Bananas

I don't know the history of what happened with Dusan in the last 5-10 years when it all seems to have gone sour. What I do know is that the AEK team that Dusan built in the 90's was the best Greek team I've ever seen play football. They were something else.

I always thought you were Olympiakara11 or 12, not 10. You don't seem like a 10.

Natcho is the epitome of a number 8. Throw in a Fortounis as number 10 (to illustrate the point) and a striker who is just a little faster, stronger, clinical than Klaus and you have a real team. Regarding our inability to force the tempo of the game, I can only assume Ivic doesn't know how or we just don't have the personnel to do it. It's not an easy thing to do. Time and again I see opposition slow the tempo, kill the flow and we don't know how to stop it. How is it when we play Fiorentina or Olympiakos we can play quite well and yet have 1 scoring chance against Trikala and a few against PAO. It's because in those games we are reacting to a strong/better opposition. It's ... easier in a sense. Forcing the tempo yourself is a whole different game. Even when we do it, the players don't know why ... it just happens. Regarding PAO, Ouzonidis played with common sense. He made sure (as I would too) that Rodrigues had no space to work with. He also made sure Campos copped a good bashing. Both wings nullified or reduced and we have nothing else. Nothing through the middle. This is where a number 8 and number 10 can make the difference. To be fair, I don't see an easy solution. As you say, these sorts of real quality players are not easy to come by. We would have to make offers that we traditionally don't make. I believe our record transfer ever is 1.4 million for Varela. We'd need to spend double to triple that to get the sort of players we're talking about.

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.

Neither is good enough. I don't mind that they are all we have. It's not easy to find a top quality striker to come to the GSL unless you spend millions, and even then, you'd have to wonder why a "top" quality striker would be in Greece.

I saw him in the previous game against FC Koln. Overall played well and is definitely coming along as a player. Has a very good attacking instinct. But I've heard that Olympiakos have some young kid who is already better than him anyway. Can't remember the name.

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 ?

New owner, front office, squad aside, PAO got a very very unlucky draw this season. Not one team in that group was easy. At to PAO's credit for an essentially new team they played well for long periods in most games. Spot on. The St Etienne draw was a tough one, but it's just as likely it could happen again. AEK need a bit of luck with the draw to get an easier team, and again a bit more luck in the EL Group Stage so they can accumulate some points, so they can hopefully avoid these sorts of qualifying games in the future. Regarding the squad depth, there is nothing to say that key players will be fit and in-form. Meli needs to plan ahead a bit better just in case. End of the day, I don't expect AEK to qualify for EL Group Stage next season based on the situation right now. I mean, I'm not confident.

From the selfish point of view of Greece getting points, PAO needs to be in Europe. We are barely treading with Oly, PAOK, PAO and AEK as it is. AEK will have it tough again next season as they will be in the pot of "weaker" teams and will have to have luck and a prepared team just to get through the qualifiers. Their hiatus from Europe for a number of years has cost them points.

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.

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.

This is it. Turkey's biggest fear. All the rest is fluff or distractions.

You know what they say about too many gavroi. Might be time for a cull.

Yawn. What a boring game. The only positive thing about it is that fringe players got some game time. Overall, a very flacid performance.

1 attempt on goal in 80 minutes. That says it all.

This would have to be one of the most boring performances I've seen from PAOK this year. They had more vigour in some of their pre-season training matches.

That's the whole point. The Fed needs to be on board. If you want to "manufacture" inflation deliberately they wouldn't put rates up or the Fed would make sure the rate was less than the growth in inflation. If the Fed isn't on board, and is just reactive, yes, it's pointless.

Pelkas for Biseswar. Not a bad change all things considered. Biseswar has been quite flat.

Liposuction for Biseswar ? Do you think this could help ?

Kitsiou and Giannoulis have offered zero in attack which doesn't help either.

No. We have played badly like this plenty of times. It doesn't surprise me in a sense because you're putting 11 guys together that don't play together normally.

Some Guns and Roses at half time. Why not ha ha.

Staged ? Really ? I had no idea. Poor first half. Just no chemistry between the players. This the sort of game that Charisis and Shakhov should be dominating the middle but I just don't think they have it in them. Charisis needs a mentor. 66% possession to PAOK. Felt like 20%

How bizarre was that interview with Letterman a few years back ? Great viewing though.

Malezas has been half asleep so far.