paokarag4

Apparently Garcia can't be our official manager until he gets his UEFA pro coaching licence. I heard on radio that it's a 6 month course and he's doing his in August (it's been delayed because of COVID) so he wouldn't be able to take over until early next year. If they do decide to move Abel along, I really hope they go in hard for Ivic. The man knows the league, country, team and city very well. He was successful and I have no doubt we would've won the league with him at the helm had he not left.

Sh Sh Sh!!!!! Aris fans will hear you and lecture you and tell you you're crazy @pash ?

I find it funny that this year's cup final will be played at a neutral ground in Rizoupoli because they didn't want to play at either of the team's home ground. That logic didn't apply the last 2 seasons when we had to play AEK at their home ground. Even last year with no fans we were give the "safety" excuse. I guess big boy Vangeli still has a lot of pull, despite what they try to sell. https://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/GreekCup/kupello-elladas-pros-rizoupolh-o-telikos.5727788.html

I wouldn't be bringing Warda anywhere, people like him don't change. He's destined to be a mid to low table level player because of how he carries himself. Even in footballing terms I never saw him do anything special for PAOK a few glimpses but nothing that makes me feel like we missed an opportunity to have a very good player. Fair enough if someone argues he wasn't really given a fair run at it with PAOK but there are reasons for that. He showed his best form for Atromitos a mid-table team who had a good season.

Swiderski really should've had a hat-trick today and this game should've been beyond reach for Aris Stoch has been good, produced some real quality in the final third today

NAI RE FERNANDO! Man can Stoch take a free-kick, lovely ball.

Does anyone have a stream? Mine keeps lagging and dropping out

Jesus it's gonna be one of those days, Bieseswar one on one Cuesta saves.

Would've been a perfect start re g@moto Mauricio yellow nice and early

I like the starting XI, only option for central mid on the bench is Tsiggaras. Let's hope Esiti and Mauricio have no problem playing out the game.

The only positive thing is with the cup games midweek is Aris having lost the game in such a heartbreaking away and playing 120 mins, you'd think they'd be emotionally and physically tired. They have nothing left to play for this season and I know they always fire up to play us regardless but I feel that being so soon after the Cup exit they will be disheartened. I hope so anyway because let's be honest Aris has well and truly had the better of us this season. In terms of the team I was happy with how we played at Olympiakos. El Kaddouri suspended for this one? He was probably due for a rest anyway he's played 3 games in a row and his body must be close to breaking down. So it's probably Esiti and Maurcio in midfield with Pelkas (if fit) back as the dekari. Tzolis looked good, wonder if he'll start again.

We played well, amazing what evening up the numbers in midfield does forced their to hand to sub in Fortounis in the 1st half. We were unlucky, Paschalakis had one big save to make and he did. The whole game hung on the Varela chance, great ball in by Stoch, Varela really should've really scored from there. Then they go down the other end and El Arabi has a fresh airy from 6 yards! Crazy stuff, if nothing else it was entertaining and it shows that honestly without fans in Greece you probably get a better quality football match. Tzolis I thought started nervous and turned over some balls cheaply but he grew into the game and troubled Tsimikas one of the best fullbacks in the league bravo sto paidi. Anyway onwards and upwards time focus on the league and getting 2nd spot, Aris away is always tough but I'm guessing they are going to be mentally and emotionally fatigued after what they endured earlier today.

Pelkas and Vierinha again didn't train today, tomorrow will be make or break to see whether they make the trip to Athens. Something I think that Ferreira absolutely needs to do is play 3 in the midfield, no dekari. Olympiakos has the best midfield in the league, Guilherme and Camara especially are very good players and can control the tempo. We need to at least even up the numbers in the middle, given our injuries those 3 basically pick themselves. If fit I'd be playing Pelkas on the wing but not as a 10 unless we need a goal. You feel we'll need to score at least one, can't see us keeping a clean sheet they are a good in attack and El Arabi is a capable scorer and they are extremely dangerous from set pieces, they'll find a goal from somewhere. Type of game I wish Jaba was fit, he'd fit perfectly playing on the counter. With all that in mind I'd go with -------Paschalakis---------- Matos----Varela---Ingason---Giannoulis -------Mauricio----Esiti-----El Kaddouri Limnios-----Akpom----Pelkas/Vierinha (if fit, otherwise pick one from Biesewar/Lamprou)

Stoch uploaded a post on Instagram basically criticizing Ferreira and how he's been hardly used this season. While I agree that he should have been given more of a chance, I don't think going public with that type of thing is ever the way. It's just going to further divide the team and potentially create problems in the dressing room heading into a crucial game for our season. He later tried to back track and say he was emotional and he can offer more to the team (again I don't necessarily disagree) but damage has been done IMO. Interesting to see if he's involved anymore for the rest of the season. You can see both of his posts here

Official that there will be foreign refs on Wednesday/Thursday morning (depending where you live) for the 2nd legs of the semi finals. The Dutchman Bjorn Kuipers will officiate our match at the Karaskakis. https://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/GreekCup/kupello-kaipers-sto-olympiakos-paok-makeli-sto-arhs-aek.5723544.html

2 assists for him in the Cup Semi-final 2nd leg where Alanyaspor beat Antalyaspor 4-0 (5-0 aggregate) and are through to the Turkish Cup final. Tzavellas played the whole game, Siopis not in the squad at all. Hopefully they can win the cup and get some silver ware. Highlights here, Bakasetas assists are at 1.30 (a corner) and 2.45, a nice dinked ball for Pappis Cisse to complete his hat-trick. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAQJaMUQLrU

If it helps his case, he again scored the winner today in Rapid's 0-1 win over Hartberg. That moves Rapid 7 points clear of 3rd placed LASK and within 5 points of 1st placed RB Salzburg. They look to certain to participate in next seasons Champions league (qualifiers) and are still in the hunt for the title. That's 17 goals this season to go along with his 5 assists (in the league) Apparently he was subbed off with an injury in the 2nd half but not sure if that's true/how serious it is.

Another assist for him over the weekend Rapid won 2-1, he was subbed off after 70 minutes. They play again tomorrow so hopefully he continue his remarkable season. Surely he's deserving of his own topic at this point?

Understandable mistake, it's confusing with all those lost finals over the last few years I can imagine it's hard to separate them ?

The 2018 one? The 2-0? The Pelkas goal in stoppage time? No offside there my friend. If you are referring to the 2017 final where Pedro Henrique scored the winner from an offside position then yes, I don't think any PAOK fan will deny that. But no issues with the goals in 2018.

Despite Misic's injury still no Wernbloom in the squad, Esiti will start you would think. On the plus side Giannoulis and Ingason are back. Πασχαλάκη , Ζίβκοβιτς , Μάτος , Ροντρίγκο , Βαρέλα , Ίνγκασον , Μιχάι , Γιαννούλη , Βιεϊρίνια , Εσίτι , Μαουρίσιο , Ελ Καντουρί , Πέλκα , Μπίσεσβαρ , Λάμπρου , Λημνιό , Στοχ , Σφιντέρσκι , Άκπομ , Τζόλη.

Wow just when we thought it couldn't get any worse, Misic is ruled out for the rest of the season due to injury. With Augousto also gone that leaves us with Mauricio, Esiti and the young and untested Tsiggaras in central midfield. El Kaddouri started the season playing there so he might be another option. This surely must mean Wernbloom comes back into contention, at least on the bench. Holding on to 2nd place and making the Cup Final just became that little bit tougher. https://www.paokfc.gr/nea/20200612-iatriko-deltio-gia-ton-josip-misic/

Fountas has continued his form coming out of lock-down, last weekend he scored the fourth goal and assisted the first and second in a 0-4 away win against Sturm Gratz. Mid-week he came off the bench to score the winner against LASK, moving Rapid into 2nd position. His goal comes from a defensive error, you can see it from around 3.07 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9auoG7DvaY

Rumors coming out of Israel (where he currently coaches) that we want Ivic back to coach next season. I got the impression that he left on bad terms with George Savvidis so not sure if he'd actual consider returning. https://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/paok-grafoyn-gia-pithanh-epistrofh-ivits-sto-israhl.5718722.html

2nd will be a tough ask from here, unless there is a drastic turn around in form I can't see us doing it. There is no way we go to OAKA twice and come away with 4 points (which would be the minimum IMO) Our record in derbies this year is poor, (1 Win against AEK not including the cup) the playoffs are going to highlight this poor record and it's not going to be pretty. Must win all our remaining games at home. I really hope I'm wrong and we come out and get the 3 points away at PAO next weekend. In terms of starting XI, Ingason and Giannoulis will be back I believe which should help. Otherwise there isn't much more Ferreira can do to change up the eleven except start Pelkas, which will probably happen.