paokarag4

Zivkovic has touched down in Thessaloniki, looks like he'll sign either today or tomorrow. Apparently he's only signing a 2 year deal, so clearly he's trying to just jump start his career and doesn't plan on being around too long. I don't mind that, but if he does indeed sign only for 2 years and he ends up being a very good player we'll either lose him for nothing or very cheap given his contract is so short. Don't get me wrong if we get 2 good years out of him it'll be great but a small thing like contract length is important as we try to grow as a club. In comparison Olympiakos signed Podence on a 5 year deal hence the massive price they got for him.

According to Novasports there will be a few changes but not many: Barkas, Bakakis, Svarnas, Siovas, Giannoulis, Bouchalakis, Kourbelis, Masouras, Bakasetas, Limnios, Pavlidis. Apparently Fortounis and Tzolis are sneaky chances to play and replace one or two of the above. https://www.novasports.gr/podosfairo/nations-league/article/1809875/ethniki-ellados-gia-ti-niki-stin-pristina Based on JVS tenure so far, in a few hours the starting XI will be leaked and we'll know quite a few hours before kickoff.

His numbers look good, but if we are to believe everything we've been told so far this off-season we aren't buying any players unless we sell someone, only signing free agents as happened. On paper he looks like a good fit, seems to be a better scorer than our current 2 up front, on paper at least. Always difficult to judge a player when he's coming from a 2nd division but doesn't mean by any means he wouldn't excel in Greece

He indeed lost in a 5th set tie-break. Disappointing result for him particularly considering his lead in the 4th set. Big opportunity missed to make a slam quarters or even semis.

Come on my little American Pie, you don't mean that ?

Pelkas and El Kaddouri have been left out of the squad travelling to Athens, it appears to be just precautionary. Lot's of youngsters in the squad and Mihojevic is in the squad as well! I didn't even realise he was training with the team. Αναλυτικά οι 18 παίκτες που θα έχει στη διάθεσή του ο Αμπέλ Φερέιρα είναι οι: Ζίβκοβιτς, Ρέι, Βαρέλα, Μιχόγεβιτς, Κρέσπο, Παναγιώτου, Κουλιεράκης, Ζαμπά, Λύρατζης, Μπίσεσβαρ, Τάχατος, Νινούα, Εσίτι, Σβαμπ, Βρακάς, Σβιντέρσκι, Άκπομ, και Κούτσιας. Matos has returned from Brazil and has been tested for COVID, if he is all clear hopefully he's back in full training on Sunday/Monday, we are going to need him even if it's off the bench in the coming weeks.

One thing that's clear is that Fortounis is not the type of player JVS wants to start. He's lazy and will not press one tenth as much as what Bakasetas and Mandalos do. In saying that I do think in games like last night off the bench he can be really damaging, 10-15 mins against a fatigued defense he will run rings around them and create 2-3 good chances. But it's obvious the pressing and harassing our whole team was doing, especially at the start of the 2nd half is something Fortounis can't or won't do. Bakasetas/Mandalos/Limnios and Pavlidis (and others) were all working overtime when we didn't have the ball to win it back and it worked the Slovenians couldn't get out of their half for large chunks of the 2nd half. The issue was when we won the ball we lacked quality, which is where Fortounis comes into play. There needs to be a balance but if guys like Fortounis/Donis can buy into this mentality we will improve 20-30% in attack. Until they do I think they will be restricted to cameo appearances off the bench and I understand why JVS goes with these harder workers even if they are less talented. Martins agrees with this view IMO, it's why Fortounis never regained his starting spot after his injury for Olympiako. He was damaging off the bench though. But you can't overlook your best players completely, last night Fortounis should've come off the bench it was clear we were lacking quality in the final third.

Don't speak politics with our American friends file, culturally they are very different compared to us Australian-Greeks. No offense to any American PAOK posters in here, y'all are alritteee

He was left out of the squad because he was sick apparently and given the current climate they left him at the hotel. JVS said he expects him to train today and be available for the Kosovo match. I don't think he would've played regardless, JVS seemed keen to reward the players that had served him well in the previous 4 games. Interesting to see if he gets the start on Sunday.

Multiple media outlets reporting our team will be the following: --------------Barkas----------- Bakakis----Svranas------Siovas------Giannoulis ------------Kourbelis-----Zeca Limnios------Bakasetas-----------Mantalos -------------Pavlidis----------- Keep in mind ever since JVS took over these leaked teams that seem to get out a few hours before kick off seem to end up being spot on, so there's clearly a rat inside the camp but I guess it's not a huge deal. If this lineup is indeed the one I'm happy to see no Stafylidis given his lack of playtime. A little surprised to see Giannoulis over Tsimikas although I'm not shocked, Van't Schip has stated multiple times he wants this team to have continuity and develop chemistry. Giannoulis started our last 2 games (even though it was 10 months ago) so JVS seems like he wants to stick with what's worked for him. 7 of these guys started our last 2 matches against Finland and Armenia. https://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/ethniki_elladas/ethnikh-elladas-me-svarna-vasiko-kai-4-2-3-1-kontra-sth-slovenia.5748007.html

I'm available and pretty cheap too

Lots of new faces as the Ethniki has touched down in Slovenia for our first match in 10 months!!

Yep bureaucracy in Greece can be like nails on a chalkboard, just painful. I recall reading that because Baldock's yiayia has passed away there were going to be some additional issues for him to get his passport. If he and EPO want it to happen it will, but we maybe waiting a while.

Nadal, Federer and a few other players choosing not to play due to COVID. Stefano has a really good draw and there's no reason he shouldn't reach the quarter finals at least. Anyway one game at a time, up next is Cressy.

Common sense seems to have prevailed and the league will start next weekend on the 11th-13th September. AEK-Olympiakos have been "drawn" to play each other in the first round, so that match has been postponed so they can play the Cup final and the rest of the league can get underway. Also it seems our request to play on the Friday night (11th) will be granted so we can have the maximum possible break before the Benfica game.

Van't Schip's excluding Fetfa follows the Sokratis/Manolas model. Their relationship appears fractured since Fetfa was late for a team meeting prior to the Italy game last year. Apparently Fetfa was offended in the next round of qualifiers (vs Armenia and Finland) when he wasn't given any playing time. I for one am 100% backing JVS and his handling of the squad, we can't afford to have these type of personalities around the squad. Self-entilted guys who demand playing time, it's toxic and rubs off on the rest of the team. Fetfatzidis is a good player, and has a role to play with the Ethniki but you don't have the right to dictate to the coach when you should play. This type of behaviour has brought us down in the past, as has been discussed already. It'll be interesting to see if he gets a call-up in future, but I won't be losing any sleep if he doesn't. You can read about it here https://www.novasports.gr/podosfairo/nations-league/article/1806708/gi-auto-den-klithike-o-fetfatzidis

One game suits us, it'll be tough but we showed the blue-print in the Besiktas game. Defend and hit on the counter we have the pace to cause problems. Also if we win we are playing Kransador in the play-offs, since Ukrainian and Russian teams have to be kept apart. UEFA will make that official tomorrow when they hold the "draw" for the play-off round.

Scans confirmed Rodrigo is out for 5-6 weeks so he'll miss the start of the league season as well as the next Champions league qualifier. Matos has gone to Brazil for "personal reasons" and isn't expected back until the 4th of September. Who knows what's going on there and if he'll even return but I'm worried about having to play the next qualifier with Limnios at right wing-back, he did not look comfortable on Wednesday especially defensively. https://www.paokfc.gr/nea/20200828-epistrofi-kai-douleia-gia-ti-sunexeia/

More reports today that we are awaiting an offer for Paschalakis, from Spain. No official offer yet, so who knows if this mysterious team will ever make an actual approach for him. French press also reporting we have knocked back a 3.5 million offer for Giannoulis from Marseille, we are holding out for at least 4.5 + a percentage of any potential future sale. https://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/gallika-mme-oxi-toy-paok-sth-marseig-gia-giannoulh.5745718.html

You're being very generous I reckon there bananas! Scrappy chances or individual moments of brilliance is all we were seeing for the most part. I agree with everything you said re JVS, the football he has us playing and his handling of Sokratis/Manolas. He's made us look like a modern football team with our play as well as chalking up a few wins after feeling out the squad. He's earned the respect of the players and most fans. Excited to see these 2 games next week.

Agreed

You mean in terms of him forcing a move this year? I don't follow you either I think we've kind of been talking about 2 different things and have walked in a bit of a circle ? I'm only on a few hours sleep from the game this morning so my cognitive abilities are down and they are quite poor when I'm on a good amount of sleep.

Because if he doesn't accept less somewhere then chances are he won't be playing football next year? He was never going to sign a new contract when his current deal is still running and he's on close to a million (I think) and no one not in Italy or anywhere else was going to give him a contract worth that much, why wouldn't he sit on it?

Agree to disagree (I feel like we've had this conversation before my beautiful boy) he is what he is, it's just in the big games the basics are even more important so he stands out a little more. I've always thought he's not a difference maker, especially in a game against a team that has parked the bus. If he leaves, PAOK won't fall apart but for the right price I think he has an important role to play. In terms of money, you're still thinking of the landscape pre-COVID. Plenty of teams are cutting their budgets and what you could have got 6 months ago you can't get now, be that transfer fee or as a wage.

According to this article Rota, Dioudis and Michalidis are going to be called up when JVS announces his squad sometime this week. Interested to see how Rota goes given our need for a right-back. Not surprising that Michalidis will be called up, given Van't Schip's obsession with finding a left footed center back. He's still raw but is showing potential and he is fantastic with the ball at his feet and more than capable of picking out teammates and sending them through.