pash

I am so ready to give my hot take here. For anyone who wants to compare lineups: 2018/19: https://www.transfermarkt.com/paok-thessaloniki/kader/verein/1091/plus/0/galerie/0?saison_id=2018 2023/24: https://www.transfermarkt.com/paok-thessaloniki/startseite/verein/1091/saison_id/2023 As an aside, this illustrates Lucescu's infuriating refusal to actually play his squad back in the day - I count like 13 players who I don't think even played. Perhaps he knew he didn't have as great a team as we all think he did? Either way, rotation has proven its worth now. Anyway... I still think the 2018 team takes it, because they were just so in sync with each other...and stone cold competent. HOWEVER...we have a LOT more depth today, and I think it's of a higher quality. I would not be surprised if by the end of the season, this one ends up feeling more dominant. Also, we have better set up for future success right now. We have relatively few older players, so we are unlikely to have an implosion of elderliness in another year. Defense: I think our entire defensive line (to mix up my sports) was better in 2018. Vieirinha and Matos as fullbacks were just plain better than anything we have now (yes, sorry Baba). And Varela and Crespo? With Ingason as backup? Like, are you kidding me? I'm not even sure Kotarski is better than Pashalakis during his incredible, career-defining season. Midfield: Prime Shakhov, Oliveira, Canas, Mauricio... vs Antonio, Ozdoev, Schwab, Tsiggaras, Ozdoev. Honestly, the older squad were so consistent that I have to give them the edge over the current team. So 2018 takes it, but only barely. BUT, we have another half season to go...and the 2018 squad had mostly played together the previous year. They got off to an easier start, in other words. I also feel that we have such fantastic depth there now that we could legitimately lose three of our guys and still have one of the strongest midfields in the league. Attack: this one, is a little more difficult. Wingers and attacking mids were Limnios, Jaba, Henrique, Lamprou, Biseswar, Pelkas. And perhaps Warda, if you can count him. Vs today's Murg, Taison, Zivkovic, Despodov, Kontstantelias. I think Pelkas/Biseswar were better than Murg/Konstantelias, but our wingers now are definitely better (even if we lack a dedicated left winger). The deciding factor here is Prijovic - who I believe is by far the best striker we've ever had. I think 2018 takes it again. And even if you want to discount Prijovic, who left in the winter break...Swiderski and Akpom were both better than our current guys, IMO. Some of this might be my sentimentality speaking. I think this current team has the potential to be one of our best squads ever. But we're a fullback and striker away from that happening. And honestly, Konstantelias needs more time in the oven before he brings out his best. Remember: Pelkas had a physicality and speed that Konstantelias probably never will. Btw, remember Kacheridi? He just retired! https://www.transfermarkt.com/yevgen-khacheridi/profil/spieler/69004

Zivkovic trained normally so perhaps he'll make the squad, though I can't imagine he'll be anywhere near the starting eleven. Good that he's back though.

Agreed with the banana hammock on the physicality - he'd get crushed. Germany is also a more physical league, but probably would be an easier place to acclimate to. To our podcaster - I hope you're right, but our club's history is one of constant disappointment. Expect the worst and hope for the best, I always say! -edit- By the way, Lyratzis might go to either Asteras Tripolis or (not surprisingly) Panserraikos. Hell yeah, get some real play time my boy!

Was this the same kid Lucescu wanted to turn into a fullback? Or was that one of the other fifteen attacking midfielders we've mismanaged? Re: Konstantelias - I guarantee you we'll see 10 million at most for him. Just you wait.

Wouldn't that mean we should expect to see immediate weight gain?

Hahaha you're probably right. Rent-free, as they say

My stream s%$#! the bed and when I got into a new one, I saw we had a fourth goal?! Does that make three assists and one goal for Despodov today??

Very selfless pass by Despodov, I was worried he'd try to take it and whiff the shot

Oooh I didn't even notice that! Interesting...perhaps this team is suffering from an identity crisis -edit- it looks kinda like a griffin, in fact?

Lol so do we hire this goalkeeper or what?

I dunno, had some bad passes earlier 😉 Fantastic height by Despodov for that header. @Dutch Eagle do you just mean their Inter-style logo? It was redesigned maybe two seasons ago, I think? Anyway, one more goal and I can afford to buy our dutch friend a few beers!

He gives his reasoning for requesting to not be called up here - I really hope he's not still in pain or injured, because it doesn't bode well for our season if he is still in pain...

Thought I'd share this one: https://inpaok.com/802825/oi-daneikoi-sto-mikroskopio/ Two notable takeaways: Tsaousis - who you may recall looked pretty solid during those few games he played for us - has apparently been doing well on loan at PAS Giannina (though that doesn't seem to be enough to stop them from getting relegated at the end of this season) Ouadrago is on loan to Panserraikos, which I did not realize was the case

I missed another rumor from a few days ago: AEL may be interested in both Giaxis and Ninua. The funny thing is I've seen instagram posts about both the AEL in Greece and the AEL in Cyprus being interested in the duo. This is how you know we're witnessing some hard-hitting journalism!

Do you give him a tough-love pep talk before each game?

I was wondering if he or Konstantelias would be drafted there. Konstantelias would break like a twig but Despodov might have it. So, good point!

Don't worry...he played a total of 90 minutes in the first half of this season, and all of seven games last year. Something tells me his regression will continue. Onwards and upwards, PAOK! And because I love repeating myself: 👏never 👏 get 👏 back 👏 together 👏 with 👏 your 👏 ex 👏

Now that Kedziora is getting more time at CB than RB, I think we'll be fine. Same with Rahman, if he goes (I'm sure he will). Soares has been pretty good, and Vieirinha will get plenty of time. What I am MORE interested in: will Tzimas actually get real minutes? We literally have no other strikers, if Brandon Thomas gets hurt or fatigued. Like surely Tzimas will be forced to start at some point, unless we start playing Taison as a false 9 or something. It will be very interesting to see what happens there. Even if Thomas starts every game, you'd think Tzimas would lock down a sold half hour each time, just out of necessity.

I don't care enough about the other subforums here to post this in, so you guys get the beauty of my thoughts instead: Watching the Arsenal - West Ham game, and Mavropanos just scored what I think is his first premier league goal vs his former club. I'd cheer but I had money on Arsenal winning 😞

F Soares seems to have a few teams interested in taking him on loan, one of which is in Portugal. Glad they are not outright selling him; hopefully he comes back much stronger.

Sounds like our game vs Olympiakos will take place in front of fans, just due to the timing of the schedule. However, I think you should all definitely expect this fan ban to be extended until our game is played.

Wow, I didn't see this and had to go take a look. Pathetic.

That team's gonna implode (huzzah!)

Reports are that Lucescu is about to sign a multi-year contract extension. He's been in Romania for a few days I think, so probably hasn't actually signed. Though our having a game on the third probably means it'll be any day now. I watched a few of those Rosier highlights. I am liking what I see. Saw some Turkish accounts tweeting about this as well, and from what I could glean via Google Translate, it seems they're willing to let him go because he hasn't gelled with the team. Besiktas spent 4.8 million for him; he might end up our most expensive acquisition yet if they insist on making their money back.

Was this the guy we were linked with this summer? I might be thinking of a striker instead. https://inpaok.com/802185/i-epimoni-ton-tourkon-gia-rosie-paok/ https://www.transfermarkt.us/valentin-rosier/profil/spieler/441170 Seems like one of the bigger moves we could make this winter.