paokarag4

Caps off his brilliant 17 goal, 23 assist Championship winning season by being crowned MVP of the Belgian League. Bravo Christo, a big move is sure to come this summer.

Kyziridis gets his first call-up to the Ethniki for the upcoming friendlies against Sweden and Italy. He was part of the Hearts team that just fell short of clinching the Scottish Premier League title after losing to Celtic on the last day of the season. He and Androutsos (first call up in 5 years) are late replacements for Konstantelias and Karetas, who have pulled out of the squad. Full Squad Τερματοφύλακες: Βλαχοδήμος, Μανδάς, Τζολάκης Αμυντικοί: Μαυροπάνος, Χατζηδιάκος, Ρέτσος, Κουλιεράκης, Ντόη, Ρότα, Κυριακόπουλος, Βαγιαννίδης, Γιαννούλης, Τσιμίκας Μέσοι: Κοντούρης, Ζαφείρης, Τριάντης, Κουρμπέλης, Μουζακίτης, Ανδρούτσος Επιθετικοί: Κυζιρίδης, Τζόλης, Μασούρας, Παυλίδης, Δουβίκας, Τεττέη, Κωστούλας https://www.sport24.gr/football/ethniki-elladas-ektos-konstantelias-kai-karetsas-proti-gia-kiziridi-kai-epistrofi-androutsou/

No they don't. The Conference League Playoffs only work if someone from the top 4 (Championship Playoffs) wins the Cup. Since that didn't happen, the Conference League spot doesn't drop to 5th place. So Aris and co are playing for nothing but pride.

Really? Up until Feburary, we were absolutely playing the best and most attractive football in the league. Then injuries took hold and we have fallen apart since. Strongly disagree with that point as I do with saying the league was "down" in 2024. Olympiacos won a European title that season. We only just pipped AEK to win the title. Saying it was down is simply untrue and inidcates you either drink too much (likely) or are just desperate to justify your point (less likely but still plausible.) Not wanting Lucescu is fair enough, it is okay to not like him for whatever reason, but claiming we played ugly football all season is not true. We were lauded across the league for playing attractive football, we scored brilliant goals, were top of the table and were drawing comparisons to the great team of the 70's. Let me finish by saying, I don't think Lucescu should be guaranteed to coach next season. There clearly needs to be a review and assessment conducted. The jungle drums are rumbling and pressure mounting more than ever from fans and media alike. There comes a point when it is better to just shake hands and move on.

After we won the league? Your hatred of the man has no limits. Season has been a failure unfortunately, and Lucescescu made mistakes with regard to the starting 11. Our midfield (Meite and Ozdoev) were non-existent defensively, OFI consistently got between our lines and were able to turn and face their attacking goal. Taison has always been a liability defensively, OFI attacked our left side with that knowledge and constantly had 2 v 1s on that side of the pitch. If OFI had played out the game instead of going into that hideous "game management" I genuinely believe they would've won 1-3. Instead they turned it into a grudge match and that fired our boys up enough to equalise. The penalty is unlucky, the corner should never have been conceded and then Chatisids' inexperience sees him leave his arm dangling. Regardless we didn't deserve to win the Cup and if we had it would have been a case of us stealing it rather than winning it. Questions and pressure will be mounted on Lucescu and so it should be, this season which had so much promise just 2 months ago has fizzled out in the most disappointing fashion. That is something for the board and Savvidis to discuss in the summer, for now we have to attack the last 4 games. I am more worried about holding off Panathinaikos and sewing up 3rd spot than I am thinking about catching Olympiacos and coming 2nd. The anti-Savvidis crew is now out in force too following the result. It is going to be a rough week for everyone involved with the club. I do not envy any of them.

With the title race done and dusted for us, this Cup final is now massive. Win a trophy and secure the "good" Europa League spot (playoff round IIRC). It will also hopefully rejuvenate the team and give us confidence to attack the final 4 games of the league as we chase 2nd spot and a spot in Champions League qualifying. Hard to have any sort of confidence with our form of late. Conversely, OFI have gradually improved across the course of the season and are a well drilled and organised team. Zivkovic and Kenny being fit again is a huge plus. One of Mythou or Chatsidis need to start this one and with Zivkovic fit again, coupled with the fact Giakoumakis is injured, I wonder if Lucescu will go with Mythou up top.

Giakoumakis' season is done, expected to miss a month-a month and a half. Considering the season ends on May 17th, it all but means he has played his last game for this season. His absence has hurt as much as Zivkovic's and Kenny's IMO.

Not sure where to put this but this topic is probably the best fit. The links to Giannoulis returning to us in the summer continue to happen, as they have for the past year. It is clear that he wants to return to Greece and his preference is PAOK, just a matter of if we can strike a deal with Augsburg. He is contracted for 2 more years, and apparently the Germans want 3 million for him. Would be a great signing, he is 30 so still should have a good 2-3 years at least in him. He remains a starter in the Bundesliga this season and has played plenty of football over the past 2 years in Germany. https://www.sport24.gr/football/o-paok-ton-proto-logo-gia-dimitri-giannouli-ti-isxiei-me-tin-periptosi-tou/

It's not over but AEK's win has made life difficult for us. Our game away at AEK after the Easter break is now a must win to cut the gap. Essentially we have to win our last 5 and we clinch the title, obviously that is far easier said than done. One game at a time though and it starts at Agia Sophia in a couple of weeks. The only positive with all this starting and stopping is that hopefully it means we get Meite, Kenny and Zivkovic back fit and firing for the crucial clash.

Poor result, game was a slog. Panathinaikos set up to kill the game, slow us down and they succeeded. Jeremeff with our only clear cut chance early in the 2nd half. Hope for a draw in the other game which kicks off shortly. Worst case an Olympiacos win will keep us 3 points from the top. An AEK win would have 5 points off the top.

Konstantelias looking more lively this half, he has had some good moments and is by far our most dangerous player. Game is a knifes edge.

Panathinaikos are well set-up and making it tough for us. Giakoumakis and Sanchez need to be our first subs, Sastre is extremely rusty (to be expected)

Konstantelias, Zaferis and Karetsas didn't participate in the squad's final training session in Hungary and all 3 are in serious doubt for this clash with illness. Mavropanos was sent home to England after the Paraguay friendly, picking up an injury. Kontouris has also left camp and linked up with the Under 21's as they prepare for their massive clash against the Germans.

Love the away kit that has just been unveiled. Looks great with a retro style! Going to have get one for myself.

Call-ups for the upcoming friendlies against Paraguay and Hungary. Tsiftsis (PAOK) and Kontouris (PAO) are the new faces. Ioannidis is still injured I believe. Otherwise no real surprises. Αναλυτικά η αποστολή: Βλαχοδήμος, Μανδάς, Τζολάκης, Τσιφτσής, Μαυροπάνος, Χατζηδιάκος, Ρέτσος, Κουλιεράκης, Ρότα, Βαγιαννίδης, Γιαννούλης, Τσιμίκας, Κοντούρης, Ζαφείρης, Τριάντης, Κουρμπέλης, Μουζακίτης, Καρέτσας, Τζόλης, Μασούρας, Κωνσταντέλιας, Μπακασέτας, Παυλίδης, Δουβίκας, Τεττέη https://www.sport24.gr/football/ethniki-oi-kliseis-tou-ivan-giovanovits-gia-tis-anametriseis-me-paragouai-kai-oungaria/