NASL.com Not impressive at all. He should just go to OFI and work on whatever salary they give him. If he is finished, working to get OFI back into the Super League is more admirable than slogging it through the NASL as a sub.

Based on what I've seen online, NASL players are quite accessible after matches.

Nice interview here. http://www.sport24.gr/football/EllinesExoterikou/o-yperhfanos-d1m1-ths-premier-league.4054629.html

I think Rayo knew exactly what they were getting... A recognizable name signing who is injured and out of shape but if fit could make an impact. The upside on the field could be great, but the real point was to sign someone with a pedigree (Man City, Celtic two WCs) that most soccer fans have heard of.

Not writing him off, I would welcome it. Realistically though I think a consistent starter in Serie A is going to get the call before an older keeper in the English Championship. Even if Karnezis' NT form hasn't been great recently.

It's the second consecutive brilliant season for Dimi and a great achievement to achieve promotion. That said, as well as he's done, I think his age pretty much makes an NT call up impossible. Like Gekas (who still performs well at club level) I think the NT isn't going to happen for Dimi.

I can't see any Ethniki in his future. NASL is just too low a level to be up for Ethniki consideration. I think the guy is just happy to play professionally after such a long layoff - there likely isn't much money and certainly no prestige in this move. In a way it's more admirable than going to China or Saudi Arabia, and a bit out of the character we've concocted. As for the Ethniki, I wish some of our better players played in leagues where they get playing time. I'm sure Italy is nice (Kone, Lazaros and Tachtsidis) with access to lots of tatto artists (Kone), but you are getting garbage minutes. I don't know how someone at their age can be happy. We can see it's bad for the Ethniki. I admire the guys in Belgium or 2 Bundesliga more. Those guys are actually playing every game and fit.

^^^^ that is a given!!

Good news. It's been a rather average for him season so far.

Good insight here on how it came to this.

Official now. This is a big step down of course, even from the Saudi league. But probably the right move to get playing time and perhaps reignite what is left of his career. http://www.rayookc.com/news/2016/03/10/rayo-okc-signs-greek-national-team-member-georgios-samaras

On the bench for Genoa today...not sure what this means about the move to Switzerland.

If reports are to be beloved Panionios expressed interest. This seems like a reasonable move given the fact that he doesn't have a club and hasn't played much since the World Cup. http://www.contra.gr/Columns/contra-epithesi/panionios/o-paniwnios-milhse-me-samara.3852959.html Oddly salary demands were reported to be the barrier. This (along with fitness concerns) were also reportedly issues for an Australian club as well as the NY Cosmos. If any of this is true, one wonders what his representation Is telling him he's worth!

Agreed. His moments of success in Turkey the last few years could translate into the same in Greece. Is it fair to say that overall the level of quality is higher right now in the Turkish league? (I don't actually know, I'm just guessing based on the higher quality foreign players the top Turkish teams attract.)

So it looks like the back problem is still an issue based on the stories Nikitas posted. If the NY Cosmos, a 2nd tier US team, doesn't want to take a chance then who would? With no news from the Greek press it doesn't look good for Samaras.

Some PAO talk now.....http://www.sportdog.gr/sports/podosfairo/article/318968/mpam-protathike-se-megali-elliniki-omada-o-sam Likely just bored writers looking for a story as there are really no details here