PAOK doesn’t “finish” its games and pays for it

PAOK held their first away win of the year but lost it to Diamantis, one of their own children, conceding a goal in the final minute of added time.

The fact that they lost two points that keep Lucescu’s team within striking distance of Panathinaikos and could add even more interest to the derby between the two teams in Toumba just after the break is the last thing that should worry them.

After all, the record is pretty even considering what PAOK suffered in Crete, they almost suffered in the match against Atromitos a few weeks ago. And then it equalized in the 3rd minute of stoppage time, taking the win on Caled Narey’s buzzer beater just late in the game.

PAOK seem to be facing a very important problem in goal that doesn’t allow them to clear the games and leaves them acrobatics until the last minute. Since Lucescu’s team creates chances but doesn’t convert them, the problem is primarily the playing condition of the players and secondarily the poor quality of the final work in attack. That is, the one that was not included in the transfers.

After giving OFI the opportunity to twice threaten his home side with mistakes made by his players, Dikefalos took the lead in the 8th minute and scored his first away goal of the year with Narey. From 8′ to 113′ before conceding the equaliser, he again missed many chances and sealed the win.

The management of Oliveira is special

One of the most characteristic was Nelson Oliveira’s misguided header in the 37th minute, not least a reference to the dates that apply to Dicephalos forwards. Lucescu insists the Portuguese – like his player – knows there’s no other way to get back to 100% than making games.

Oliveira isn’t in the best form, which is evident on the pitch, but he won’t reach the level he’s been working at in training just now. This process is painful, perhaps unfair to Brandon Thomas, but necessary.

Of course, despite his fighting and running style of play, the Spaniard does not seem to have an easy goal when he is in the opponent’s penalty area. Two or three times when he was in a firing position he didn’t have the required reactions.

He wanted attacking players

The fact that PAOK needed additional reinforcements in their attacking line is a given, even if their coach was focused on the need to bring in another midfielder. Not that he was wrong as PAOK doesn’t have much to look forward to there at the moment. And that’s because he’s only in good shape with Narey, who has been by far his most prolific player on the field.

Under these conditions, Razvan Lucescu’s team goes into the break undefeated and with the absolute number of home wins, but without an away win. And to achieve a harvest that doesn’t look bad but could easily have been better if the team had been more effective in attack.

Now the PAOK coach has two weeks to do what he does best. Working with his players and trying to find solutions to the problems he is facing from the inside.

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