Bananas

Maybe I'm just numb to the pain ::chugs down on a bottle of whiskey::

Savvidis doesn't have the sort of money you're talking about. He's got money, but not a spare 20 million to blow on transfers each season. It's either Savvidis or PAOK goes broke, because as a club we aren't self sustaining. We could go to the bad old days of Batatoudis (weren't they fun) and Goumenos (a kathiki if ever there was one) so when I look at it that way, Savvidis is all right. Zagorakis actually did a pretty good job, and tried his ass off, but he rolled the dice on the club qualifying for CL and using that money to kick start the club. When it didn't work, the fire sale began of players began. I get what you're saying though. But I don't see Savvidis spending the sort of money you're talking about. You could argue he's "stringing us along" but I'd prefer him to the other possibilities.

Speaking of scaring the players. Anyone players that don't give 110% get to have a lovely evening with this guy.

This thread is lame. I saw "Barcelona Cafe" and was hoping to see pics of hot spanioles. That's 30 seconds I'll never get back.

What quality re kozi ? What quality player is going to come to PAOK ? Our options are try and discover a young player and hope some work out e.g. Charisis, Pelkas, Mystakidis, Cimirot. Are any of them quality ? Not really, not in the sense of being game changers. They are squad players. Cimirot is one level above the others. Or you try and get a player who looks all right but for whatever reason in the past, wasn't given a proper shot e.g. Mak, Lucas, Rodrigues. Some work out, others don't. Or you try for a player that is quality but has been unlucky say with injuries e.g. Berg. In our case, we tried with Maduro (peponi head) and Maartens. Again, some work out, others not. Although I am glad I don't have to see Maduro's head anymore. That gave me nightmares. This season ? Only Matos and Canas you could say are quality. They are very good solid players that were a proper upgrade in their respective positions. The rest, pfft, whatever. Maybe Varela will prove me wrong but the rest are just squad players as far as I can tell. Biseswar, entaxi, he's got the skill but he can't run. But the idea of getting a MAD player, fit, primed, good age, injury free, I just don't see it happening. It's not a question of scouting, or money. It's a matter of attracting the player to play in Greece and for PAOK. A real quality player who ticks all the boxes won't come to PAOK if he has offers from elsewhere, and such a player will. I actually think the philosophy under Arnesen was the right way to go. Get young players, relatively cheap, and go from there. Yeah we didn't win the title (were we meant to ?) but it could've been the beginning of something. Instead the fans bayed for blood and got their sacrifice. Anastasiadis the same. He had us first in the league before the slump hit. His reward ? Another sacrifice. Instead of the management saying "Hey, maybe he was onto something. After all, he had the team in first position and title contention for 6 months before the slump. Maybe he just needed a bit more depth. Maybe a better defender or two". But no, another firing. Another round of new players. This is a pattern. It's not healthy. It's not how you create a winning mentality. It's not stable. There is no magic bullet, try as they might in the PAOK administration. The answer is hard work. Good players get to be in the squad the following season. Others that don't perform will be dropped. Those in the middle watch your back. We're bringing in players to compete. You know, if I was a PAOK player right now, I wouldn't be all that worried about my future. Because I know that it's pretty much a certainty that Ivic will be fired before I'm looked at being shipped off to a lower level club. I know that if/when Ivic is fired, I'll just work my ass off for the new manager, so he can see what I'm capable of, and then once things settle, I'll just go easy, 3/4 pace. You get what I'm trying to say ? These players aren't SCARED. They are comfortable. I'm not saying they should be shaking in their boots, but they're too comfortable. If Savvidis came out and said something like "Ivic is the manager for the next 3 years. I don't care if we come 10th. If we lose, I'll ask Ivic who isn't performing. I won't accept anything other than 110% from every player.". Then all of a sudden I'd be thinking, f--k me, I better pull my finger out because then I'd be scared for my position, my future in the squad. You may think Ivic is the wrong man for the job, Regardless, I don't care who we get, but he needs to stay for at least 3 seasons to mould something. Otherwise, it's just restartitis every season.

Yeah I know it's over, but regardless Liberec won't just roll over. Maybe if they were going for the title they might rest players but they are like 10th or something, so for them the "measly" money from the EL is definitely worth going for. I can see a draw in this game ... and a loss for us in Italy.

That's the last thing we need.

Who is the coach for us ? Whoever he is, he isn't coming to PAOK. All we'll get is over the hill managers like Huub who when the pressure starts will just check out, resign and collect their nice big pay packet. All things considered (just my opinion) our best choice is Ivic. A real manager will want a real transfer budget. Our transfer budget for the previous seasons are :- - 2016/2017 1.4 million. Only paid for Varela. - 2015/2016 we actually spent a bit of money ~7 million. Leovac (1.3m) Cimirot (1.3m) and Charisis (400K) are the only ones that really worked out. Vellidis (750K), Sabo (700K), Olsen (650K), Chatziisaias (550K), Jairo (400K), Korovesis (380K), Antonis (330K) not so much. - 2014/2015 870K. Golasa (450K) and Mak (400K). This is not the sort of budget that will attract a "gun" manager. Add to that the problem of attracting players. I really believe if Savvidis could get a gun striker for say 5 or 7.5 million that he knew would tear up the league, he would do it. But would such a player come to PAOK ? Regarding Qarabag, I think we underestimated them. They are a better side than everyone made them out to be. The team has changed a lot from last season ... just like every season. Matos, Varela, Canas, Shakhov, Campos. Regardless of if we like them or not, they are in the first 11 most weeks. They're still learning to play with each other. The PAOK squad is better in defense. Varela, Malezas and Crespo have strengthened the back line. In the middle we have Canas who is probably the one true DM. Cimirot, Shakhov and Charisis for rotation. All 3 are not quite a true DM or a true CM. But Canas and Shakhov has added to depth. We're still conceding goals (which team doesn't) but not the 3 and 4 we'd cop randomly like previous seasons. The season is still early so they'll probably make me out to be an idiot. It's up front where we are seriously lacking. Our attacks are very predictable. If I was an opposition coach that had scouted PAOK the only player I'd be wary of and make plans to contain is Rodrigues because of his explosive pace/dribbling. All the rest, pfft, nothing to fear. Just wait till Rodrigues gets injured or sold, and we'll be even more impotent in attack. I like Biseswar but with his fitness issues he's unreliable. He's only good as a sub to hopefully change the game. On a side note, I'm probably going to curse him now that I've said it, but Glykos actually seems quite solid this year. If we get a new coach it will all just start all over again like each season. What I'd like to see if for us to stick with Ivic for at least 2 seasons. In the off season pick up a midfielder, winger and forward that are true upgrades on what we have. I'm tired of buying 10 players each season where most of them are essentially just a side grade. The team has issues but there is definitely something there to work with. It's a solid base.

Liberec will go for the win. They are not in contention for the title and the EL prizemoney for a club of their size is still meaningful.

@Dutch Eagle I don't think it matters who we get. The squad is the squad. It's good. It's solid. But we just don't have enough creative players. Only Matos, Biseswar and Rodrigues. It's just not enough. Canas and Cimirot aren't the type of players to get you goals. We really need a real number 8, like Natkho who can move forward and be a real threat. There's still more that we could use, like a left back who can attack like Matos, a number 10 that can actually play 90 minutes, and a striker who is a real threat, but I'd begin with the number 8 position.

Giorgos Donis 01/07/2012 - 29/04/2013, 302 days or 9 months, 28 days Huub Stevens 01/07/2013 - 02/03/2014, 244 days or 8 months, 1 day. Angelos "The Angel" Anastasiadis 01/07/2014 - 15/03/2015, 257 days or 8 months, 14 days. Igor Tudor 18/06/2015 - 09/03/2016, 265 days or 8 months, 20 days. Vladimir Ivic 10/03/2016 - 04/11/2016 (not sacked yet) - 238 days or 7 months, 24 days. Tick tock, tick tock.

We'll never know. No PAOK coach last more than 6 months. I'd be AMAZED if Ivic is still here in February.

Well, we can't say they don't deserve it. Here's some advice for PAOK. Get better! Let the τσιρκο begin.

Hate to say it, but Biseswar has that "look" about him that says he'll never be 100% fit. Let's see how he progresses, but it's already 1/4 of the way through the season and he's struggling to play 90 minutes.

The passionate side of me wants to (assuming we qualify from our group) meet a Dutch team in the Round of 32, so we can get some revenge!! The logical side of me wants to avoid a Dutch team.

The latter.

Do you think he'll start Tzavellas over Malezas ? Malezas has been pretty solid in the games v Olympiakos and AEK. Good to see Malezas getting some runs and going well regardless.

He's gotten a bit more game time recently so that's something. Such an inconsistent player. I've seen him absolutely destroy a flank, getting into the box in dangerous position to cross or cut-back. And then after that he's non existent. Hopefully he develops some sort of a football brain and gets a good opportunity to acclimatize to the GSL. I don't think he'll ever be a lock for the starting 11, but when he's on his game, he can be useful for rotation or impact off the bench. Just needs to have more control in his game. We'll see how he goes at our next pre-season. Then again, we'll probably have a new manager (go 5 for 5 Savvidis!) next season.

PAS Giannina are doing quite well. 3rd on the ladder. 4 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss. 10 goals for. 5 against. Maybe it's time to raid their team again ? ;)

And the other 40% or so are too down right scared to saying anything against it.

What if the flare thrower is on Marinakis's payroll ?

I think we lock up Campos in a room with a table, two chairs, baseball bat, and Boston Thanatos smoking a cigar. Sometimes fear is a good motivator.

It must've been some sort of a personal clash between the two. Nothing else explains it. In terms of results, they were doing quite well.

Born in 1972. Which reminds me of a saying one of my soccer coaches used to say. "Ολα τα μαλακισμενα γενηθικαν το 72". Grew up in Springvale, Melbourne. Only moved to Brisbane 3 years ago but I still fly back to Melbourne for work every month or so, which is great because I get to eat Mum's cooking, which just gets better and better. Very woggy area back in those days. Probably 50% Greeks, Italians, Serbs and 50% Aussies. The Vietnamese came in force in the late 80's, early 90's and now they've taken over. It's sad to see but it is what it is. The Aussies probably said the same thing about us. To their credit, the Vietnamese work their asses off and don't take anything for granted. As to the kids of today, I get it. It's tricky. It's different for them again. At least we have some sort of chance of talking to them and hopefully being there and making a difference. WIth our generation the conversation was generally simpler. Don't bring home a girl unless she's Greek and "μακρια απο τα drugs".

Can you post in every topic on the main board ? I know it's a lot of work, but I want to see that avatar EVERYWHERE! ;)