pash

Estrada's gonna have this game on LOCKDOWN

As long as Campos doesn't get the start of my little angel #27, then I'll be satisfied.

That would be a ballsy move, playing with no true CF. On the plus side, I have nothing but faith in Leovac and Matos. They're going to carry the team, I feel.

In preparation for this match, how about an interview with our old friend Huub? http://inpaok.com/338920 Seems remarkably positive on our chances.

Fortunately, he doesn't need to. As long as he feeds the others and can control the pace of the game, I'll take him. These guys have another writeup of possibilities: http://www.protothema.gr/sports/article/654137/ta-shedia-tou-ivits-gia-to-mats-tou-paok-kodra-sti-salke/ It's pretty much in line with what I hoped for above. I really dont' want Campos to get the nod ahead of Mistakidis - #27 has earned this over the past month. I also think Henrique needs to get the start on the left side. It's notable but not surprising that Warda is unlikely to see game time; we probably have to wait until Veroia until our first glimpse of him. Crespo/Varela is the best pair to start there (we'll need Crespo's speed and Varela's strength against their guys), and I still very much hope we don't start with a 3-CB defense. IF, somehow, we get ahead...then sure, throw in the extra defenders and park the bus. I think playing for a 0-0 draw is setting ourselves up to fail.

If we get Charisis into the match, I want it to be in an attempt to close down the game after Biseswar has already scored once, gotten two assists, and is exhausted.

Well we do have him for 4.5 years. If he leaves early, hopefully it's for a LOT of money.

Ivic is going to play his strongest available lineup. I think that has to be: Glykos Matos Varela Crespo Leovac Cimirot Shakhov Mistakidis Biseswar Henrique Klaus Playing a three man defense is bizarre, when we play so much better with wingers for Leovac and matos to work with

This is the same goal as in the first page from here, right? I'd recognize that lucky shot from anywhere

Iraklis just drew vs AEK 2-2. Big result for Iraklis, and very helpful for us. Looks like Bakakis is going to be suspended for a game as well (two yellows), I think vs Olympiakos?

I watched that match as well, they were very good. But Schalke has been all over the place this season. We're better than we were with Huub, and they aren't any better than they were then. And of course, this time we have a sold-out Toumba. My only immediate concerns for our lineup are how tired Varela might be, and how Klaus will play (especially with Henrique, who I'm going to assume he has little to no experience with). We should also keep in mind all four players in our back line are sitting on two yellows. Any yellows in this match means we'll have to rotate...and possibly heavily.

Having seen you, there's definitely nothing to be jealous of.

My big concern here is that either our B team is worse than I thought, or fatigue is really starting to hit us. Veroia and Iraklis should be games where we can rest at least some players, and I guess we can rely on Prijovic/Warda/Henrique to be rested enough for them...but we're going to look pretty thin in most positions. And we're not even half through with the below schedule. Thankfully Pelkas will be training normally again starting on Monday, so at least the pressure on Biseswar should be relieved.

Too bad, probably our worst game since the year began. A point's a point, I guess.

For sure. Now multiple players down. Tough game.

Mistakidis about to come on, presumably for Campos.

Sultani again throwing his weight around, will never actually be carded

3-3 now

Klaus looks miserable as he walks off

Prijovic warming up

Leovac in for Deligiannidis, I don't know if we'll see Warda now - unless the next sub brings us into a 4-man defense.

Does Xanthi not have...ball boys? I noticed this last game as well. It's literally just fans crawling around tossing back balls

Good hustle by Charisis and Deligiannidis in the last few minutes. Sultani, meanwhile, fouls us like three times but the only time we hear a whistle is when he gets pressured.

On this one, you can change your zoom level, right-click on the stream, and select the "fit to screen" option - it helps a bit, but is not often an option.

Have we really played 36 games already this season? Wild.