pash

Corruption is one thing, but I think questionable selections are made from a very real desire to maximize chances of a victory. How the victory happens, is of less value. If we know that playing KKM/KKT will mean we essentially have 7 defenders on the field, and we know that once in a while an attack happens up that left flank, chances are we'll squeak through with a 1-0 win. Logically, this would imply that these backwards-facing choices of Santos were the result of pressure from "on high." Is that corruption? Not really. Fast forwarding to today, we have a beloved symbol of that team - Karagounis - who seems to be under a few conflicting pressures himself. He wants to pay service to the guys he's already known and played with (Katsouranis, Tziolis, maybe Gekas), but also can't see himself as anything but a direct and vital leader of the team (thus, railroading our last two coaches into making the call ups he wants - i.e., dropping Holebas). Again, not corruption - just weakness.

This was kind of mentioned in another thread in the past day or two, but I can't seem to find the post, so I'll piggy back off of yours - Mak seems to be pretty predictable in how he handles these one-on-one with the keeper situations too, in that he always tries to carry the ball around them. Surely at this point Tudor has noticed this? It would fall into the realm of "finishing," I suppose, which hopefully is something they're working on.

I have no problem with more goals like what Pelkas scored, and fewer Mak-style ones.

Mak's expressions when he gets interviewed after games always crack me up:

No s%$#!. I'm totally there. Koulouris desperately needs game time, and we aren't giving him it. A Necid-type loan, where he can be recalled if he doesn't get X number of games in by December, would do just fine.

Playa's gotta play!

I don't buy the character thing. Stoch's slump seems to have been due to his falling out with Stevens (the rest of the team followed). As soon as he left, he started playing well again. Stoch vs Mak is an interesting comparison, too - at first they seem similar. Stoch is clearly the better dribbler and (I think) the better finisher. Mak is faster and plays better in a support role. I think both would have a role in this team. People seem pretty positive on Toivonen, hopefully this works out. The thing is, we already have more wingers than I have hairs on my balls. There is room for a Toivonen, not so much for a Stoch (now).

That would actually have been a great idea. Farming these players out to other leagues will do them much better than them playing in the horafia.

He DEFINITELY looks like him. Brondby were pretty bad, but we did everything right. They looked scared to me, right from the start - no effort to actually attack until it was too late. They literally had only one shot on target.

Let's not forget that Mak also gave the assist on goals #2 and #3. Those are Lucas numbers ;)

There was a moment when I was worried - he had grabbed a ball that had squirted towards him, and the opposing forward shoved him (and caused the ball to fall out of his hands). Thankfully he recovered fast, but at first glance it just looked incredibly sloppy.

Some thoughts... Defenders All very solid, including Malezas (who I was worried about). Kitsiou played in his worst position and was still convincing, and Korovesis had a few good plays in the ten minutes he was on Olsen looked sloppy though. I'm beginning to have some real concerns about him. Midfield Konstantinidis was awesome, completely owned that right side. I lost count of how many times he had moved into the far forward position and served as the target for long crosses. And the fact that he won so many of those attempts was all the sweeter. Tziolis made small mistake after small mistake, but didn't manage to ruin anything. Still was able to run headlong into a ref. Pelkas was a monster, has speed, can dribble, makes it look easy. He owns that attacking mid position. Kace was wonderful as usual, should have had two goals of his own. Mistakidis and Savvidis, as the subs, also showed their worth, very solid. Strikers Mak finally was able to make good on his threats to score, and got a hat trick out of it. Huge for him, and us. Rodrigues got a much deserved goal as well, and seems to have more talent than I credited him with. Both played out of position, I can't wait to see what we look like with two CFs

Savvidis (owner) looks exceptionally happy

Penalty Mistakidis!

Someone set off a flare, can't wait to see how big the fine will be for that one.

Korovesis in for Konstantinidis

HAT TRICK for Mak!

Blackhawk, think he's made any strides to actually being able to finish in this match?

Mak brings us to 4-0!

I'm sure there's a sex joke in there somewhere.

Mistakidis in for Rodrigues

Pelkas coming off for Savvidis

And Klaus!

Rodrigues scores his first to bring us to 3-0!

Can't we jerk off at the same time as accepting what you're saying?