paokarag4

As you both have correctly pointed out, this has been poor management by the club for close to a year now. He was promised a new and improved contract last summer, it never came. From all reports despite that, Konstantelias was/is still keen to remain, even though he had every right to drag his feet and kick up a stink. All he wanted was a raise in pay, which he is more than worthy of. It is messy, seems like he is staying now but this has had so many twists and turn who really knows what will happen come the 31st of August. If he is renewed on a new deal, it is probably safe to say he remains another season. It is just a shame that we had to get to this point for PAE to get off their butts and give the kid what he deserves.

4th in the Austrian League last campaign as well as the Austrian Cup winners. They don't scare me as much as some of our other potential opponents, even though I think our grouping was kind to us. We have 3 weeks before the 1st leg, time to really fine tune and get match ready.

Wow so much for being seeded. There are some tricky potential opponents in there, Plzen we know too well from last season, Servette were runners up in Switzerland, Lugano also top 4 in Switzerland. AEK Larnaca Cypriot teams are never easy in Europe and always have a point to prove I feel. Celje also made the Quarter finals of the Conference League last season. Not to mention FC Salzburg, who is Red Bull Salzburg, they always have cash to spend and are an established European team. You would think they remain in the Champions League but if they were eliminated, they would probably start as favourites against us. Okay so no powerhouses clearly, but still plenty of potential tricky match-ups. I think I am just scarred from us being eliminated by lesser lights sporadically over the years. So any team with decent European pedigree scares me, especially so early in the season when everyone can be rusty.

Looks like the deal with Nova is for the next 2 seasons. Συγκεκριμένα, οι ασπρόμαυροι θα συνεχίσουν να παίζουν στα κανάλια της NOVA για τις σεζόν 2025-2026 και 2026-2027. Οι δύο πλευρές έχουν έρθει σε συμφωνία και απομένουν τα τυπικά για να ανακοινωθεί το deal. https://www.sport24.gr/football/paok-sti-nova-oi-aspromavroi/

Changes being made to the Greek Cup next season. As had been rumoured, EPO has announced a League Phase similar to what we saw in UEFA competitions last season for the first time. Knock-out matches will be one game playoffs and no extra time. If the match ends in a draw it goes straight to penalties. Finally, the final will be played before the end of the season on April 25th at OAKA. Which makes sense given the 5th placed/European playoffs rely on a team who has a better European spot winning the Cup. https://www.sport24.gr/football/kipello-elladas-betsson-epanastasi-me-league-phase-kai-katargisi-paratasis-se-playoffs-kai-proimitelika/

Just on the Shoretire thing. I understand the philosophy of giving younger players a bigger role but they need to be up to it. Shoretire maybe talented, but apart from a few nice touches early on last season, thereafter he was average when called upon. I do get that his minutes were limited but I didn't see anything that overly impressed me. He also came to us with very limited senior football at any sort of high level, so he is very much untried and untested. Now Shoretire may very well end up being a star, but I don't think giving players a bigger role simply because they're younger is the right way to go about it. We are probably a left winger short, Taison is aging and needs to be used smartly, Shoretire has question marks over whether he is at the level and word is he maybe loaned. Pelkas is a jack of many trades but a master of none. He is a hard worker and will always put in a shift but he isn't a nailed on starter if we want to be competing for the title IMO. Again he is a good, honest footballer but he has limitations, he always has.

His stats are definitely underwhelming. I don't think he comes in and demands to be a starter, he is more likely being brought in as depth. Whether that means Chalov will be our starter OR they are planning to sign a "bigger" name later in the transfer window remains to be seen.

Reports out of Denmark saying that we have agreed with FC Copenhagen for the sale of Kotarski. 5 Million Euros plus 1 mil in add-ons/bonuses, as well as a % of any potential resale. Hasn't been reported in Greece yet/by any PAOK reporters (at least the ones in the know), but one way or another he is on his way out. https://www.sport24.gr/football/paok-metagrafes-afto-einai-to-deal-gia-ti-metagrafi-tou-kotarski-stin-kopegxagi/

Jovic would have to be the toughest of all three mentioned names. Even though his career has stalled, he is still a big name and only 27. Add to that the fact he has Real Madrid and AC Milan (amongst other top tier teams) on his resume, a lot would have to fall into place for him to choose us. Surely his wage demands would blow us away, he would have to take a massive pay cut. I can't see 1.4-1.8 million a year being enough to get him over the line. I could be very wrong with the financial aspect of Jovic, but it's hard to see it eventuating.

Great to see a bunch of our first choices get signed sealed and delivered. We really need a CB and to a lesser extend a striker (I am a Chalov believer but clearly we need another starter level striker and probably a 3rd choice as well). I have heard we will target another center mid too, I don't think we are as desperate there as other positions but we could do with an upgrade. But as it stands, I am comfortable going in to the Europa League qualifiers with Camara, Meite, Ozdoev as well as Pena all as options. 4 players for 2 positions and that isn't counting Thymianis who Lucescu clearly doesn't rate but is another potential. So far well done to the club for bringing in Meite, Kenny, and Taylor for the start of pre-season and giving them plenty of time to gel with the team.

Just reading around, and some of the media is taking the lack of a reaction from PAE/Savvidis as an indicator that they weren't expecting this development. If that is true then who knows what the reaction will be. Will he be annoyed/his ego bruised with someone else swanning in and offering to pay for the build thus getting plenty of love and adoration? Will he welcome it as clearly it is a big financial investment, so someone else footing the bill is appreciated. Either way, I don't think Savvidis will appreciate having being blindsided (if that is indeed what has happened). Everything in Greece must be taken with a grain of salt, so even with this announcement, until there is a bulldozer getting to work who knows if he is legit in investing 150 Million Euros or whatever the cost is. I guess we will know more in the coming days, but you imagine that the when the sun rises in the next few hours in Greece, PAE will have to take a public stance on the matter.

I wonder what that would mean for most of us given we live abroad. The past few seasons, between Sports Plus and Antenna we had access to every PAOK game. At least in Australia, I think the US was the same as well. Maybe a move to Open will mean a better quality of picture, but I think that is more a satellite thing than a Greek TV station thing. The Satellites they use to pick up the channels have to be at least 50 years old.

hahaha fantastic, we are well and truly in the swing of silly season. The longer this drags on, as tends to be the case, you think it is less likely he will actually sign. Conflicting reports is interesting, especially considering the initial reports that he had agreed to come where coming from Scotland.....

Looks like Lucescu will remain and preparations for the next season will swing into action. I hope the whole club is united and in agreement on this, the last thing we want is at the first hurdle for the board, Lucescu and Savvidis to spiral and we are left without a manager in the early part of the season. I think it is the right move, although I am a self-confessed Lucescu lover. If the board and higher ups (Savvidis' boys) have moved past whatever has happened then I think he is the best manager who gives a shot of competing for the title next season and having a decent run in Europe. Now for the love of God unlike last summer, bring the man the players he wants and don't deals fall over for the sake of saving $100-200k!

Never on the radar unfortunately. He has had a great season in the Bundesliga, coming back to Greece won't be on his agenda for the next 2-3 years minimum.

I guess it depends which "knowledgeable" PAOK reporters you listen to. Usually they are quite consistent with their news, like atm the word is Konstantelias wants to stay. Last season I distinctly recall all the news being about Konstantelias halfway out the door, until Savvidis stepped in and changed his mind. Within that conversation was a promise of a new, more lucrative deal. I honestly never heard that PAOK was keen to sell him last season (doesn't make it not true of course). PAOK in the offseason after winning the title, was stingy. Players didn't come over the haggling over a couple of hundred thousand Euros. Meite, Pelkas, Chatzidiakos/Wieteska, plus signing free agents Lovren and Colley to cover arguably our most important player from last season in Koulierakis. I therefore think it is more likely they promised him a new deal but since they had him locked in anyway, didn't do it to save $. Whether they are trying to rewrite history now to save face is another matter.

Something that they promised to do last season. He rejected Salzburg on the condition that they were going to give him a new deal, with bigger $. It never happened, I consider it a minor miracle he wants to stay another season. PAE made plenty of mistakes last summer but somehow not renewing Konstantelias hasn't bitten us (yet). Give the kid a big contract, and fire him up for a big season.

Have you guys heard the famous quote from a famous former president of yours? "Don't believe everything you read on the internet"- Abraham Lincoln If I could figure out how to consistently post images in here, it would've been much funnier but my point still stands!

Disappointing to miss out on 2nd, but probably about what we deserve this season. Hopefully we can take care of the winless in the playoffs AEK and secure 3rd. From there we are hoping for Olympiacos to win the Cup so we can play in the Europa League and have a start date of early August.

Awful by Wieteska

Hattrick for him overnight in the derby against Porto. After a slow start and some criticism from the media and fans, he has really grown into the season and is having a great year. Here are his goals from the big win, it sends Benfica top 3 points clear of Sporting Lisbon who have a game in hand.

No squad announced for this one (yet again) but it seems everyone is fit and available except Lovren. Hopefully the other game ends in a draw and we can pick up a win here and continue to close in on the Champions League spot. Won't be easy, Olympiakos have been consistent this year and are on the verge of winning the title. Lucescu has only beaten Mendilibar once and we only have 1 win in our last 7 against them at Toumba.

After years of lacking a quality striker, all of sudden the Ethniki has 3 playing at a high level + Tzimas about to join a Premier League side. And you can throw in Kostoulas to that mix, although I am not sure that he actually has a natural position and I don't think he is an out and out striker. As a general rule, I don't think Greek footballers should be moving at such a young age to England. It didn't work out for Tzolis, Tsimikas really had to bide his time and was almost unsighted for a whole season until becoming a trusted depth player. Mavropanos went to Arsenal super young and eventually had to move to Germany for 2-3 years before moving back to EPL. I just don't think it suits our young players, especially so early in their professional careers. Different to go back as a more seasoned professional who has spent a few years playing abroad. Which is why I think moving to Germany should always be the priority. Beyond that, Portugal, Belgium and even Holland are a good smaller step-up before making a bigger leap. These countries and leagues have a reputation for developing talent and being patient. Unlike your England's, Spain's and Italy's which are a lot more cut throat. I hope Tzimas is the exception, Brighton has become known for signing talents and on selling them for a big profit. There is always added pressure and expectation when you come with a decently sized price tag. Good luck to the kid and I am sure he will get his shot with the Ethniki in the near-ish future.

I think it will be Kedziora, you can't start Vieirinha away at AEK. Maybe off the bench if we are chasing an equaliser. Wieteska and Michailidis at CB. Either way we are disrupting our back 4.

The issue with Kotarski is next season he is entering the final year of his contract. That takes some negotiating power out of our hands. I think ultimately he will be sold for 6-10 million, his form slump this season probably has also impacted his potential price. I am more interested in who will become the no.1 next season. Will Pavlenka be renewed and given first go (as has been mentioned in media), did they sign Gugeshashvili with the intention of him being the no.1 and signing a new 2nd keeper? Or is Pavlenka also on his way out and Gugeshashvili is the no.2 and we are looking to spend $(haha) on a good level goalkeeper.