pash

AEK does look like it's the bigger threat. Panathinaikos looks deliciously weak. I'm wondering how well Iraklis will do; they did win today.

Papadopoulos being loaned out to Paralimni in Cyprus

True. Cape Codder here. I admit that I was mistaken, I found some pictures of West Roxbury to make up for that. Please note that these are actual pictures.

It's a game of fine margins.

West Roxbury:

So, any predictions for top five finishers this season?

Roslindale is in the ass end of nowhere. This is where that Greek International Foods Market is located, right?

I was guessing he wouldn't be played so soon after the last game, but then again there's no reason to use him on the 27th, so...yeah, you're right.

I can't see Tudor playing more than a handful of our starters in this one. Brondby were exceptionally poor last match, perhaps he should use our K11 squad? Would like to see Koulouris get a start in this, I would imagine they'd use Klaus as a sub to ease him back into competitive matches.

vs MATCHUP: Brondby IF - P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki COMPETITION: Europa League - Playoff Round - Leg 2 DATE: 27-August-2015 TIME: 21:00 GR CITY/STADIUM: Copenhagen - Brondby Stadium (26,000) REFEREES: Paolo Tagliavento, Matteo Passeri, Francesco De Luca, Gianpaolo Calvarese (ITA) TELEVISION: Barring a major disaster, this game is a formality. In one week, we will be back in the group stages of the Europa League.

Love this vid of Pelkas. When the hell did he get so good? https://instagram.com/p/6qFNd_HQgF/ Dutch Eagle, will make the new topic in a moment

I don't think he trusts Poungouras or Qose (is Qose even still with the team?) there. Although, he could just rest one of those three from yesterday, and put Tzavellas in his place.

I think they claim they're real, but judging by the prices, I would say you're better off buying directly from the team.

We have enough players at each position that we have some depth to cover for the above. Really, to me, only center backs are a problem. My wild guess: --Olsen-- --Skondras--Malezas--Tzavellas--Leovac-- --Sabo--Cimirot-- --Rodrigues--Mistakidis--Jairo-- --Koulouris-- I'm probably way off. I figure he's most likely to rest Vitor/Costa, but then again he also has shown a preference for two strikers at all times, which would imply that any of Rodrigues/Mistakidis/Jairo could be moved up into that position.

Why would Costa ever go along with that? Unless he gets something along the lines of, an extra year added or something?

Kace collects yellows like it's his job, so it wouldn't surprise me. Klaus definitely got multiple cards in the last few games, I remember him purposely getting a red due to some protest. If he does have to sit this one out, and is still injured (therefore, not named to the 18 or whatever), does this still count towards his suspension? As in, does he have to be actually available in order to serve the punishment?

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.