paokarag4

Kyriakos old man just adding some fuel to the Papadopoulos fire which has burnt for so long. Not sure how his body would hold up anymore, this has gone from a no brainer a few years ago to a 50-50 IMO. Given he would be coming on a free transfer probably worth the risk. Again could just be his Dad potentially trying to jack up the price of his new contract wherever it maybe. https://www.novasports.gr/podosfairo/super_league/article/1699470/ston_paok_kai_me_ta_misa_lefta

Squad for the matches against Armenia and Finland announced, as expect Vasiliadis called up for the first time. Mavrias has also been recalled. No Sokratis and Manolas again, which JVS had mentioned would happen. Μπάρκας, Βλαχοδήμος, Πασχαλάκης, Μπακάκης, Γιαννούλης, Σιόβας, Τσιμίκας, Κούτρης, Σταφυλίδης, Μαυρίας, Χατζηδιάκος, Λαμπρόπουλος, Κουρμπέλης, Ζέκα, Μπουχάλακης, Βασιλειάδης, Γαλανόπουλος, Μάνταλος, Κουλούρης, Μπακασέτας, Παυλίδης, Δώνης, Λημνιός, Φετφατζίδης, Μασούρας.

Welcome to my life ?‍♂️

If El Kaddouri starts Misic won't get benched. It'll be Augosto or even Stoch. El Kaddouri has played on the wing before and I'm pretty sure before he got injured he played there against Asteras was it?

Despite the name of the club, this isn't a Panathinaikos to fear. Should be a routine win and anything less will be disappointing. Good that we've kept 2 clean sheets in the last 2 games, hoping we continue that defensive form up. Honestly looking ahead OFI in Crete is a much bigger threat, they're in good form and we traditionally struggle there (at least recently we have) but one game at a time.

Limnios is anything but a dribbler. He is a hard worker who is extremely disciplined. In terms of dribbling all he can do is cut right, any defender worth his salt will work him out within a few mins of playing him. Donis has more natural talent in comparison. Does that mean Limnios doesn't have a spot on the team? No, as we've seen coaches favour hard workers, he has pace and can be dangerous on the counter. But I don't really want him playing against teams that have a packed defense he generally struggles when there is no room. He is also capable of putting a good ball into the box which if he is given the space to do can be dangerous

Keep them off the team if that's the case. They should be leaders not getting frustrated and having tantrums over their teammates inabilities. The Ethniki hasn't played with so much hunger and desire for years, who was missing? The superstars, if that is truly their attitude then that's fine they don't have to play. Very encouraging signs moving forward over the last 2 games. If sokratis and manolas want to return with the right attitude then it will be a bonus otherwise we move on as a team and continue to build.

Didn't watch the game but saw extended highlights. That performance was ten fold better than anything we've dished up over the last 18 months. Great defense, working together was great to see like the Greece of old. We weren't stunning in attack yet the 2 best chances fell to us with Limnios and Kolouris, needless to say Bakasetas should've done better with his sliced attempt. Games like this you need to take those chances, on another day we are 0-1 or maybe even 0-2 up and it's a completely different game. 2 further things I liked we showed there is life without Sokrati and Manolas. The sun rose and we played well against a superior opponent. I like what Van't Schip is doing, he needs to be backed, this is a rebuild it's not going to happen over night. There is enough there to work with, we have talent what we need is discipline and correct tactics installed. Today was a step in the right direction, let the man work for a while, constantly changing managers isn't going to solve anything. One final thing I'll say is that traditionally these matches suit us better, as in giving up possession, sitting and countering. I feel we still have work to do to be able to comfortably beat the Liechtenstein's, Armenia's of the world. Our attackers work better when they have space we know we aren't a team that can move the ball around unlock a defense. Never the less I'm quite encouraged by that performance and hopeful we back it up against Bosnia and maybe pinch a result.

Tsitsipas beats Djokovic in the quarter finals of the Shanghai Masters 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Through to the semis where he will take one of his demons Daniil Medvedev. Medvedev hold 4-0 record over Stefano, let's see if he can turn that around and make a second masters final for the year.

Paschalakis ends up getting called up to replace the injured Barkas

No doubt it could get ugly against the Italians. I mean they basically stopped playing after going 3 up in Athens and still could have had 4-5 goals. Without Sokratis and Manolas you feel it could get really bad but who knows. If the reports are correct and Van't Schip intends on calling them up in future, then to me it makes no sense to leave them out for these 2 games. Try the youth v Armenia and Finland next month the last thing we want is two heavy losses against Italy and Bosnia. If he doesn't intend on calling them up again and is going for a full rebuild then it makes sense them leave out and assess your other options. But if not then it's just illogical. But hey this is the Ethniki wouldn't be the first time common sense doesn't prevail.

Apparently Torosidis is retiring. Interesting to see whether Sokratis and Manolas is a permanent thing or they are being left out because we have conceded we aren't qualifying for Euro 2020 and they've asked to be left out to focus on their club form/fitness If Van't Schip has seen something he doesn't like in the dressing rooms from these guys then it brings back memories of Rehhagel in 2002, when he booted Georgatos, Zikos and others. Now this can obviously back fire because one: those 2 are by far our best center backs and two: It could upset the rest of the squad and the revolving coaching door of the ethniki will continue. If they cut all the senior guys (which maybe the case if Zeca and Mitro are indeed left out) the younger generation are probably inclined to take the opportunity with both hands and really establish themselves/rebuild the NT with Van't Schip. If that is the case I hope the younger guys don't turn on the coach, work hard take this chance, thrive on the responsibility. Get us back contending for qualification in the next 2-3 tournaments.

I have a feeling it's around 59 or something, Olympiakos have it I believe. With the draw overnight we sit at 40 games unbeaten.

Geez that is very very cringe. It's just in keeping with Greek football though, here we have people employed by clubs going onto social media and having b1tch fights like they are 15 year old fan boys. So much about Greek football is cringe and it's a big reason as to why I try to only focus on the games and news relating to actual footballing matters. Easier said than done

I know he hasn't been making the squads so hard to say he should start but no harm in starting Lamprou. Jaba has been poor this season but holds his spot, we have depth on the wings with Lamprou, Stoch and Limnios (who I don't want to see start either) It's not working, we have a deep squad throw the magnets around let's see what happens. Won't be long a few more dropped points and the rumblings will start calling for Abel's head.

GOOOOAAAAAALLLLL MISIC!!!!!

The shot look to be deflected but yes he has lost his form badly, always had mistakes in him but it's becoming a weekly occurrence now. 7 mins stoppage time let's see if we can salvage a draw from this awful display

The first 25 mins was 2 goals being scored and then Aris players lying down being operated on by their medical staff on the pitch. Except more of the same in the 2nd half, we need to score to open up the game

In terms of football ability and footballing IQ Pelkas is nowhere near Biseswar. Pelkas is a better athlete but Biseswar is by far the better footballer.

I can't see Esiti not starting. Despite him being poor against Atromitos (after the first 30 mins or so) our other midfielders are far too attacking, it's a reason we are conceding more goals this season. Missing Mauricio who is the perfect box to box as well as playing with 2 in the middle instead of 3, we are constantly out numbered in the middle and opposing teams are reaching our back 4 too easily. So IMO Esiti will start.

His set piece deliveries were very good, not that it was a secret it was all over his highlights.

The goal was it was, a quick player had half the field to work with, he beat our CB's for pace it happens. Manolas has clocked the quickest speed in Serie A, the other player was just express quick and finished well. He is one of a few players who play at a decent level in the Liechtenstein squad in the Swiss league with Thun. When you don't bury your chances you leave yourself open to counters that may cost you. Still no excuse but on another day we are 3-0 up and that counter probably never happens and if it does we win 3-1. There are issues no doubt, the good thing is it seems Van't Schip is going to stick around and be given the opportunity to lead us into qualifying next year let's see what he can do and if he's backed by the players, that's the key. They are the ones who call the shots in Greece.

Our players have a serious problem with being pressed. It's unbelievable, it's like they've never experienced it before. Like they've been pulled out of another footballing era and dropped into the modern game. I find it staggering that they expect to be given 5 seconds to control the ball, take a breath, have a look before they turn and then FINALLY turn. It was an issue that we struggled with and cost us against Armenia and we struggled again last night. I expect us to be too good for Liechtenstein regardless of if they press or not but it's something that needs to be addressed moving forward. Although I'm not sure it's something that can necessarily be improved once players reach senior international level.

I think it's fair to say if Fortounis and Donis are playing we probably win that game. Fortounis obviously out of our control but I can't agree with the logic of not calling up Donis. He isn't fit? Neither is Torosidis, they both have played the same mins this seasons a big fat zero. The difference is we sorely lack creativity and especially with Fortounis injured you don't leave Donis out. Hopefully we batter Liechtenstein and Van Schipt is given the rest of this campaign and leads us into World cup 2022 qualifying. Any slip up there and there ever revolving door of managers will likely continue.

Limnios has been called up to replace Mantalos.