Bananas

Well, the part I haven't worked out is if Savvidis realises this or not. Is he a fool that really thinks he can spend 1/10th of what Olympiakos has spent in the past 5 seasons, and win the title ? Maybe he really does think he can do it on the cheap ? Or maybe it's as you say, and he knows that the money need to secure 2nd to 4th is "x", but the money need to secure 1st, is "x" multiplied by 5. Maybe it's not worth the risk ? Savvidis is a bit of a conundrum. He is undoubtedly a good business man. And he's definitely got political connections both in Russia and in Greece. He's not an idiot. Has he helped PAOK ? I would say immensely. People too easily forget that for PAOK, players getting paid in full and on time was not the norm. Every few seasons a fire sale of players (Olympiakos, AEK and PAO all benefited) and releasing players "apliroti" was also a yearly event. Fun times. So Savvidis has got at least that part of our house in order. He paid off the debt owed to the Greek government in back taxes of 10 million Euros. That alone impressed me. He's gotten the commercial side of the club to a respectable level. He's done good things. As for the footballing side, he's increased the wage budget, I don't know how much but if I had to guess he's probably tripled it. And the players get paid on time. And he's actually bought players! Not just getting players on free transfer because all they had to spend was 100K. Eleos. So yeah it would be nice if he spent 20 million for 3 years straight, and that would probably be enough to get the title, that is assuming it doesn't start an arms race with Marinakis. Who knows, maybe pigs would fly and even Melissanidis might spend a dollar or two. Where is PAOK at ? I think we're just a little better than last season. Strengthened the defence somewhat. Midfield is maybe slightly better. Up front worse as we haven't replace Mak adequately and Klaus is well Klaus. PAOK through and through but not the kind of striker that frightens serious teams. A good solid foundation and if they're serious about getting some quality players to really push for a title, so be it. But not there yet. What I hate more than anything is the lame articles in the paper at the start of each season "we're going for the title". F*** off you wankers. Just shut the F*** up and let your performance do the talking. As for the performance yesterday, maybe I'm not normal but I was actually not that unhappy with it. We took the game to the opposition, which is all I want from my team.

Why blame anyone ? Weren't we competitive today ? We actually had a chance to win the game. I can't remember the last time we went to Piraeus and actually took the game to Olympiakos. And like I've said earlier, I don't count those games where we used to sit back and defend for our lives for 90 minutes and hope we score a lucky goal on the break. As for Olympiakos, even though they aren't as strong as the last few seasons, they are still a solid team. If anything, this should be an eye opener for Ivic and the rest of the PAOK administration. They should be able to see by now where the team is lacking and what is required to really challenge. For myself, I think we need a formidable striker and centre midfield. A true box to box midfielder that can dominate the centre. And of course someone for the right wing. The scary thing is Campos is our highest paid player and I can't see any team buying him off us. I don't see how we can be talking about titles when Olympiakos spends 10 million on players like it's nothing, and we're lucky to spend 2 million.

Well, it sounds like at least we made a game of it. When was the last time we went to Piraeus and had a chance to actually win the game ? I don't count the win when we had Anastasiadis as manager since we still got thoroughly outplayed. This will hopefully be a wake up call to the PAOK administrators/management that if they want to win a league, the squad is still not strong enough. It's good, there is a solid group, but it's not quite there. Ultimately, going into Piraeus, playing a solid and tough game, and losing, is NOT the problem. It's dropping points to teams like Xanthi and Veroia that is the problem.

I will add to that, any religion that says pork is bad, can't be any good. I mean, bacon, BACON!!! How can you not love bacon!!!

I am offended that @athinaios edited your post. :)

Hopefully this is just one of those games where we had a bad day. It happens. Hopefully ... On a side note, I wonder what we were thinking when we loaned out Jairo. Right now, I'd take him over Campos. At least he can dribble and get into the box.

44. Born in 1972. There, you happy now!

Well then maybe you should start a Metal and Hard Rock thread!

I'll only go to Greece if Shane Warne moves there.

@tantra129 I don't know if you're trying to make me laugh or if you're being serious.

Canas is definitely a more complete player than Charisis, but the kid has to get game time and he has to step up. Given that we're playing Olympiakos on the weekend, it makes sense to rest Canas.

You touch on one of Turkey's key concerns. The fact that it's not only Greece that has problems with them, but other nations also. If anything serious were to happen between Greece and Turkey, Turkey would be looking over their shoulder with one eye on the Kurds.

That's really really surprising. I would've thought given our love affair with Turkey we'd be a bit more prepared than that. I wonder if it's similar for Turkey ie. only a few weeks supply of basic ammunition.

I don't see why the U.S. would even consider giving Greece nukes. They know we have this "relationship" with our Russian "brothers", the whole Orthodox thing. Much easier to just arm the Turks. Just makes sense is all.

What ? 2 weeks ? That's an awfully low number. And we've seen during the economic crisis how keen other countries are to come to our aid.

I always thought the nukes in Turkey were as a deterrent against Russia. Or am I wrong ?

I can't stand it. I'm amazed one of the opposition batsmen hasn't taken a bat to the Aussie cricketers. They are pigs. And then they act like they're innocent. It's because of this, I was really pleased when Australia lost the Ashes back in 07. I get it. I was pissed also. I still remember the news showing an angry Greek man pouring bottles of Coke out in Londsdale Street! The media were scum, but should we expect otherwise ? Australian journalism at it's best. +1 billion on the "powerball".

I read something recently that Turkey is trying to develop its own, I think it was avionics, as well as some other stuff I can't remember. Regardless, the nature of the article was that Turkey is trying to become more self-sufficient in terms of providing their own weaponry.

Nedved coming off injured around the 30th minute or whatever it was, in my opinion, made all the difference. At the time, he was at his peak as a footballer, and what a great footballer he was. That really was a great Czech team.

I have to agree. The risk Greece is afraid of, is a big risk for Turkey also. Things can escalate, and can be difficult to predict. Ha ha, now that made me laugh.

F*** mate. Ketsbaia was only there for what 2 months ? Maybe Melissanidis is trying to emulate Savvidis, who's "given" PAOK 4 managers in 4 seasons. AEK even won this weekend as well.

Yes, agree 100% if Turkey tried for a "total" war so to speak. But what if they instead just took all the islands close to Turkey and fortified the bejesus out of them, and did this all so quickly Greece couldn't react ? Again my knowledge is not great. Again another hypothetical. I'm sure if we're talking about it, the Greek military has been over it 10,000 times.

Well, let's say in this hypothetical that you are now the PM of Greece, and you have intelligence that definitely proves Turkey wants you to provoke a war, so they can go for these gray zones. Let's say for the sake of the hypothetical the intelligence is beyond dispute. Then what ? Do you take the risk Turkey will back down ? I suppose a big part of this comes down to the capabilities of the military of both Greece and Turkey, which is an area I know little about. Maybe the Greek military has diminished in strength relative to the Turkish military in the last decade or two ? Maybe ? Maybe ? The point I'm trying to make is that maybe it's possible we're not privy to critical information, which might explain Greece's reluctance to take the risk. Anyway, that's my 2 cents. Maybe less.

A thought experiment. Could it be that Turkey actually wants Greece to shoot down a Turkish jet out of the sky ? Could it be that all this provocation is aimed at getting Greece to perform a "violent" act and make Greece look like (a) the bad guy and (b) give Turkey a reason to actually then initiate further military action. As it is, Turkey can initiate military action. After all, who is there to stop them ? Where was the world community during the invasion of Cyprus ? But to do so without provocation (that they could manipulate) they would have to pay a heavy diplomatic (and economic?) price. Instead, just keep provoking those Greeks in the hope that one of them just loses his s%$#! and presses the "self-destruct" button. You see, if I was the President of Turkey and I actually wanted to somehow take land or islands from Greece, and this happened, I would just smile and say "Thank you very much. Now I have ALL the excuse I need to get the military involved". I am not saying this is the reality. But what I am saying is, how do we know this is not the reality ? Just thinking out loud. N.B. Not really versed in matters military.

@Dutch Eagle thanks for the updates. :)