Savvas Giombanoglou writes about PAOK’s draw with Ionikos showing that priorities have changed in Toumba as there are opportunities for differentiation elsewhere.
Razvan Lucescu spoke of “priorities” before the game against Midtjylland last Thursday. It is now clear that PAOK’s priorities have changed after qualifying for the 16 of the Conference League.
The championship from the moment when the gap to the first place has not fallen below 9 points is no longer the top priority of PAOK and that is a matter of course. Maybe things would have been different if Razvan Lucescu’s side had won the derby with Olympiakos in Toumba. But he didn’t succeed…
And with the opportunity for differentiation being greater in Europe, in the cup than in the league, games like this are expected to take place with Ionikos. With PAOK starting with 8 changes compared to last Thursday’s game to put his mind elsewhere, stay in the draw and be happy with that.
There are many excuses. The PAOK coach’s extensive rotation was logical in that it would hamper his side’s performance. As you can see, Dikefalos is not the same team, without Ingasson in defence, Kurtic in the axis, Zivkovic even if he isn’t at his best at the end. Even without Tsuba Akpom, at least for now, leading his attack…
Of course, the many changes that took place – some of which were forced – weaken the argument that Dikefalos may have been tired and therefore failed to assert himself against the Ionian.
Tsolak, who played for the Danes in the 120 minutes, might have been tired. It could have been Biseswar, who has played 38 of his side’s 40 games this season.
Swab, who lost in the second half, cannot tire, neither Zampa, nor Sastre, who is not on the European list, nor Mihai and Michailidis, who started the stopper together as a key duo.
In the second half he did nothing at all
PAOK had the incredible triple chance before the first minute of play was even complete with Ionikos, with Tsolak’s beam and Biseswar and Mitritsa failing to send the ball into Houtesiotis’ nets.
He had the penalty phase that Swab used to open the shot on goal, and as the game progressed he didn’t have a clear chance to score. And he had the leading player Alexandros Paschalakis for another match, who got the two fours with Mantzi and Fly and the shot from Cabral in the first half
“In the second half, I don’t remember anything except the goal I conceded,” said Razvan Lucescu after the game, correctly remembering nothing else. Because nothing else was actually mainly done by our own team.
However, we said that the priorities for this year’s PAOK have changed and its fans should get used to the thought that other games like this one against Ionikos could come before the end of the championship. The games with Gent in Europe and the Greek Cup semi-finals with Olympiakos will be different. For that they should be sure…
Scenarios from Brazil for August are increasing
PAOK have closed the Ingason front with the Icelander’s contract extension but there is still work to be done. With Ingason he closed those he was dying to keep in Toumba for years to come. From now on, it’s about choices and choices made by Jose Boto and Razvan Lucescu.
Reports from Brazil about Douglas Augusto have been piling up for days. First there were Botafogo and other teams from their homeland interested in Dikefalos’ midfield.
Today there were reports of interest from Sporting Lisbon. According to information emerging from “people close to the footballer”, in August Sporting do not want to be able to meet PAOK’s demands, which reach 6 million euros.
If this scenario is true it will be very interesting because it will also show how Jose Boto will work against a team from his home country. And this time not buying, but selling.
However, Douglas Augusto’s contract with PAOK expires in the summer of 2023 and at some point that should also be on the agenda of the sporting director of Dikefalos.
