pash

dawwww my little pumpkin spice latte, don't be mad!

Some of those Atromitos attacks in the Panathinaikos box were VERY nice. I was just telling our favorite Connecticut-based fan that I would have expected this of the Atromitos of a few years ago, but it was kind of surprising considering their recent form. Good on them though.

I had read some rumors that we're not going for a big winger signing - in other words, more Quagliata and less Despodov. Not sure it matters much anyway, but hopefully the club isn't wasting its time on someone who will end up in the B team in a few weeks.

Definitely surprised at the OFI loss... -edit- Atromitos really putting up a fight today 🙏 -edit again- A VERY soft penalty given in pao's favor, which the goalie blocks and them ALMOST misses a subsequent shot. Fantastic result there (we're down to stoppage time). Stadium music started playing as if there was a goal there too, which just makes the 1-2 even sweeter. Let's see if Atromitos holds on. -last edit- Atromitos wins this, 1-2

I think the worry is Murg will be upset right when we need him most... Anyway, saw this post about Brandon Thomas. For those who can't access it, here is the text as well. Is what they say about uefa, like, true? https://www.instagram.com/p/C2amXsxIIs9/ Αποκάλυψη: Προς ανανέωση – έκπληξη ο Μπράντον! Μέσα στις συζητήσεις που έχουν γίνει για το μέλλον της ομάδας, βρίσκεται και το όνομα του Μπράντον Τόμας. Τι ισχύει όμως για τον Ισπανό; Ο ΠΑΟΚ έχει ταιριάξει με τον Μπράντον Τόμας και ο Μπράντον Τόμας με τον ΠΑΟΚ. Ο Ισπανός απέδειξε σε αυτόν τον 1,5 χρόνο που είναι στην ομάδα, πως αποτελεί θετικό στοιχείο για αυτή και προσφέρει πάντα ότι έχει. Πολλές φορές μάλιστα, αυτό που έχει είναι αρκετό. Το περασμένο καλοκαίρι, ανακοινώθηκε πως ο Ισπανός ανανέωσε με τον ΠΑΟΚ με συμβόλαιο 1 συν 1, κάτι που όσοι γνωρίζουν την αγορά αντιλαμβάνονται πως δεν είναι όλη η αλήθεια αφού η ΟΥΕΦΑ θεωρεί καταχρηστικά τα συμβόλαια ενός έτους που ανανεώνονται αυτόματα για άλλον έναν. Θα αποδεχτεί το 2 συν 1 αλλά όχι αυτό που ανακοίνωσε η ΠΑΕ ΠΑΟΚ πως συμφώνησε και το έκανε προφανώς για επικοινωνιακούς λόγους. Πρόσφατα λοιπόν, έγιναν συζητήσεις με τον ατζέντη του ποδοσφαιριστή που ήταν στη Θεσσαλονίκη και ενημερώθηκε αρχικά για την διάθεση του ΠΑΟΚ να διατηρήσει τον παίκτη στο ρόστερ του και του χρόνου. Η θέση του ατζέντη, μεταφέροντας τα θέλω του παίκτη, είναι πως επιθυμία του είναι να υπογράψει διετές κλειστό συμβόλαιο, κάτι που πιθανότατα θα συμβεί εφόσον δεν υπάρχουν διαφορές στο οικονομικό. Ο ΠΑΟΚ θεωρεί τον παίκτη θετικό όχι μόνο ποδοσφαιρικά αλλά και σαν προσωπικότητα μέσα στην ομάδα, αντιλαμβάνεται πως είναι έτοιμος να δώσει ότι έχει ανεξαρτήτου ρόλου που θα του αναθέσει ο προπονητής και σε αυτή τη λογική θέλει να τον διατηρήσει στην ομάδα

You want to manage the player's attitude through the end of the season too - an ultimatum when we still have like three months to play, can blow up in your face. Especially if the relationship with Murg goes south. Keep the talk respectful enough, but if there is no budge on his end, don't toss an ultimatum until you've extracted value from him.

Hadn't heard that about Murg, but I'm guessing that's for a possible new contract and not a weird push for an immediate pay bump? I do think there is a lot of risk there for a player that only picked up his performance in a contract year. I say let him go back to Vienna if there is even a hint of trouble. There are rumors that Meite may be the one they choose (and that the team will try to pay a bit less than the 4mm we agreed to for him). I can't imagine that we'd spend real money on Antonio, though. Might be only 25 players, but unlike in recent years, we are actually using all of the players. For the first time in a long time, I actually like our player management. I do think with next summer's expiring contracts, that we have both some danger and some opportunity, though. Btw here is the list according to transfermarkt. I am certain most will not be re-signed. And even if we do extend a few of these guys - like Taison, Thomas - we absolutely need to hire players who are better in those positions. Nat. Contract expires Vieirinha 6/30/2024 Zivko Zivkovic 6/30/2024 Taison 6/30/2024 Stefan Schwab 6/30/2024 Thomas Murg 6/30/2024 Soualiho Meïté 6/30/2024 Tomasz Kedziora 6/30/2024 Brandon Thomas 6/30/2024 Marcos Antônio 6/30/2024

Lots more hubbub about Jonny Otto today. Some are predicting he'll be coming to SKG on the 25th or 26th. I am so ready to eat crow over this. If it goes through, is it a "bam" ? -edit- I've seen a few contradictory claims about his contract. This is along the lower range of the estimates, and is also the newest (that I've seen): https://inpaok.com/806023/idou-to-symvolaio-tou-oto-ston-paok/

Troost-Ekong might be injured, hopefully this is not a big one: https://inpaok.com/805976/kindynos-na-chasei-to-tournoua-o-ekongk/

I believe Lucescu said in a recent post-game interview that Lyratzis wanted to go. It seems he knew he would ride the bench even without the guy already locked down (which I think would have been the predictable result anyway). Maximovic at this point is a luxury. I would imagine we'll move to make Meite permanent (if we weren't going to do that anyway). If so, where would Maximovic even play? Let Pao drain their coffers, I say.

Btw is it just me or is there a bottomless blue pit behind our goal

Deletic looks a lot like Bibras Natcho!

The answer to why he hasn't played much this year can be found by reading the previous post and doing some googling. But if you did that, trolling would be harder, right?

Konstantelias missed the last practice due to an illness, which may explain Ricardo's elevation to the squad: He apparently has only played three times this season, which does not bode well for his continued employment by PAOK.

Was he really involved in a brawl?? Haha that's fantastic. He'll be playing for Panserraikos in no time. PAOKSYD he apparently has no dominant foot, and so can be used on either side.

Saw a rumor that we were making a move for Jonny Otto, who apparently is "in the pits" with management at Wolves. I very, very much doubt we could afford him (either salary or transfer fee). But perhaps a loan? He's also rumored to be reuniting with Celta de Vigo (his original club), which I find to be a MUCH more likely move. I'm embarrassed to even be reporting this! https://www.transfermarkt.us/jonny-otto/profil/spieler/175446

Hate that there's a buyout, but at least he's got a chance to actually play. This, meanwhile, feels like nonsense: https://www.transfermarkt.us/santiago-arias/profil/spieler/120443

That's the spirit!

This fella popped up a few weeks (or months?) ago and then dropped off. Looks like the team has acquired the player on a 2.5 year contract. PAOK B now has seven goalkeepers on the roster, though Talichmanidis pulls double duty and I think one of the other guys is about to be sold. Seems like too many either way. https://inpaok.com/805346/episima-ston-paok-o-nanter/

Well at least AEK got knocked out. It's good to add to Panathinaikos' fatigue in the league I guess, but Olympiakos is just so much worse this year... And of course, we will be playing PAO in the semis, once they beat Atromitos. Hopefully they'll get a bunch of red cards. So I suppose if we make it to the final, that means it'll be us vs either Aris or OFI/Panaitolikos. -edit- I missed that Levadiakos and Niki Volos still have to play, so Aris isn't through yet. I can't imagine either of those teams will be much trouble for them, though.

All I know is that I'm the world's greatest gambler!

That Warda guy had some nice passes. We should try to poach him

Beeeaauuuuutiful goal! And wins me a solid $15 with that, haha In all seriousness, do players even practice penalties?

lmao let's blame the grass!

Agreed on the needed subs. And also agreed that Marcos Antonio is no #10...