Blackhawk

Apparently Coentrão and PAOK agreed to terms, but the player is returning to Portugal without signing the contract. It is reported that he will sign on Sunday and report to Holland on Monday. Why do I have a bad feeling that he will talk to other teams during the weekend using the PAOK offer to get a better deal.

It's proven we have a bad history against Dutch teams and specially Ajax. For that reason I would want to stay away from them. I would not mind meeting them in a groups stage of either CL or EL though where we could fulfill Athen's wishes.

Fabio Coentrão is apparently flying to Thessaloniki tonight and will sign a 2-year deal tomorrow. He comes in as a free transfer. He will be paid around 750K.

15,031 is the count today. Tomorrow is the last day for renewals. I expect it will be over 16,500, which would mean that approximately 3,500 did not renew their season tickets.

Money plays a part, but the fact that the Greek league is corrupted and runs like a league in a 3rd world country is the major reason it's the last option for the good players. As it is we are usually overpaying the current players just so they sign up for us.

What's the buyout option?

In the end it's better that we are not seeded. This way we have 83.33333% chance of avoiding Ajax in QR3. And if we get Celtic, Copenhagen or Dinamo and eliminate them there will be 100% chance of avoiding them in the playoff round. If we were seeded and qualified than there would still be another 25% chance of playing Ajax. We just need little luck in Monday's draw.

It works for me. Here is the link: https://webtv.ert.gr/ert-sports-live/

Hen ten Cate has been rumored as a possibility. That has to be fake news.

The actual possible opponents are these if we assume that some of the favorites might not qualify: Ajax Amsterdam (HOL) - 70.500winner of Celtic Glasgow (SCO)- 31.000 / Kalju (EST)-6.000winner of TNS (WAL)-6.000 / FC Copenhagen (DEN)-31.000winner of Saburtalo (GEO)-0.950 / Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)-29.500winner of BATE Borisov (BLR)- 27.500 / Rosenborg (NOR)-11.500winner of Sutveska (MTG)-3.000 / Apoel Nicosia (CYP) - 25.500 Basically the best draw for us would be Celtic, Copenhagen or Dinamo Zagreb in order to be seeded in the playoff round and avoid Ajax once again.

So in Monday's draw for the QR3 we will face one of the following: Ajax Amsterdam (HOL) - 70.500 Celtic Glasgow (SCO) - 31.000 FC Copenhagen (DEN) - 31.000 Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) - 29.500 BATE Borisov (BLR) - 27.500 Apoel Nicosia (CYP) - 25.500

Piast was winning most of the game 1:0 until the penalty they gave up in 79th minute. We came very close to to be seeded in Monday's draw. Now the main thing is not to be drawn against Ajax and once we defeat the seeded opponent in QR3 we will inherit their ranking points for the playoff round and will be seeded in that round.

14,015 after today Is there such a thing as StubHub in Greece, where if I had season tickets I could sell the individual games?

Not sure if I can believe this since it comes from one of those sleazy sites, but Bradaric will cost us 3 mil plus a certain percentage of resale.

Today I read that they narrowed down the list to two coaches and they are from northern European countries.

They are following the good old Greek way of reporting news. Just make things up.

So looking at this list of 30 players it is clear that Ferreira is following his formula that he talked about during his press conference. Ferreira said that he wants 21 - core players 3 - youngsters 3 - goaltenders --------------------------- 3 - injured player (starters) So basically players will be cut from the squad only when we sign a new player to replace them or when the injured players will start returning to playing shape.

Some sites are reporting that 27-year old Filip Bradaric (defensive mid) from Cagliari is a done deal. He has played 7 games for the Croatian NT.

Once again it showed that the Greek sport reporters don't know what questions to ask. To me both the coach and the technical director appeared to be very serious and knew what they were talking about. I think they will do very well.

Whoever it is it will be another mediocre coach who will not have the balls to put his foot down to take control of the team. He will have to listen to the saboteurs that want their old buddies back on the teams. Expect Torosidis, Tzavellas and even Tziolis to be given their spots back.

Apparently Ferreira has decided take almost all the players to the second part of the pre-season training, which will give some players another chance impress the coach. The only absences are apparently the allready cut Deligiannidis, Markovski and Papadopoulos. All this according to SDNA.

The U21 NT will play a friendly against Germany in Zwickau on September 5. This is in preparation for the EURO qualifiers against Lithuania, Czech Republic and Scotland.

Tomorrow at 14:00 EEST, PAE PAOK will officially present the new coach Abel Ferreira at the Macedonia Palace hotel. The event is open only to accredited press (the scum of the earth), but will be presented live on PAOK TV.

13,032 today

I believe the Kace rumor is just fake news. They can't be that stupid at Fiorentina.