paokarag4

Season comes down to this IMO. The league is over, we aren't making up 7 points I think even the most passionate PAOK fan can see that. Need a good result here to go to Karaiskakis with a fighting chance. It's going to be tough, they are a good team as we know. Our form is poor (We never really set the world alight this season) not to mention our issue at the heart of our defense. I think Mihaj is the logical choice as he has some senior experience in the Super league and is actually a center back. Who ever gets the nod is being thrown under the bus, either it will be someone playing out of position (Matos) or someone who has hardly seen the pitch this season (Mihaj/Michalidis) If we manage to keep a clean sheet it will be a minor miracle.

Really doesn't seem that long ago we were sitting around 12th-13th. Very important result today, hopefully Olympiacos continues on for the sake of our ranking.

Huge win Congrats!!

The Netherlands friendly has been confirmed, JVS no doubt using his connections to get us a good test against a very good team. https://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/ethniki_elladas/ethnikh-spoydaio-filiko-ton-maio-me-ollandia.5683474.html

I know it appears so, but apparently there is a rule that has been brought in where players can not serve their card bans in the last 2 matches of the season. It forces everyone to sit out this match and be able to play the last 2 not sure if the logic is to stop this type of funny business but it's what I heard on radio. The rule is kind of flawed given we have playoffs and an extra 10 games coming up so not sure why it matters so much. EDIT: Blackhawk provided this quote in another thread explaining it a little better. Πειθαρχικός Κώδικας άρθρο 7, παρ. 4δ «Οι ομάδες δεν έχουν δικαίωμα να δηλώσουν προς έκτιση ποινής τις δύο τελευταίες αγωνιστικές ημέρες του πρωταθλήματος καθώς και τους αγώνες κατάταξης που ακολουθούν (play off, play out)»

I feel we're in for a bumpy ride, I don't think this will be straight forward at all. I do believe we have a goal in us but Panathinaikos will be brimming with confidence given what they did to us at OAKA just a week ago. I feel from kick off they will be pressing and harassing us like crazy. Crowd will be right behind and if they score first it's well and truly going to be on. Keep our heads and when we win the ball we need to be smart, move it quickly to not allow them to press us and exploit the space that PAO will leave as they chase goals. It goes without saying the first goal of the game is crucial.

We aren't the only country going with foreign refs, seems Benfica is having a bit of a Greek moment. https://www.sport24.gr/football/Portugal/h-mpenfika-zhthse-ksenoys-diaithtes-sto-prwtathlhma.5680440.html

Bit of analysis on his year so far, with input from his manager. https://www.sport24.gr/Files/tasos-mpakasetas-etoimos-gia-ektokseysh-kai-pio-plhrhs-apo-pote.5679481.html

I agree, the rule is a joke I haven't heard of another league in the world where you can choose who your suspended against. Edit: Squad announced Pelkas left out, seems he has a knock nothing major. El Kaddouri back for the first time in 2020. Interesting to see if Ferreira goes with Vierinha at full-back or on the wing. Πασχαλάκης , Ζίβκοβιτς , Μάτος , Ροντρίγκο , Βαρέλα , Ίνγκασον , Μιχάι , Γιαννούλης , Βιεϊρίνια , Αουγκούστο , Μαουρίσιο , Μίσιτς , Εσίτι , ΕλΚαντουρί , Μπίσεσβαρ , Λάμπρου , Λημνιός , Σφιντέρσκι , Άκπομ

Agree in terms of Kolouris, he's a poacher not too dissimilar to Swiderski, at least in terms of style. Don't think he'd add anything. Midfield is where the concern lies. All I know is we better sign Misic ASAP on a permanent deal because the longer it goes without an official announcement the more nervous I get that he won't be around next season.

According to this article JVS is considering calling up 7 "new" player for the friendlies in March. Pouggouras, Mavropanos, Kyriakopoulos and Lampropoulos (not exactly new) These 4 he's considering as Center backs, even though we know Kyriakopoulos as a left back it seems JVS really wants a left footed CB and thinks he can shift him into the center of defense similar to how he's done with Stafylidis. He's also considering Marinakis (OFI) as cover for right back, as well as Tsilianidis and Xatzigiovanis to play on the wings. https://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/ethniki_elladas/ethnikh-elladas-oi-7-neoi-poy-vlepei-o-fan-sip.5678894.html

I think you've mixed up the games Alphonse, they played Yeni on the weekend. Today they beat Galatasaray 2-0 in the first leg of the Cup quarter final today. Bakasetas scored a very nice goal on his right boot. Not sure what his goal on the weekend is like, he scored in both games. He's been in very good form.

Leonidas Stergiou is a 17 year old center back playing in Switzerland with St.Gallen. He has been in a starter in 18 of their 20 league matches so far and his team sit on top of the Swiss Super league. He is born and raised in Switzerland to a Serbian Mother and a Greek father (according to wikipedia) EPO is aware of him and is apparently interested in him. Can JVS pull it off again and convince another Greek aboard to play with the Ethniki? It'll be tricky as this kid appears to have the world at his feet at only 17 playing regular senior football at a decent level. It should also be noted he is a Swiss youth international from under 15's-Under 19's. https://www.novasports.gr/podosfairo/super-league/article/1731870/stergiou-to-paidi-thauma-tou-ellinikou-podosfairou https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonidas_Stergiou

Ok I hope I'm not in the minority here but I did have a laugh at the Savvidis impersonator, things like that I find funny. The same way I found it funny when a PAOK fan dumped the Gavrakia on Olympiacos bench before the cup semi final (I think) all those years ago. You need to be able to laugh at yourself at times otherwise we're just as bad as them. I'm sure the gun was fake. As for the allegations that it was Karypidis I have to agree surely not. I know he and big boy are good friends but geez talk about earning your pay or in Aris' case earning your players.

You guys are spot on, our players need upgrading. A combination of age and serious injuries has the current squad just about done. The style Abel wants to play doesn't suit these players, he wants possession and build up. The only guys capable of that are Misic (he is a star) and Bieseswar (he's been out of form most of the season) Mauricio was never the most technical player and obviously coming off a long term injury you can't expect much from him. Another thing that we struggle is with teams pressing us high. It's how Aris outplayed us and same today with PAO. Again our players aren't good enough to pass their way out of a press, it's just errors and turnovers. PAO pressed with intent and in number, exactly as Aris did. In comparison when we pressed it's half-assed and not every player does it, that just makes it easy for the opposition to beat the press and break into space. There is time but I can't say I'm confident heading into the playoffs where we will play another 8 derbies. Especially the ones away. The formula is there to beat us, everyone has seen it. It's up to Ferreira to find a way to beat teams that press or alter his playing style in those matches so we don't get caught on the ball so deep in our half. Over to you Abel.

Apparently he's in Russia to meet and potentially sign with Krylia Sovetov Samara, they are currently 2nd last in the Russian Premier league. https://www.sport24.gr/paraskinio/24o-evaggelio/24o-eyaggelio-sthn-krilia-sovetov-o-kyriakos-papadopoylos.5676743.html

Looks like the move Cagliari didn't eventuate, but he's joining Sheffield United in the Premier league on loan. https://www.sport24.gr/football/EllinesExoterikou/kleinei-sth-sefilnt-gioynaitent-o-retsos.5676499.html A English article just because sport24 let me down last time with the links to Cagliari https://www.sheffieldunited.news/news/report-sheffield-united-striker-deal-with-panagiotis-retsos/

What an actual country we have. Sooo much of the media is controlled by people who have an agenda. For what it's worth I've always thought Sport24 was relatively unbiased and generally pretty good. I will say though they don't have anything on the Stimena trial which started today, make of that what you will

FIFA? UEFA? You mean where Kurio Savvas Theodoridis son is the general secretary? I'm with Bananas no doubt they will be impartial ?

We've been drawn to face Panathiniakos in the quarters, tricky draw PAO is in very good form of late. The other pairings are Lamia-Olympiacos Atromitos-Aris Panetolikos-AEK/Asteras

Our boy Ivan coming back at the big lad from down south with some fire "Τόσα χρόνια ακούγαμε τους ανθρώπους του Ολυμπιακού τον Μαρινάκη και το Θεοδωρίδη να μας λένε: μην κλαίτε και κάντε επενδύσεις. Τώρα κλαίνε αυτοί. Τους συμβουλεύουμε λοιπόν να κάνουν επενδύσεις" https://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/big-4-h-apanthsh-savvidh-ston-marinakh.5673154.html Savvidis has learnt how to play the game, and big boy Vangeli doesn't like it.

Danger game for Stefanos too, Raonic is a former top 5 player and has a massive serve.

Looks he got injured and was subbed off in the first half after he had scored. Hopefully nothing serious he has been having a great year

Looks he's on his way to Italy and he's joining Lykogiannis at Cagliari on loan with an option for them to buy him in the summer. Hopefully he's a starter. https://www.sport24.gr/paraskinio/24o-evaggelio/24o-eyaggelio-pros-kaliari-o-retsos.5672774.html

Sakkari dispatches of Gasparjan easily 6-2 6-2 Next up for her is the winner of Peng-Hibino In the 2nd round Tsitsipas is playing against the 36 year old German Philipp Kohlschreiber.