PaoOle

Also, KPaps did Not play well imo; He has lost speed; seems heavy and not in control. Manolas is much better.

IMO, Sokratis, Zeka, Mitroglou and to a lesser degree Fortounis were the only ones that pay OK. The rest play horrible (except Tsiolis that was the usually average)

Exactly, they as prone to pressure; but we need to press more.

First goal on Karnezis (& some Tsavellas) Second on Maniatis + CB's Third on Tsavellas

Worst defensive play ever; everyone in defense and 2 def mids are 2 steps slower. The refs play 70% croatis.

Samaris also plays bad !!!! He walks on the field

Worst Lb/RB play in a long time

Tsavellas Maniatis !!!!!!!!!!!!

Refs suck

Half the goal to Zeka !!!!!!

Yellow to Zaca also bad; they protect Croatia; they take away his aggressiveness.

MAniatis, Samatis, Kpaps, Karnezis crap

Correct; While he is not exceptional at any aspects of his game, it is the combination of strength, shooting and pace (at a lesser degree) that makes him good. No other Greek player has that combination (Mirtoglou lacks speed, Giannotas power & shooting; Donis while better overall lucks in power & shooting). He has the ability and has scored some amazing goals from time to time. He is not better than Mitroglou or Donis, but IMO, he is close behind. Plus, he is the only greek player that I have seen, that improved his game from age 20 to 22. Kudos to his work.

Market values does not say much in this case; it says more about Olymbiakos smart strategy, manager connections and exposure via CL, and age. The fact that Samaris costed more than Berg, Zeka and Emokou combined says it all.

sorry; I thought he was 6.2; by point is that as he also plays CB, so he is strong and good in the air. Anyway, Skibe will never play Siopis and Kourbelis in this game. He will go with ------ Tsiolis Zeka Stafilidis What I don't know if he choose Samaris instead of Mandalos.

Given that Croatia's strength is midfield, I would play Zeka as RM & Stafilidis as LM. Furthermore, this is the game to possible consider Siopis and/or Kourbelis; A midfield of -------- Siopis Zeka -- Kourbelis -- Stafilidis can suffocate Croatia; plus Kourbelis is a better Tsiolis (strong, tall but better one-one defender and better passer). Of course this assume that we play for 0-0.

I agree; adding a young Karagounis to this team would make for a very good team. He is the one player missing. The rest of the payers are good. We have 2 offensive players (Mitro & Donis) that we never had recently; not even in 2004 (compare Mitroglou & Donis to Vrisas & Xaristes; to me it is not even close). Of course their is no backup for Mitro but this is a different story. We have 2 of the best CB we ever had; Karnezis has experience and finally plays well for NT (even the backup, Kapino has huge potential and played great at Belgium). Stafilidis is, imo, better than Fissas and Tsavellas is as good, with better fouls and cross. Torosidies out RB, while not at good at a young Seitaridis, has quality and hits great headers. Taxstidis has similar style to Basina and Zeka plays a similar role to Zagorakis but he is more flexible (can play 6-8, RM & RB). Even Lazaros, that played well in the last WR, is more mature and effective now. This shows the quality of Karagounis; apart from his ability to hold and move the ball, he would bust his balls and give everything for the team. Compare this to the blaze way Fortounis plays; I don't want to bash fortounis; any comparison to Karagounis is unfair. Actually Fortounis is the only one that can come close to match Karagounis play.

While I agree that Stafilidis is not a winger Skibe plays him there for a reason. In today's soccer and when playing a better team you need midfielders (especially in the wings) that are fast, aggressive and can defend. Apart from Zeka no other midfielder can do it. Stafilidis does this well. Given than Tsavellas plays well in LB, IMO this is a no brainer. Actually I predict that Stafilidies and Zeka will play in all games going forward. I would play 4-1-3-2 with Stafilidis and zeka at LM & RM respectively. DM Skibe will play Tsiolis and the only position open is the middle in center.

Mitroglou is deadly with the ball fading the keeper. In the Mandalos pass to him, Fortounis was waking instead of running; he actually tripes over himself.

I posted this on a different thread a couple of weeks back: Again, having watched Villafanez, he is a decent player; actually I can say that he is a mix of Furtounis & Mandalos but not really better (faster than Mandalos, can play on the wing as Fortounis but not that fast, good control and some skill). His main issue is that he does not score; actually me manages to misses all the chances he gets; this is a big thing for an offensive player. He can help of the bench.

Nice info; I can say that Δώνης is undervalued; Σάμαρης overvalued.

We will never find a player that busts his ass all over the field like Zeka does. Again, having watched Villafanez, he is a decent player; actually I can say that he is a mix of Furtounis & Mandalos but not really better (faster than Mandalos, can play on the wing as Fortounis but not that fast, good control and some skill). His main issue is that he does not score; actually me manages to misses all the chances he gets; this is a big thing for an offensive player. He can help of the bench.

Ο αποχαιρετισμός του Ζέκα(vid) http://www.gazzetta.gr/article/1133049/o-apohairetismos-toy-zekavid

I have not watched the replay but more than one people say that this was Samaris fault. He was the one supposed to mark the Belgian player.

Overall very good performance from our team. A couple of observations: Donis has quality not seen in NT in years. He can take one-one other players and not look lost. Donis & Mitroglou (when fit) should start up front no matter what. Stafilidis is a great player. He should also start (LB or MF). When playing a better team, Zeka should always start; he is the one other than stafilidis that can play the whole side; plus he is our faster and best one-one defender (see Carasco in this match). Fortounis >>> Manralos; showed quality. Mandalos as RF/RM does not cut it. For all of you blaming Tsiolis, name a player that can play (in this system) better DM. Siopis is too short (for what Skibe wants). Kourbelis (that I like) on a good day would play about the same; Zeka & Samaris are not pure 6; what are the alternatives. May be Tatchisidis?