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Did anyone else crack a massive smile when they showed Otto?

JVS was SPOT ON with his opening statement

I represented Greece on the national level for the Greek National Baseball team in European competitions in Euro 2012. I was in tears the first time I wore that jersey and heard the anthem. So from someone who actually put on the official Greece uniform, I CAN confirm, that I felt in my heart I was representing my country and I put on the best effort I could for Greece.

One time special on Phantis PAOK forums. My prediction 4:0 for Olympiakos with two penalties in favor of the best team ever in Greece.

Did anyone notice at the end that they all got together to take in the win, they wanted it badly!!

We just went toe to toe with the best team in the world. Scoring 2 goals in 5 minutes was unreal. This was a huge confidence booster heading into March. A lot of positives from the boys tonight. We all should be proud of this performance..

Booked my tickets to Marseille. I believe the Scotsman will also be joining me.

Zeca our best player tonight. Really lucky to get the point though in a game where we did not create anything. Take this as a gift for the country's anniversary.

A win here will set off the following chain of events : - Ranked in pot 3 for WC Qualifying - Top the following group: England, Wales, Greece, Estonia, and San Marino . (We don’t drop any points) - Go into the WC Draw still as underdogs, with media saying we were a fluke. We get drawn with : USA, Greece, Germany, Japan. - Group goes as followed: Greece 9, Germany 6, USA 3, Japan 0. - Make a run all the way to the WC Finals against European champs , Netherlands. Media plays up the JVS vs Netherlands story line. We win easily, 3-0 with goals from Fortounis (2) and Athanasiadis (revitalizes his career in Greek 3rd division). JVS becomes a national hero. Wonderkid Tzolis is transferred to Barcelona for a whopping €3.5 million. - The following Nations League we start off 0-2 with losses to Armenia and Latvia

PAOK's new coaching staff:

As much as I criticized the coach for the mistake to start the game I give him full credit for making in game adjustments and changing the style to at the very least give us a chance.. Hopefuly now he sees unless we are playing a superpower we need to come out with speed and creativity and not just sit back and take the pressure..

Why they didn't reseed based on FIFA rank is baffling. Greece should be playing both at home!

Diego says hi to all PAOKtzides.

And let's give Poyet his due! None of us were too crazy about his hire, and he is 4-0 in this competition, and 5-1 overall. This is the best we've been since we got back from Brazil.

The atmosphere has changed they are starting to learn how to close out games and get the 3 points this was a non factor with this team and previous coaches. The players look like they are plying for each other, they look like they have the passion that’s been missing for years and you can see that when the national anthem was playing with Tsimikas reaction. Even the players on the bench are not stop interacting.. The tide is turning for this team and Poyet is looking like a true coach we’ve been missing. Poyets in game decision making in his short time he’s been here so far is looking spot on he can read the game and the players that don’t have it on a particular night. When was the last time we’ve scored 7 goals and allowed 0 in 4 games played? Man the is the first time in years I’ve been so excited for this team..

That is a big part of the issue, we do not have an abundance of options in central midfield and the players that do play there are limited in one way or another. Kourbelis, Zeca, Siopis are all pure defensive mids who aren't great with the ball but are pretty solid at the defensive stuff (especially Siopis and Zeca) Bouchalakis lack of pace wouldn't necessarily be a problem if he made quick decisions but he doesn't. He wants time and space on the ball something not often afforded in modern football with so much pressing going on. His control is also hit and miss, at least a few times a game the ball will bounce off him and the opposition will win the ball back and launch a counter when half our team is up the pitch. Galanopoulos is the one who has a key role to play but injuries have completely taken over his career in the last 2 years. Disappointing for him and a big blow for the Ethniki. Alexandropoulos is still young and isn't a nailed on starter for PAO but he is an option, not sure he's the answer at least not at this stage. The buck starts and ends with our talent pool, it's limited. We can bicker on here about who should start over who but the reality is apart from a few (mainly defenders) we don't have many midfielders/attackers who are above Super league quality. And those who are have limitations which hinders them when they play at a higher level.

I had a chance to watch the King Otto documentary. What an amazing way to re-live the dream run of 2004.

Samaris doesn't have a team, before being let go for free by Benfica he basically hadn't played at all last season. Not to mention he's always been bang average to poor for the Ethniki. Fortounis is injured, so unless we roll him out on his crutches probably couldn't have played. Won't deny Sokratis and Manolas would've helped during this campaign, they have had off-field issues with management that has unfortunately ended their NT careers as long as JVS is at the wheel. But half the guys you mentioned it's not feasible for them to be playing currently. Samaris is done with the NT, he needs to find a club and he wasn't able to find one over the summer, clearly his career is winding down. Stick to AFL re, Blues for the flag next year Cerra to win the Brownlow.

I really hope Greece keeps JVS. He has the Ethniki headed in the right direction.

Have a read, from Hellas Football

Rumored Lineup : Vlachodimos Mavrias Chatzidiakos Tzavellas Tsimikas Zeca Fortounis Bakasetas Limnios Tzolis Giakoumakis

@Blackhawk can you please start a new game thread for Xanthi's road trip to Olympiakos this weekend since we own Xanthi? ?

I agree with Dutch Eagle, the joke was in poor taste, but not racist. Why does everything have to be politically correct? Also we should inform our Dutch visitor that PAOK is not a Greek team. Doesn't he know we are gypsies from Bulgaria or Turkey? I don't know which. It depends who you listen to.

Jesus, the Dutch just won't stay away. Going to be tough, but as always I see us really pushing them. They've lost 2 key players over the summer De Jong and De Ligt. @Yiankos this one is for you. ΤΗΝ ΤΕΛΕΥΤΑΙΑ ΔΕΚΑΕΤΙΑ ΠΙΟ ΠΟΛΥ ΜΕ ΤΟΝ ΑΓΙΑΞ ΠΑΙΖΟΥΜΕ ΠΑΡΑ ΜΕ ΤΟΝ άρη !!!

Congratulations for the great comeback and in general good display in 70 minutes of the game. We had furious 20 minutes and that is all. Unfortunately, football should be played for 90 minutes. I cannot say we understated Greece, as we have some kind of rivalry and full respect for the Greece team. We even expected good display from you side because of few missing players, as the new players always want to prove quality. But at end we have to be more than satisfied with result and probably Greece was closer to win. After 20 furious minutes and 2:0 lead we have started to believe that Greece have no attacking potential to come back. We had played on counter attack waiting for Greek's mistake that have never came. Our coach completely misjudged the game, and after red card he even did not know what to do. Leaving injured Dzeko to chase defense and huge gap in the middle with so many tired players resulted at end with huge disappointment. Anyway, this is not first time we got a lesson from Greece that football should be played for 90 minutes, sometimes and 95 ?. However, this is pretty much Bosnia new team. We have lost Lulić, Ibišević, Misimović and few other older players, and definitely we will need time to create solid competitive team. After two games, in my opinion we do not have what it takes for second place. Good luck in next matches. Greetings from Sarajevo.

Can we just get a new subforum made that's exclusively for these two? Yeesh

i guess i'll shut up about the line up... lol

Solid win first up, seems we never really got out of 2nd gear and still managed to score three and hit the woodwork another 3 times. On another day we score 5-6. Not too much more to take out of it but the 3 points. France beating the Netherlands is good news, it means assuming we beat Ireland in Greece in June (we also play France in June but we assume that's a loss and anything we get out of it is a bonus) we would be leading the Dutch heading into our match-up in September. The Dutch don't play in June due to the Nations League finals. It will be important going to the Netherlands and being 3 points clear of them in September, meaning a draw will keep ourselves clear of them heading into the last 4 matches. Schedule has helped us, and France sweeping the group will also help. We can keep our noses in-front of the Netherlands until they come to Greece in our 2nd last match. A lot of water to go under the bridge until then, but if we take care of business v Ireland (not easy) and Gibraltar we are in with a fighting chance to pinch 2nd spot.

G'day mate!!! Throw another schnitzel on the barbie

we have one of those in here. would you mind taking him off our hands?

That was my niece who scored both goals today!!!! She just recently joined the club from the States. Super proud of her!

If we can maintain a winning form, stay injury free, then I believe we can reach 20-25 in the FIFA classification within 12-18 months, about where Sweden, Serbia, Poland and Ukraine are at the monent. Teams that I think we can compete with. We will need a good Euro qualifying campaign, get to Euro 2024 and pick up some good results, and then consolidate our position in League B. Hopefully some of our younger players can come through, and shine.

What is this, 2014? Do you really think that Ninis and Fetfazidis should be anywhere near our national team? Ninis hasn't played for the national team in 7 years. In that time span he has had 5 goals. And you want Fetfazidis as a leader? To lead what exactly? A gas station? Dude has been a major bust for "the Greek Messi". People want change for the team. Yet always call on the old guard. I am fine with Siovas and Manolas. I wouldn't have Sokrates either in the NT, he's honestly around 10th in Greek CB's depth chart. Show me any serious national team that calls up has-beens. Let's see if Charisteas has any legs under him either, or Samaras to help score some goals!

I will say this he nailed it in regards to super league fan support and overrated foreign players. There has to be more home grown talent I remember seeing I believe PAOK 11 not one greek player or maybe 1 its ridiculous. Too much focus in greece on being a hooligan over playing football..

Things have gone sideways for the Ethniki yet again for another qualification cycle. We landed in a difficult group though getting Sweden was slighlty better than some other Pot 2 teams and other groups at the time ie. Switzerland and Ukraine based on their pre Euro performances. The injuries to key players especially Fortounis (yet again) is very hard to overcome given his technical and attacking ability that we lack. Also missing Manolas, Siovas, and Sokratis due to utter stupidity hurts our cause too. Coaching has cost us a couple points already as JVS got everything wrong vs Georgia in what was a must 3pts and now with Sweden winning it really sticks out! I just hope our luck can eventually turn around but the EPO are going to have to find a smart coach who knows how to work with our players and doesnt get involved in this mickey mouse BS that JVS has initiated with our key players that have been banned from the team. We are just hurting ourselves over and over from after the 2014 World Cup. The NT has to be qualifying regularly for major tournaments especially with the expansion of the EUROS and we missed twice. Its frigin UNACCEPTABLE!!

I'm from Lisbon, Portugal, but I'm a FC Porto fan. In 90's when I visited Thessaloniki for the first time, I was disturbingly seduced by Toumba's atmosphere and since then I'm addicted to PAOK!

Happy new year everyone! Even to the Aris fans and Tzatziki who are reading this 😏

Oh, I saw an EPO video and I thought Stafylidis was in the squad. Cool. In that case, I think he will start Svarnas who was invited to the press conference. I get JVS. After the draw with Lietchenstein, he just made up his mind to start with a new breed of players. He looked at the core leadership group, Soc, Torosides, Manolas, all players that the younger players look up to, and thought if I go forward with these guys they would be a hindrance to his plans, vision. And, we know what happened to the previous coach.

Regardless of what people think Giannoulis is worth or what they'd be satisfied with a sale amount, I'd prefer we don't sell him at all. I just don't think he's easily replaceable. Also, the level of his improvement in the last 24 months, and especially in the last 12 months has been simply astonishing. Knowing our club though, we'll probably sell him for peanuts, and do it before the Krasnodar game. Who knows it could go similar to the Limnios sale, extract below. FC Koln: Limnios good player. We buy. PAOK: Very well. 7 million. FC Koln: 3 million. PAOK: You crazy. The guy is only 22 and has matured so much in the last year. He is the FIRST guy on the team sheet for the National Team. FC Koln: 3 million. PAOK: OK. 6 million. FC Koln: 3 million. PAOK: OK. 5 million, but that's my last offer. FC Koln: 3 million and we'll throw in a poster of Wilhem II. PAOK: Deal, but can we do it after the Benfica game. Our regular RB is having interpersonal problems with the manager and our backup RB is injured. We have a up-coming young kid but the manager doesn't rate him. FC Koln: No. We want him now. PAOK: OK. Would you like me to drop my pants now or later. FC Koln: First I give you poster of Otto von Bismarck, then drop pants. PAOK: Thank you, thank you. FC Koln: If Limnios is so important to you, why did you not renew/extend his contract. PAOK: Who ? (hands Limnios his luggage and shoves him out the door).

blackhawk, shouldn't you rename this PAOK B v PAOK A?

My wife is Portuguese. My father in law explained to me what happened to portugal. They never qualified. In World Cup 66 they finally made it and finished 3rd. Then they never qualified till Euro 84 and world cup 86. In soccer mad country they knew they had to change. So they fired everyone in the federation, invested heavily in training facilities state of the art. Hired the best youth coaches. Got a youth blueprint made up to follow. Also the teams improved their facilities because they new the only way to survive was to produce great young players and sell them. Win situation for them and also the national team. What it produced was youth under 20 World Cup winners in 89 and 91. Plus champions in all age groups. Since qualifying for Euro 96 they have only missed out on the world cup98. That's 11 tournaments qualified for. Well 10 because they were hosts in 04. They have gone to 3 finals winning 2, plus they were semifinalists 5 times in tournaments. This from a country of 11 million people and financial problems like Greece. And they look like qualifying for 2020. This is what Greece need to do. But won't happen. And it's not just portugal. Many countries have done it and its paying off. But there's to much corruption in Greece.

Wow wow wow. I’m so happy I went and was part of that. So so emotional. I am just taking off from Athens back to Edinburgh and it was amazing walking through the airport in my PAOK top. Some people not happy with me and others even congratulating me. This weekend has been like a dream. I can’t imagine what it has been like for some of you that have been waiting a life time for this.

Thx buddy. Lol. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Highlights in Greek commentary from your boy Loupnikis. Zito Ellas!

I think Kolovo is on the upswing in his career. That was a gutsy, hungry header. I'll wait before I pass judgement on him. He saved us today.

The one thing I will say about the way they play is that this version of the ethniki def hustles more than the one from the past campaign..

Samaras was also the man, as much as people hated him and called him lazy and useless, he really did offer us that little spark in creating goals.

Listen, I love you yiannaki, but you are triggering my OCD by starting the match thread in a different way to normal. this is my safe space where I come to marvel at the stupidity of JVC and ponder the next Machiavellian move of the great Ivan. Let blackhawk open the thread and then go hammer and tongs at the skoulikia.