Suggested Call Ups/Starting 11

[Don Giovanni]

We tried Masouras and Kolovos against Italy. It was a mistake because they didn't really threaten nor did they apply enough pressure on Italy. I think between the two, we could only afford one at most in the game against Italy. We needed another player, one more defensive instead.

Speaking of Maniatis' performance against Belgium, there was one chance where Maniatis was suppose to cut the ball back to Donis, but instead he played into the 6 yard box with no one oncoming. Had he cut back, Donis would have been unmarked with a free shot at goal. Torosidis probably would have known better had he played instead, but at his age now he would struggle to get up like that with any frequency. Realistically, we're looking at Holebas/Stafylidis/Koutris to dash onto the left, mix and match with Fortounis or Donis to open up space for the cross, and for big guys like Tachtsidis and Kourbelis to offer an aerial threat/presence with runs into the box. I'd like to see Torosidis, Samaris, Sokratis and Manolas get forward into those kinds of situations too because they can be very effective scoring goals for us this way.

I would be willing to play the likes of Lamprou and Koulouris, but mainly against weaker opposition. Koulouris would be close to useless against quality teams, but he can cherry pick goals against the Latvias of the world just like Gekas did. But even then, I'd rate Mitroglou over Koulouris. Lamprou can run circles against the Armenias of the world, but he would be impotent against a quality team. Against better sides, we need more defensive players, guys who we know can track back and put a strong foot into a challenge. Players like Zeca, Holebas, Stafylidis, and Koutris meet those requirements; whereas Masouras and Lamprou not so much. We need guys who can press and chase, not guys who lack the technical quality to put strong teams to the sword. If we had a really fit and in-form Fetfatzidis, then it would be a different story; we could probably drop Stafylidis and place Zeca into the midfield to form a trio of DMs, creating a 3-3-1-3:

Retsos---Manolas---Sokratis
Zeca---Samaris---Kourbelis
Tachtsidis
Donis---Fortounis---Fetfatzidis

Donis would be expected to track back a bit, but Fetfatzidis would be in free role, much like Ninis was against Germany; the difference being that Fetfatzidis is more suited to the wing than Ninis ever was and he would be more dangerous running at opponents with the ball. But again, that would depend on Fetfatzidis raising his fitness levels and getting into his best form to be effective for Greece. Also, with an attacking trio like these three, we can offer a lot of movement, switching of the wings, and make it difficult for opponents to rely on a point of reference. Technically speaking this is a 3-3-1-3-0 and you would have Tachtsidis, for example, make runs ahead to create a 3-3-3-1. Tachtsidis could just as easily slot back and let Kourbelis get forward. If we are really desperate, one of the CBs could get forward to add an extra target man into the box.

[Dean97]

We tried Masouras and Kolovos against Italy. It was a mistake because they didn't really threaten nor did they apply enough pressure on Italy. I think between the two, we could only afford one at most in the game against Italy. We needed another player, one more defensive instead.

Speaking of Maniatis' performance against Belgium, there was one chance where Maniatis was suppose to cut the ball back to Donis, but instead he played into the 6 yard box with no one oncoming. Had he cut back, Donis would have been unmarked with a free shot at goal. Torosidis probably would have known better had he played instead, but at his age now he would struggle to get up like that with any frequency. Realistically, we're looking at Holebas/Stafylidis/Koutris to dash onto the left, mix and match with Fortounis or Donis to open up space for the cross, and for big guys like Tachtsidis and Kourbelis to offer an aerial threat/presence with runs into the box. I'd like to see Torosidis, Samaris, Sokratis and Manolas get forward into those kinds of situations too because they can be very effective scoring goals for us this way.

I would be willing to play the likes of Lamprou and Koulouris, but mainly against weaker opposition. Koulouris would be close to useless against quality teams, but he can cherry pick goals against the Latvias of the world just like Gekas did. But even then, I'd rate Mitroglou over Koulouris. Lamprou can run circles against the Armenias of the world, but he would be impotent against a quality team. Against better sides, we need more defensive players, guys who we know can track back and put a strong foot into a challenge. Players like Zeca, Holebas, Stafylidis, and Koutris meet those requirements; whereas Masouras and Lamprou not so much. We need guys who can press and chase, not guys who lack the technical quality to put strong teams to the sword. If we had a really fit and in-form Fetfatzidis, then it would be a different story; we could probably drop Stafylidis and place Zeca into the midfield to form a trio of DMs, creating a 3-3-1-3:

Retsos---Manolas---Sokratis
Zeca---Samaris---Kourbelis
Tachtsidis
Donis---Fortounis---Fetfatzidis

Donis would be expected to track back a bit, but Fetfatzidis would be in free role, much like Ninis was against Germany; the difference being that Fetfatzidis is more suited to the wing than Ninis ever was and he would be more dangerous running at opponents with the ball. But again, that would depend on Fetfatzidis raising his fitness levels and getting into his best form to be effective for Greece. Also, with an attacking trio like these three, we can offer a lot of movement, switching of the wings, and make it difficult for opponents to rely on a point of reference. Technically speaking this is a 3-3-1-3-0 and you would have Tachtsidis, for example, make runs ahead to create a 3-3-3-1. Tachtsidis could just as easily slot back and let Kourbelis get forward. If we are really desperate, one of the CBs could get forward to add an extra target man into the box.

I don’t see us ever be this creative with formations and players. But it is needed. With that formation Don I think Kourbelis and Zeca have to act as wingbacks with and without possession in my opinion. Or have Retsos and Sokratis wider with Zeca and Kourbelis filling in the gaps. As we will need players to open up to go forward. Otherwise it will be too congested and there will be no options. Also Donis and Fetfa would have to tuck in I think. We’re better off playing 4 at the back.

Fetfatzidis would provide more of a threat at 50-60%. His ball control alone will help our team move around. I do understand what your saying though a Fetfa at 100% would be dangerous and benefical for us. I think you would need wide options to play I think. Otherwise we will get overrun on the wing and dangerous balls will come in our box.

In my opinion we need to be solid outwide where we don’t get beaten. Everything else will take care of itself. That’s why if Lykogiannis was to play FB 9 times out of 10 he will not get beaten. That’s what I understand after watching him play.

[Don Giovanni]

Right now we lack quality in the full/wing-back positions. Even Lykogiannis is nothing special. He's a bigger player than Stafylidis/Koutris and he is more conservative in choosing when to get forward. I'm not that convinced he would be good enough for Greece, but he's not as much of a defensive liability as the others.

In my view, it's better to play two CBs in place of the FBs/WBs, since in the CB position we have most quality. This means we can afford to play Retsos and Kourbelis instead of players who are defensively inferior, like Mavrias or Zeca at RB and Stafylidis or Koutris at LB. Eventually, Mavropanos might fit into that conversation, possibly even before Euro 2020. Maybe Kyriakos Papadopoulos if he manages to turn a page and stay healthy long enough. And we have Siovas too. That's 5-7 CBs depending on how fit Retsos and Kyriakos stay. Add Torosidis and Samaris to that conversation, and you have two players who could probably convert to CB roles, so that's about 7 or 9 options total. In a 23-man squad, that makes up about 1/3 or little more of the team and they take up 4/11 to 5/11 of the starling eleven positions, so the ratios are very close.

Realistically, the way this formation adapts to four at the back when needed is by allowing Sokratis to move into LB and Kourbelis to drop back into CB (or vice versa) and Tachtsidis into CM with Samaris at RCM (or vice versa):

Retsos---Manolas---Kourbelis---Sokratis
Zeca---Tachtsidis---Samaris
Donis----Fortounis---Fetfatzidis

A 4-3-3 formation offers the most coverage for the different zones/areas on the pitch in comparison to any other formation. So in terms of defending, this would allow us to deny and occupy space the most effectively across the pitch. The only issue is that Fetfatzidis and Fortounis will offer little help in defense. Anyone who saw Fortounis' attempt at a slide tackle against Armenia will know what I mean. And in Fetfatizidis, he's too small (he's nearly half a foot smaller than Donis). Donis too is rather limited, but he can be determined and throw himself into challenges like Karagounis had, even if they're not really effective and risk him getting carded.

We only do this when we need to absorb and sit deep, which may prove the case against better quality opponents who prevent us from keeping much possession. When we have the ball, we can have three men back, then three men in front of them to maintain two banks of six defensive players (3-3), which will be easy to organize since both lines can rely on each other as points of reference (similar in principle to banks of 4-4). Then you have four players up front who can combine and create chances, who are expected to move a lot more freely with Tachtsidis acting as the anchor point. The idea is very similar in design and principle to 4-2-3-1, where you have 6 defensive players to 4 attacking player in ratio, except here you have an extra CDM who can press opponents and better protect the defense. And by having three men at the back it's easier to play the offside trap (one man less to co-ordinate with), which in turn would allow us to keep higher. Between Tachtsidis and Fortounis, we can really keep the ball moving along nicely, and in Donis and Fefatzidis, we have two players who can run at opponents with the ball and draw fouls.

But all of this would depend on a fit and in-form Fetfatzidis. Without him, there's no other winger in Greek football who can cause serious tactical problems for opponents. On his day, Fetfatzidis is close to unplayable. This was on show against Hungary back in 2015. Giannotas, Pano Vlahodimos, Villafanez, Lamprou, and even Donis aren't as good as he is.

Then there is another problem. We lack pace to strike on the counter. Fortounis, Fetfatzidis, and Tachtsidis can't light up the field. Donis is quick, but he'll more than meet his match against quality teams with pace in the middle and back, like France or Holland should we play them. This means Greece will need to work the ball up from the back more often than not. There is only one player who can change that: Holebas. I'm tempted, truth be told, to play Holebas somehow. I'm thinking in place of Fetfatzidis. He's another player who for Greece can be a big star. Just consider the goal he almost scored on the counter against Ivory Coast (on the counter when he hit the post) and the cross he made against Costa Rica. That sort of quality can win us games. And having him means we don't defend another player less.

I think for Greece, these are the kinds of players we need to look at. As time goes one, we can look at Lamprou and see how he progresses. Maybe one day he can be that player because he is fast, tall, and technically very good. Then there's players like Pavlidis, Kampetsis, Michelis, Bouzoukis, etc, who could fit into the frame of things.

[Dean97]

Then there is another problem. We lack pace to strike on the counter. Fortounis, Fetfatzidis, and Tachtsidis can't light up the field. Donis is quick, but he'll more than meet his match against quality teams with pace in the middle and back, like France or Holland should we play them. This means Greece will need to work the ball up from the back more often than not. There is only one player who can change that: Holebas. I'm tempted, truth be told, to play Holebas somehow. I'm thinking in place of Fetfatzidis. He's another player who for Greece can be a big star. Just consider the goal he almost scored on the counter against Ivory Coast (on the counter when he hit the post) and the cross he made against Costa Rica. That sort of quality can win us games. And having him means we don't defend another player less.

I think for Greece, these are the kinds of players we need to look at. As time goes one, we can look at Lamprou and see how he progresses. Maybe one day he can be that player because he is fast, tall, and technically very good. Then there's players like Pavlidis, Kampetsis, Michelis, Bouzoukis, etc, who could fit into the frame of things.

We can easily fix this problem with implementing certain players. I whole heartedly agree that Greece need to start looking at these kind of players such as Fetfatzidis and Holebas. To me that’s common sense. It shouldn’t take a genius to realise that either. We can’t afford to not play these players especially with the player roster we have. I remember Fetfatzidis at 20 years old was already making waves in Olympiakos and Ninis the same at PAO even younger. Ninis is also still the youngest scorer for Greece ever and he scored on his debut.

Its unrealistic at this point but if we were to play an inform Ninis, Fetfatzidis, Tachtsidis, Holebas and Pelkas right now in the team and starting 11 it would change the whole look of the way we play and be better for it...

Vlachodimos

Retsos Manolas Sokratis Lykogiannis

Zeca/K.Papa

Giannotas Ninis Tachtsidis Holebas

Fortounis

Subs Fetfatzidis, Donis, Pelkas

This totally would never happen but it definitely would be our best team. The left side is solid and Holebas has free reign in attack. Gianniotas on the right who can cross with his right. Tachtsidis or K.Papadopoulos can bomb forward in the box and be an aerial threat. Ninis and Tachtsidis can give great through balls to Fortounis, Gianniotas and Holebas. Retsos and Lykogiannis can concentrate more on defence. We can use this team against anyone. This team I believe have the most quality. One can only dream...

If you want to make it more realistic:
Vlachodimos

Retsos Manolas Sokratis Lykogiannis

Zeca/Kourbelis

Masouras Fortounis Siopis Koutris

Donis

[Amorgos]

Ninis is sadly finished file... I was hoping to see SOMETHING about him returning at least to Greece with a mid table team but nothing

[Dean97]

Ninis is sadly finished file... I was hoping to see SOMETHING about him returning at least to Greece with a mid table team but nothing

What do you mean by finished? If he can return to a decent side in a decent league then he isn’t finished. I think he still has something to offer. I don’t know how much he has declined but he seems like he did alright in Israel. If someone can confirm that’d be great, but I haven’t seen him play lately. As I said, one can only dream. Especially with the way Greek national team is being handled I don’t see him returning to the national team even if he gets back to Greece.

[Don Giovanni]

@Dino

So long as Ninis is in Israel's second division, he will not get anywhere near the Ethniki. A move to Panathinaikos this summer, should it happen, would open the door for him. I would treat him as a back up to Tachtsidis and Fortounis at best, that is should he return to a proper level and shows he can reach form. If we lose either Tachtsidis or Fortounis to suspension or injury, we won't miss a beat with Ninis.

Giannotas is no longer at AEK and it remains to be seen where he will play. He's a gifted dribbler and he can poach goals, but he didn't have confidence at AEK and really struggled to produce anything. Unless he finds form and proves his quality, I don't think he can find a place on the Greece squad. He would be a good option from the bench though and he could have an impact on games should he find form. He's not a bad option for us.

Lykogiannis is at most a back-up option or option from the bench to close out a game if Stafylidis or Koutris struggle. Truth be told I'd rather play an extra CB who can offer more defensive quality, but he may have his merit in at least being a squad player for Greece. Nikolaou is another such option and he's left-footed too. The problem is he's not nearly as developed nor experienced as of yet, but I think he will overtake Lykogiannis in rank as a left-sided defender in a couple of years time. Tsimikas is another left-sided defender. He got a lot of games in at Willem II and he's been coming along nicely at OSFP and the Greek national youth levels. We'll have to wait and see. Right now, my preferred choice is Stafylidis or Koutris in the midfield, with an extra CB and 2-3 three defensively capable mids for cover.

[Reaper]

Giannotas is no longer at AEK and it remains to be seen where he will play.

https://www.ant1.com.cy/sports/cypru...-o-gianniotas/

[Reaper]

News on Ninis..


https://www.pagenews.gr/2019/07/01/a...i-stin-ellada/

[Amorgos]

Hopefully he returns to Greece

[Don Giovanni]

Ο πρώην άσος του ΠΑΟΚ και του Παναθηναϊκού θα μπορούσε να επιστρέψει, εάν έβρισκε συμβόλαιο με αποδοχές στα 80.000 ευρώ ετησίως. Συμβόλαιο που αντικειμενικά μπορεί να βρει πιο εύκολα σε ομάδες της «πάνω ταχύτητας», που τερματίζουν στην πρώτη πεντάδα.

That's a very low salary demand for a footballer. I'd have thought Panathinaikos before would be better for him, but now I think Aris is the best club for him.

[Don Giovanni]

Valerianos is now playing at Pafos FC in Cyprus. I will never understand how he came to be a national player.

[Amorgos]

I’m really baffled with that whole thing... Aris (UEL) & NT too Pafos FC in the space of 3 months

[Reaper]

Valerianos is now playing at Pafos FC in Cyprus. I will never understand how he came to be a national player.

Could be a well placed agent..

I knew a Greek second division player whose club made him pay the club for starts. I can imagine the EPO sellng caps.

[Don Giovanni]

I wouldn't go that far. There's nothing to suggest Anastasiadis or Grammenos are those kinds of people.

If I had to guess, it's that Anastasiadis isn't a coach who can command players competing at a higher level than Greece or Cyprus. Those players expect a certain standard of training from their coaches, not a faith-based, mystical approach. Anastasiadis tends to favor working with lower caliber players who need him as much as he needs them for locker room support. And that's why I think Anastasiadis didn't spend much time, if any, scouting in Italy. Had he done so, he would have called up Lykogiannis.

And it's not like Lykogiannis is going to be a huge difference maker, but he's going to be more reliable at the back than almost any other option we have at LB. He's a better defender than Stafylidis and Koutris mainly because he doesn't venture forward as much and he's got a bigger build. But the times I've seen him, he looks rather timid defensively and doesn't use his body effectively enough. He's too nice when he needs to be more hard-nosed and push himself into challenges.