paokarag4

Just win. Olympiacos needed a stoppage time screamer to get the 3 points against Asteras. It doesn't matter how, we just must find a way to get the win. I'll take a scrappy 1-0.

I didn't catch the game but seems like another flat and awful performance. We are crying out for something different in our midfield, Meite and Ozdoev can't create/give you enough drive to threaten opposition teams. Zafeiris needs to happen this transfer window. Hard to judge without watching the game, but if what is being said regarding Baba and his poor form continuing into the early part of this season is true, then I have no idea why Taylor isn't getting a run at it. He came from a big club and played Champions League football last season, surely he can't be stinking up training that much that he isn't worth a run off the bench? Ultimately if we manage to overturn the deficit next week, people will forget this performance much like the Wolfsberger one. There are some red flag for sure, I'll wait until the international break in a couple of weeks before panicking. We must win our first 2 league games, and AEL with no fans won't be easy.

Here is something to make you stop believing Πρόεδρος Σλάβια Πράγας: “Ο Ζαφείρης μένει εδώ, ο ΠΑΟΚ ενημερώθηκε πως είμαστε διατεθειμένοι να αφήσουμε τον παίκτη τον Ιανουάριο" I get it's part of the game. They clearly don't want to let him go. Ultimately will he accept staying there and playing Champions League football for 6 months? I am starting to think this won't get done. I hope I am wrong but man they are being stubborn. Link to the full article for the above quote https://www.sport24.gr/football/proedros-slavia-pragas-o-zafeiris-menei-edo-o-paok-enimerothike-pos-eimaste-diatetheimenoi-na-afisoume-ton-paikti-ton-ianouario/

Unsurprisingly, Sport24 have back peddled a little bit. Reports are now saying Slavia has accepted our improved offer of 12 Million (crazy money by Greek football standards let alone our standards) and some bonuses. Slavia has told the player they will allow him to leave, they are just waiting on his replacement. How long that takes, I don't know. It seems this is really close to happening though. It will be a huge moment in our history if we do indeed sign him for that amount of money. On paper, he is a midfielder that we lack and have lacked for years. A number 8 who is quick, creative and can score. But most importantly he is quick! He could be partnered up with either Camara or Meite and complement them nicely. Still water to go under the bridge but it seems like it is a matter of when and not if.

Sport24 reporting that the deal with Slavia is done and Zafeiris is coming to PAOK. It isn't being reported anywhere else at this stage, so grain of salt but man I hope it's true. ΠΑΟΚ, μεταγραφές: Ο Ζαφείρης γίνεται παίκτης του Δικέφαλου, οριστικό το deal με τη Σλάβια Πράγας https://www.sport24.gr/football/paok-metagrafes-o-zafeiris-ginetai-paiktis-tou-dikefalou-oristiko-to-deal-me-ti-slavia-pragas/

Reports are that Sastre will start over Kenny at right-back. Surprising if it does eventuate like that tbh, Kenny was brought in to be a starter. I for one would be surprised if it does go that way. Otherwise no massive surprises in the predicted starting XI -----------Pavlenka Sastre----Kedziora--Michalidis---Baba -----------Camara----Meite Zivkovic----Konstantelias-----Taison ----------------Chalov

That should be a lesson for you for all our future signings, you're always so negative about them all! Smile my boy, you never know who may end up surprising you.

Wouldn't be a bad move IMO. He has had a good career since leaving Greece and has developed nicely. About 2-3 years ago he chose to go down the money path and go to the MLS (where he played some great football) and now in Mexico. Prior to that he had good seasons in Holland and at Celtic. He is a scorer and doesn't need many opportunities to find the back of the net. He is also big and can play with his back to goal/link up with the rest of the team. Something that Lucescu seems to like (Prijovic, Akpom, Oliviera).

Just so you know pash, you'll be included in my goodbye post😘

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.