But (as if you couldn't see that coming), I don't think he should be playing in goal for us. Now whenever a new manager comes in, he always brings in the players he's used to. Harry did it here with the likes of Hislop and Todorov, now he's doing it again with people like Quashie; it's a simple fact. Managers like to take players they know they can depend on and know can do a job. Velimir, like any other manager, has brought in players he knows - Chalkias was such a favourite of his at Panathinaikos that the manager actually got sacked for refusing to play him whilst Velimir was Director of Football. So, it's fair to say he's quite keen on his talents.
And don't get me wrong, the lad has certainly got something. You don't play for the European Champions or in the Champions League if you haven't got any talent. What's more, I have absolutely no doubt that by this time next year he will be our undisputed number one keeper. But the fact is it's simply not fair on him, the fans, or indeed the other keepers to be throwing him in at the deep end right now. I mean, put yourself in the shoes of Jamie Ashdown - he's hardly going to be sitting on the bench thinking, "Christ this guy is good, I can see why I've been kept out of the team because of him", is he?
The fact is, he's too eager to impress. Coming in for your derby in a Portsmouth vs Southampton match, you would be. But there are other factors. Players like Ricardo Fuller - already well adjusted to the English game after a spell at Preston - have struggled to come to terms with the Premiership. A player from Greece has not only got to learn a new culture and a new language in a completely different country, but has also got to come to terms with a completely different style of game. Oh, and by the way, you only get a day training with the first team before our big FA Cup local derby. How is that fair on anyone, not least Chalky himself?
There's countless other factors - like the new ball. At the start of the season, every Premiership club is given the new football to test for a couple of months before the start of the season, just to get used to it. And I don't know if you've ever kicked a proper Premier League ball, but it absolutely flies. Apparently the ball in Greece is slower moving - yet another factor for our bearded friend to deal with. All I'm saying is, as good a keeper as he might be, he should be in the reserves and learning these things on a stage where it's less important. People say "give him time" and all that, and I agree we do need time to judge if he's much good or not, but it's simply not fair to judge him in the Premiership where every mistake is under harsh scrutiny and you're watched by thousands of fans a week. How will it do his confidence any good if he knows the fans are dishing out ironic cheers just because he manages to catch a football?
What worries me is that we're creating a problem where there need not be one. Shaka is apparently interested in a move to Southampton which is why he was dropped from the starting line-up for the cup game - but call me silly, but he wasn't dropped anyway. He had been on the bench on the previous game against Chelsea, and stayed on the bench for the derby. If he was that badly affected by speculation, where was Ashdown? And what of Ashdown, exactly? I don't think his future here is under serious threat since he said himself he didn't expect to play at all this season as such a young lad, but when he's clearly got the talent and technical ability, why are we just throwing him to one side? Why not keep him in the squad as first choice until the end of the season - we know he's good, he knows he's good, the defence knows he's good - and then give Chalky the time to build up his confidence and understanding of the game in the reserves, before next season where he can start as number one.
We can only wonder why, really. But in Chalky's defence, I guess, he's never Kostas a game. (Kostas! Cost-us! Because Kostas is his name! And that's the joke... oh, never mind).
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