Blackhawk

Apparently it's -3 points from next season if we don't show up for the cup game. At least that's what the "experts" are saying. EPO might come up some other extra punishment that they will invent inthe meantime. That's why it might be better to show up with fringe players (subs, U20) and get 5 red (or 6 to 7 quick "injuries") cards in the first 10 minutes and have the game being stopped by the ref.

The only interest is if PAOK will show up for the return leg against Olympiakos.

Leovac got hurt in the game with levadeiakos and will be out of action for 6 weeks. Basically the season is over for him.

What does one have to do with the other? As for the second part, let's wait and see if he does a Tsukahara. Personally I hope he doesn't. Will be interesting to see what excuse he comes up if he does.

3:1 win in the fourth game. We eliminate Olympiakos and wait for either Syrros or Kifisia to play the final of the Greek Volleyball Championship.

From the fact that the snake Alafouzos stopped he constant media attacks on Marinakis about a month ago. Also last weekend without much media attention there was a meeting between the government (Kontonis) and Marinakis/Melissanidis. Media claims that Marinakis and Melissanidis met with government officials separately, but I don't trust them. I am pretty sure there was a contact between the two.

The punishment by EPO for the PAOK - Olympiakos game was 100K fine, 3 games without fans, -5 points from Superleague standing, and 3:0 forfeit, since the game did not finish. As for PAOK not showing up for the return leg, Savvidis in his outburst right after the game said, that if the first leg is not replayed from the beginning with a foreign ref, PAOK will not show up for the second leg. Let's see if he has the balls to follow up with this threat. I hope he does.

It's more complicated than that from what I understand. The courts are really not delaying anything. It's the involved parties that are about to lose money and go to jail that are delaying the proceedings. Aris dropped to 3rd division in order to wash itself from the debt. However for this to work the bankruptcy proceedings need to be completed. Some of the results of the bankruptcy proceedings is that some of the debt is passed to people (Skordas and co.) that were in charge when the team did not pay the taxes, IKA, and players. It's those people with their lawyers that are delaying the proceedings. The team, which is an amateur club right now, wants nothing more than to complete the bankruptcy, so they can form a "clean" PAE (professional side). Mitso you are right. With a clean Aris in the professional ranks the government stands to profit by collecting taxes, etc. The question is if there are people in Aris ranks that will take over and run a clean operation without any interference from past ghosts.

PAOK is still debating on what to do with the return leg. If we don't show up for the game we face a 3 point deduction from the next season of Superleague. One way is to send the U20 or U17 team, which will mean we will get clobbered by Olympiakos. One way around it is to send the youth team and then claim quick injuries to players. Run out of substitutions and then when the number of players falls below 7, the referee has to stop the game without PAOK being at fault.

PAOK24 website is running a quiz commemorating 90 years of PAOK. They are asking 20 PAOK related questions. Let's see how many can you answer correctly. I missed 4 out of the 20. Take the quiz here: http://www.paok24.com/podosfairo/67566/kouiz-20-erotiseis-gia-ta-90-xronia-tou-paok

No Grexit!!! EPO and Kontonis after apparent backdoor deals made by Marinakis, Alafouzos and Melissanidis agreed to resume the cup competition in order to avoid the punishment from FIFA. Part of the deal is that EPO will drop their case in the Supreme Court concerning the Greek Cup In return Kontonis will lift the ban on the Greek Cup Also EPO agreed to follow FIFA rules concerning people with criminal charges against them withing their ranks (apparently 7 people will be kicked out from EPO) Greek Cup games will be played without fans (or with students in attendance only) If the final is between Olympiakos and AEK, it will be called by a foreign referee All in all we got 7 low level scapegoats that will pay the price in order to get this deal done, and it will be business as usual.

Business as usual.

From what I know the Aris debt is around 30 mil Euro, but that includes interest and fines. However that is not the issue currently. The team voluntarily dropped to 3rd division, so it could erase the debt through bankruptcy. For the bankruptcy to be completed, the courts have to approve it. The previous owners (Skordas, etc.) are fighting the proceedings because they would end up with portion of the debt.

Unfortunately 3:2 loss in packed Palataki. Need to win the next game.

Basically PAOK has secured a playoff spot. There is a very slight chance that they will not finish in top 5, and the only way for that to happen all these scenarios must come true: - PAOK must not win their appeal and the point deduction remains at 5 points - PAOK loses to Platanias on Sunday - PAS Giannina defeats Xanthi - Atromitos wins their appeal and gets the 3 points back - Atromitos defeats Panionios If all these things happen, there will be a 3-way tie between PAOK, PAS and Atromitos, and PAS finishes in 5th place. Keep also in mind that a team that finishes in 6th place will also get into the playoffs if Panionios fails to receive the license to play.

Situation is not 100% clear due to several appeals concerning point deductions. STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 29 4. Panionios - 44 5. PAOK - 42 (assuming -5 point deduction) ----------------------- 6. PAS Giannina 39 7. Platanias 38 8. Tripoli 38 9. Atromitos 36 (assuming -3 point deduction) ROUND 30 Xanthi - PAS Giannina Platanias - PAOK Panionios - Atromitos Tripoli - Veroia If the playoff started today, the initial standings would be: 1. AEK 2 (assuming PAOK -5 and AEK -3 point deductions) 2. PAO 2 3. Panionios 0 (assuming they win their appeal to receive license from EPO to play) 4. PAOK 0

vs MATCHUP: Platanias Chania - P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki ? COMPETITION: Superleague - Round 30 DATE: 17-April-2016 TIME: 19:00 GR (16:00 GMT, 11:00 CDT, 02:00 AEST CITY / STADIUM: Perivolia - Dimotiko Stadio (Capacity: 3,700) REFEREES: TELEVISION: Novas Sports (Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Bulgaria), Antenna Satellite/Pacific (USA/Canada/Australia) Platanias vs. P.A.O.K. History: Superleague 2014-2015: 0:4 (Athanasiadis, Salpiggidis, Mak, Skondras) - Attendance: 1,712 2013-2014: 1:2 (Salpiggidis 2) - Attendance: 2,896 2012-2013: 2:1 (Athanasiadis 2) - Attendance: 1,846 GAMES: 3 WINS: 2 TIES: 0 LOSSES: 1

Palataki looks full for the game. Great atmosphere. http://www.laola1.tv/en-int/livestream/2016-04-11-paok-thessaloniki-olympiacos-piraeus-len

- I don't think they will kick us out. There are already backdoor deals being made between EPO/Government/Teams. - Not sure, but could be a good start to tackle the problems facing Greek football. - Just like with Greek politics, as long as the laws are not strictly and fairly enforced the chance of internal reforms working are minimal.

Possible lineups: ----------------- Vellidis ---------------- Kitsiou - Vitor - Tzavellas - Leovac ---------- Tziolis ------- Kace -------- Rodrigues --- Pelkas --- Korovesis ------------------- Mak ----------------- or ----------------- Vellidis ---------------- Kitsiou - Vitor - Tzavellas - Leovac Kace - Cimitot - Tziolis - Charisis ---- Rodrigues -------- Mak ---------

Panionios did not receive a license today from the EPO licensing committee. They have two chances to appeal this decision, and they claim that there will be no problem. However if that decision stands, Panionios will not be able to take part in the playoffs. On the other hand PAS Giannina received a license, which will make their game against Platanias that more interesting. I see Tripoli sneaking in into the playoffs at the last minute.

That was a big win today. Now the series will shift to Thessaloniki, where we just need one win to eliminate them.

Apparently Lubos Michel (PAOK TD and President) is attending today's Europa league game between Bragga and Shakhtar Donetsk. Incidently Fernando Santos is also scouting the game and the two will probably meet to discuss the coaching job at PAOK. At least that's what all the conspiracy theorists on Thessaloniki media claim.

So they assign a ref from Tripoli to call this game. Wonder which team(s) is interested in a PAOK loss (tie). Slowly the injured players are returning to the team. The only missing players from this game are Berbatov, Mystakidis, Konstantinidis and Jairo due to injuries, and Klaus due to cards.