paokarag4

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.

Tragic that those are considered highlights.

I don't think having Greek refs is the end of the world, it's not ideal though. Would you agree that having foreign refs has been mainly successful? They still do make mistakes (every ref does) but IMO it has for the most part kept the peace between teams and fans, at least on the pitch. Although foreign refs aren't immune to the off field m*****es present in Greek football, as we saw in the AEK-Aris match in the Cup.

Geez is that 4 serious knee injuries in just over a year? Mauricio, Vieirinha, Jaba and now Augousto? Don't know if it's bad luck or we are doing something wrong, I guess with knee injuries it's mainly luck. And given 3 of them (I think) happened during games and away from home, I guess there's not much you can do about what type of condition oppositions pitches are in.

Damn it's been so long I completely forgot about all the suspensions to most of our back 4. Gonna be tough no doubt, taking into consideration both teams are coming out of isolation who knows what type of performances will be put in.

Based on how JVS has spoken in recent times I'd say it's looking unlikely they'll return, Sokratis especially given his age. Those 2 lads clearly have egos, not something foreign particularly in Greek football and the Ethniki. Now whether they change their ways and buy into what the NT is trying to build I don't know, I think Manolas is more likely given his age but then again he may just think it's not worth the hassle. It seems quite a few of the public in Greece have turned on them, and have linked our improved performances of late with their absence. Where there is smoke there's fire, they clearly where causing issues but at the same time no one can deny they are quality players who would be welcomed back with open arms if there was an attitude improvement. Unfortunately football isn't about just turning up, playing and going home. There is dynamics in the locker room, team morale senior players with a grudge can potentially poisoning younger generations. As much as I'd like to see it, I can't see them coming back anytime soon.

Siovas has definitely been called up the last few times, he didn't play in the last matches v Armenia and Finland but he was in the squad. He played against Italy back in October. I do agree though, Stafylidis isn't a CB he was exposed against at best average opposition in Finland, I think we can get away with him there against the Armenia's of the world. The only thing that gives me some optimism that JVS knows this is that against Italy (quality opposition) he went with two traditional center backs Siovas and Xatzidiakos. COVID19 will probably mean Xatzidiakos doesn't miss any NT matches and is back to full fitness whenever international football returns.

Wernbloom came on a free transfer. Jaba I think is the record at around a rumoured 4 mil, I've read different things, some say 3 or so and it can go up to 5 with bonuses. Other reports say it was 5 million upfront, I suspect the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Prijovic was by far our most expensive player sold, he went for 10 million. Although we've recently gone to FIFA as Al-Ittihad haven't payed all the installments.

Our under 17's goalkeeper Nikos Botis looks like he's on his way to Inter Milan youth teams. We will retain 20% of his resale value. Good on the kid for getting a move to a big club at such a young age wish him all the best for his career if the move does go through. https://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/paok-provarei-th-fanela-ths-inter-o-mpoths.5711467.html

It was always going to be messy one way or another. I heard that the French football federation have a rule in place where by if the season cannot be finished for whatever reason the table stands as is. If that is indeed the case then Lyon and co aren't going to have much luck with their lawsuits.

https://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/SuperLeague/super-league-1-xamos-sthn-thlediaskepsh-me-marinakh-kai-gkagkatsh.5705353.html Seems like big old Vangeli was beating his chest via video link today calling for our "Russian" owner to be chased out of Greek football. But seriously though how many monitors did they have to set up to get him on screen? BUT SERIOUSLY NOW It's honestly a disgrace, how both clubs act towards each other. It's embarrassing and try explaining to anyone who comes from a civilized country that people behaving like this actually hold positions of power in Greek football. Olympiacos is very transparent and child like in what they are trying to do here, I would be legit curious how many of their fans are on board with them kicking and screaming their way to CAS to get us relegated.

The voting on social media was done to narrow down the nominations to 3 finalists per position it seems. So now you can cast your vote for each position. 3 finalists for the goalkeeper are Glykos, Kresic and Paschalakis https://www.paokfc.gr/nea/20200427-decade-all-stars-2010-20-goalkeeper/ And right back finalists are Matos, Sznauncer and Kitsiou https://www.paokfc.gr/nea/20200428-decade-all-stars-2010-20-right-back-poll/

Is there any possible way that could actually happen? There is no precedent to do this and it is Greece after all. Meanwhile here we wait for all those trails to finish involving Olympiacos. (Pre Covid-19) This thing was decided in no time, by Greek standards.

Interview JVS did with Portuguese newspaper A Bola. He covers a ranger of topics, including his playing career, Coronavirus (obviously), the system he likes to play with the Ethinki as well as discussing Vlaxodimos and Samaris. https://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/ethniki_elladas/fan-sip-na-meinw-kairo-sthn-ethnikh-kai-na-afhsw-klhronomia.5701824.html

Bit of fun since there is no football on at the moment and the world is a little depressing. PAOK are running a vote for our best 11 over the last ten years (2010-2020) They have nominees in every position and the way you vote is by jumping on the social media accounts and commenting who you think should be in the eleven. https://www.paokfc.gr/nea/20200411-paok-fc-decade-all-stars/ My XI: ------------------Paschalakis------------------ Matos-----------Varela-----------Crespo------Lino --------------Pablo Garcia------Misic------- Vierinha--------Ivic----------Bieseswar ------------------Prijovic------------ I think it's completely debatable that Contrears gets in at center back, he was a star. I just think that it's hard to break up the Varela-Crespo combo given they anchored our defense during the record breaking season. Biseswar I would rather play as a dekari given he played some quality football there, but he's listed as a left winger. Despite his poor season he's been very good for three years prior. Some might disagree with Ivic but IMO he was a silky player, very good on the ball with a high football IQ. Very good player in a very good PAOK team. To boot the other options at CAM don't exactly inspire me, but that's just my opinion. P.s: Blackhawk if this is better off in another topic rather than a stand alone please feel free to merge it

I would take him back in a heartbeat. But as you say pash, I can't see it happening. By all reports he's been good in Belgium, no reason why another team from there wouldn't pick him up particularly on a free transfer.

I too am a fan of this system. The only issue I have, as I've mentioned before is that it dilutes the derbies. I feel like initially people were opposed to it because the word play-offs implies something to similar to the old play-offs we had. But IMO it's the best system for Greece, 16 teams is too many. Crowds are far too small our teams simply aren't strong enough to carry 16 or more teams in the Superleague in the long term