paokarag4

Wouldn't be ideal to lose Kortarski after one season, very impressed with his season. I suppose if an offer comes in of 10+ Million you don't really have a choice, but I don't think after one season in Greece without playing in Europe the offers would be around that. More likely in the 5-7 mil range, in which case I say no thanks. Hang onto him for another season, he'll no doubt continue to perform and if we manage to qualify for Europe and plays well on that stage his price will continue to rise.

I read the articles on the PAOK sites which had a screenshot of the Romano tweet/post linking us to him. But scrolling through his twitter and FB page there is no sign of such post/tweet. Has it been taken down? Or is it possible these PAOK sites are pumping out some propaganda to keep the wolves at bay for a few days longer?

Mixed reports on Ingason wanting to go or not. You can imagine if he does indeed want to move on then it will happen. @pash while I would normally agree with you in rolling my eyes at the conspiracy theories, there is definitely something up with the management of the team. All the messaging coming out was PAOK would have a striker signed and delivered by the time they go to Holland, no movement there and the team departs in 4 or so days. I am not sure what is actually happening, all reports are mixed and now the fans are getting really restless. And that is not just because of this year but the last few years of what they consider inadequate signings. Now fans are fans and they will complain, but as we know it can build pressure. Especially in Greece where it can manifest in toxic ways.

Reports saying Poyet has decided on 8-9 of the starting XI, no massive surprises. -----------Vlachodimos----- Baldock--Mavropanos--Chatzidiakos--Tsimikas ------Mantalos------Siopis-----Bakasetas Masouras-----Giakoumakis----Pelkas Kourbelis is being considered in place of either Siopis or Mantalos as is Pavlidis to lead the line. I read Konstantelias is also being considered to take one of the wingers spots but I doubt he would get a start. 14,000 tickets have been sold for the game, it means there will be a solid crowd there to cheer the boys on. Hopefully it ends up being 20,000+ and the atmosphere is electric!

Gabbiadini's name has resurfaced again, an Italian journalist linking us to him. On paper Gabbiadini or Diagne would be good signings, both experienced and have played in much stronger leagues. Without having watched either player beyond the odd match here and there, plus looking at their stats Diagne appears to be the better finisher with a better goal scoring record. It would lead us to assume that Gabbiadini is more of a modern striker in terms of being involved in build up and getting his teammates involved. Jozy Altidore appears a step down from those two.

After all that Douvikas has been called-up to replace the Ioannidis, who injured his hip at training.

Αναλυτικά οι κλήσεις της Εθνικής Ελλάδας: Αθανασιάδης, Πασχαλάκης, Βλαχοδήμος, Ρέτσος, Μπάλντοκ, Χατζηδιάκος, Κουλιεράκης, Μαυροπάνος, Τσιμίκας, Τζαβέλλας, Γιαννούλης, Ρότα, Μπακασέτας, Μπουχαλάκης, Κουρμπέλης, Σιώπης, Χατζηγιοβάνης, Παπανικολάου, Μάνταλος, Αλεξανδρόπουλος, Κωνσταντέλιας, Ιωαννίδης, Μασούρας, Πέλκας, Λημνιός, Γιακουμάκης, Παυλίδης, Φούντας. Confirmation of the official call ups and more or less the same to call-ups from March. Poyet seems set on a group of players, I do question what someone like Retsos offers he had a poor season for Olympiakos. The only thing I can think of is that he gives some flexibility being able to play at right back and CB. Clearly Nikolaou isn't rated by Poyet for one reason or another. Douvikas would be feeling hard done by, he can't do much more to get a call-up. Again it comes down to Poyet having the core of his squad set and it is obvious he's trying to build club like chemistry but at the same time to not reward a top scorer of a top 8 European league is equally as dangerous. Bakasetas is fine and trained fully, so he will be available for both games.

Gonna be a tough one Alcaraz owns a 4-0 record against Tsitisipas, including as recently as April where Alcaraz beat him in the Barcelona Open final which is also played on clay.

We won't know for sure until he arrives in Greece and is checked out by the NT medical staff. This article is suggesting he's okay and should be fit to play the qualifiers which are 11 days away. https://www.sport24.gr/football/ethniki-elladas-ligei-o-synagermos-gia-mpakaseta-ola-deichnoyn-oti-tha-prolavei-irlandia-kai-gallia.10067469.html

Turkish league still has 2 games to play, so expect Siopis, Bakasetas and possibly Goutas to be called up in the next few days. As will Mavropanos, who is playing in the relegation playoffs for Stuttgart (they won the 1st leg 3-0 with Mavropanos scoring the opening goal). Giakoumakis and Douvikas (also competing in European play-offs in Holland) still haven't been officially called up. Would expect at least one, but surely both to be officially called in the coming days. I expect a few of the initial call-ups to be dropped from the above list that Dutch has posted.

No doubt in his first 4 years at his best he was one of, if not the best dekari we've had this century. Played a huge role in the drought winning league title season. A classy player, with brilliant vision. Thank you for the service Diego, you are a great of the club!

Poyet addressed it a few days ago and essentially said, he wasn't called up for these matches because in order to fit him in, the formation needs to be changed from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1. It seems Poyet, as other managers before him at both club and country level don't like Fortounis' lack of work rate and discipline without the ball. He did make a point to say just because he wasn't called this time around doesn't mean he isn't in future plans. In a 4-3-3, Poyet wants his midfield 3 to press without the ball and track the opposition not just play with the ball. Bakasetas, Siopis, Kourbelis offer these things. Clearly he thinks Bakasetas offers enough attacking drive (with the wingers and striker) to create enough opportunities to score. Poyet also described Bakasetas as 'untouchable' atm in his current Ethniki form and it is hard to argue given his performances over the last year. Fortounis has long been discussed here and in the Greek media, he's a media darling and they are just as shocked he hasn't been included. Me personally, I see the reasons why but don't necessarily agree with his exclusion all together. Here's a link to Poyet's explanation in full for anyone interested. https://www.sport24.gr/football/apokalypseis-poget-ayta-eipa-sto-tilefono-me-ton-fortoyni-o-mpakasetas-einai-untouchable.10061489.html

What a ridiculous statement, we don't eat Koalas! They are much loved cuddly creatures. Kangaroos and Emus on the other hand are delicious and are a must try delicacy.

Douvikas ends the season as the Eredivisie top scorer (joint with Xavi Simmons of PSV) with 19 goals. He is the 3rd Greek to be the top scorer in the Netherlands and the 2nd in 2 years! Giakoumakis was top scorer in 20-21 and Machlas in 97-98. Bravo Taso!!

Game over, really disappointing and poor all round. Only 2-3 players can hold their heads high after that performance everyone else really let the club down on the big stage.

We have played a really poor and dumb first 15 mins of the 2nd half, AEK with 10 men is pressing us and causing us issues. At this early stage our team has already broken in 2, players in our attacking third are getting way too high up the pitch and are not in a position to receive the ball. Leaving us with no way to move the ball up the pitch. Playing right into AEK's hands, need a big shift in mentality here.

I expect us to come out all guns blazing in the 2nd half, we still have a huge chance here to push on and really put the screws to them. One step at a time, we must equalise! I would say decent chance Dantas comes on for Schwab to start the 2nd half

You could tell early in the game it would be a tight game that would probably be decided by the one goal. Unfortunately for us, our half chances didn't cut it, not that we played poorly. What we lacked is what we've lacked for most of the year, that is quality with the final ball/someone to finish our chances. It all comes down to the Cup final, obviously winning a trophy would be fantastic. Plus the added bonus of playing in the Europa League and starting our competitive matches on the 10th of August will be super important to the team getting a proper pre-season in and giving any new signings the chance to settle. Compared to if we lose and begin our European journey in the Conference League on the 27th of July. Those two weeks could be crucial.

Good news, expect all three to start! Will be a nice way to end the season, winning and clinching Europa League football regardless of the Cup final. Expect a tight game where all 3 results are just as likely, I worry about our fire power and being able to finish our chances. Hopefully Thomas and Zivkovic can carry on their scoring form. A fit and available Taison would be nice, even if it is only off the bench.

Love this idea, but where do we toss the coin? I don't think it should be in Athens, would Beos have us for a coin toss? And who tosses the coin?

Very much like the first playoff game, where we came back and won 2-1! Let's play it out and take the 3 points

What an unbelievably stupid challenge Kargas decided to make which got him sent off. There is no threat there what so over, the AEK player was on the halfway line, passing back into his own half, with our defence just about fully set. Just why? No reason what so ever to slide in there, and this is a 28 year old who's been playing football for years, not a 19 year-old Koulierakis. Big picture wise the loss doesn't hurt us, as others have mentioned. Hopefully the players confidence doesn't take too much of a knock from the heavy loss. We beat Aris, Volos, and Olympiakos on the last match-day we should end up 3rd and secure Europa League football regardless of the Cup final result.

Seems it's as a result of having suffered COVID at some point, not sure if that was recent or a while ago. Club said he won't train for 2 weeks, not sure if after that he'll be cleared to train fully and potentially play. Or if he'll be eased back into things and potentially miss the last month of the season. Good news is he is okay and the playing side of things will work itself out in the coming weeks.

And we are 5-1 up from the 2nd leg!

Let's just see this out, I recall us blowing a 4-1 lead not that long ago against Volos in a match that ended 4-4😫