paokarag4

Bakasetas is hanging around for another qualifying campaign, you better believe that. He wasn't initially called up for these games but called up as a replacement once Konstantelias was injured, that doesn't scream to me well planned out goodbye testimonial. I maintain Bakasetas has a role to play(off the bench), and to a lesser extent Kourbelis and even lesser extent Masouras. The team's defensive issues can't possibly be laid to blame at Bakasetas' feet. We created a bucket load of chances, as you mention in an attacking sense we have really turned the corner. Defensively we have massive issues. Individual errors which need to be rectified by the players themselves but also our structure and system doesn't seem to provide adequate protection. Jovanovic needs to sort it out and ASAP. You can't be going 3-0 up with 30 minutes to play and the match turns into a rodeo. We must get better at seeing out matches and playing out time to get the result. Otherwise no matter how beautiful we play or how many goals we score, qualifying for a major tournament will remain a pipe dream.

I heard some murmurs earlier in the season (around July/August) that he had some issue with Lucescu or vice versa. All I know is he wasn't a nailed on starter from the start of the season and as a result his form seems to have dipped noticeably.

Insane how our MVP from last season has so quickly fallen out of favour this season. Ozdoev is 33, and while he is having a great year I would much rather keep Camara on board for next season than renewing a soon to be 34 year old Ozdoev.

Konstantelias and Ioannidis both have been replaced due to injury from the original call-ups. Bakasetas and Tetteh (Kifisia striker) have replaced them. Tetteh becomes the third player being called up for the first time during this international window, following Triantis and Kostoulas. https://www.sport24.gr/football/ethniki-elladas-se-dio-gkroup-i-proponisi-episimi-i-anaklisi-gia-ioannidi-konstantelia/

Correct. Looks like Lovren has returned to training so he'll most likely start next to Michailidis. This is one of our 4 "winnable" games, obviously winning against Lille gave us 3 points we didn't expect to get. Young Boys form is improved since PAO went to Switzerland on Matchday 1 and came away with a victory. At least their European form has improved, winning their last 2 against Ludogorets and our old foe Steaua (FCSB). It won't be easy, but we have been in great form and a win can really set us up well.

On this, I think it is poor from Jovanovic to not make the tactical adjustment from the first game. The Danes suffocated us high up the pitch, cut off all the passing lanes and essentially forced us to play the ball into dangerous spots where they would turn over possession and pick us off. We were dangerous in the first 10-15 today, what was different? We pressed them deep in their half, okay we couldn't sustain that but we also weren't afraid to play direct and long. Ioannidis chance was off him winning an aerial duel and then us winning the 2nd ball. The Tsimikas chance 30 seconds in, a long direct ball from Koulierakis finds Karetsas who in turn picks out an unmarked Tsimikas in the 6 yard box. I know it's not modern. our style or particularly attractive but we know from game 1 we can't play through the Danish press. There had to be an adjustment and apart from the first 10 minutes there was none.

All so preventable too, it is the most frustrating part. We aren't ready, we aren't far off but individual mistakes are costly and we have been punished by just about everyone we've made over 3 games. 9 goals conceded in 2 and a half games is not going to cut it at any level.

It's over, such a shame.... AND NOW 3-0 another mistake, so many errors.

F***

Good start from us, Tsimikas should've hit the target from inside the 6 yard box.

Alexandropoulos has had a poor 2-3 years at club level. He has bounced around between Portugal, Belgium and now in the 2nd tier in Germany and hasn't been able to nail down a starting position since leaving PAO (played a good amount of games in Belgium last season but plenty were as a sub or he was hooked off at halftime.) Fair to say he hasn't developed as we would've hoped. Liatsikouras isn't worth mentioning as a possible replacement atm as he has not broken into Olympiacos first team yet. When he does that he will well and truly be on the radar but a kid playing B Ethniki is not going to displace a seasoned international, that is just reality. Mouzakitis should absolutely be a starter going forward. He has quality and is good on the ball, a modern central midfielder. Similarly so is Zaferis. Kourbelis has a role in the squad, he is experienced and a bigger body, the 2 aforementioned are on the smaller side. I believe Triantis is worth a look and we should be seeing him in the near future. Siopis also has his place in the squad, he is needed in certain games. Tomorrow's game is a tough one as to who you start in CM. I think I would start Siopis next to one of Zafeiris/Mouzakitis. I would argue a midfield 3, with the 3 names mentioned could be a decent option, and start without a number 10 and play with 2 number 8's instead. I don't think Jovanovic will do that though, he won't leave out both of Bakasetas/Konstantelias, one will start.

I am not a Kourbelis fan or defender, but I believe the reason he plays is simply because of his height and physiacality. We are quite a short team, apart from the 2 CB's and the striker (all of Pavlidis, Ioannidis and Douvikas are well over 6 foot/186cms +) we lack height. While our CB's are generally good in the air (not the other day) especially when facing set pieces the coach probably feels we don't have enough height to deal with those situations. Now clearly the way we defended in Scotland indicates, as we all know height is not the only factor when defending set pieces. Siopis is a superior defensive mid, but again he lacks height. I believe this is why EPO got Greek-Australian Nectarios Triantis to get his Greek citizenship. He is a 22 year old defensive midfielder who is 191cm (6'3), who played for Scottish side Hibernian last season and was voted into the SPL team of the season. He has moved to the MLS this season and has started well there, with goals and assists in his early appearances. Yet to be called up for the NT despite being eligible the last 2 windows, so I am not sure what is going on there. Clearly for EPO to chase him and have him get his passport indicates there is an intention to call him up, and he plays in a position where we lack quality/depth.

Great last 2 posts from @Bardouuu and @HellasLEAF agree with both you guys. Scotland is clearly an aging squad without much pace or threat on the counter, we played them off their feet in March with the younger starting 11 and Jovanovic should've (easy in hindsight) backed as close to that starting 11 again this time around. He got spooked by the kids being completely dominated by the Danes and reverted to experience (Bakasetas, Masouras). Despite those errors, the team created more than enough chances to win the game. Scotland equalising immediately after we finally scored completely flipped the whole atmosphere. The crowd got going and the Scots started to believe. The team's inability to deal with a dead ball ultimately cost us, I don't know how much of that is on Jovanovic. Probably a little, with regard to structure at set pieces but really it is on the players. The first goal in particular, we had 3 opportunities to clear our lines, and lost every duel in that passage. I don't care if you're playing Brazil or Belarus, that just isn't good enough at this level. It would take a miracle from here, we have to win our last 3 to have any chance of a play-off spot. Clearly beating the Danes away will be awfully tough. Ironically, I think the more experienced and physical Bakasetas and Masouras should probably start this next game. Denmark need to win as they have Scotland breathing down their neck, the Danes will chase the win but I don't think they'll do this from the outset. They will be patient and try to press us high and deny us the chance to build up. I think the longer that game stays at 0-0 the more they will open up and we MAY be able to expose them. There is a path to victory in Copenhagen, but it will require a 100% improvement in performance from the first game against Denmark and a bit of a shift in tactics IMO.

Karetsas is sick and in doubt for this game. Jovanovic has called up 23 year old Pavlos Pantelidis from Kifisia as cover. Worth noting that Pelkas who has occasionally played on the right wing, is also out injured. We are probably looking at Masouras starting down the right come game time. Pantelis call-up Karetsas in doubt

Great to win, as others have mentioned super important too. Keeps us in touch with AEK, we jump Olympiacos but perhaps most importantly it relieves some of the pressure that was mounting on the team and the coach. I guess my concern/question is can we carry the form that we displayed in the 2nd half after the international break, or was it the players performing above themselves and finally responding to the criticism. We won't get an answer until 2 weeks time but in the meantime hopefully all our internationals get through the break unscathed.