EL-LP-MD3: PAOK - Viktoria Plzeň (24.10.24, 19:45 EEST)

[PAOKARA]

2-2!

[Brklyngrk]

Nice comeback - needed that point!!

[Blackhawk]

Considering the way this game went, the tie is a good result. That might not be enough for qualification in the end.

[pash]

Every single point counts. This actually brings us up a couple places in the standings, amazingly.

[PaokCT]

Need a minimum 9

[pash]

We're not talking about your mother here

[Bananas]

In the end a good point.  Agree with pash, every point counts.  More importantly, it'll hopefully lift the spirit of the players for the rest of the competition.

Stating the obvious but the quality of teams in the EL is a step up from the Conference League.  We were hoping to have 6 or at least 4 points by now.

[paokarag4]

13 hours ago, PaokCT said:

Maybe Lucescu ain't it....

You really have had it out for Lucescu ever since he booted your boy Warda to the curb for good. 

Comfortably our most successful coach ever, if he ain't it then I don't think any available and willing manager could come in and lift this team to better results. Also for the record we are equal top in the league. Yes Europe so far has been disappointing, especially the last 2 games but as @Bananas pointed out this is a step up in competition/level and the whole squad hasn't been able to adjust (coaches and players alike). 

I do realise that you were probably half joking, but I also know you have never been Lucescu's biggest fan. I would point to Pana as an example of a club who knee-jerked into sacking their coach (Jovanovic) off the back of a poor European campaign. Almost a year later they are still chasing their tail and are teetering on the brink of sacking a 3rd coach in less than 12 months. 

Perspective is also key, we are a Greek club. If Razvan is moved on, I don't think Jurgen Klopp is banging down the door to take the reigns. We have a good coach who understands the club and the landscape of Greek football, as well as having a proven track record of winning trophies. He is by no means untouchable, but he has more than earnt the right to steady the ship. 

[PaokCT]

My biggest problem with Lucescu is his stubborn ways of not changing much tactically on a game to game basis. He has some good strengths, but also some glaring flaws. How often does it seem like we easily possess the ball all game, and then give up counter goal after counter goal. Also, we are the Champions of Greek football, yet this is the product we put out on the field and are at the bottom of the Europa League? Is that the standard? Win the league and do well in the Conference League? I expected more. Yes, he is at the top of the league, but currently, this season so far has been a disappointment. Also, I hate his victim mentality that he has. It does more damage to the team than good. But you'd be correct in saying that I am half joking. I don't think they should get rid of him, but I do think he's not the savior many point him out to be..

[pash]

Not only is your broadcast partner better looking than you, he's also smarter!

[PaokCT]

Ever since we got rid of Koutsianakoulis , aka the Greek Messi it has been downhill. Bring back Vitolo!

[Blackhawk]

22 hours ago, pash said:

Every single point counts. This actually brings us up a couple places in the standings, amazingly.

pash is correct as always:

1.	Lazio Roma	3	3	0	0	9	:	1	9
2.	Tottenham Hotspur	3	3	0	0	6	:	1	9
3.	Anderlecht Brussels	3	3	0	0	6	:	2	9
4.	Ajax Amsterdam	3	2	1	0	8	:	1	7
5.	Galatasaray Istanbul	3	2	1	0	9	:	6	7
6.	FC Midtjylland	3	2	1	0	4	:	1	7
7.	Eintracht Frankfurt	3	2	1	0	7	:	4	7
8.	Athletic Bilbao	3	2	1	0	4	:	1	7
9.	Bodo Glimpt	3	2	1	0	5	:	3	7
10.	Olympique Lyon	3	2	0	1	6	:	2	6
11.	Glasgow Rangers	3	2	0	1	7	:	4	6
12.	Olympiakos Piraeus	3	2	0	1	4	:	2	6
13.	FCSB	3	2	0	1	5	:	5	6
14.	Fenerbahce Istanbul	3	1	2	0	4	:	3	5
15.	SK Slavia Prague	3	1	1	1	3	:	2	4
16.	Hoffenheim	3	1	1	1	3	:	3	4
17.	Real Sociedad	3	1	1	1	4	:	4	4
18.	AS Roma	3	1	1	1	2	:	2	4
19.	FC Porto	3	1	1	1	5	:	6	4
20.	Manchester United FC	3	0	3	0	5	:	5	3
21.	Viktoria Plzen	3	0	3	0	5	:	5	3
22.	IF Elfsborg	3	1	0	2	6	:	7	3
23.	Ferencvaros Budapest	3	1	0	2	3	:	4	3
24.	AZ Alkmaar	3	1	0	2	3	:	5	3
25.	Malmo FF	3	1	0	2	2	:	4	3
26.	SC Braga	3	1	0	2	3	:	6	3
27.	Besiktas Istanbul	3	1	0	2	2	:	7	3
28.	FC Twente Enschede	3	0	2	1	2	:	4	2
29.	Union St. Gilloise	3	0	1	2	1	:	3	1
30.	PAOK Thessaloniki	3	0	1	2	3	:	6	1
31.	Ludogorets Razgad	3	0	1	2	0	:	4	1
32.	OGC Nice	3	0	1	2	2	:	6	1
33.	RFS	3	0	1	2	3	:	7	1
34.	Maccabi Tel Aviv	3	0	0	3	2	:	6	0
35.	Dynamo Kiev	3	0	0	3	0	:	6	0
36.	Qarabag FK	3	0	0	3	1	:	8	0

 

[Blackhawk]

Here are our percentages of qualifying from the League Stage:

[paokarag4]

11 hours ago, PaokCT said:

 Also, I hate his victim mentality that he has. It does more damage to the team than good. But you'd be correct in saying that I am half joking. I don't think they should get rid of him, but I do think he's not the savior many point him out to be..

This part I agree with. It isn't uncommon in Greek football to have that trait come out unfortunately but I too am not a fan.

The way I see it, Lucescu has similarities to Mourinho in that aspect. Both say outrageous things in the media that drives opposition fans and clubs up the wall, while ultimately deflecting pressure and attention from his team's performance and results. Everyone spends the week talking about what Lucescu said and not about how PAOK churned out an average performance. I am sure if we ever got Razvan on the pod(bring it back?), he would acknowledge that his goal. 

In terms of being a "saviour" I mean do we need saving? How many trophies do you want before you are convinced he has already saved us by winning one third of our titles in our history.