[Albion] Stefanos Tzimas **singed 03/02/25 - joining in Summer**

[schmunk]

(I was about to post the three finger meme from the kelder scene in inglorious basterds but was not sure whether that would be culturally insensitive to our new Teutonic chatboard buddy. It is just a great scene where a person is caught by tiny differences in non-verbal norms.

A Shibboleth.*






* ("Bless you...")

 

[Nightfall]

Interesting fact; On the 80' minute he asked for a change even though he didnt't seem to get injured nor there was a medical report after.
It turns out he played the game while being a bit sick (a few other players had stomach flu) because he didn't want to miss the derby.

 

[Nightfall]

In case you are wondering about Tzimas and the Greek National team, since the average age of the Greek NT in the game against Scotland was 22.7.
He was actually called despite being just 19, but he is sick (stomach flu) and they called Douvikas instead.

At the current Greek NT, he would probably be 3rd choice
1st choice is Pavlidis (26), 20 goals with Benfica this season , with 7G and 3 A in Champions League (and a hat trick agaisnt Barcelona in 20 minutes)
2nd choice is Ioannidis (26) , he is the best Striker currently playing in Greece and the Greek NT coach is the one who develeoped him, but he is currently in really bad form and in the very youthful team we have Tzimas should be 2nd .

 

[pigmanovich]

In case you are wondering about Tzimas and the Greek National team, since the average age of the Greek NT in the game against Scotland was 22.7.
He was actually called despite being just 19, but he is sick (stomach flu) and they called Douvikas instead.

At the current Greek NT, he would probably be 3rd choice
1st choice is Pavlidis (26), 20 goals with Benfica this season , with 7G and 3 A in Champions League (and a hat trick agaisnt Barcelona in 20 minutes)
2nd choice is Ioannidis (26) , he is the best Striker currently playing in Greece and the Greek NT coach is the one who develeoped him, but he is currently in really bad form and in the very youthful team we have Tzimas should be 2nd .

Too bad he couldn't feature this month but bodes well for the future - appreciate the insight, as I'd been wondering whether he was with the U21s and the Hellenic FF doesn't release much information about them

 

[Nightfall]

He was initially named for the U21 (before the first game against Scotland) and when they went full youth, the coach called him to see if he was fit, but he wasn't.
So Douvikas was called who despite not being a bad player, he currently was transferred from the right corner of the bench of Celta Vigo to the right corner of the bench of Como.

Actually for the way Greece plays now (with strong wings who have the ability to score) Tzimas would have been perfect, because it is similar to the way they play at Nürnberg.

It is the first time in decades that we enjoy watching the Greek NT, because there is so much youth talent in many different positions.
And they actually play , because in most cases with our NT you have the players that "they must play" no matter if they are in form or not, if they are old etc and few coaches dare to bench them...

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

In case you are wondering about Tzimas and the Greek National team, since the average age of the Greek NT in the game against Scotland was 22.7.
He was actually called despite being just 19, but he is sick (stomach flu) and they called Douvikas instead.

At the current Greek NT, he would probably be 3rd choice
1st choice is Pavlidis (26), 20 goals with Benfica this season , with 7G and 3 A in Champions League (and a hat trick agaisnt Barcelona in 20 minutes)
2nd choice is Ioannidis (26) , he is the best Striker currently playing in Greece and the Greek NT coach is the one who develeoped him, but he is currently in really bad form and in the very youthful team we have Tzimas should be 2nd .

I've seen quite a bit of Pavlidis this season and he's looked terrific.

I suppose not bad that our new lad has someone to learn from, look up to and eventually overhaul

 

[Nightfall]

I've seen quite a bit of Pavlidis this season and he's looked terrific.

I suppose not bad that our new lad has someone to learn from, look up to and eventually overhaul

I couldn't agree more, I follow Pavlidis since his Dutch days.
He is a rare breed of player and person. Most down to earth guy (and believe me greek players can become very cocky with some success).
Never gives a reason for anything, nobody knows anything about his personal life, where he went out, if he dates models or what.

And as a player he will be the first to come to practise and last to leave, and if the coach tells him "jump" he will ask "how high?"
He also participates in defending and playmaking. He is definetely a good mentor, but the fact alone that Tzimas has Klose as coach/mentor for a year is a great start

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I couldn't agree more, I follow Pavlidis since his Dutch days.
He is a rare breed of player and person. Most down to earth guy (and believe me greek players can become very cocky with some success).
Never gives a reason for anything, nobody knows anything about his personal life, where he went out, if he dates models or what.

And as a player he will be the first to come to practise and last to leave, and if the coach tells him "jump" he will ask "how high?"
He also participates in defending and playmaking. He is definetely a good mentor, but the fact alone that Tzimas has Klose as coach/mentor for a year is a great start

Greece were very impressive in that second game against Scotland. Some really good young players out there. Karetsas looks like the sort of player Belgium are going to be very disappointed to lose.

 

[Nightfall]

Greece were very impressive in that second game against Scotland. Some really good young players out there. Karetsas looks like the sort of player Belgium are going to be very disappointed to lose.

Karetsas has the potential to be one of the best 10s. EVen though in Greece he had to play RM, because of Konstantelias (also a great prospect) .
Hopefully he will continue evolving like this. It was a blessing that he was born and raised in Belgium and not Greece as the academies and mentallity there are much better. Even though he is 3rd or 4th generation greek in Belgium, he can speak the language and felt greek enough to choose Greece (plus the fact that he could immediately play in the Greek NT as probalby opposed to the Belgian one definetely was a decision factor).

This is how Karetsas (17) compares with every U19 Midfielder in the world:

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Karetsas has the potential to be one of the best 10s. EVen though in Greece he had to play RM, because of Konstantelias (also a great prospect) .
Hopefully he will continue evolving like this. It was a blessing that he was born and raised in Belgium and not Greece as the academies and mentallity there are much better. Even though he is 3rd or 4th generation greek in Belgium, he can speak the language and felt greek enough to choose Greece (plus the fact that he could immediately play in the Greek NT as probalby opposed to the Belgian one definetely was a decision factor).

This is how Karetsas (17) compares with every U19 Midfielder in the world:

I would imagine there will be a lot of transfer noise around him in the summer. In fact, Chelsea have probably already signed him.

What I liked about that Greek team is that they played great football and were really enjoyable to watch. I've no doubt you enjoyed the national side winning the Euros in 2014 (?) but they were an awful team to watch, really dull. So it's good for them that they seem to be playing fast, entertaining stuff.

 

[Nightfall]

I would imagine there will be a lot of transfer noise around him in the summer. In fact, Chelsea have probably already signed him.

What I liked about that Greek team is that they played great football and were really enjoyable to watch. I've no doubt you enjoyed the national side winning the Euros in 2014 (?) but they were an awful team to watch, really dull. So it's good for them that they seem to be playing fast, entertaining stuff.

Euro 2004 and yes it was enjoyable, however the team back then had a rock solid defence, great coaching (Rehaggel) and great unity. It was far from a really talented team but knew how to play to their strength and as a well functioning team at 100%.
Since I remember watching football (being a '77 vintage it is a significant time ), I don't remember a Greek NT with half the talent this generation has.

Regarding Karetsas, I heard that Chelsea had sent scouters and many other PL teams, but if the rumours I hear here in Germany are true, Bayern and Dortmund could move fast (some sites go even further and say that Bayern is prepared to offer up to 40M )

Edit: This is a good compilation to get to know him if you haven't seen him yet. Apart from the Nation League clips in all the others he is 16 and 17 years old :


His dribbling is out of this world :

 

[Kosh]

Nice to see Yalcouye in at 3 !

I’m seriously excited by this Greek side… I had a Greek shirt back around the time they used to get regularly trounced… circa 95ish… always had a soft spot for them since… with 2004 the obvious highlight.

I wasn’t surprised at all when they overran Scotland the other night…

Xanthi are my Greek team.

 

[Not Spanish Dave]

I couldn't agree more, I follow Pavlidis since his Dutch days.
He is a rare breed of player and person. Most down to earth guy (and believe me greek players can become very cocky with some success).
Never gives a reason for anything, nobody knows anything about his personal life, where he went out, if he dates models or what.

And as a player he will be the first to come to practise and last to leave, and if the coach tells him "jump" he will ask "how high?"
He also participates in defending and playmaking. He is definetely a good mentor, but the fact alone that Tzimas has Klose as coach/mentor for a year is a great start

Sound a bit Greek to me

 

[Nightfall]

....… I had a Greek shirt back around the time they used to get regularly trounced… circa 95ish….....

Lol. I am very familiar World Cup 1994 in the USA...
First qualification, the team was invited by every Greek community in the USA, and the biggest majority of the starting 11 were players who would never have the chance to play again in such an event. Results :

Good times.....

 

[Eeyore]

Lol. I am very familiar World Cup 1994 in the USA...
First qualification, the team was invited by every Greek community in the USA, and the biggest majority of the starting 11 were players who would never have the chance to play again in such an event. Results :


View attachment 199054

Good times.....

However, ten years later....

 

[Kosh]

Lol. I am very familiar World Cup 1994 in the USA...
First qualification, the team was invited by every Greek community in the USA, and the biggest majority of the starting 11 were players who would never have the chance to play again in such an event. Results :


View attachment 199054

Good times.....

I remember watching the Argentina game, or at least seeing the highlights… I always loved an underdog… little wonder this was the beginning of my Greek odyssey ️

Can’t wait to see how this crop of Greek talent progresses… exciting times.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Xanthi are my Greek team.

I don't have a Greek team, but I absolutely loved our trip to Athens last season, other than the tear gas bit. I don't know what I was expecting from the city but it was lovely. Glorious weather, friendly people (admittedly a lot of whom were Panathinaikos or Olympiakos fans wanting us to win ), loads of sights to see, and a wealth of very pleasant bars to spend the afternoons lounging in.

 

[Rodney Thomas]

Yeah, people here are very excited about this young team. A midfield 5 between 17 and 22 years old playing attractive, passing, quick football. Really hoping they can qualify for the World Cup from a relatively easy group.

 

[Ali_rrr]

I don't have a Greek team, but I absolutely loved our trip to Athens last season, other than the tear gas bit. I don't know what I was expecting from the city but it was lovely. Glorious weather, friendly people (admittedly a lot of whom were Panathinaikos or Olympiakos fans wanting us to win ), loads of sights to see, and a wealth of very pleasant bars to spend the afternoons lounging in.

Thought the AEK fans were also well alright. Walking outside the ground all the Brighton fans in shorts and T-shirts stuck out like a sore thumb, whilst the Greeks were in puffer jackets and jeans. They were all super helpful and after the game we went to a supporters bar and people caused no trouble.

 

[Nightfall]

Back on subject

Today it was Market value update on german Transfermarkt.

Tzimas update

Thus becoming the most expensive player in the history of 2.Bundesliga (and by a good margin)