PAOK Season Preview.

PAOK Season Preview

By Alain Anastasakis

A summer of unrest followed by more melodrama about TV rights being inserted between two transfer rumours, it's becoming more and more difficult every year to talk about football in Greece. 

And PAOK is no exception to the rule.

 

Back to the pitch! The return of Razvan Lucescu followed by a very successful pre-season, unfortunately provokes contradictory feelings regarding the performances in the European Cup. 

The departure of Tzolis, who has not been replaced at the moment, the injury of Nelson Oliveira, which led to the return of Chuba Akpom, the bad form from some veterans in the team can surely cause contradictory feelings among the PAOKtzides.

Blame it on the transfers, first of all, where we went, within two weeks, from Victor Claesson and Jan Boril, two high-level players in their national team and recognized on the European stage, to Alexandru Mitrita and Sidcley, two players known to the Romanian technician. 

The first he rubbed shoulders with at Al-Hilal, the second, recruited on the advice of his father Mircea who was Vitaly Mykolenko's replacement at Dynamo Kiev. Mitrita, Razvan's fellow citizen, could be a good surprise, even if we can legitimately wonder about his capacity to be the best solution to replace the Wonderkid Tzolis, who has gone to England. 

The second, who played only 38 full games combined in 3 and a half years, has however led to much more doubts.

We cannot say that, at the moment, and we will insist on this point, a significant qualitative improvement. 

One could also blame a lack of ideas regarding the transfer market where, following the terrible injury of Nelson Oliveira, PAOK decided to urgently bring back Chuba Akpom. It seems clear that Razvan Lucescu is keen to find most of the squad that led to the title of champion in 2019. This team, invincible and who had one of the greatests style of play in Europe two and a half years ago , unfortunately suffers from the weight of years.

 

Can we be optimistic? The answer is "yes, in moderation". We all know the intrinsic value and quality of every player, and these have the means to once again bring PAOK to the top of the championship. 

At least in the short term. It wouldn't be realistic to say that a team made up mostly of players over 32 years old is a long-term vision. 

This will be Lucescu's task. Better than anyone, he knows what his players are capable of, even if it means appearing limited in certain choices, but he will have to take into account all the parameters. The management of the "Old Guard", the management of the kids from the Academy, the performances of the B Team now coached by Pablo Garcia who is supposed to provide a solid backup to the first team, possible future other transfers... 

At the moment, we face an equation with many unknowns. And the General, recognized tactician and leader of men, will have to find the solution, just as the PAE will be required to provide answers to the fans' legitimate questions. 

Under a very turbulent period at Toumba. "Good organization", "Tactical strength" or "emotions feeling" will no longer be a sufficient answer this time. 

It will be more than necessary to add "accountability" to the dictionary.

Time will tell.

Hellas Football 

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