paokarag4

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.

The plan was to keep it tight and hopefully pinch a goal, which we managed to do. The timing of their equaliser no doubt deflated the us mentally. Regardless of that, it probably was a matter of a time until they equalised. Konstantelias was good and our only real threat. I thought while we were keeping ourselves compact Michailidis was also quiet solid. Bianco looked to be a hard working defensive midfielder, who didn't mind a challenge but was pretty safe with the ball. The pressure continues to mount, a loss against Olympiacos and who knows what will happen with Lucescu. Although it's hard to be confident in us getting a win given our current form, reality is a victory puts us back to the top of the table heading into the 2nd international break of the season. Showing how volatile the situation is. Big picture Europe wise, this was a game that we had penciled in as a loss regardless of their form. The 3 key games left are Young Boys, Brann and Ludogorets. 2 of those 3 won today so they won't be easy by any stretch. Our performances and form needs a massive improvement, nothing is lost yet but the early signs are not overly encouraging.

The noise is getting louder that FIFA/UEFA may ban Israeli teams from European/International competitions. UEFA would not want to do this, given the European season has started and we have already played Maccabi, it would complicate things massively. For that reason, I don't think they will do it, despite all the public pressure. BUT if it were to happen would they award as a 3-0 win for the game yesterday? Obviously a lot of water to go under the bridge, but I think if they tried to let the result stand then award Maccabi's other opponents walkover victories, we would probably have grounds to appeal to CAS. I don't normally get swept in this stuff until it's official, but as it could potentially directly impact PAOK and this result I thought it was worth mentioning.

Once again we waste the first half before an improved 2nd half. Those 2 chances missed at the end, I mean what can you say really..... We were lucky not to concede and have to thank Pavlenka for another huge performance (MVP for me today) but once again, especially in the 2nd half we created more than enough to come away with the 3 points. I guess on the balance of the game a draw is relatively fair. The game could've just as easily ended up 3-1, 2-2 or 0-1.

I have a feeling we will respond to our last 2 disappointing results and come out with a big win here. I think Zivkovic is due and will have a big game and we will get our Europa League campaign off on the right foot.

No harm no foul in the end. The Derby ends in a 1-1 draw and AEK also drops points at Larissa. We remain level with Olympiacos and AEK despite our poor result on Saturday. Aris also just a point behind.

Pressure goes up again, 2nd time in a relatively short period this season that our backs are against the wall. Maccabi was already a massive game given it is one of our 4 winnable ones in the Europa League, but coming off these last 2 results increases its importance. We created enough chances to win the game, but when you start slow and are pretty lacklustre for a half you leave yourself a lot to do in 45 minutes. Patience with Lucescu seems to be at an all time low from the fans. It feels like he has a lost about 20-30% of his support just by not doing what the average football fan considers an obvious move (playing 2 strikers for the last 10 minutes against 10 men, changing formation etc.) Again these are simple solutions, but it is no doubt frustrating when you watch you team pepper the opposition goal for a half and the only change is in personnel. As always our response is key and will give us a good indication into the mentality of the team for this season. We simply must beat Maccabi and then Asteras away.

Would expect to see the Italian lads debut today. Hard to know what to make with the new format, we clearly want to come top 4 to avoid a "quarter final playoff" match. I guess that doesn't leave us much room for error, especially first up. With that in mind, Lucescu will probably still rotate the starting 11. Hopefully the boys can get the win.

In the training report on Thursday, the club said that Camara would be assessed daily. Generally this indicates that it isn't a serious issue and it is a matter of days before they return.

It goes without saying, this game will be far tougher than the one against Belarus. The Danes who have been mainstays at major tournaments for the last 7 or so years, have been able to build that solid record of qualification on a strong defence. They have been typically tough to break down and have had plenty of results by keeping a clean sheet. So it will be the first real test for our young guns and all their attacking flair. I expect Denmark will look to keep it tight and allow us to have the bulk of possession. Our attack has been blowing teams away, so an early goal and who knows. But I would anticipate a cat and mouse game. I don't expect Jovanovic to make any changes to the starting 11 that we saw today. Even though plenty (myself included) wanted to see Konstantelias instead of Bakasetas, you can't deny Bakasetas has performed time and time again for the Ethniki. He had another good game against the Belarusians, so I don't think he will be dropped for this one.

He's a central midfielder beautiful boy. Bianco coming I guess confirms that the tiny flicker of hope of Zaferis coming in this transfer window has been extinguished. Camara, Meite, Ozdoev and Bianco are our 4 central mids. Kedziora, Michailidis, Lovren, Vogliacco and Bataoulas round out are CB's. I don't know much about Vogliacco but I think we are gun CB short at the back. One who can be a leader and really stand up against quality opposition strikers and hold their own. I've always thought Kedziora is much better next to someone who can lead the defence. Michailidis still worries me, he can dive in and mistime challenges leaving us exposed. He has steadily improved over the last 6-12 months, hopefully he can keep on that trajectory and cut out those errors. Transfers done with the arrival of Bianco (barring a last minute surprise) we have at least 2 players for every position, depth is there. Zafeiris arriving in January. Let's see how the squad gels and what we can do over the next few months.

Wow you guys are a lot more optimistic than I am! Considering where we were a week ago I wouldn't say I'm confident of getting anything more than 10-12 points. Amazing what some wins can do! Lille, Betis, Lyon and Celta Vigo (don't let coefficient fool you they were a top 7 team in La Liga last season) are all games we will start underdog in. Then what you have left is Maccabi, Ludogorets and Young Boys. Okay so we would expect to win these games, but all 3 of those teams are around our level. So it won't be easy, they are no easy beats and all have their own European pedigree. Brann is simply a must win. These 4 games will shape our European campaign, losing one will mean having to make up the points against one of the tougher opponents. Overall it is a tricky draw with only one "easy beat" on paper. Since the introduction of the Conference League, that is what the Europa League has become. We will have to be at our very best in all games. I could see us with 12 points and battling to get into the top 8. I could also see us with 6-7 points and missing out altogether.