pash

I take 100% credit for this

Nah, we have no strikers otherwise. Just saw the breaking news with Vieirinha. This is a net improvement IMO. Sastre is MORE than good enough for this.

I think some fan sites already claimed Vieirinha had been tested there. Big mistake if so. I hear they've got some fast wingers.

Looks like we've got a new player for our B team: https://www.transfermarkt.com/raul-morichelli/profil/spieler/628560 I would assume Panagiotou will be returning there as well. Perhaps that's our future duo at CB? ?

Here is the pre-game press conference. I'm only about 15 minutes in, but paused to link this as he gave us an interesting tidbit - both Koutsias and Konstantelias will be with the A team for the whole season. Not surprising for Koutsias, a bit surprising for Konstantelias (who I feared would be sent back into the abyss). -edit- one other tidbit towards the end (not related to this game - sorry Blackhawk) - it seems Tzimas moved to PAS Giannina in order to avoid being converted into a fullback. I.e., this is his last chance to significantly improve in his current role and next season be considered with fresh eyes. -edit 2- squad list just announced:

Alaniiiiii

Lyratzis may have hurt his ankle, but even if he's out, Sastre should be more than enough here. Will be interesting to see how many youngsters actually play on Thursday. I'm guessing Biseswar will play all 90 minutes.

This one is indeed nicer than the last fat-stripe version. Second, third, and alternate kits are a bit odd. I thought the white one was a t-shirt when it popped up in this vid, before I remembered what I was watching. Not that we'll be able to tell the difference from our viewpoint.

Great draw for us. Panathinaikos will probably play Slavia Prague (and they will lose). Aris will probably get Ivic's Maccabi Tel Aviv, and also will lose.

Savvidis is stealing from the club and Athens will always rule

Instagram fan accounts are prophesizing that the team will essentially create a second "preseason" (mid-season?) during the World Cup, to keep up their training and fitness during the long break. Possibly in some place like Dubai. Interesting...

Give me Racing FC. So when they beat us, we can say we lost to yet another team from nowhere

I think I'd rather be in group 5, though group 3 only has Brondby as a potential problem. And we know how much of a roadblock they were last time haha

Team list has been published. To me, the only surprise is Murg - but we have the right to make a few changes, and don't be surprised if Narey takes his place. Λίστα Α: Φιλίπε, Μπίσεσβαρ, Ίνγκασον, Κάργας, Κοτάρσκι, Κουλιεράκης, Κούτσιας, Κούρτιτς, Λάμπρου, Ρικάρντο, Λύρατζης, Μιχάι, Μουργκ, Ντάντας, Κουαλιάτα, Σάστρε, Σβαμπ, Ράφα, Ντόουγκλας, Μπράντον, Τσαούσης, Τσιγγάρας, Βιεϊρίνια, Α. Ζίβκοβιτς, Ζίβκοβιτς Λίστα Β: Μπαλωμένος, Γκορντεζιάνι, Γρόσδης, Κωνσταντέλιας, Κουλούρης, Παναγιώτου, Πανίδης, Ταλιχμανίδης, Ζίλο

Lucescu seems to have a thing for playing #8s as #10s. And playing #10s as wingers.

Koutsias scored two more goals in this friendly. Kurtic and Schwab scored the other two in the 4-0 win. Zivkovic and Oliveira seemed to be ill, and did not participate (well, obviously for Oliveira I guess) I could see that first-half lineup being our guys vs Levski. 1ο Ημίχρονο: Κοτάρσκι , Σάστρε , Κάργας , Ίνγκασον , Ράφα , Κούρτιτς , Ντόουγκλας , Ντάντας , Κουαλιάτα , Κωνσταντέλιας , Κούτσιας . 2ο Ημίχρονο: Ζίβκοβιτς , Λύρατζης , Κάργας (60′ Κουλιεράκης), Ίνγκασον (60′ Παναγιώτου), Βιεϊρίνια , Σβαμπ , Τσιγγάρας , Φιλίπε, Ρικάρντο , Λάμπρου , Κούτσιας (72′ Μπράντον )

Gaitanidis' contract expired and he appears to be heading to Slovakia as a free agent. A shame, I thought he looked great during that one preseason we had him. Seems to have lost his mojo after those injuries.

PAOK leading 3-0 as they go into halftime. Haven't seen any lineups for our side (though Panaitolikos has posted theirs).

Not unexpected, but still interesting. https://inpaok.com/737070/to-cas-petaxe-exo-tis-rosikes-omades/ It appears to mostly help PAO, as far as Greece is concerned: https://kassiesa.net/uefa/AccessList2022.html Hopefully they don't squander that, but I'm sure they will.

Mak did all right by us, and he also came from the 2nd division! It seems the player is eager to join us so who knows, maybe it'll work out. He's not particularly expensive from what I see, so this isn't a tremendous risk IMO

The Narey saga may finally be drawing to a close, as "predictions" abound as to his possible arrival at 11am tomorrow. No ETA on Soteldo, though. I wonder if PAOKSYD likes this player??

^lol Anyway, Tzimas looks like he's being loaned to PAS Giannina.

Vrakas going back on loan to Levadiakos for another season. He helped them win the second division last season (4 goals 1 assist). It seems he may have pushed for this vs being loaned elsewhere. Is his contract up next year? I haven't heard anything about an extension, so if this is true then it seems the team is cutting ties.

Thomas starting his tenure well by leaking the new jersey. I guess we're back to the "fat stripe" style. That's....a shame https://inpaok.com/736954/o-tomas-prodose-ti-nea-fanela-tou-paok-pic/

Needs more hustle. Cut the kid loose, I say.