paokarag4

Reports out of Denmark saying that we have agreed with FC Copenhagen for the sale of Kotarski. 5 Million Euros plus 1 mil in add-ons/bonuses, as well as a % of any potential resale. Hasn't been reported in Greece yet/by any PAOK reporters (at least the ones in the know), but one way or another he is on his way out. https://www.sport24.gr/football/paok-metagrafes-afto-einai-to-deal-gia-ti-metagrafi-tou-kotarski-stin-kopegxagi/

Jovic would have to be the toughest of all three mentioned names. Even though his career has stalled, he is still a big name and only 27. Add to that the fact he has Real Madrid and AC Milan (amongst other top tier teams) on his resume, a lot would have to fall into place for him to choose us. Surely his wage demands would blow us away, he would have to take a massive pay cut. I can't see 1.4-1.8 million a year being enough to get him over the line. I could be very wrong with the financial aspect of Jovic, but it's hard to see it eventuating.

Great to see a bunch of our first choices get signed sealed and delivered. We really need a CB and to a lesser extend a striker (I am a Chalov believer but clearly we need another starter level striker and probably a 3rd choice as well). I have heard we will target another center mid too, I don't think we are as desperate there as other positions but we could do with an upgrade. But as it stands, I am comfortable going in to the Europa League qualifiers with Camara, Meite, Ozdoev as well as Pena all as options. 4 players for 2 positions and that isn't counting Thymianis who Lucescu clearly doesn't rate but is another potential. So far well done to the club for bringing in Meite, Kenny, and Taylor for the start of pre-season and giving them plenty of time to gel with the team.

Just reading around, and some of the media is taking the lack of a reaction from PAE/Savvidis as an indicator that they weren't expecting this development. If that is true then who knows what the reaction will be. Will he be annoyed/his ego bruised with someone else swanning in and offering to pay for the build thus getting plenty of love and adoration? Will he welcome it as clearly it is a big financial investment, so someone else footing the bill is appreciated. Either way, I don't think Savvidis will appreciate having being blindsided (if that is indeed what has happened). Everything in Greece must be taken with a grain of salt, so even with this announcement, until there is a bulldozer getting to work who knows if he is legit in investing 150 Million Euros or whatever the cost is. I guess we will know more in the coming days, but you imagine that the when the sun rises in the next few hours in Greece, PAE will have to take a public stance on the matter.

I wonder what that would mean for most of us given we live abroad. The past few seasons, between Sports Plus and Antenna we had access to every PAOK game. At least in Australia, I think the US was the same as well. Maybe a move to Open will mean a better quality of picture, but I think that is more a satellite thing than a Greek TV station thing. The Satellites they use to pick up the channels have to be at least 50 years old.

hahaha fantastic, we are well and truly in the swing of silly season. The longer this drags on, as tends to be the case, you think it is less likely he will actually sign. Conflicting reports is interesting, especially considering the initial reports that he had agreed to come where coming from Scotland.....

Looks like Lucescu will remain and preparations for the next season will swing into action. I hope the whole club is united and in agreement on this, the last thing we want is at the first hurdle for the board, Lucescu and Savvidis to spiral and we are left without a manager in the early part of the season. I think it is the right move, although I am a self-confessed Lucescu lover. If the board and higher ups (Savvidis' boys) have moved past whatever has happened then I think he is the best manager who gives a shot of competing for the title next season and having a decent run in Europe. Now for the love of God unlike last summer, bring the man the players he wants and don't deals fall over for the sake of saving $100-200k!

Never on the radar unfortunately. He has had a great season in the Bundesliga, coming back to Greece won't be on his agenda for the next 2-3 years minimum.

I guess it depends which "knowledgeable" PAOK reporters you listen to. Usually they are quite consistent with their news, like atm the word is Konstantelias wants to stay. Last season I distinctly recall all the news being about Konstantelias halfway out the door, until Savvidis stepped in and changed his mind. Within that conversation was a promise of a new, more lucrative deal. I honestly never heard that PAOK was keen to sell him last season (doesn't make it not true of course). PAOK in the offseason after winning the title, was stingy. Players didn't come over the haggling over a couple of hundred thousand Euros. Meite, Pelkas, Chatzidiakos/Wieteska, plus signing free agents Lovren and Colley to cover arguably our most important player from last season in Koulierakis. I therefore think it is more likely they promised him a new deal but since they had him locked in anyway, didn't do it to save $. Whether they are trying to rewrite history now to save face is another matter.

Something that they promised to do last season. He rejected Salzburg on the condition that they were going to give him a new deal, with bigger $. It never happened, I consider it a minor miracle he wants to stay another season. PAE made plenty of mistakes last summer but somehow not renewing Konstantelias hasn't bitten us (yet). Give the kid a big contract, and fire him up for a big season.

Have you guys heard the famous quote from a famous former president of yours? "Don't believe everything you read on the internet"- Abraham Lincoln If I could figure out how to consistently post images in here, it would've been much funnier but my point still stands!

Disappointing to miss out on 2nd, but probably about what we deserve this season. Hopefully we can take care of the winless in the playoffs AEK and secure 3rd. From there we are hoping for Olympiacos to win the Cup so we can play in the Europa League and have a start date of early August.

Awful by Wieteska

Hattrick for him overnight in the derby against Porto. After a slow start and some criticism from the media and fans, he has really grown into the season and is having a great year. Here are his goals from the big win, it sends Benfica top 3 points clear of Sporting Lisbon who have a game in hand.

No squad announced for this one (yet again) but it seems everyone is fit and available except Lovren. Hopefully the other game ends in a draw and we can pick up a win here and continue to close in on the Champions League spot. Won't be easy, Olympiakos have been consistent this year and are on the verge of winning the title. Lucescu has only beaten Mendilibar once and we only have 1 win in our last 7 against them at Toumba.

After years of lacking a quality striker, all of sudden the Ethniki has 3 playing at a high level + Tzimas about to join a Premier League side. And you can throw in Kostoulas to that mix, although I am not sure that he actually has a natural position and I don't think he is an out and out striker. As a general rule, I don't think Greek footballers should be moving at such a young age to England. It didn't work out for Tzolis, Tsimikas really had to bide his time and was almost unsighted for a whole season until becoming a trusted depth player. Mavropanos went to Arsenal super young and eventually had to move to Germany for 2-3 years before moving back to EPL. I just don't think it suits our young players, especially so early in their professional careers. Different to go back as a more seasoned professional who has spent a few years playing abroad. Which is why I think moving to Germany should always be the priority. Beyond that, Portugal, Belgium and even Holland are a good smaller step-up before making a bigger leap. These countries and leagues have a reputation for developing talent and being patient. Unlike your England's, Spain's and Italy's which are a lot more cut throat. I hope Tzimas is the exception, Brighton has become known for signing talents and on selling them for a big profit. There is always added pressure and expectation when you come with a decently sized price tag. Good luck to the kid and I am sure he will get his shot with the Ethniki in the near-ish future.

I think it will be Kedziora, you can't start Vieirinha away at AEK. Maybe off the bench if we are chasing an equaliser. Wieteska and Michailidis at CB. Either way we are disrupting our back 4.

The issue with Kotarski is next season he is entering the final year of his contract. That takes some negotiating power out of our hands. I think ultimately he will be sold for 6-10 million, his form slump this season probably has also impacted his potential price. I am more interested in who will become the no.1 next season. Will Pavlenka be renewed and given first go (as has been mentioned in media), did they sign Gugeshashvili with the intention of him being the no.1 and signing a new 2nd keeper? Or is Pavlenka also on his way out and Gugeshashvili is the no.2 and we are looking to spend $(haha) on a good level goalkeeper.

Interesting to see what Jovanovic does with the goalkeeper. Vlachodimos is 3rd-4th choice at Newcastle and rarely makes the bench, let alone get any minutes. His last competitive hit out was in November for the Ethniki. Mandas plays more frequently, but is still 2nd choice at Lazio. He has 10 appearances for them this season. His most recent games being about a month ago when he played a league and cup game back-to-back. That leaves Tzolakis as the keeper with the most minutes and rhythm. Jovanovic has been loyal to Vlachodimos but maybe 4 months with no competitive football will sway him to one of the other two options.

I believe his Mother is Greek. As you said Soprano, doesn't really matter. George Baldock had one grandparent who was Greek, and we can see how tight he had become with the squad and how much he is missed. If he is good enough to ever get a call-up to the senior time, he will be embraced by the other lads no doubt. And if he plays well, then the fans will love him no matter what.

Kafeino time, 100% it was Despodov! He is sick of riding the bench while he watches Zivkovic start every game. He is trying to maximise his minutes.

2nd season running we have been knocked out of Europe without showing any fight. Brugge last year and now Steaua. Clearly outplayed across 2 matches and we are sent packing with our tail between our legs. Losing happens it is part of sport, but there is a way to lose and to barely provide a yelp is what stings the most. In saying that, in the first leg the moments weren't with us. Who knows if Samatta holds his run and makes it 2-0 maybe Taison isn't as frustrated and doesn't get himself sent off. Maybe he still would've anyway. Maybe Steaua would've found a way back into the game regardless of any red card. The truth is what Dutch and Blackhawk said on the previous page. Across 3 games against them we were awful, they outplayed us comfortably.

He trained today and is available again. But I would say his chances of starting regardless are almost zero. Taison, Pelkas and even shifting Konstantelias to the left would be prefered as starting options over Shoretire. This match is massive, realistically we don't have any chance at winning the title. Numbers wise if we somehow find a way to beat this well drilled and organised Olympiacos team, we will only be 5 points from the top with the playoffs to come. Again I don't think we are consistent enough to contend this season whatever the points difference, but a 5-6 point gap is chasable. A loss and the knives will be out. Knocked out in Europe and -11 from the top of the table within 3 days? Yikes it will be a rough week.

No doubt he does. In other countries (mainly Australia and the US) around the world concussion is an automatic stand down from playing and training anywhere between 10-14 days. In Greece it is take the weekend off levendi and we'll see you on Monday! Just on a sidenote, it is an area in which football does lag behind in other sports. Concussion is a huge issue in sports and while not as prevalent in football, it is something that isn't really taken as serious. I know a few years ago the EPL that had introduced an extra sub for a concussed player but I am not sure that is a thing anymore.

Great win, fantastic to see the boys let loose and bang 5 in! I feel some of this is down to the suspension of our 5 players a day or so before the game. Seems the lads rallied and really wanted to put on a performance. The moments went our way for sure, when it rains it pours. Samatta's goals are great for him and the team. By all reports he is a good teammate and a professional, nice to see him on the scoresheet. He may yet have a role to play, especially against Steaua considering our striker situation. Who knows what this season could've been if Lucescu had got his wish and we had signed Pelkas and Meite in July instead of January..... We wouldn't be 10 points (7 currently with Olympiacos to play tomorrow) from the top of the league that is for sure.