The Official Niko Tsakiris thread

Price is goin' up!

 

obligatory
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7T5UYIv4l7s

 

Quakes have signed Tsakiris to a new long term u22 deal.

 

Yeh, we found a U22 player! I guess the reason for the promotion from HG is that it allows us to pay him a little more. I think HG salaries top out at around $200k.

I think Noel Buck is also U22.

 

I swear I think Cade got paid a lot of money as a U-22. Regardless this contract upgrade for Niko is long overdue.

 

I'm gonna have to see something more than a goal and a couple of assists over 3000 minutes to think that it's overdue. Cade had about 8g, 10 assists in his first 3000 MLS minutes. We'll see how this season goes.

 

Interesting contrast to the previous preseason where Bruce essentially said Niko hadn't done anything yet as a player.

 

Well, he was right last year. He had 0 goals and 1 assist I think in 2500 MLS minutes. You'd almost have to be *trying* not to get on the scoresheet to get those results. Now 1 goal and 3 assists, but it seems a little early to be annointing him and for him to be taking the #10 shirt and everything. I'd like to see a little success before that happens.

He looked lively and aggressive in the preseason, so we'll see how it plays out. Now seeing much from his final ball. And how long, if he gets consistent playing time, before word gets around that you just need to force him to his right and you've neutralized him. He's gonna have to figure out how to adjust for that. Time to finally work on his right foot?

 

Totally different vibe this season. Last season we had a very strong personality in Chicho, basically doing whatever the hell he wanted to do on the field...he called his own number often...his numbers were good, but he dropped into Niko's and Leroux lap way too often...usurped their role. And Chicho would often look off Niko when he was in really good situations. So, now Niko will need to show some solid assist numbers and contribute a handful of goals. I actually think Beau is a better option for an ACM...he's a great passer and playmaker...and the biggy, he is an aggressive shooter...but Niko and Beau have great chemistry on the field, so hopefully the combination of the two will give us a boost. We just need Bruce to not insert Harkes. So this is kind of the addition by subtraction in the attack...Chicho no longer dropping deep, ball hogging...breaking down potential goal scoring situations...Niko and Beau potentially providing better possession and quicker ball progression to support Timo...i'm anxious to see if they can get it done.

 

It's hard to even evaluate Niko last year. He barely played - 360 or so minutes. I hope people aren't just way overplaying that free kick goal in the last game. So far Niko's set piece delivery on corners (in preseason) has been pretty bad. Hopefully that will improve.

 

I thought Niko was poor last year. He’s looked much better in the first game this year and in the last three preseason games.

 

Hard to say really if he was poor last year, he barely played. 4 starts.

 

When he played, he was completely unimpressive.

That’s my story, I’m sticking to it!

Go Quakesfans!!

 

Niko had a world class goal against Austin in the 2025 finale with the playoffs on the line.

He’s generally been underwhelming but that was promising.

 

I thought he was very good against Kansas City.

 

Sure, he was good against the Sporks, but they suck.

Atlanta are a bit better, so we’ll see how he does. We need for him to be better than he is.

Go Quakesfans!!

 

Niko played well...basically delivers a silver platter ball to jones in front of goal...who skies it. What more can he do...haha. He's had 2-3 great passes that weren't converted in the first two games...he's starting to get stuff done in the attack. He was Unlucky his goal was called back on the ball ricketts put across..made a great lung busting ride to get into position. Imo, He's starting to have routine positive impact.

 

I think he is playing much better, he seems to have bulked up a little bit in the upper body, and has more confidence. A very solid performance.

 

He’s harder to push off the ball now, that’s for sure.