paokarag4

Why? There was a 3 million buy-out clause in his loan deal, seems perfectly reasonable to me that we reject half of that amount. (unless you mean you find it hard to believe that they would only offer 1.5m, in which case my bad) I don't think we are super desperate to sell him, I think if we get our 3 million we will sell but otherwise I get the feeling we want to hang onto him until the end of the season given our troubles with our strikers not scoring heavily and Oliveria still on the comeback trail. Who knows maybe the confidence he got from his stint in Sweden will help him and he'll start banging them in for us

Damn was looking forward to this game. Issue now becomes in an already packed fixture list, they'll have to squeeze this game in somewhere as well.

Again they are about the caliber of names you expect to be linked with the Ethniki. Gattuso has probably managed the most impressive teams out of 3, Milan and Napoli. Although his stints at both clubs weren't overly impressive and he left both before the end of his contract. He is also hot-headed and I'm not sure he'd get along with EPO and all the crap that comes with being a manager in Greece (although he did it at OFI for a short period). This is further evidenced by his short "stint" at Fiorentina earlier this season, where he left 3 weeks after being appointed. We aren't getting a manager who is going to inspire confidence name wise. Whoever is appointed the proof will be in the pudding after a few games. The Nations League in June where there are 4 games in 2 weeks will be a good indicator.

Looks like Mitrita was in social media post from the club, so I guess we can cross him off the list.

Interview with Pavlidis, nothing too nitty gritty asked but still nice to hear from him and learn about his story. He discusses a few things as well knowing that he needs to be more clinical and finish his chances. Interview starts at 10.48 if you don't want to sit through some of the vlogging.

We need to buy a better keeper, it's now on Boto and the scouts to find someone who is good enough. We have always struggled with finding keepers but I also think we have been quick to give plenty the boot as soon as they make a mistake. I think most likely Paschalakis is our keeper until the end of the season and then we will move to sign someone. I would be happy for Paschalakis to stay on as a no.2 but it seems based on reports that he wants a similar contract to what he is currently on (700k), which I don't think we will pay for a back-up keeper.

Well someone didn't get the memo, we are drawn to face AEK in the quarter finals. First leg at Toumba on either the 18th, 19th, 20th with the return legs 25th-27th of Jan. We got the toughest draw, but on the plus side every time we've faced AEK in the last 5 editions of the Cup we have become champions each time. ? If we qualify we face the winner of the Panetolikos-Olympiakos Full draw Παναθηναϊκός - Αναγέννηση Καρδίτσας Άρης - Λαμία ΠΑΟΚ - ΑΕΚ Παναιτωλικός - Ολυμπιακός

Ingason being linked with a move to Turkey, according to Turkish reports (who are far from the most reliable) Regardless in a few days he is free to negotiate with any club he wants for next season. I keep hearing that he is going to resign but until it's official there is always a risk. Especially if a deal hasn't been done as we approach January.

His ability and his captaincy credentials are two separate things entirely, I don't doubt his playing ability. Hopefully he is able to bounce back from his 2nd ACL injury and have an impact when he returns. I just disagreed with the idea that because he is the 'best' player he should be captain. You dislike Bakasetas, but IMO I see more captaincy qualities in him than Fortounis. Again don't get it twisted, I'm not saying Bakasetas is a better player.

Captain? This isn't under 12's, you don't just hand the captaincy to the "best" player. There's a lot more to do it, leaderships qualities, personality, liked by teammates etc. Not saying he doesn't have those qualities but I just find the idea that "he's the best lets make him captain" to be such an outdated notion. In fact it's thinking like that holds back the Ethniki, so maybe the idea does have some merit ?‍♂️ I agree that Fortounis has a place on the NT (assuming he gets fully fit) but let's not act like he is the 2nd coming and will automatically make us qualify for tournaments. Fortounis has been to one major tournament as a 19 year old, Euro 2012. Euro 16, WC18 and Euro 20 where he was a nailed on starter we did not qualify. One player can't carry a team, it's far more complicated than some people like to make it sound.

He had been booked a few mins before he scored his 2nd goal for a tackle. He clearly forgot and got swept up in the cracker of a goal he scored to make it 3-1 and ripped off his shirt

Does a 2 yellow red card carry into the league or will he be suspended for the 1st leg of the Cup quarter final?

AKPOM What a cracker! He's going to get sent off though?

Goal Akpom 2-1

1-1 VAR says Larissa's goal is onside even if it looked to me the offside player ran and jumped at the ball. Gonna be a slog from here, can see plenty of fouls and time wasting going on

I wanted to do it, but the big boss overruled me ?

Good to win even if we didn't play well. Nice to respond to the three league defeats with three wins heading into the Christmas break. We still aren't at our best, hopefully the results help our overall play improve. I hope heading into the new year Ingason becomes a nailed down starter, I was surprised he didn't start today.

God Kosovo again we've played them 4 times for 1 win and 3 draws, I'd be expecting at least one more draw. I really don't think this will be straight forward, Northern Ireland will be tough. They aren't a big name but UK teams always run hard and are highly physical, something Greece don't excel in. They also had a similar record to us in WC qualifying, finishing with 9 points in a group that contained Italy and Switzerland (comparable to Spain and Sweden) and Bulgaria (comparable if not better than Kosovo/Georgia) and of course we know about our poor recent performances against Kosovo. Topping the group is the goal, but it's going to be tough and we'll need to be at our best. Format is interesting, first 4 games will be played between June 2-14th. It will serve as a mini-tournament, in terms of the team being together for a few weeks and having 4 games so close together. Good opportunity for the team gel and show us some good football. Of course we need a coach first.....

Sweet strike, did not expect us to score 3

Looking at his CV it isn't overly impressive, he last coached in Japan over a year ago. His career in Europe has been average, to put it kindly. His best stint was at Basel but that was 2009-2011. That doesn't mean he wouldn't be a better NT manager or he wouldn't click with the team, just the name doesn't inspire much confidence. Unfortunately that is the reality for the Ethniki, these are the types of names we will attract. Journeymen in the coaching world who have never really cut it at club level. Of course money solves this problem to a large extent, but we know the budget isn't enough to attract an accomplished manager.

Looking at that picture from VAR, I'm not sure the player who they've given offside touched the ball? I'm not complaining we needed divine intervention to get a win on the board but I think Lamia have a reason to feel aggrieved. I'd need to the whole passage of play again though to be sure.

Wow that's a pleasant surprise, massive let off there............

This goal will stand if it's been given offside, player who crossed looked on.

GOAL RE m#$%!

You're on the road ? 2nd half just kicked off, let's get this W EDIT: Reading around, there's a report coming out of Romania that after this game Lucescu is going to quit and take over the Romanian National Team. I know reports came out awhile back that the Romanian Federation approached him and he apparently rejected them but I would hate for this current report to be true and for as to be searching for a new coach again...