The Right Connections

The Right Connections

Written by Greg Gavalas

It’s been a long time since the FIFA World Cup of 2014, which was the last major tournament the Ethniki Omada took part in. 

What followed has been a well-documented disaster, not only in results, but dire football worse than we have EVER seen. People often described the last 5 years as “back to the dark ages” but I don’t know if many people realise, we hit a low that was as low as it could get.

60th in the world, our worst ranking EVER, losing to minnows like Faroe Islands, Luxemburg, Estonia, Armenia and drawing to Liechtenstein. Lows I don't know if we will ever hit again and myself and every other fan out there sure as hell does not want to see the likes of what we have in our last two campaigns.

Amongst the lows and the nightmares, in August this year, the Greek Football Federation terminated Angelos Anastadiadis’ contract and brought in Dutchman, John Van Schip (JVS), and his team that included Aaron Winter, Michael Valkanis, also Takis Fyssas was brought back into the fold to help boost morale in what was clearly becoming a very bad place to be.

Upon arrival, JVS was very vocal about ego’s and agenda’s on the team that were not helping, after more horrible performances it was clear the team needed a clean out and it came from some obvious and some not so obvious personnel.

Gone from selections were Andreas Samaris, the Benfica midfielder, I can honestly say, did us more bad than good, many people keep pointing to the fact he plays for Benfica but it’s what he does on the field that matters and in the last 12 months, his performances for the Ethniki were diabolical, to the point it was costing us matches and goals from woeful passing that would lead to turn overs and goals. Enough was enough, the replacements have done a super job.

The next two to be gone are without doubt the most controversial, in Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Kostas Manolas, for many years considered the best Greek players today and the teams twin towers at the back however, 5 years of horrible results and poor performance can effect even the best.

I think the 5 year disaster had a mental effect on these two players who both play at the highest level in the English Premier League with Arsenal and Italy’s Serie A with Napoli. It was clear their demeanour was not great and with the constant mentions of “egos” and “agendas” in the team, plus recent selections, it’s not hard to see JVS could have very well been talking about these guys.

Whatever it may be, we have seen a remarkable turn in form, mentality, playing style and attitude brought into the team, it’s something everyone connected with the Ethinki needed.

Something many have wanted to see for a long time, an injection of youth and hunger, and no more watching complacent veterans walking on the pitch with hardly a game plan.

Instead JVC has installed a 4-2-3-1 that transitions between attack and defence, as soon as we get into attack, the wing backs move up into midfield and this has created great success for the team.

One of the biggest changes is the urgency to attack, for so many years, we have seen the ball passed back and forth between CB’s and a very slow transition into attack, well after many years, and that includes post 2004 Euro, we finally have a team that does not allow the opposition to have a coffee and set up their defence.

The strength this team has is the ability to win the ball back as soon as it is lost, the team does not stop there but with effective ball movement in the midfield (finally!) we transition effectively into attack.

Let’s have a look at who the players doing this are;

In goals – Probably the one spot that has experimented more than the others, JVS’s three choices of Odysseus Vlachodimos, Alexandros Paschalakis and Vasilis Barkas are all safe bets. In the last two games we saw Vlachodimos start.

Defence

Right Back
Michalis Bakakis – The AEK right back has received some criticism for his technical ability but he has done a great job under the JVS system and his athletic ability has been good as he works the flank in defence and attack, there is no denying this really helps the Ethniki

Centre Backs
JVS has brought in Pantelis Hatzidiakos from AZ Alkmaar and the 22 year old has fitting in like he was part of the team right away. His passing ability has been a stand out and I am talking forward passing, not backwards and side by side. He has sterner tests ahead of him but he has done great.

Kostas Stafylidis is an interesting one next to Hatzidiakos, the current captain of Greece is a worry a CB but there is no doubt JVS has him there for a reason which I think is more to do with leadership quality. With quality left backs a plenty and better centre backs on the bench, this will be something to keep an eye on.

Left Back
Dimitris Giannoulis – the 24 year old PAOK player has really impressed with his first touch skills and go forward and come a long way this season at club and national level. With, in form Kostas Tsimikas and Leonardo Koutris on bench, we have an array of talent in this position

Midfield

Central Midfield 
Dimitris Kourbelis and Kostas Galanopoulos have done a good job in a position that we have struggled in recent years. Kourbelis needs to watch his erratic challenges whilst Galanopoulos scored his first goal for Greece and the winner against Finland. Andreas Bouchalakis looks set at 3rd string with Carlos Zeca also in the mix but one wonders if Zeca fits JVS’s style of play.

Attacking trio

This is where I take my hat off to JVS and his team as we have, for years now looked for the right combination in these positions and we look to have nailed it for now.

The combination of Petros Mantalos on the left, Tassos Bakasetas in the middle and Dimitris Limnios on the right looks to be gelling incredibly well and Limnios has been a star for the team, he has injected speed in the team and it’s great to watch. The three combine really well with quick passes, 1-2’s and great direct football that’s putting the opposition in great stress.

Striker

Vangelis Pavlidis has started the last few matches and grabbed his first goal against Bosnia but he has looked a little out of sorts in the last two games. Efthymios Koulouris has been subbed on also but his struggle to open his scoring with Greece has been hard to watch. Tassos Donis is one to watch for the future perhaps in this position, as Greece looks for better finishing in the future if we are to get to the World Cup in 2022.

Hellas Football