Leaderboard

I don't think that's the issue. I think it's really as simple as we just struggle against teams that play defensively. Ivic himself has a conservative mindset in the mold of Santos i.e. defence first. Which is fine except that in the GSL most of our opponents play the same way. I've noticed that Ivic favours straight 3 in the middle (Canas, Cimirot, Shakhov) for the "tough" games and he did that today. I get it, play safe. Don't allow the opposition space. It's still a derby. Grab a goal and you're away. If we scored first it could have been a different game. Plan B ? Throw on an unfit Biseswar. If the wings aren't firing or there is a lack space because the opposition sit deep it's difficult. Our defence is actually quite solid this season. The best in a long time. The bad games defensively this season were against Qarabag away and Atromitos which was just a freak event. Some people have the philosophy that you shouldn't concede silly goals, but every team does. It's just the way it is. I watched Juventus last week who are a great team concede 3 goals in 20 minutes to Genoa. These things happen. There's nothing wrong as such with conceding but when you can't score then it's a problem! Moving forward we just don't currently have the quality required in the number 8 and number 10 position. Striker is a problem too but I'd try to fix the middle first. Get me a "Canas" quality number 8 and number 10 and this teams lifts 300%. Easier said than done though. But I'm rambling. Does Ivic have the players support ? Who knows. Will Ivic last ? I doubt it. Savvidis will be going for 5 for 5 (5 managers in 5 seasons) I'm sure.

I'd play Mystakidis as the number #10. Even when he's having a bad game, he'll still generally manage to get into a few goal scoring situations. What he lacks in composure and "finesse" he makes up for with vigour and enthusiasm. I'm almost at the point that I'd drop Biseswar completely if he doesn't get fit. Seriously his lack of fitness is ridiculous. Pelkas needs a mentor. He's lost on the field a lot of the time. At least Mystakidis runs.

Its not that he's bad just not as a dominant presence as he is known to be. Simoes is another playing below par imo. Maybe its because we arent playing as often, 1 game a week (and some weeks longer in this bourdello league) doesnt allow us to gather momentum.

What I see is a new unproven manager, new RB, 2 x new CB, new DM, new CM, new RM. That's 6 new starters. I see inconsistency, unsurprisingly. On our day we are a decent to good team. It's not like we got played off the park by PAO. Ivic was conservative. I think that's his nature. Some of the new signings are decent to good. Some not so good.

Glykos is injured and is completely unrelated to the Tzavellas situation, expect for in the conspiracy theory alternate universe. Regarding Tzavellas, he can go f--k himself and even if Ivic is 500% in the wrong, I still hope Tzavellas leaves the club. His performances on the field overall, don't justify the trouble he's made of the seasons, coupled with his mangia klania attitude. Oust apo do palio rimali. Regarding Ivic, if we lose or draw against Sloban Liberec or Platanias I think he'll be fired. Also, if we're not within say 3 points of the play-offs by the break, he'll be fired. Then everyone who doesn't rate Ivic can rejoice, the PAOK media machine can print hundreds of stories about how we're about to sign the best manager in the world because his dream has always been to coach in the GSL and especially PAOK. Doesn't every manager aspire to this ?

In and of itself, it's a terrible league position. In terms of qualifying for the play-offs, no stress. 5 points from that. And we'll probably win that too. Just another typical season for PAOK. New manager, new batch of players, unrealistic expectations. Expect more of the same.