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Cyprus vs. Greece ( 7 October 2017, GSP Stadium, Nicosia )


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Holebas stated that he is retiring from NT and noone can say anything to him. He decided, made it public. Skibbe can do nothing else if Holebas aint interested in throwing his ego away and play for a coach that wanted him as a LB. Happened with Georgatos too under Otto and yet noone blamed otto about it then because we won the Euros I suppose.

I honestly am of the opinion that apart from Lazaros Christodoulopoulos and possibly Dimitrios Pelkas instead of Bakasetas and Diamantakos every other single call up was justified. Noone disagrees that our Goallie, Defenders , Striker , Fortounis should be in the line up. What peopla dont like are some of hte wingers Skibbe uses (Mantalos-Bakasetas to be fair) and the midfield.

When it comes to wingers. Skibbe uses defensively minded players in there. Stafylidis and Mantalos usually. a LB who is very good offensively and a attacking mid who proved why he plays when he pressured high and assisted mitroglou (and hit the woodwork).

Yesterday the only one who cant be blamed for the low scoring is Skibbe. Mitroglou lost a few chances. Mantalos hit the wood and his assist to Fortounis was a bit behind than it should and thus cleared. We had 5-6 clear chances to score in myhumble opinion and people are still disappointed. We won them way harder at Athens despite the score. This team apart from the Estonia match , after the 6th is playing very solidly. We are in the play offs coz we deserve it).

When it comes to the central midfielders I ll say something that noone wants to hear. We have noone.

Samaris is not offensively orientated, yet a class above everyone else in that part so he looks like the best box to box we have. Truth is He is not even a box to box. He is just too good and of an experienced age to know what he has to do and do it.

Zeca is defensively decent at worst. Tziolis. Eveyrone hates Tziolis. I see the reason. Tziolis really deserves to be called but not to be a starter. Let's ask ourselves why.

Our Greece sux so much that Skibbe needs a tall line up for the set pieces. There it is. Yesterday we had 2 corners where we had a clear header. One went in. Do I praise Tziolis for scoring? No. Did he get the job done in front of 2 Cypriots? Yes.

So overall. Skibbe is playing our best defenders, our best goalies , our best centerforward and our best attacking mid. Donis when not injured usually starts and the only problems I see are a)when Zeca/Samaris are injured so usually Tziolis will play b)Mantalos being on the wings. Scrap Mantalos for Lazaros and you got a far more decent attacking mid trio. But what happens with his defensive duties? Skibbe made a solid defence that conceded as many goals as Belgium. 

Yet we are still complaining.

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Rockafellar Skank,

you tell it like it is. unless Zues is hiding some amazing prospects under his beard.....the reality is that this is what we got.

I go back to my fifa PS4 example. All the complaining, questioning, insulting, negative chatter about coach Skibbe and his selections comes to this model example. 

A 1000 greek fans, have varying tweaks or insights on the Greek squad. formation, personnel, strategy etc. But if you give the power to each of these negative nancy's and they add there fetfatzidis, nines, and other players not chosen etc.....You then have them look at the current lineups used in each match vs each opponent, taking into account injuries, suspensions, etc.

So then give these negative nancy's the PS4 fifa 18, and let them choose their Greek dream team. They swap this guy for that guy, this player for another player, and you see the surge in change when the 71 EA rated player is swapped for the 73 rated player. But then the 74 rated player is switched with the 73 rated player (because the negative nancy is olympiakos, or panthinaikos, or AEK, or PAOK, or Egaleo) My point with this model, is WE DON'T HAVE THE 85, 90, 88, 92, 93, 86 RATED PLAYERS.

So when a coach comes in and looks at things pragmatically, and systematically as Skibbe has you have to understand the complexity and the challenges he faces in creating a squad. 

As well of most importance, the first thing that Papastathopoulos said yesterday that the National team has become a family again.

The Ranieri experiment was a failed experiment. The coach was to blame, the players were to blame. But again, that is in the past. 

Moving forward, I have said it before and I viewed others in the forum mentioned it as well...but Greece has always performed in the clutch. Although we are not 86, 88, 90, 94 rated individuals.....What I believe Greece learned from Otto in 2004 that a series of 69-70-71 working together, playing for each other, and becoming a team...success can be had.

Rockafellar Skank, concur with what you have been saying......I just would like to add that MANY other teams would love to be in the spot Greece have worked very hard for...albiet in some very interesting, bizarre circumstances. I can't wait for Gibraltar.

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Let's just sit back and enjoy the fact the we now control our own destiny again and that we've put our selfs in a position with a win over Gibraltar to be amongs the best 2nd place teams and at the very least we get to see the Ethniki in two crucial matches.. just for now let's forget the what if , the who the why and let's just enjoy the fact that we will have some really meaningful football coming up in November..  If Greece play like the did against belgium in both games they will NOT be an easy opponent to play against..

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2 hours ago, MItsaras9 said:

Rockafellar Skank,

you tell it like it is. unless Zues is hiding some amazing prospects under his beard.....the reality is that this is what we got.

I go back to my fifa PS4 example. All the complaining, questioning, insulting, negative chatter about coach Skibbe and his selections comes to this model example. 

A 1000 greek fans, have varying tweaks or insights on the Greek squad. formation, personnel, strategy etc. But if you give the power to each of these negative nancy's and they add there fetfatzidis, nines, and other players not chosen etc.....You then have them look at the current lineups used in each match vs each opponent, taking into account injuries, suspensions, etc.

So then give these negative nancy's the PS4 fifa 18, and let them choose their Greek dream team. They swap this guy for that guy, this player for another player, and you see the surge in change when the 71 EA rated player is swapped for the 73 rated player. But then the 74 rated player is switched with the 73 rated player (because the negative nancy is olympiakos, or panthinaikos, or AEK, or PAOK, or Egaleo) My point with this model, is WE DON'T HAVE THE 85, 90, 88, 92, 93, 86 RATED PLAYERS.

So when a coach comes in and looks at things pragmatically, and systematically as Skibbe has you have to understand the complexity and the challenges he faces in creating a squad. 

As well of most importance, the first thing that Papastathopoulos said yesterday that the National team has become a family again.

The Ranieri experiment was a failed experiment. The coach was to blame, the players were to blame. But again, that is in the past. 

Moving forward, I have said it before and I viewed others in the forum mentioned it as well...but Greece has always performed in the clutch. Although we are not 86, 88, 90, 94 rated individuals.....What I believe Greece learned from Otto in 2004 that a series of 69-70-71 working together, playing for each other, and becoming a team...success can be had.

Rockafellar Skank, concur with what you have been saying......I just would like to add that MANY other teams would love to be in the spot Greece have worked very hard for...albiet in some very interesting, bizarre circumstances. I can't wait for Gibraltar.

I agree with what you are saying. We don't have 84, 86, 87, 88 or even 90 rated players. But leaving players out like Pelkas, Bakakis, Galanopoulos and Fetfatzidis is not right. We all know Tziolis provides height in the team. But guess what, Tachtsidis provides height aswell. Tachtsidis is more of a difference maker. We all know that. Siopis should play against Gibraltar. As well as Gianniotas. 

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5 hours ago, Rockafeller Skank said:

A 8 like Kara who can be a transition god. To dethrone Samaris from his starting spot and create a link from offence to defense.

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.

 

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5 hours ago, trotsk13 said:

Crazy. Officials waved off the 2nd Norwegian goal at the final whistle. Imagine if that had been the difference in Greece advancing 

Was thinking the same thing when I watched that game, we all would have been irrate.

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R

5 hours ago, Rockafeller Skank said:

Holebas stated that he is retiring from NT and noone can say anything to him. He decided, made it public. Skibbe can do nothing else if Holebas aint interested in throwing his ego away and play for a coach that wanted him as a LB. Happened with Georgatos too under Otto and yet noone blamed otto about it then because we won the Euros I suppose.

I honestly am of the opinion that apart from Lazaros Christodoulopoulos and possibly Dimitrios Pelkas instead of Bakasetas and Diamantakos every other single call up was justified. Noone disagrees that our Goallie, Defenders , Striker , Fortounis should be in the line up. What peopla dont like are some of hte wingers Skibbe uses (Mantalos-Bakasetas to be fair) and the midfield.

When it comes to wingers. Skibbe uses defensively minded players in there. Stafylidis and Mantalos usually. a LB who is very good offensively and a attacking mid who proved why he plays when he pressured high and assisted mitroglou (and hit the woodwork).

Yesterday the only one who cant be blamed for the low scoring is Skibbe. Mitroglou lost a few chances. Mantalos hit the wood and his assist to Fortounis was a bit behind than it should and thus cleared. We had 5-6 clear chances to score in myhumble opinion and people are still disappointed. We won them way harder at Athens despite the score. This team apart from the Estonia match , after the 6th is playing very solidly. We are in the play offs coz we deserve it).

When it comes to the central midfielders I ll say something that noone wants to hear. We have noone.

Samaris is not offensively orientated, yet a class above everyone else in that part so he looks like the best box to box we have. Truth is He is not even a box to box. He is just too good and of an experienced age to know what he has to do and do it.

Zeca is defensively decent at worst. Tziolis. Eveyrone hates Tziolis. I see the reason. Tziolis really deserves to be called but not to be a starter. Let's ask ourselves why.

Our Greece sux so much that Skibbe needs a tall line up for the set pieces. There it is. Yesterday we had 2 corners where we had a clear header. One went in. Do I praise Tziolis for scoring? No. Did he get the job done in front of 2 Cypriots? Yes.

So overall. Skibbe is playing our best defenders, our best goalies , our best centerforward and our best attacking mid. Donis when not injured usually starts and the only problems I see are a)when Zeca/Samaris are injured so usually Tziolis will play b)Mantalos being on the wings. Scrap Mantalos for Lazaros and you got a far more decent attacking mid trio. But what happens with his defensive duties? Skibbe made a solid defence that conceded as many goals as Belgium. 

Yet we are still complaining.

Rockafella Hugh Hefner Skank, your passion is up there with the greats like Karagounis, Sampson, Leonidas, La Mendel etc.  I Must disagree this time bruh, Zeca has an attacking game, Tachtsidis is an asset, Samaris I never had him in the highest category. I think he should of played as an 8, not a 6. Tziolaraaa is not too bad, off the bench. We have a good squad.

Kourbelis and Siopis are screaming for an opportunity. We don't know how good they are cause they don't get a shot-like Bouchalakis and hoping to see Villafanez.

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I didn't watch the game but I keep on hearing people say that Fortounis is not as passionate as he should be. This is a problem and it's starting irritate me. He is a good talent and with a bit more hustle he can be a great talent that can one day be playing in La Liga or Bundesliga. If he doesn't show hustle in the next match he can get out the of the starting 11 and stay on the bench.

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15 minutes ago, ausgreek said:

R

Rockafella Hugh Hefner Skank, your passion is up there with the greats like Karagounis, Sampson, Leonidas, La Mendel etc.  I Must disagree this time bruh, Zeca has an attacking game, Tachtsidis is an asset, Samaris I never had him in the highest category. I think he should of played as an 8, not a 6. Tziolaraaa is not too bad, off the bench. We have a good squad.

Kourbelis and Siopis are screaming for an opportunity. We don't know how good they are cause they don't get a shot-like Bouchalakis and hoping to see Villafanez.

I've been thinking about putting Samaris as the number 8. I want to Hinton attacking positions. He is capable of scoring some spectacular goals. 

Kourbelis and Siopis look like they are hungry for an opportunity. 

I would really like to see Gianniotas play more often. There's something about him that makes you think he can change the game in seconds. His speed and skill is very valuable to have. Imagine him and Stafylidis working together on the left. I don't know why Skibbe doesn't understand that. 

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4 hours ago, MItsaras9 said:

Bravo J1078,

For you I break out the Metaxa 5 star, and your positivity deserves a Loux portokalada

I get LouX from the Geradiko in Brighton le Sands. Mini Ouzo from Mitilini is a rocket re!

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2 minutes ago, Dean97 said:

I've been thinking about putting Samaris as the number 8. I want to Hinton attacking positions. He is capable of scoring some spectacular goals. 

Kourbelis and Siopis look like they are hungry for an opportunity. 

I would really like to Gianniotas play more often. There's something about him that makes you think he can change the game in seconds. His speed and skill is very valuable to have. Imagine him and Stafylidis working together on the left. I don't know why Skibbe doesn't understand that. 

I agree also on Gianniotas Deanos. People want fat Fetta-Fetfa so why not Gianniota who is a pocket rocket too? We will get the same positive attacking output. Samaris scores one of the best goals I've ever seen at a World Cup and he got banished to no.6 deep-lying. What a Vlakia!

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9 hours ago, Dean97 said:

I didn't watch the game but I keep on hearing people say that Fortounis is not as passionate as he should be. This is a problem and it's starting irritate me. He is a good talent and with a bit more hustle he can be a great talent that can one day be playing in La Liga or Bundesliga. If he doesn't show hustle in the next match he can get out the of the starting 11 and stay on the bench.

I actually thought Fortounis did pretty well. He took all of our free kicks near the box and corners, and is pretty much our dead ball specialist.

If you look at the highlights. 1st half nearly sets up Manolas for a headed goal, misses narrowly. Takes the corner that leads to Tziolis goal. Then makes a good run into the box, but Mantalos can't get it to him. In the 2nd half, takes the corner that sets up Torosides for a free header on goal. Also, I recall one play in 2nd half where he makes a run into box but Mitroglou shoots wide from a narrow angle when a pass was there for him to tap in. Got a knock to his knee late in the game in what was a pretty gutsy challenge, when team mates were getting tired.

Cyprus were surprisingly a tough opponent.

 

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fortounis was winning tackles in the midfield and creating chances and getting into good positions to score. he was solid imo. there was some chances that mitro should have passed to fortounis but chose to shoot on bad angles.

Mitroglou on a bad angle vs. fortounis on wide open might be equal chance at a goal though lol.

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tziolis actually had a very good game. a goal and closed spaced up in a way that Samaris didn't vs. belgium.

fyi sokratis is an 86 is in fifa LOL

this squad would be so much better with holebas and fetfa. but at least we have donis and an in form laz now.

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Its funny that people in this forum do not see the positives of the what this team does. How they focus mainly on the flaws, but don't see how sometimes the positives of certain players on the field outweigh the cons they carry. 

Does anybody actually realize that the two players alot of people were going against, were the ones who scored the last two games and some people aren't even giving them the credit they deserve from that and continue to "boo" them or "wish for them to be switched"?

 

Reminds me of the time we had santos joined every major competition with him and wanted him out because he kept putting kara and kats. 

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14 hours ago, ausgreek said:

 

Rockafella Hugh Hefner Skank, your passion is up there with the greats like Karagounis, Sampson, Leonidas, La Mendel etc.  I Must disagree this time bruh, Zeca has an attacking game, Tachtsidis is an asset, Samaris I never had him in the highest category. I think he should of played as an 8, not a 6. Tziolaraaa is not too bad, off the bench. We have a good squad.

Kourbelis and Siopis are screaming for an opportunity. We don't know how good they are cause they don't get a shot-like Bouchalakis and hoping to see Villafanez.

As I stated previousy im hoping Skibbe rewards some players who have been called up and not fielded against Gibraltar. First half we should play our best and make a lead that can't be lost then Skibbe can honestly experiment as much as he wants.

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That's good to hear about Fortounis hopefully he can keep it up and score a goal or two. We need him especially for the play offs and the World Cup itself. Mantalos is another option to play as the number 10. Mantalos looked good against Cyprus in both games. It looks he has elevated to another level, maybe the wrist band is doing him good. We also have Lazaros and Stafylidis who are dead ball specialists. Does anyone know if Torosidis is injured for the match against Gibraltar? Also does anyone think players like Kourbelis and Gianniotas will be given a chance? We need to win this game. We should be fine.

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