Bananas

Too easy. Predictably, once the conversation starts getting smutty, you pop up. That's why you're one of my favourite posters.

I agree that Tziolis should not be in the NT but say what you will, at least he's a professional (a rare commodity for Greek footballers) and he's not a kolo paido. I'd be more worried about the fact that the professional bench warmer, Fetfatzidis has been selected. He must have really done well in the Saudi league. He might even do a tricky dribble and people will say, see I told you the "kid" has got talent.

You're right. He shouldn't be held accountable for what his father has done. I would choose Kyriakos (I'm also on a first name basis with him) if and when he renounces the old ways of graft and nepotism in Greece. Yeah right, not going to happen. The only difference in Greece between left/right, PASOK/ND, Tsipras/Mitsotakis is who is performing the corruption. It's always been that way in Greece. Nothing new under the sun. I don't care for left, I don't care for right, I don't care for Tsipras and I don't care for Mitsotakis or any other "political" groups in Greece. To me, they are all for the tip. I'd like to know why you think electing any new leader (even a fair and competent one) will now make any difference to the people of Greece. It may make a difference to the elite, or to the multi nationals looking to capitalise on easy opportunities, but to the average person it won't make a difference who is elected. And that is because ... drum roll ... Greece can't scratch its left nut without asking permission from Germany. So I just find this hatred towards Tsipras (and yes it does come across the way) surprising. Yeah sure, he's a stooge, but I wouldn't call him ... evil. I don't think he's there planning the destruction of Greece or the average person. He's just caught up in a situation that is beyond him. Besides, who really could do anything to really help Greece now anyway ? Oh yeah, Kyriakos will come to the rescue. I find it difficult to believe Kyriakos understands the needs or plight of the average Greek citizen, or has ever spent a waking moment ever thinking about them. I will say this though. It will be a miracle if he isn't the next Greek Prime Minister. I mean, the kid deserves it. His father and connections had nothing to do with him being in the position he's in. It's ... normal to have generation and after generation of family members in parliament in a modern functioning democracy. And this is what we want ...

Um, what sort of streets are you inhabiting in your spare time Mr. Bajewy ? ;)

Your comments when it comes to Greek politics are delusional bordering on fanatical. Darling ? Free pass ? Greeks don't mind ? Really ?

This might explain why he didn't click with the Greek NT. Fundamentally incompatible. For the Greek NT you either have to be a megalomaniac (Otto) or morose (Santos). We don't do happiness. Maybe the idea of working with a happy manager just freaked the players out. Fried some neurons to the point that the poor kids need therapy and can't beat a bunch of amateur fishermen. N.B. I still wake up in cold sweats thinking "it was only a dream" and then realise ... oh ####, we actually DID lose to a bunch of fishermen. Back on topic, what Liecester have done has been a sheer pleasure to behold. Smack those big boys down!

These play offs are brain dead. You would think after 30 games the table would indicate where each team is at. AEK have been more consistent than PAOK, even if in my opinion we are a better side than AEK when we are at our best (which has been about 3 games in the whole season). I think our ceiling is higher, but then again our worst is a lot lower than AEK's. They have been more consistent and finished 2nd deservedly. Stupid idea from a stupid EPO.

Don't worry. Your Harvard educated Mitsotakis will come to the rescue in his shiny armor. Because he's so deserving. Because it's normal to have your father push you into the role. Because that's the way things work! Because that's the way things should work!! Because he's the best man for the job! Because in all of Greece, yes, all 11 million people he's the most qualified and intelligent ... according to his dad and the people that have been payed off. And then we wonder why Greece has been broken for so long. Zzzzzz. Truly, these people have no shame. Will he do better than Tsipras ? I'm guessing he will, but no by much. But then again the local crazy man who goes around looking through rubbish bins would probably do a better job than Tsipras.

Ha! And if the vultures themselves don't want anything to do with Greece, how bare is the carcass!

This is crazy talk. If PAOK spends 500K on a player we expect him to be a superstar, and now we're talking about buying a player for 6 million. No way. As far as I know we've only every spent "serious" money (not including loans) on Lucas, Leovac and Cimirot.

True, it's almost an inherent part of the fiat money system, as is inflation. But what is the alternative ? A return to the gold standard! I'd rather stick with what we have now. Too many people think that when "money" was backed by one specific precious metal, that the economic landscape was more stable than today, and it was anything but. What is really needed is a way to get more money into more hands rather than the accumulation or concentration of money as has been happening in recent times. For some perverse reason, the Fed and commercial banks don't seem to understand this. Every economist with even half a brain has been saying for years now that the bail outs can't work. That Greece needs not just debt relief, but much much more importantly growth and investment. Even the IMF has been threatening that if Greece needs another bail out (which is likely) that they won't participate if it's the same old formula, because it just won't work. This isn't about good or bad anymore. It's not a morality play. It's about what will get the country kick started again. The EU formula has been tried for 5 years now and the results are there to see for everyone. I can assure you that if Germany or France were in a similar position the EU would not have sat so idly. This is what I mean by the small players have to play by the rules, but the big players can move the goal posts. Just like the U.S. did in the 70's when the Bretton Woods system and the gold standard was not working anymore for them, so they changed the rules!

Did you read Manolara's post before posting ? He is clearly stating that Greece is and has been a dysfunctional nation economically. They should never have received the loans they got. As to why the loans were given, we can only speculate. 1) The EU, IMF, ECB did not know this. In this case they are manifestly incompetent. 2) The EU, IMF, ECB knew this but were optimists. In this case they are manifestly unwise. 3) The EU, IMF, ECB knew this but gave the money knowing there was a good chance Greece would get into trouble. This then begs the question, why did they do it ? And that question has many possibilities. When you are a small player you have to play by the rules. But when you're a big player you can always move the goal posts. My understanding of Manolara's post is that ALL of the blame going onto Greece and its citizens is grossly unfair, as they are not 100% to blame. Now if we want to work out what percentage of the blame should be on the current Greek government, what percentage on previous Greek governments, what percentage on its citizens, what percentage on the EU, what percentage on the IMF, what percentage on the ECB ... that is another study in itself. As to "good" citizens in Australia paying their taxes, I can assure you they wouldn't be such good citizens if they could easily get away with not paying tax. They pay because they must. Because it's not easy in Australia for the average person to get away with not paying. Because if the ATO catch you out, they are relentless in collecting the due amount and are also very well staffed. P.S. I really hope the upcoming vote for Brexit leads to the UK leaving the EU. It's time the EU copped a good kick in the teeth.

His half time show at the Super Bowl was something else.

So basically Meli is a billionaire but has the spending power of this guy.

He should never have opened his mouth in the first place. If he sticks to his word, we start next season with -3. I'm sure Meli and Alafouzos will applaud such a move. If he doesn't, he looks like a tool and his reputation takes a hit. Either way we lose.

According to reputable media reports ... the invitation for Salpi was forgotten. The club tried to rectify the gaffe at the last minute, but Salpi was too upset.

Astounding. I thought Meli had ambitions and a couple of spare dollars in his back pocket.

David Lee Roth has been trying to expose this for decades, but alas, who was listening ? So many clues in the video, so many clues ...

Haven't you learnt yet that when you comment on games while they are being played that you are a jinx!

The real victim here is the NT. I don't want Grexit, but If it goes ahead, I will have no sympathy for the clubs. They are all responsible in their own way for the state of the GSL. They have all been selfish and never really tried to improve the league. Let's face it, the GSL is full of thugs and criminals. The EPO as well have pocketed money and have done zero to benefit football in Greece.

Is this not true of every politician ? I don't see anything unusual in this. I am sure there are many politicians with plans on how to get into office. I wonder if there are any with plans on what to do once in office. As to Lagarde's criticisms (probably justified) of the failure of previous Greek governments, I can only surmise that she is naive. She is basically asking politicians to implement policies that will make them extremely unpopular.

I love the little frown at the end.

Assuming the difference between us and AEK stays at 10 points, if we receive a -5 penalty, then it means we'll start 3 points behind AEK in the playoffs. Any reduction from the -5 and it will be 2 points. At least as far as I understand it.

Kraftwerk - some of the (wierd) grand daddies of electronic music. Oh those joyless Germans, lol. And one of the best electronic music songs ever made.