val

We always had to score in this one, if we want to progress. post, cruel game this one, cruel tie

unlucky im hoping penalties....

They caught us out once, when they moved the ball quickly resulting in a header over the bar. Wemer again looks to struggle in the air. We need to keep shutting them down the lanes and keep a cool head. It wouldn't hurt to retain the ball a little, i know we don't really have the players but it will help our cause. Our attack build up has been slow, low risk passing, we should get some more chances in the second. Overall we are doing well, can't underestimate them.

Mehele is basically their 30 at the back. I'm thinking we need to score...

Man u is man u, you have to respect them. Also too much money invested to see them bow out. Valencia have a great attacking side. Naturally you want to stay away from these sides. Leverkusen has a tough side and a clever coach, but we generally do well against the germans. There is sporting also, if i'm not mistaken. Anyway, i'll leave it at that because there is still work to be done. Return legs turn to surprise this time of the year because sides are become more ready ( a week can make a significant difference), not to mention determination for the trailing side, complacency for the leading side. We saw ajax stink it up at home after a good result away, dinamo score three away goals after a 1-1 draw at home, even apoel played with fire after looking comfortable. Expect the unexpected for tomorrow, hopefully for the better.

They have taken a page out of our book, by bringing in a young modern thinking coach. Other clubs have done the same as well. The portuguese generally make good coaches. Still early days though and i hope they falter this season because it would put them in a real tailspin.

This is why i didn't mind drawing ajax. The dutch are simply too naive.

1. Anastasiou, No further experimenting required. We don't have to chase the game so we can put numbers behind the ball. Ideally you would go with a 4-3-1-2 ( 3 holders and ninis at CAM). I don't wish to break up the berg-karelis partnership, it will keep them in check. 2. Individual mistakes. Relatively simple here, we need to avoid silly mistakes. 3.Dead ball situations. We were atrocious defending corners in the first leg. 4. Away goal. Naturally, you imagine someone will screw up at the back, so i'm thinking we have to score to ice this. Our best goalscoring option is berg, second kerelis, third klonaridis off the bench?

When has ninis had a good season? 2010? Sure he contributed but he wasn't spectacular by any means. I don't understand why people were blown away by him. How does that compare to what sneijder has done? I feel silly even having to discuss it. When sneijder played ( in his prime), you felt his presence for the full 90 mins. He played like a leader, a

I'm aware and they don't compare.

Firstly let's not make bold statements comparing him to sneijder. This is a european winner that played a protagonist role on a great side. Ninis has been around long enough for us to generate an opinion of him. From unrealistic expectations to disappointing stints at parma and paok, things haven't gone as we had hoped. With his return to pao he is somewhat born again. Although i think it is more down to the hard work off the pitch, a small measure of what you can achieve, if you put the work in. On his day, he is one of our better players because he has traits others lack, traits that make him an important player on the team. This is a big season for him, he needs to be consistently good. If he gives us a good season, then he guarantees a future for himself at the club, perhaps even opening some other doors.

30 was never a great defender but he had some decent games when he first arrived on the scene. Playing him at right back, exposed his weaknesses more so, to the point where the guy has all but lost his confidence. He played a whole season out of position and naturally screwed up. So when you have been stinking up for so long, you almost always expect to play bad your next game. It's gotten to the point where it's too dangerous to have him on the park, even in his natural position. There's no obvious answer, but I would go with koutroubi to partner tavla.

Firstly you have to understand that pao is not the pao it use to be. The quality has dropped significantly just like the whole league. Once upon a time, we wouldn't be discussing any of these guys but when you have the likes of ajagazun starting, then I'm fairly confident De blassis and de vicenti will be upgrades. Poor man versions of the world beaters they may be, but we could certainly use them. We don't have many guys with natural ability on the ball. This why I was high on Dinas, but the kid never got it together.

The jury is still out on fortouni, obviously very promising and i would love to have him on our roster but until he performs on a consistent basis, there is nothing to get excited about. Too many of these kids that make some noise, almost go missing immediately. I have an opposite view of those foreigners that come over. They have grown up in a different environment, come from a better league and make a difference in ours. De vincenti, de blasis, ibagaza, marcelinho etc currently we don't have a player like this on our roster. It's disappointing, because we commit a significant amount of funds for essien, when we could be bringing in one or two these 'x factor' guys. Equi, sanmartean, these are the type of players i want to see.

Lacks consistency, produces only in patches. If he can have a few more performances like that, he can play in a better league. Freeze is right though, his ceiling is a midtable (preferably non physical, slow paced).

We have seen him play better in domestic games but today he really struggled. Offensively he is limited, we know that by now. You mention his defensive qualities but he didn't really help out wemmer on his side. He was rather a spectator in this one except for the time, when he gifted the ball to the opposition, leading to a goal scorring chance. I think he can come in and give some of the more talented guys a rest, preferably for the league. He is not for this level though. We have a few of that nature but ajagazun is the worst of the lot. Also i don't think we can afford to chase for 90 min, we need some balance. When you have zeca and lagos as your ball winners, you need a ball retainer. Ball retention is also a means of defending.

I don't understand, they said he is fit to start and then we go with kostoli. I hope the problem isn't financial. With the current situation, you would imagine some are waiting to be paid.

The miss didn't faze him, kept going and scored the leveller. He feeds off the crowd and the crowd feeds off him. Threw his body around nicely, clever knock downs. Was gassed but pushed in the final stages to help close down. All in all, a great performance.

There is nothing wrong with a little determination, beware the sides that want it more! We showed that today and there is nothing to suggest, we won't show as much fight next week. After last season's disappointment, the players know the weight of expectation. Even when we went down to 10 men, the players knew a loss wasn't acceptable. They themselves were not going to lie down. Also for the first time this side produced a performance in which their predecessors will be proud of. They wrote their own little chapter, off course they will have to follow up with a good performance in the second. Anastasiou made a mistake with both our shape and a couple player selections, most notably ajagazun and koutroubis. Cut him some slack though, there isn't much depth in that midfield. Our formation exposed us out wide, pranjic was targeted, stretching our backline. We conceded and should've conceded a second, not to mention the players seemed mentally lost. The first 20 min or so were horrible. You have to question why brugge couldn't put us away at this point, a better side would've capitalized. The players lifted off course but anastasiou made the necessary tweaks. Support for the fullbacks, koutroubis as a holder and from an attacking sense, ninis in that free role. The fullbacks could now push forward knowing they have support. There was more balance but most important, the players knew their role. There is too much confusion with the 4-2-2-2... We said it before the game, brugge are better drilled. In open space they will destroy you but they lacked ruthlessness, proficiency in front of goal. I think they will look back at the game, contemplate the chances missed and wonder if only they only had a striker of berg's quality. In terms of quality they have a few decent attacking players, diaby, vanaken and izquierdo but their defenders are terrible. Both sides are similar actually in terms of strengths and weaknesses. Actually when we tried to defend we did an amazing job. It also showed their inability to pick us apart once we clogged the lanes. We could've played another 30 minutes, i couldn't see them scoring. I'm not suggesting we defend as deep in the return but i would like to see us put men behind the ball. The key for the return leg is how well we start. If we can keep them out for the first 20 min or so, it sets the pace. We might even snag a goal on the break. If Anastasiou sets us up wrong again and we conceded early, we will find ourselves chasing the game and it could get ugly. Going to be very entertaining and nerve racking.

He didn't start well, but the system didn't do him justice, didn't do anyone. The persistence with the 4-2-2-2 almost cost us. Changes came quickly and things improved for zeca and co. He finsihed the first half strong, closed down space, protected his full back. I can't ask for more. @Asteras, what did you think of pranjic?

Well said and determination goes a long way. We wanted it more. Ajagajun offers nothing. At least 30 can offer some value when defending deep but he to, has to go. Koutroubis is not starting material. This was the first time i saw him in the midfield but i never believed the hype because it's koutroubis! I've made my mind about him a long time ago. Lagos was very good today but it helped that he had support. He thrives when he has assistance but cannot play as a single holder. We need essien to come in and be everything we had hoped.

Defensivly Sanchez has left a lot to be desired. I can't tell you how vital it is to have a ball playing centre halve though. I don't get your assessment of Zeca. He chased down everything. I don't think i've ever seen zeca blow hard, guy is an athlete. If you are expecting him to help our attack build up, forget about it, he never developed that part of his game. Off the ball or with the ball? Limited offensively, but none the less a valuable member of the squad. He saved us on two occasions. The guy is great shot stopper. I like how he didn't move for that counter after ajagajun gave the ball away. Let's hope steel is back for game two though. Brugge noticed kotsolis weakness with the air balls. Actually those la liga games are full of cautions.

It's a silly goal, simply no communication between wemmer and kotsolis. But the keeper has to take the initiative with a cross like that so close to the goal. Indeed a conundrum. You will never see 30 as comfortable in a system than today but you can't defend so deep for 90min. Probably go koutroubi, less error prone. Better with the ball at his feet. Also he is not a midfielder. It's a shame because this was ninis best european performance since that roma game. After the red, I thought he might go a 4-4-1 , with ninis playing of berg. But with a 4-3-2, there is more balance, it keeps the opposition centre backs in check. Also karelis works hard off the ball.

Character building win. players gave it their all. You feel that we deserved a better scoreline but under the circumstances, a good result. Anastasiou first 20 min epic fail, for the resulting 70 astute coaching. Conservative, clever football. The second half is an example of how to play in europe ( backline preferably not as deep but same philosophy).

lago back in the starting 11, i imagine