CincinnatiAek

Team signed Levi Garcia and former Paok player Shakhov. Still need another stopper and someone with some speed in the midfield.

Aek v St. Gallen looks like a toss-up. The winner gets Wolfsburg which was the team to avoid.

Cup final is postponed again due to a positive test by an Olympiakos player. Looking at 9/9 or 9/12 now.

And Mantalos is apparently staying. Good news as I'm not convinced they would have upgraded the position. Bad news in that the club needs the money.

Karim Ansarifard official for 3 years. I like that move. Galanopoulos renewed so Kastanos likely out of the picture. Mixed on that one but like to keep an acadmey kid. Hopefully he can stay healthy this season. Mantalos onto UAE for some nice retirement money. Guessing he returns to Aek to finish his career after a few years in the UAE. Guessing they add 2 more players. Would like anothe keeper but don't see that happening.

Looks like Mantalos may be moving to the Emirates. Team needs to use the money to buy some players and fill some gaps. Not optimistic they will make the right choices.

Hnid is now official. Team is expected to sign another forward in the near future. Would love if they also nabbed another midfielder since Szymanski had surgery and will be out for 2-3 months.

Team reportedly also turned down 3.5 million for Mantalos from a middle eastern team.

Looks like AEK is getting Nassim Hnid, a Tunisian CB. He is coming to Athens tomorrow. It appears there are still some details to work through on the transfer fee.

I don't see them adding a right back, but I am willing to be surprised. They are trying to move Verde and Oikonomou. I understand with Oikonomou, not so much with Verde as there are no other natural right wingers on the team. I don't love Verde as a player but he is still somewhat young and can improve. I think you have to either renew Livaja soon or move him while there is some interest.

After some setbacks they managed to sign Insua. If they can get another forward and center back they will be in good shape to finish third again.

Looks like Barkas to Celtic is official. Hope they can put that money to good use. Will probably need someone other than Tsitontas for the coming season.

Sure, but AEK has been doing this for a few seasons. Won the unexpected title a few seasons ago, somehow got to the Champions League group stage. Put all the money into the stadium to reduce debt/be debt free. Then proceeded to ignore roster problems for the next two seasons. I understand looking for free transfers but they had a chance when they qualified for the group stage to spend a little money and secure some quality players. This season, everyone knew Hult was leaving and they ignored that at the deadline as well as the gaping holes on defense.

Sadly, this is true. Team is just coasting until they move into the new stadium.

Did enough to beat OFI 2-0 at home, today. Blew a ton of good chances in the 2nd half. Araujo and Verde are really struggling to finish.

Edit - up 2 points pending PAOK's CAS appeal. At home v OFI on Wednesday.

Big win 1-4 today. Could have been a bigger margin with better finishing. Up 3 pending the CAS appeal results.

Agree on the derbies. Lost 3-2 against PAO earlier in the season after leading 0-2. Have generally been bad against the other top teams.

Shocked they won today. Can't remember the last time they beat PAOK before today. They are so far behind because the team has little depth, has had a revolving door of managers, and has had some injuries. Team has needed CB help for years and still trots out the same guys. There is also a lack of creativity on the finishing end. They tend to struggle against teams that park the bus and had some bad draws against lower table teams this season.

Crazy Greek cup semi v Aris. Managed to get through in Stoppage time. Highlights are crazy. Not sure we will be able to field a team going forward. Lots of red and yellow cards dished out in this one.

Oliveira and Livaja need to be on the field at the same time. Symanski's finishing was awful. He should have scored twice.

2-2 at OAKA against Aris. Should have won the game comfortably but miffed some chances. Mantalos with a bonehead foul to gift Aris a penalty. This team misses Vranjes already.

We shall see. Very talented but a head case from what I have read. Was frequently late for or missed meetings at some of his other stops.

They have needed help at CB for several years and have not filled the gap. Can't keep trotting the current group out there.

Vranjes loan period is apparently over. That is a big blow to a team with little defensive depth.