pash

Sorry for all the updates here, but the edit button timed out for little old me. Anyway, this would be quite the move. Feels like more a Koulierakis replacement than an Ekong one, but I wouldn't complain either way: https://inpaok.com/830713/yparkto-to-thema-paok-zigko/ https://www.transfermarkt.us/samuel-gigot/profil/spieler/276896

Word has it that we're snagging this kid from Watford, for our B team: https://www.transfermarkt.us/jorge-cabezas/profil/spieler/911946 Watford seems to have never really intended to play him, as he has been loaned out ever since they first acquired him. Still young, 20 years old. I find this kind of weird because we will have a big overabundance of strikers for the next two or so seasons; is he going to just sit on the B team until he's 24? -edit- popping back in to say that Ekong's deal might be for 1.2mm, which amazingly could be a slight profit for us. Expected to head to the land of the blowing sands early next week.

The Netherlands also has the advantage of a much more systematized youth training setup, doesn't it? In other words, with standards enforced from their FA? I am actually curious as to where PAOK's (and other teams in Greece) compare with this. My suspicion is not well; the Dutch appear to consistently generate more technically proficient players than we do. Anyway, speaking of a team that Dutch Eagle actually is the co-owner of: https://www.sport24.gr/football/paok-markarei-ton-tsiggara-i-mprenta.10362048.html Would we acquire another Greek player, in this case? Perhaps that left winger who popped up in the rumors a few months back? Personally, I'd promote the most promising B team CB (or give Tsaousis a shot as our #2 LB).

I would also add that if these players aren't making much of an impact with the B team, then we should be promoting youth players to replace them immediately. Fail fast and move on. To be blunt, these players have no value to us if they do not make the big boy team. The fact that we're "selling" them for large resale rates is the football equivalent to what my industry calls "schmuck insurance." -edit- adding something unrelated which I just saw: https://inpaok.com/830592/vrike-ton-anti-ekongk-i-sabab/ So is that team gonna buy all of our rejects? Would love it if true, but I find this a little unlikely.

Probably a good reason why you're not a professional!

We got this. I expect a much more lively game from our end. I don't think we'll see many changes from the last lineup, but I am HOPING Camara starts. --Kotarski-- --Sastre--Kedziora--Koulierakis--Baba-- --Camara--Schwab-- --Despodov--Konstantelias--Taison-- --Brandon-- I really don't think there's much of a difference between starting Sastre/Otto, Schwab/Ozdoyev, Despodov/Zivkovic, Konstantelias/Murg. But Camara is looking like an increasingly big omission lately.

If the team doesn't move on a replacement immediately, expect some new articles to come out about how Lucescu really wants Meite so they're making another move for him. This is beyond absurd at this point.

If the Germans get credited for the painter, the Austrians can get credit for the city

Dude the fact that this exclave of Austria has a team called Heidelberg is making my head spin. I can't keep my lies separate from reality anymore

And yet AEK is "favored" to win the league and PAOK is looking singularly terrible...

I am pretty sure the area you're in now, has strict rules against public displays of indecency.

I'd say Camara is the most glaring omission. Lucescu heard the 60 minute prediction and decided to wait another five just to screw with us.

I can beee your heroooo babyyyy

Do you think the team ever gets tired of playing like garbage in the first half? Or is this set up by Lucescu so he can get plaudits when he gives a good pep talk at halftime?

Waiting for a long time for VAR's decision

Precisely; this is Kedziora's position now. And since he's starting, we know where this is heading.

Darelas, from our B team (and product of our academy) is about to be sold to the impossibly-named NEC Nijmegen. We will likely retain a ~20-25% resale rate on the kid, though I'm not sure what the cost of acquisition will actually be. Probably a good move for him.

Most of the recent rumors for Koulierakis are suggesting an 11.5mm transfer fee plus a 3mm bonus paid to PAOK. Very, very respectable numbers for the player. InPAOK predicting that nothing will happen before qualifiers are over. Not sure that the team will be able to kick the can down the road for a full month, personally. The Drkušic rumor has been as the "anti-Ekong" option, so we would be moving on a second CB if this move would come to fruition.

Stauea is no joke, they can definitely beat Sparta Prague (but I agree the Czech team will probably go through). The only team I was dreading was Galatasaray. Remember, we beat Eintracht Frankfurt twice with a lineup that (on paper) was much worse than we have now. No need for doom and gloom (I'm looking squarely at @PaokCT here). Good to see that the EL path is a lot more straightforward for us, but let's hope it doesn't matter anyway.

So we're guaranteed to have Vieirinha as our only LB in the next game, is what you're saying

I can't imagine he won't recover his form. It's not like he's injured; just three months out of shape. And his out of shape is most certainly not my kind of out of shape. Of more concern to me, is stuff like this: https://www.sportime.gr/podosfairo/fovate-ton-bampa-o-paok-ke-foulari-gia-aristero-bak/ https://www.sportime.gr/podosfairo/paok-o-loutseskou-den-estile-minima-mono-ston-samata/ I don't really know how to parse this. Is Soares that bad? I doubt it. And the first link almost feels like slander against Baba, doesn't it??

PAOK playing hardball and I love it: https://inpaok.com/830143/i-dipli-protasi-tou-paok-gia-meite/

My prediction: we'll see Tissoudali get a few minutes at the end, and a surprise START from Camara. Lineup: --Kotarski-- --Otto--Ekong--Koulierakis--Baba-- --Camara--Schwab-- --Despodov--Konstantelias--Taison-- --Thomas-- Perhaps we'll see some other CBs get minutes considering the pending moves, but that probably relies on our being comfortably up a few goals...

Ethnikos Achnas, out of Cyprus, apparently wants Panagiotou (our B team CB). I would much rather have him replacing Nasberg (and it was kind of dumb that we didn't call him up at the end of last season when we ran out of CBs). But what can ya do... InPAOK also reporting that there may be interest in three additional B team players of ours. Kanis, perhaps?

I think ti's a mistake to include Vieirinha over Rafa Soares. If Baba is hurt, Vieirinha will get eaten alive... Glad the first game is an away match, though. I wouldn't be surprised if Shola doesn't get any real game time in the first half of the season. Luxury purchase by the team; he'll be given the time to get comfortable until one of the other attacking midfielders is sold or hurt, methinks.