pash

Even when we had wingers last year, we still played Biseswar there. I have a feeling Lucescu sees this as a feature, not a bug. El Kaddouri will be injured any day now so at least that'll open up some space!

Sounds like Lyratzis is not seriously injured, thankfully. Probably will miss the next friendly though

So I was looking at the players that were brought to preseason, and was thinking it's kind of odd that we have so many attacking midfielders. So I put together a quick squad list, operating under the assumption that everyone we signed this year will stay. And by sheer coincidence, I came up with 28 players (Lucescu's magic number). Assuming we make it to the group stage (and the rumors of us increasing the squad size are true), then it seems we truly are nearly fully stacked here. If Balde comes, it'll be because Colak leaves...and of course we're still looking for that starter-caliber winger. Am I missing anyone? Perhaps Panagiotou or Tsaousis make the team as well? 3 GK Z Zivkovic Kotarski Talichmanidis 5 CB Ingason Michailidis Nasberg Kargas Koulierakis 4 FB R Soares Lyratzis Sastre Vieirinha 2 DM Tsiggaras Kurtic 3 CM Augusto Schwab Dantas 6 AM F Soares Biseswar Ricardo El Kaddouri Konstantelias Quagliata 2 W Lamprou A Zivkovic 3 ST Colak Oliveira Koutsias 28 total (9 Greek) Out: Mihaj (rumored sale) Taylor Ninua Murg Jaba B team?: Balomenos (GK), Panagiotou (CB), Tsaousis (LB) Incidentally, transfermarkt updated at some point with Vrakas returning from loan and going to the B team. I remember Blackhawk wondering what the point of the B team was if we were just going to ship him out - I guess the team agreed after all.

Highlights are up:

I got stuck on a call and looked back just now to see Lyratzis on the sideline with his foot wrapped up? Tell me I'm delirious!

Goal Ricardo

Was that an own goal in our favor?

Oh I believe it haha

Of course the game is paused because someone (probably one of our fans) threw a pink flare onto the field. Our fans are so stupid.

Goal Oliveira, off a very fast counter

My hero!

Very interested in seeing Konstantelias, assuming I can find a stream

First game's starting lineup:

Allegedly Boto and Lucescu have decided to keep Colak. Rangers kept low balling the team. Personally, I am fine with staying with Oliveira and Colak for this season. Gives Koutsias a slightly increased chance at making the leap as well.

We were fined 75k and three games behind closed doors for what went down at the Cup final. Panathinaikos fined about 10k less, two games behind closed doors.

Good vid too. They're killing it with these announcements. I think Kotarski is supposed to be a five year contract btw. They must really like him. -edit- I was wrong, it's a four-year contract

Truth

Biseswar apparently is signing for one more year, with the intention (as quoted by the websites) being to keep him as an off the bench option. I very much doubt that is correct - Lucescu will start him until forced not to.

Here are the players heading to the Netherlands (so far). Murg has a week off for personal reasons (probably the same reason Jaba is off). Kotarski hasn't been announced yet and so wasn't named in the list, but obviously he'll be there too. Ζίβκοβιτς, Ταλιχμανίδης , Μπαλωμένος, Μάροβιτς, Σάστρε Λύρατζης, Τζίμας, Ίνγκασον , Μιχαηλίδης, Παναγιώτου, Κάργας, Κουλιεράκης, Βιεϊρίνια, Ράφα Σοάρες, Τσαούσης, Τσιγγάρας , Σβαμπ, Φιλίπε Σοάρες, Ντόουγκλας, Ντάντας, Ελ Καντουρί , Α.Ζίβκοβιτς, Κωνσταντέλιας, Κουαλιάτα, Λάμπρου, Τσόλακ, Ολιβέιρα

Novasports has acquired the TV rights for our friendlies, though I'm not sure how that works with the last game being "behind closed doors." I am hoping international PAOK TV viewers will still get to stream these. I should also mention - because I don't think we've talked about it yet - Lamprou is attending the preseason training at the moment. I wonder if Lucescu will give him another shot. He certainly had better stats for OFI last year than he did us (31 games, 5 goals, 2 assists, about 2100 minutes played). Personally, if we got rid of Murg I would be fine with him as a rotation option.

This might be their best announcement video yet: -edit- fixed the link

One of the fan sites was quoting a Turkish site last night saying the Turks were trying to swap Colak for Pelkas. As far as "the internet" says, though, Pelkas wanted to stay abroad (can't say I blame him)? I don't get why we would play ball with this agent against our will, though. Got to be something in it for us. He'd definitely be a better winger OR attacking midfielder than anyone else we'd get, I would say.

Khaled Narey "injured" himself during training. Hmmmm.... And as I'm sure you all have seen, Kotarski landed earlier today in order to complete his transfer.

Kotarski's deal appears to be for about 2mm (paid to his current club), according to some Italians. Plus some sort of bonus potential. Haven't seen anything yet about the length of his contract or his renumeration.

I would agree. I remember people being excited about him. He's 25 so just barely squeezes in under Boto's "young enough to make a name for himself" philosophy. The thing is, isn't he a CF (and not a winger)?