SL - R11: Larisa - PAOK ( 01 Feb 17, 19:30 EET )

[Blackhawk]

    VS  

MATCHUP:          AE Larisa - P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki
COMPETITION:   Superleague – Round 11
DATE:                  01-February-2017
TIME:                   19:30 GR  (17:30 GMT, 11:30 CST, 04:30 AEDT next day)
CITY/STADIUM:   Larisa – AEL Arena (Capacity: 16,118)
REFEREES:  
TELEVISION:       Novasports 2 (Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Bulgaria), Sport Plus (USA, Canada, Australia)

Larisa – PAOK history:

Superleague

2011-2016:  Larisa played in lower divisions
2010-2011:  1:2 (Contreras, Athanasiadis) - Attendance: 12,829
2009-2010:  2:1 (Contreras) - Attendance: 6,848
2008-2009:  0:2 (Bakayoko, Conceicao) - Attendance: 4,669    (Playoffs)
2008-2009:  0:0 - Attendance: 4,611
2007-2008:  4:3 (Athanasiadis 2, Balafas) - Attendance: ?
2006-2007:  1:2 (Mieciel 2) - Attendance: 7,358
2005-2006:  2:1 (Mieciel) - Attendance: 8,906

Alpha Ethniki (Professional)

1996-2005:  Larisa played in lower divisions
1995-1996:  2:1 (Gioukoudis-p) - Attendance: 1,618
1994-1995:  0:2 (Anastasiadis, Kapetanopoulos) - Attendance: ?
1993-1994:  1:1 (Karasavvidis) - Attendance: ?
1992-1993:  2:1 (Djurdjevic) - Attendance: ?
1991-1992:  0:0 - Attendance: ?
1990-1991:  1:1 (Lagonidis) - Attendance: ?
1989-1990:  0:1 (Skartados) - Attendance: ?
1988-1989:  2:1 (Giagkos) - Attendance: ?
1987-1988:  1:1 (Borbokis) - Attendance: ?
1986-1987:  2:1 (Vasilakos) - Attendance: ?
1985-1986:  2:1 (Skartados) - Attendance: ?
1984-1985:  1:2 (Dimopoulos 2) - Attendance: ?
1983-1984:  1:1 (Dimopoulos) - Attendance: ?
1982-1983:  1:0 - Attendance: ?
1981-1982:  1:0 - Attendance: ?
1980-1981:  0:0 - Attendance: ?
1979-1980:  0:3 (Koudas, Orfanos) - Attendance: ?

Alpha Ethniki (Amateur/Semi-Professional)

1978-1979:  1:1 (Guerino) - Attendance: ?
1975-1978:  Larisa played in lower divisions
1974-1975:  0:2 (Kermanidis, Guerino) - Attendance: ?
1973-1974:  1:1 (Aslanidis) - Attendance: ?
1964-1973:  Larisa played in lower divisions
 

GAMES:    27
WINS:        8
TIES:         9
LOSSES:   10

[Blackhawk]

Looks like the game will not be played as scheduled. Who knows when it will be played. Don't forget we still have to play Round 1 and 2 of Superleague.

[Blackhawk]

Game is on Sunday. Again one of those early games. At least it will be on TV.

[pash]

Amazing that it'll take us through mid-month January to finally reach the midway point of the season.

[italosPAOK4]

parte th nikh kai tous 3 ba8mous giati TA MYALA MAS PONANE ! 

[pash]

Matos trained normally today and should be available for this match. Campos did not play vs Panaitolikos due to what seems to be a light sprain on the leg, and trained individually again. Ivic had said a few weeks ago that he will likely use Matos as a winger in the future - with Kitsiou having had a decent match (and that goal), this might be when he chooses to try it out.

[pash]

Campos is available for the match. Matos is still a little sick but might play.

 

However, this might be a moot point as the match might have to be postponed due to the snow.

[Dutch Eagle]

Indeed. The stadium of Larisa looks like this:

[pash]

Can't help but feel we might see a day coming soon that has multiple league AND cup matches happening at the same time. Not sure how many matches have had to be postponed due to weather, but it's def quite a few.

[pash]

Game has been officially postponed.

[Blackhawk]

There is one fascinating thing in the picture above. Nobody is cleaning the snow!!!

I am pretty sure Kougias just said "F*** this I am not paying any extra money to get the snow cleared. Let the SL just cancel it."

It just show how inadequate are the football facilities in Greece. And we are talking about one of the latest stadiums that was built. Prior to this latest bad weather has anyone noticed the pitch at the AEL Arena this season? The few games I saw on TV it was just one of the worst pitches in SL. Only PAS Giannina pitch was worse.

So SL just postponed a game that was already postponed once. 

[pash]

From what I read, they were concerned that their snowclearing efforts would damage the turf. I read the same thing about Iraklis just a few minutes ago.

[Blackhawk]

Believe me the turf at AEL Arena was already severely damaged. Any additional damage would probably be good as it would speed up possible turf replacement. 

[Blackhawk]

Possible date for this game to be rescheduled is February 1, 2017.

[pash]

The team's been posting videos of training at Toumba, and the field looks completely fine. Good to see at least one team in Greece is cleaning some goddamn snow.

[Dutch Eagle]

The game is now programmed for Wednesday February 1st at 19:30 GR. 

[pash]

I have a feeling we'll be seeing our cup team play this one. Going to need some rotation with so many players out due to cards (Shakhov, Klaus, Mistakidis) and or injury (Pelkas, Campos?), and with our playing against Asteras on the 5th, we're going to need to save some player's legs (Matos, Leovac, Biseswar?). Hopefully things shake out positively for both Pelkas and Campos. Wouldn't be too surprised if this is the game where we see Matos play as a winger.

 

                      --Glykos--

    --Kitsiou--Varela--Malezas--Leovac--

              --Canas--Cimirot--

    --Campos--Biseswar--Deligiannidis--

                   --Koulouris--

[Blackhawk]

I saw Larisa play Iraklis yesterday (1:1 the result with Larisa player Rentzas scoring both goals). Larisa is one really bad team. Worse than Iraklis. We should have no problem beating them no matter who we will field in this game.

[pash]

Probably a good thing. I was just watching the sideline camera the team posted for the final Panaitolikos match, and Varela was so exhausted that he had to lie down at the final whistle. And remember that last, short run he did in the closing minutes of the game? So gassed that he nearly took a knee. He really needs the extra few days off.

For fun, here's an off-the-wall lineup made up mostly of B-squad players. I think I'd still take them to win against Larissa.

 

                           --Brkic--

    --Kitsiou--Chatziisaias--Malezas--Deligiannidis--

                      --Kace--Charisis--

            --Lamprou--Biseswar--Korovesis--

                         --Koulouris--

[Blackhawk]

Lambrou and Korovesis might not even be PAOK players by game time.

[pash]

Live a little, blackhawk! Toss out some lineups!

[pash]

In other news, Henrique and Mistakidis will both be available for this game. Henrique apparently trained normally with the team and should slot in quickly. For Mistakidis, he will serve his suspension during our Feb 19th game vs Veria. Looks like Ivic wants to make sure he has at least some wingers available.

[Blackhawk]

3 hours ago, pash said:

Live a little, blackhawk! Toss out some lineups!

Here you go. Living large.

---------------- Glykos ----------------

Matos - Varela - Crespo - Leovac

----- Cimirot ------------ Shakhov ----

Mystakidis - Biseswar - Henrique

-----------  Koulouris -------------------

[Bananas]

Varela, if anything you'd rest with Malezas.  It's a bit risky to throw Chatzi into the mix at this stage, just when the team is finally beginning to hum with a series of wins.  And with the Schalke game coming closer a slip up is the last thing we need.  Besides, if Chatzi cracks under the pressure it'll seriously damage his confidence.  Better to use him towards the end of the season or even next season.

[pash]

I'll bet you $50 that Varela's running on fumes at this point! $100!

If Chatziisaias gets no time at all this season, he ain't sticking around, I guarantee you. Ivic would be wise to put him in at least as a sub to close down easy games.