paokarag4

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/

Didn't we lose the Cup Final in Volos against AEK back in 2023? AEK went down to 10 men very early and we managed to put on arguably our worst performance under Lucescu and go on to lose that match 2-0.

Our 2nd penalty is simply not a penalty IMO. Accidental contact, natural motion by the defender (doesn't drive the elbow or move it in unnatural way). I would be livid if we lost a game by that decision as I'm sure most on here would. I understand that Greek football is very much a "Game of Thrones" in terms of having EPO/KED on side. PAOK is simply playing the game that has been created by previous regimes. Having a good team isn't enough in Greece and it has never been. Still doesn't sit right with me hence why I felt the need to say something. Take the win as it was massive as was the win on the weekend. Now we go into the derby where a draw isn't an awful result. Unlikely Giakoumakis is fit to play based on early reports. Tsiftsis has been okay for us, but IMO he has some blame for the goal. He doesn't fill me with confidence, I feel safer with Pavlenka in goals. Clearly a position we need to address in the summer.

A tough task became just about impossible. We have one winger (2? Not sure if Berdos is a winger or attacking mid) they are both super young. 4 of the players missing would be a lock to start, while Despodov and Pelkas would have been starting with the absences of Konstantelias and Zivkovic. Not expecting the a result, tough to ask the boys with so many key absences to put up a fight. Play the game with zero expectaction and pressure and hopefully we get some glimpses of the future.

I think that is the problem though, I don't see us keeping a clean sheet. Over 2 games, Celta has outplayed us and caused us plenty of headaches defensively. I don't see that changing, we are probably going to have to score at least 2 to force extra time IMO. Konstantelias may be fit for this one, not sure if they'd start him but he would be a huge plus. I think Chatsidis starts no matter what, he is the only available right winger for this game. Anything can happen, and I do think we will put up a fight. A one goal game is a live game, so I think pinching an early goal is imperative as I don't see us being able to keep the game at 0-0 long enough to keep us in the game into the 2nd half. Grab an early goal, put the pressure back on Celta and see how it plays out.

This game is before Celta right? So the players will be fresh and not fatigued from the European game. AEL is the league match between the two Celta matches. Agree this match is hugely important, but with a game in hand a draw isn't an awful result. That is not to say we will play for a draw, but if the cards fall that way it doesn't leave us too far behind the 8 ball. I believe PAOK has made massive strides over the past few years, with deeper runs in Europe and in the league. I think we are beyond choosing one pursuit and really can go for it all. We also have some good depth, when everyone is fully fit. Obviously we are lacking atm in the attacking midfield department, with all of Konstantleias, Pelkas, Ivansecu and Despodov injured.

He dedicated his goal to the 7 fans who lost their life in Romania.

Gugeshashvili has been loaned to Atromitos. He joins Chalov as an outgoing player (both on loan) during the winter transfer window. I think the window closes tomorrow (Friday), some rumours we are trying to bring in a "big" name as a left winger. In the Taison mould in terms of age and experience, I know pash loves to hear that. I am sure whoever it is isn't 38 but would be 30+ plus with experience playing a big league.

It will for sure be a tough tie. I guess Red Star was the "easier" potential opponent but that would have just about guaranteed fan clashes. As Dutch says, they are 3 big absences for the first leg. I wonder if Mythou or Jeremeff (I assume he'll be one of three added to the list along with Zaferis) will start the first leg. Obviously the game is a long way out, but early thoughts are also that Zaferis may start as the "10" with Ozdoev and Meite behind him in an attempt to keep our midfield packed and compact. Clearly form and availability will impact who is selected come Feb 19, and we do have a lot of football to play until the first leg.

There have also been rumours of Salikas (St Pauli in the Bundesliga) or Tsapras (Levadiakos) coming to us. Clearly we are in the market for right back, with Sastre on his way out in the summer. I heard that the reason we have (for now at least) ended the negotiations with Zenit is because we aren't willing to meet their asking price of 4-5 Million. With our offer sitting at around 3 Million.

Meite's scans were clear, so he should be okay to play in this one. We can't forget Zaferis is ineligible to play with us in the League Phase, so if Meite isn't deemed fit to start, it will most likely be Camara and Ozdoev starting in midfield. Konstantelias also didn't train on Monday due to illness, you would think he will be okay to play come Thursday.

Douvikas scored a double in Como's 0-3 away victory over lowly Pisa. With the victory, Como have moved into 6th place and are well and truly in the race for a place in Europe. Douvikas now has 6 Serie A goals this campaign.

I've been to Toumba once, in January of 2012 so pre Savvidis era and the seats then were attoricious. Tiny, uncomfortable and so many of them were broken. Foam cushions/pillows were being sold outside to make them half useable. Now I assume since then there have been some works done to repair and replace some of the seats but it doesn't surprise me in the slightest if most of the seats do indeed need replacing.