pash

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)?

The Kargas contract is supposedly for 3+1 years. He should be signing any minute now, and attending the afternoon training (which I believe begins in two hours). How's that for some around-the-world accuracy?

First leg in Bulgaria is at 8pm, return leg is at 830

Benfica never cuts deals haha

Dantes' loan apparently includes a purchase option for 4mm for 50% of his rights, or 7mm to get him outright.

Someone's been going to Bible study!

And Ricardo, if Lucescu keeps him. It would be just like us to crash and burn out of the qualifiers and be saddled with 35 players for this season. Which we all know will result in another championship!

It looks like Schwab has re-signed, for two years. Earlier posts online were claiming that in order to secure the two year contract, he agreed to lower his wage demands (which I would note are not that high to begin with, considering who he replaced). Some much-needed stability going into the new-look PAOK, in my opinion.