paokarag4

Double post

Is Pavlidis potentially playing his way into the starting XI for Wednesday's match?

Goal! Pavlidis with his second, nice header.

Liminos on for Fortounis Douvikas on for Tzolis Masouras on for Giakoumakis Probably means those 3 will start against Georgia, I'd think Giakoumakis and Fortounis are locks at least.

Looks like a 4-4-2 for this game. Don't mind a bit of experimentation with the formation. Will be interesting to see if Fortounis or Mantalos occupies the wing, I assume it'll be Fortounis. --------Dioudis Mavrias---Mavropanos---Svarnas---Kyriakopoulos Fortounis----Mantalos---Siopis-----Tzolis ----------Pavlidis-----Giakoumakis

I agree, Georgia seems to have improved they were one game away from qualifying for Euro 2020. They have never been easy beats like some other nations and for a team like us they always provide stern opposition. I just think back to Euro 2012 qualifying we equalised in the final 15 to get a 1-1 draw in Greece and had to score 2 late goals to beat them in the return match later in the campaign. Obviously we are talking 10 years ago, but always worth looking at recent meetings. Looking at the stats, they basically split possession (55-45) with the Swedes which is surprising, so we might not have as much of the ball as we might have anticipated. Regardless of their improved form, it is a game we simply must win. Expect to see us go back to the high pressing and trying to own the ball.

Exciting to be only a few days out from the start of another qualifying campaign! I think Tzolis must start, he proved for PAOK in Europe how damaging he can be on the counter. Give him space at your peril, he's got pace to burn, has a lethal right boot and gets into dangerous scoring positions. He will provide a headache for the Spanish going the other way, whether or not JVS trusts him to start a game like this is another issue. Also interested to see what JVS does at center back, early reports are saying Tzavellas will start and the other spot is between Kyriakos/Mavropanos. Does he go with Kyriakos who is the most talented CB in the squad but it's been well documented what injuries have done to his career. Despite the fact that he plays for the bottom side in Croatia I think he is still capable of a big performance. Or will he go with the younger and uncapped Mavropanos who has finally got his body right and is playing regular first team football in the Bundesliga.

Not sure what it was listed as but that match Greece played with 5 center backs on the pitch. A back 3 of Kyrgiakos/Moras/Avraam, Vyntra at right back and Sokratis man marking Messi. Essentially it was a 5-4-1 with no wingers and one striker on the pitch, it was one of the most defensive performances I've ever seen from a team and we literally had one decent chance to counter and snatch a goal. It's not so much the formation but how you counter when you win the ball back, do you break in numbers, or do you hoof a long ball to an isolated striker and hope for a miracle. Greece in 2010 did the latter, I suspect Greece in 2021 will be looking to counter with numbers and actually create something when given the opportunity.

Along with Misic!

Agree and to add to what you're saying, although Brugge may not be a glamorous move they are a team who consistently plays in Europe (played in the Champions league the last 3 seasons) and you would think he'd go there and be a starter. He only just turned 19 if his trajectory keeps trending upwards, he gets his "big" transfer at 21-22 and has plenty of football left in one of the big leagues. I understand why he might want to go to Germany (England is a big no no at this stage IMO) but I don't think Brugge would necessarily be a bad career move. From a PAOK point of view 15 mil + Krmencik (on a free, none of this reduced price crap) sounds like a good deal, if the club think they can get more $ out of a potential sale then great go for it, they obviously have a better feel of the market than we do.

You guys miss the point, no one is arguing that EPO isn't a rabble and unfortunately will continue to be. But when you play on a team and you're a leader, attitude is everything and when senior players do what they did it's toxic. What's to say if they were called back up they wouldn't sabotage again from the inside and same guys that are on here advocating for certain players to return would be crying out about why are we losing to the Georgia's of the world. Attitude is everything in team sports and a few bad apples CAN ruin the whole bunch. EPO is a rabble but saying something post-game isn't going to change that, in general players don't have the power to change the federation. They can force personnel change as Sokratis did and Manolas and JVS has done well up until now (without them) I know the NT in theory needs Manolas back but it needs a Manolas who is playing at 110% and has bought in to what the coach is building and is gonna keep his head down and work hard. Not a Manolas who's gonna come in and start whining about why he wasn't called up for over a year, and why his koumbaro (Siovas) has been banished. If reports are true and he is on the verge of a recall his attitude will determine whether he gets the call, not his playing ability because even blind Freddy can see he is good enough. Fans need to stop turning a blind eye to these things because it's stuff like this that was a massive contributing factor to the Ethniki's capitulation over the last 6-7 years. I don't care how good a player you are if you don't do right by the team and come with the sole intention of helping, then I'm all for keeping these players away, even if it means missing out quality.

The form Warda is in he won't be dropped. More likely Kagawa will continue to come off the bench or one of the two will be pushed out to the wing in order to play both. For example this week if Tzolis isn't fit to start we may see both in the starting line-up.

Who's your Baba?

WOW!!! WHAT A COME BACK !!! Stefanos was 2 sets down and he rallied and came up with a historic victory!!! Medvedev up next in the semis and I'll be there cheering him on! Pame STEF!!!!!!!!!

It's highly unlikely JVS will call up either Sokratis or Manolas (probably Siovas as well for that matter) Retsos has played 4 times in France this season with injury restricting him. Mavropanos has played some football of late, he needs to remain fit and he'll be called up come March. Not sure whether JVS will start him but we need the option. I'm interested to see how JVS sets us up against a powerhouse, we got a taste against Italy back in 2019 and we played well. Defended well, frustrated the Italians and were threatening on the counter. Kolouris missed a golden chance to give us the lead, and then Bouchalakis panics and gives away a penalty. On another day we get a result and maybe even win. That shows me JVS is under no illusions as to where we sit in the landscape of World football, he'll set us up to defend and frustrate Spain as much as possible. I'm sure we'll press at times to try and pinch the ball in a dangerous spot but not constant pressure like we became accustomed to seeing in the Nations league.

Bless your soul, stay positive!! Lord knows we have enough negativity in here

Schwab's impeccable record from the spot remains

Another penalty, does Vierinha step up to try and redeem himself?

Positive as always, Zivkovic comes up with the goods.

Such a silly foul Ingason has just given away, no need at all. He's an experienced defender those are mistakes you'd expect Michalidis to make.

Nadal has been in great form and hasn't dropped a set so far this tournament. It's gonna be tough for Stef but hopefully he pushes Rafa all the way.

Lucescu's contract was mutually terminated with Al Hilal. I'm sure with a couple more bad results he'll be linked with a return to us, even though I doubt it will happen.

No Pereiria either, I guess it'll be either Vieirinha (likely) or Baba (less likely) that start at left-back.

Indeed it was, I was lucky enough to be in the stadium and watch it live. Tsitsipas through to the 4th round after dismantling unseeded Swede Ymer 6-4, 6-1, 6-1. He now awaits the winner of Khachanov-Berrettini

I think it was Paschalakis who actually replaced him for the 2nd half of the 17-18 which led into his career best form in the 18-19 season.