Bananas

Not sure what "epos tou 40" is. I don't think it's as simple as what you're saying. If the EU just wanted it's money back it would have never lent the money in the first place with the terms as agreed. They would have either lent the money on a short term basis, maybe 10 years or so with some sort of collateral. I know, the idea sounds farcical since the amount almost exceeds the nations GDP. What do you provide as collateral ? Even if Greece did everything that is asked of them, the final payments aren't due to 2054. 2054, that's a long way away and it tells me that EU may want it's money back, but they sure are patient and are prepared to wait a long time to get it all back. The EU is this romantic idea that's kind of evolved where the end goal was always to have a kind of United States but a European version. That is the idea anyway. And in this model of course the EU dictate how things are run. How could it be otherwise ? If it can't dictate how Europe is run, what is it's purpose ? Do you really think the people voted out ND because of computer chips? Surely there is more to it. The main platform or promise of Syriza was to (however unrealistic) end the austerity. The austerity is real and it's not an acceptable trade-off to the man in the street. There is real suffering and despair, and worst of all, a general lack of hope for the future. The people merely voted in the party that gave them the most hope. I'm sure the average Greek citizen would happily pay taxes if they genuinely knew most of it would be used properly. But it's hard to erase 50+ years of thinking. Hence, the intransigence.

I'd still keep Lucas. The situation with Deportivo where they want to buy him but can't come up with the funds should be reversed. We should bring Lucas back and raid their team for their best one or two players. That way Lucas can be all happy that he's got some of his chums at PAOK. http://www.deportivo-la-coruna.com/n-news.php?cid=6769&ctg=1&pg=1 http://www.deportivo-la-coruna.com/n-news.php?cid=6771&ctg=1&pg=1

And so Greece missed an IMF payment a few days ago. The doomsday scenario happened and no one really noticed. The media were oddly quiet as well. Normally they are screeching like parrots about anything to do with the Greek economy. The EU kicked the can down the road to Greece and Greece just squashed the can. Oops, sorry. So, the EU and the IMF just made another can. Now Greece has to the end of the month ... I really wish this situation would be resolved. Either allow Greece to stop using the Euro, or start printing money to get growth happening (with all the problems and moral dangers that entails) but this situation as it stands is farcical.

Whoever did that to you and your sister is a c*** plain and simple. I know that Greek mentality. He probably bragged about it afterwards and gave himself a pat on the back but not all Greeks in Greece are like that.

Both right and wrong ... sort of. There isn't a conspiracy as such. It's not like the EU was designed to bring down Greece or any other nation. But, the EU right now is in a tug of war (which overall they are winning) to try and control Greece. I don't mean control in the diabolical sense of the word, but they are trying to "fix" Greece and make it work like how a country "should" work. And they are astounded at the Greek resistance/stubbornness to this. But here's the thing. They can't fix it. For proof just look at the lack of reforms since 2008. If ever there was a time that Greece could have brought in reforms, that was the time. But why hasn't it happened ?? And this is where the EU fails. They think it can just happen ... like magic. You can't change the mentality of a nation in a space of a few years. And you certainly can't use the opportunity of a nation being on it's knees to try and force your will. People resist ... it's in their make up. It just is. The only way Greece can change is on it's own, not with a gun pointed at it's head. People just don't take kindly to threats. And the change will be incremental and gradual over many years or decades, or it won't but it will be their choice to make, not somebody else's. I really do believe Greece is better off without the Euro and the EU technocrats trying to govern it. They can't govern Greeks. Greeks can't govern Greeks and some no name whoever is going to do the job ? Spare me.

He was brought back to discourage Marinakis from sitting on the bench at a PAOK match. Just in case he thinks he can pull these stunts, Garcia will be there to set him straight ...

The scary thing is, if we come last on the table, our farcical season will roll over into the next because there will be a few weeks break only.

Gyros, you need to chill out with the hate. It's bad for the soul.

Asteras might get more fans at this game compared to the number of fans PAOK has been getting at home games lately ...

Unfortunately for a club such as ours, signing players that will make a difference isn't easy. You can try and sign a star, but realistically they are a fading star who may or may not perform. Just look at Maduro and Maartens for example. Same again with Stoch, he played when he felt in the mood. Even if you look at Vieirinha, he was always plump while he was at PAOK. Once he went to Germany, he lost weight and firmed up. Sad to say it but that would never have happened at PAOK. The players know what they can get away with (just like children with their parents!) and generally do so accordingly. This makes it very trick to get "star" players and to keep them motivated. Basically, it can't work for us. As you said Blackhawk, we need solid hard working players. Even so, I think we can buy better than what we have. Take Mak for example (yes I know he's under performed recently), but he came a German club where he wasn't getting game time. There are lots of players like these and for a player like this, going to PAOK is sort of an upgrade. We should also be looking at "lower" leagues in Eastern Europe. Are you trying to tell me that the best CB in all of say Poland or Hungary aren't considerably better than Tzavellas ? And again, for such players going to PAOK is kind of an upgrade. But for someone like Stoch or Natcho, it just isn't and they'll play on their terms.

We got knocked out of Europe and the Cup earlier than usual, so the players had to play one game a week. Not a big ask really. The only excuse is if a player is carrying an injury which can affect them from getting back to 100% fitness. Other than that, I don't buy fatigue as an excuse. I think the fatigue is more in their brain ... it's a mental thing.

Interesting interview. Klaus said "the team is sick" and "players are putting themselves ahead of the team". Fair enough, but without knowing specifics it just sounds vague from an outsiders perspective. He said he'll elaborate after the last game but we'll see. I hope it's not just vague observations like "the players aren't playing for the shirt". The massive drop in level from the beginning of the year is bizarre. Were we playing above ourselves at the beginning while other teams were still getting into their stride ? Is where we are now, our "best" level. Are the players unfit ? If they are, that's no excuse. When things began to fall apart, it was our defense that was the problem. We could score but also conceded easily. Now we can't score at all ;)

I'm assuming that's the wage and transfers budgets combined ?

Kitsiou is ok, don't get me wrong. But can he walk into the best 11 of Olympiakos, PAO or even PAOK ? See, that's the problem. We have around 15 Kitsiou quality players in our squad. Guys that are pretty good ... on their day, but just aren't at that next level. I'm not saying the kid has to go, but we need better quality all round. I'd trade you 15 of our Kitsiou quality players for 1 Berg.

pash, your creepiness is entirely self earned. I take no credit for it ;) As for our beloved team, it's ridiculous how bad we are at the moment. I asked a friend of mine the other day who is a PAO supporter, if he could have any players from PAOK for free, which would he take ? All he could come up with is ... maybe Kace. That's it. And you know what he's probably right. We have a small core of decent players. They are Skondras, Vitor, Rats, Kace, Noboa, Tziolis (controversial pick I know), Mak, Pereyra and Klaus. That's it. 9 players no other real depth. Sure we have some up and coming players who are still developing but I'm talking about players that are ready now. Players that help contribute to winning a title. Of the players mentioned how many are fit and in form right now ? 3 or 4 maybe. No wonder once we play any decent opposition they can give us a hard time. You need a squad where if a player is unfit or out of form, you have someone ready made that can just slot in and do just as good. We don't have that. Right now, only Kace is playing. All the rest in one way or another are playing below their best, and in an ideal world, should be on the bench. It's going to be an interesting transfer period ....

Right now the way the team is playing, I'd be surprised if we could manage an away win.

Good link http://graphics.wsj.com/greece-debt-timeline/ that shows all the upcoming repayments.

*thumbs up* Nea Bafra. Yes, my bad, forgot Boloni.

Great interview. Savvidis seems to be doing the right things in the back office so we can't really ask for more. He's paid off the debt, brought in Jack Angel and now we have our own Viking TD. If we can get a good manager as well, things could be looking up for real.

I'd be happy with a team that has energy, cohesion and can actually string 5 passes together. We always look so random.

Wow, how good would it be if we could get Boloni back as manager as well. A man can dream .... I agree this was a surprise appointment. For once we did things outside the media circus which is already +1 in my eyes. He definitely has pedigree and hopefully he can find a way to attract players that normally wouldn't come to the club. Also, and more importantly, hopefully the club can begin to develop a winning mentality. Will be interesting to see what happens with Maduro and Martens now that he's here.

The reason is we keep hiring average managers. Donis and Anastasiadis are fine if you want to come 2nd to 4th. To become considerably better, we need a better manager. We tried to do the right thing with Huub but it didn't work out. At the end of the day the only decent managers we've had in the last 15 years are Bajevic and Santos. And they did well despite having no transfer budget and constant money problems.

Ok smart ass, maybe I jumped the gun a little.

PAOK's over drive button doesn't work. It's been malfunctioning since 1985. It briefly (for some unknown reason) splutters briefly to life whenever we play Olympiakos and then just dims out again.

The World Cup going to Qatar in 2022 was really the icing on the cake. It was shameless.