So, both Christos Patsatsoglou (former right back of Olympiakos and Omonia) and Christian Nasuti (centre back last year for Aris who we are loaning from River Plate I believe) signed with us today. Not bad for some last minute attempts. In particular, I’m happy with Nasuti. We definately needed someone else back there after Majstorovic’s departure and Nasuti is a suitable replacement, considering he is already used to the league and country, hopefully saving some valuable transition time seeing as our season has already started.
The Patsatsoglou signing I have mixed feelings about, but I would rather wait and see him play a game or two for us before I make up my mind. Obviously there is the history with Olympiakos, though at the age of 31, he might still have something left in him… hey, at least he isn’t 35 like some one else on our team (but we still like him).
So Friday evening comes and PAO draws 1-1 with Xanthi at home. Saturday evening comes and Iraklis beat Olympiakos 2-1. Looks like Sunday may turn out to be a pretty good day I was thinking…
and then AEK loses 2-1 to Kerkyra.
The game was played in Patra since Kerkyra’s stadium was not yet up to Superleague standards. A large number of AEK fans from around Greece filled a few gates anticipating a good result and a positive start to the season. Dellas and Lybe were back in the starting 11 and to be honest, most AEK fans I heard from were expecting a fairly easy win.
We started the match in a strong position, controlling possession, moving the ball up, laying off some nice runs, and at times coming agonizingly close to scoring. Then, completely out of the blue, Diop slipped on the grass leaving his man wide open and with enough time to launch a deadly curving shot right past Saja’s fingertips. 1-0 Kerkyra. One shot, one goal…
We picked ourselves up again but it was clear the team had taken a blow. We struggled to establish much of a rhythm, Leonardo was not at his best, Djebbour disappeared at times from the game, and chances were becoming more and more scarce. Half time came a t a good time.
Alright, second half starts. The score is only 1-0, definitely enough time to score and equalizer and score the winner. Afterall, you would think that would be fairly easy with an offense of Djebbour, Libe, Scocco, Leonardo, and both Blanco and Burns on the bench. Sure, these guys may not have the scoring abilities of Rooney or Drogba, but they are all above average for the standard in Greece. Surely, they can score a couple of goals against a team like Kerkyra?? Where am I going wrong here?
Well, turns out they all forgot how to finish a chance off ever since that game with Sydney FC over the summer. We pressured throughout the second, and despite playing some unattractive football at times, created chance after chance but failed to score each and every time. Djebbour and Leonardo both had a number of good opportunities in front of the net, Blanco was caught waiting for a pass in a good position (and with half the net open) but the ball never was passed to him, and it wasn’t until a bullet of a shot from Djebbour off a freekick did we manage to score. The score was already 2-0 for Kerkyra at this time and it seemed quite obvious we wouldn’t leave with much to be happy about.
Our starting lineup consisted of Saja (considering how few shots he had on him and the number of goals scored, not his best game), Jahic (pretty poor game, tried to get more involved but just doesn’t have the technique required), Manolas and Dellas (both did what they had to do when they were needed, for the most part), Karabelas (considering it was his first game in a while, played alright, but as usual nothing special), Scocco (started off strong but became uninterested as the match progressed, and lacked concentration in front of the net), Diop (very poor game, and I’m starting to loose faith in this guy), Kafes (average game at best, made some mistakes along with Diop), Leonardo (not nearly as good as he was in Scotland), Libe (seemed to be putting his heart into the game, was involved in many plays up front, had some chances to score and took a few shots), and Djebbour (scored, came close to scoring on other occasions, maybe a bit too selfish at times).
Burns, Blanco, and Eder were our subs (Diop, Leonardo, and Scocco came off for them). Burns had a good game against his team from last season, and delivered some great crosses, even when under pressure. Blanco did what he could, but if given some better passes could have been more threatening (by the way, this was his first season without scoring in the first game). Eder, as every other time I saw him during the pre season, I was impressed by. Great technique, not too selfish, and I really believe he has the potential to become a key player for AEK.
Having said all that, its not nearly the end of the season for us. If we can tighten up in front of the net we will already be on much firmer ground. Fortunately, PAO and Oly dropped points so we’re all in the same boat. Its only the first game and things can very easily change (for better of for worse). The addition of Nasuti will help with our defense without a doubt and, if it makes anyone else feel better (I know it does for me), the new jerseys look very nice. Unfortunately, the new Kino sponsor ruins it quite a bit but hey, we need the cash.
The saga with Moras is over,Bologna want to keep him and he won’t be going to Greece.This was his first choice.Sources say we are close to signing Martin Yiranek,first choice stopper for Spartak Moscow having played over 130 games for them since 2004 and who was a part of the Czech squad for Euro 2004.
In other news,officials met with representatives of Nacho Scocco and tabled him a new extended offer worth roughly 1 million Euro’s per season plus bonuses,easily making him AEK’S highest ever paid player.His manager’s seemed impressed and informed AEK that they will have a decision by September.Hopefully this means any chance of offloading our best ball player in the transfer period is over,3 days left.
Seems like we nearly have an agreement with Kew Jaliens, Dutch defender for AZ Alkmaar. Dutch papers report today that AEK told AZ they agree on the transfer money. AZ doesn’t want to have a whole lot of money for Jaliens, they just want to stop paying his salary as soon as possible. Jaliens, who has been benched since the beginning of the season, would like to leave AZ and start playing games again. He already said that he would like to play for AEK, so looks like the only obstacle is how much we can afford to pay him. Nothing yet about personal negotiations between AEK and Jaliens.
Jaliens played six seasons for AZ (and just started the seventh). He scored five goals in 155 games. Strong experienced defender. He’s a christian and very religious, seems to read something from the bible before every game. I say if that makes him a better player, please also read the bible at half time! And score some goals too. Like this one:
Following the destruction at Nea Smyrni by the fans of Panionios themselves,UEFA has ordered that the match be played in Pireus at the stadium Karaiskaki.Not our favoured option but better than being kicked out of Europa alltogether.Suppose the win will taste sweeter.
There will be no AEK fans in the stadium for obvious reasons but the match will be followed by about 500 travelling Dundee Utd fans.
On the match itself,Papa Boupa Diop is tipped to make his first start in the yellow and black,Dellas won’t play as he was injured during Monday’s training meaning Jahic will partner Manolas at the back with Georgeas filling in at right back.Apart from those changes,the attacking side of our game should remain the same with Djebbour the lone striker,Libe just behind,Scocco and Leonardo providing the width.
Despite the disruptions and lack of crowd support,I still expect us to win comfortably but honestly as long as we qualify for the group stage,who cares what the score is!
Due to the dangerous playing surface, the 2nd leg of the Europa League clash between AEK and Dundee Utd will be moved from the Olympic Stadium to another as yet unannounced ground in Athens (we are hearing either Nea Smyrna or Peristeri).
AEK and UEFA officials have inspected the ground this afternoon and the decision was made to change venue. The OAKA’S grass has been recently relayed and has not settled down in time. This was confirmed when a friendly match played on it during the weekend brought up massive tufts of grass,with the pitch resembling a mini war zone than a UEFA sanctioned 5 star stadium.
In other news,we’re still waiting for confirmation on another central defender.It’s looking more and more like Moras will be returning “home” from Bologna in Italy,fingers crossed.Ismael Blanco is reportedly a target for Pao but AEKdeny having heard of any “official” offers.I hope this story ends up in the garbage where it belongs as a transfer i’m sure would not sit well with the fans.
Djebbour scored an early goal ten minutes into the first half to put us up 1-0. First subsitution for AEK, Nathan Burns coming on for Leonardo. Fantastic support from the AEK fans despite being largely outnumbered by Scottish supporters.
Less than 10 hours to go now before AEK begin their European odyssey for 2010. The Scottish Dundee Utd,who finished third behind Rangers and Celtic (who else), are our opponents over this 2 legged qualification for the group stage of the Europa League.
Bajevic is calm ahead of tonight’s game, warning that we must be carefull on Dundee’s set pieces and if we play the way the team showed in Australia during the preseason, we shouldn’t have too much trouble. Let’s not forget we beat Rangers 1-0 during these games, and looked fairly comfortable in disposing of them. Bajevic also states that he is unsure of only one position in the starting eleven,i’d say he’s tossing up between Makos and Papa Boupa for holding midfield role,next to Kafes,as Gentzoglou is out injured.
So,without any major surprises,i expect the starting eleven to be:
Saja
Jahic Dellas Manolas Lagos
Kafes Papa Boupa(Makos)
Leonardo Liberopoulos Scocco
Djebbour(Blanco)
Got a feeling he’ll start Refik up front though i’d prefer Blanco, I feel he brings the midfielders into the game better than Djebbour,but there’s not that much between them.
I’m tipping AEK by a goal,maybe 2,don’t think Dundee Utd will be pushovers,especially at their home,but with players like Libe, Scocco, Kafes and co: our class should prevail.
Sources here in the Netherlands say that AEK is interested in buying Dutch defender Kew Jaliens from AZ Alkmaar, former Dutch champion. With Majstorovic gone that would make a lot of sense, because Jaliens is an experienced defender who usually plays on the right back position, but can also play as central defender. He’s a very calm player with a lot of pace, despite his 31 years. Could be a real reinforcement for our defence. AZ is willing to talk about a transfer from Jaliens to AEK. The club, who became national champion in 2009, has a lot of financial problems. The former owner of the team, a banker, went broke. AZ needs to sell a lot of players to get financial well again. Jaliens agent Edward Burleson confirmed for Dutch broadcaster RTV Noord-Holland that AEK is interested: “It’s in the very early stages, I know about AEK being interested, but they haven’t officially contacted me yet, although I did recieve a phonecall from Greece. Kew would be interested in moving to AEK, it’s one of the top three Greek clubs and Athens is a beautiful city”. Jaliens used to play every game for AZ, but he didn’t play the first two matches in the new season of the Dutch national league. Problem in getting Jaliens could be the money, because he earns big bugs at his present club.
Youssouf Hersi is leaving AEK after one season. He is returning to the Netherlands, where he is going to play for De Graafschap, a club in the east of the country that promoted to the top division last season. AEK and De Graafschap have agreed on the transfer of Hersi, only thing left to do is the medical examination of the 27 year old midfielder. De Graafschap hopes that Hersi will be able to play on saturday against top side PSV Eindhoven. Hersi played 15 games for AEK last season, scoring one goal. He was often used as a substitute by coach Dusan Bajevic. Hersi is in The Netherlands right now for his medical examination. He will sign his contract with De Graafschap later today (tuesday). Hersi played for a lot of Dutch clubs, including Ajax, national champions FC Twente, SC Heerenveen and NEC. I’m sad to see him leave, he’s a nice kid.
