AEK Athens 2-1 Blackburn Rovers: The only trophy we’ll win all season?
By: Chris Paraskevas |
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Well, it’s taken eight years but AEK Athens’ trophy drought is over: they’re about to win the Sydney International Festival of Football. That is, assuming the tournament actually has some sort of trophy lifting ceremony attached to it…
Despite another hugely slick, sharp, fluid and “a la Barcelona” as members of the watching Greek media in the press box put it, performance, the realist in me gets the feeling this will probably be the only trophy we’ll win this season. We almost certainly won’t take the Greek Super League and the Greek Cup hasn’t been particularly kind to us in recent times. Is it something I can live with? Sure. In fact, I think this could be a much improved season for the club and UEFA Champions League football might, just might, be on the cards.
I keep saying it’s difficult to gauge just how well drilled Dusan Bajevic has this squad considering the woefulness of the opposition thus far but a great deal of the Super League opponents – and indeed, Europa League opponents – probably won’t be much better this season. So by that logic, we should expect to see similarly impressive attacking displays from Lyberopoulos and co.
Attack has certainly been the most impressive part of this pre-season tour, with neutrals down here praising the ball movement and cohesiveness of the squad, one fellow journalist even professing that AEK were now his favourite team in Greece (the more the merrier, I say). Of course, the personnel in attack haven’t changed drastically from last season with Ismael Blanco, Nacho Scocco and Leonardo the band of South American mischief-makers at the apex of the formation.
It’s been the introduction of Nikos Lyberopoulos however that has changed the dynamic of the final third and subsequently, the way the entire team plays. Despite his ageing legs, he’s managed to trim down noticeably in Germany and looks sharper than ever before, perhaps even sharper than he was before he departed Greece a couple of seasons ago and left a void up front that has never really been filled. His intelligence off the ball allows him to be at the heart of almost every attack we make and in particular, in making the transition out of defence and into attack particularly smooth. With a sublime touch and finish countering his lack of pace, it might just be that his signature might be the smartest piece of business any Greek club as done this season.
Leonardo has been another player who seems transformed after the arrival of Lyberopoulos, who links well both with the Brazilian and Scocco. In fact, Scocco and Leonardo seem to be able to use Lyberopoulos as something of a fulcrum around which they can pivot together and switch flanks, whilst the team maintains its shape. It was their switch of positions that caused so much trouble for Sydney in that delicious opening victory.
Ismael Blanco is another who could profit from Lybe’s arrival; he endured a poor season by his standards last time out but the Greek veteran’s constant movement into deeper areas should free up space for his Argentine strike partner to run into behind the defensive line, something that he didn’t do nearly enough last campaign.
One of the most impressive performers in the 2-1 win over Blackburn however was Nathan Burns, who instigated both goals and is a changed player from the one that first caught the eye of European suitors in the A-League as a teenager with Adelaide United. A successful season on-loan with newly promoted Kerkyra seems to have done him the world of good and his close control and movement against Blackburn were a real handful for seasoned English Premier League defenders. Importantly, he has developed strength on the ball and on that showing might just have eared himself another season with AEK, though in a post-match mixed zone that yours truly attended Bajevic said he’d make a decision on the Australian’s future when he returned to Greece.
It’s probably a sign of just how good the team is looking at the moment that the presence of Traianos Dellas in defence for a full 90 minutes didn’t hinder us all that badly; though he did stop for a photo with me and produced a couple of sumptuous moments on the ball that harked back to his Euro 2004 days, one nutmeg on the near touchline in particular having a neo-Pavlovian effect.
Rangers next to finish off the Australian tour.
PS. The good looking chap in the photo with Lyberopoulos is none other than the writer of this blog.
Category: AEK Athens Team News
Aussie press raving about AEK Athens
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It’s been a while but I won’t bother to begin to justify my lengthy absence with my usual excuses. AEK Athens are in Australia and in a couple of hours take on Blackburn Rovers in the second of three friendly matches, the first of which they won 5-3 against resident Aussie champions Sydney FC.
Let’s just say it’s something of a boyhood dream to see the heroes up close and personal, having been able to speak to Nikos Georgeas (the interview will pop up soon on Greeksoccer.com) as well as generally take snaps and mingle for a few seconds with the likes of Nikos Lyberopoulos, Nathan Burns, Traianos Dellas, Ignacio Scocco and the like. The truth is, there are probably thousands of more AEKzites out there who are more deserving of meeting these guys than I am – and indeed of seeing the team in the flesh – but hey, I’m not going to pass up such an opportunity.
Enough about me: the Aussie press are positively raving about the 5-3 win over Sydney and whilst I admit that the team looked extremely fluent and cohesive up close, the quality of opposition was questionable. Don’t get me wrong, Sydney are a professional outfit who are the best team in a competition making steady improvements but they’re hardly European quality.
Nonetheless you can’t look past the influence that Nikos Lyberopoulos has had on his return; he looks sharp despite his age and I was in awe of some of his touches, as were the match commentators and analysts. He could be something of a coup and certainly his arrival alongside that of Traianos Dellas – who looks set for a role centred more off the pitch than on it despite a brief cameo – has helped unify what was a divided dressing room. Recent reports that Nacho Scocco has said he wants to stay with AEK are given credence by the palpable sense of harmony that prevails where there was once…well…nothing.
In terms of performances, Kostas Manolas looked comfortable despite his inexperience while it was refreshing to see Panagiotis Lagos tearing up and down the left flank, appearing to be well over his injury concerns. Like Leonardo – another who performed superbly – he hasn’t found his best form since moving to the club but the early signs are good.
One gets the feeling that the true test will come against both Blackburn Rovers and Rangers…
Category: AEK Athens Team NewsSleep Patterns Improving
By: Chris Paraskevas | Add Comments
Apologies for the inactivity on this blog for quite some time but it’s understandable given my sleep patterns have been turned upside down by the World Cup. Of course my interest in the competition has naturally dipped ever so slightly given Australia and Greece went out at the group stages, which has given me a chance to return to all of you wonderful people just in time for the new season.
With Dusan Bajevic claiming he wants a squad of 25-26 players and Ismael Blanco, Rafik Djebbour and Nacho Scocco believed to be on the way out, it will be interesting to see whether reported moves for Papa Bouba Diop (Who has had a €1 million price tag slapped on him) and Real Madrid pair Marcos Alonso and Rodrigo Moreno actually come to fruition. There’s no doubt that along with the expected clean out that the Serb manager will undertake, there needs to be considered, intelligent investment back into the playing squad. To this end, youth simply needs to be a priority, which makes it a little concerning that we’re gunning for Diop given his anonymity in the English Premier League in recent times; I can sense another overpaid flop headed our way in the mould of Juanfran and Arruabarrena.
The fact that Alonso and Moreno are both 19 is contrastingly encouraging, though a Wikipedia entry about the former (Ah, Wikipedia…) has a quote from Manuel Pellegrini to this effect: “Alonso does not have the correct attitutde to play football at a professional level.” Mind you, it also lists his current club as Bolton Wanderers, so we’ll take it all with a pinch of salt…
I won’t buy into any of it (Get it? ‘Buy’…because we’re talking about transfer rumours…) until it materializes into something more concrete though and will instead looking forward to the fact that AEK are headed to Sydney for a mini-tournament on July 25. I’ll look to provide as many snaps and words from the training sessions and press conferences that I attend, as well as the matches themselves.
Category: AEK Athens Team NewsNikos Lyberopoulos To AEK Athens, AEK Athens To Sydney
By: Chris Paraskevas | Add Comments
A big week of news for yours truly given my place of residence of Sydney and AEK’s pre-season destination will indeed be my home city. Hopefully I’ll be able to bring you a few 
exclusive snaps and words from the players when the time comes in July, with AEK set to take part in a four-team tournament involving Sydney FC, Rangers and Blackburn Rovers (the match against Rangers will be something of a nostalgic moment for yours truly given the first AEK match I ever watched was a European tie against the Scottish giants).
The other piece of news was of course the return of fan darling Nikos Lyberopoulos to the club at the sprightly age of 35. Despite the ageing legs one probably can’t quantify his contribution in a leadership capacity, much-needed given the current state the club is in. It appears to be a clever move from Dusan Bajevic and the management of the club as they look to get fans back onside and as the Serb tactician repairs a reportedly fractured dressing room. Lyberopoulos, by virtue of his abilities as a player and personality, is the type of individual around whom something of a rebuilding process can be affected.
Add to that the fact that he’ll bring much-needed goals given the lack of form of Ismael Blanco (and his potential departure) and the one-year contract doesn’t seem like a bad move at all.
In the same vein the rumoured move for Traianos Dellas might not be that bad of an idea either. As much as the big man is well past his best, his sheer presence could prove invaluable, particularly in the development of prodigy Kosta Manolas (one of the main reasons touted for his return).
I’ll probably put a World Cup spin on the next article by earmarking players AEK should look to pick up on the cheap from the tournament in South Africa…
PS. The club’s website has finally been spruced up.
Category: AEK Athens Team NewsManduca Fires Parting Shot At Dusan Bajevic, Diop/Dellas/Lyberopoulos To AEK
By: Chris Paraskevas | Add Comments
Parting shots at managers aren’t uncommon but they’re an art-form when it comes to Brazilians, which is what makes Manduca’s recent comments about AEK Athens manager Dusan Bajevic so unsurprising.
The Brazilian – who probably ought to look at the lack of impact of his own performances during his time at the club – criticized the Serb’s man-management and tactics in an interview with newspaper Exedra.
“The truth is there were a lot of problems [with Bajevic]. If the players had more support things would have gone a lot better. We didn’t though… During difficult times, the role of the manager is to help a footballer, not to become even more critical. During difficult times we were alone. When the team is going well we don’t need reward, but when the opposite is true, we need support.
“Tactically there were a lot of problems. In football, tactics are very important and a team with the right tactics goes forward. We had problems in this area. The truth is, it was a difficult relationship between players and coach.”
As much as it would be easy to brush aside the above comments as sour grapes, given the climate at the club they probably aren’t without merit. The fact that at one stage this season the players threatened to strike over lack of match payments, combined with Manduca’s ‘revelations’ as they no doubt would be dressed up by a tabloid (if Greek football were that interesting to attract the attention of an English tabloid), certainly provides some insight into what the mood in the dressing room must be like. If the claims are true, expect a summer clear out of some of the team’s biggest names.
It might explain links to the likes of Portsmouth’s Papa Bouba Diop, as well as the return of Nikos Lyberopoulos and Traianos Dellas. Despite their ageing legs one would imagine their status at the club would calm fans slightly and provide leadership characters around which to rebuild the side – a side that could be very different if Manduca’s comments about the “difficult” relationship between players and manager are legitimate.
PS. This is probably one of the view times AEK will be part of a UEFA feature:
Category: AEK Athens Team NewsAEK Athens: 2009/10 Season Review
By: Chris Paraskevas | Add Comments
AEK Athens started off their season with a 2-1 defeat to Olympiakos and ended it with a reverse in the scoreline at the same place where it all started back in September, ending what has been a long, farcical and extremely painful season on something of a high note.
Over the past 10 months we’ve seen would-be presidents walk away from a financial basket case, players fail to be paid their wages and a manager have to scrap for signings while his best player was taken away from him. During that time the man who was formerly the Greek Super League’s best striker has been reduced to a shadow of his former self (Ismael Blanco for those of you a little slow on the uptake) and a manager who – with the right tools – could return silverware to the club has had to deal with all manner of off-field distractions while maintaining some semblance of respectability on the pitch.
There were a number of low points, including the threat of administration and subsequent protests that saw yogurt – yes, yogurt – thrown at shareholders but there were a few redeeming performances that included the two victories over Olympiakos, particularly Nacho Scocco’s double that brought one of the club’s most unexpected victories to date in the Karaiskaki. That match proved something of a turning point as the squad rallied and eventually secured itself something close to Europa League group stage football with a second place finish in the Greek Super League play-offs.
Top Goal-Scorer: Ismael Blanco (9 League goals and 4 Europa League goals)
Most Played: Daniel Majstorovic played 3599 minutes across three competitions
Most Consistent Performer: Pantelis Kafes – The captain lead by example in midfield with his simple approach that brought five goals and held together a team that looked as though it lacked motivation at times. Kafes wouldn’t have turned heads as a relatively unspectacular signing back in 2006 but he’s proven to be invaluable in midfield. That he signed on reduced wages back in June reflects an outstanding character, the type that the club will need in spades during some of its darkest hours.
Most Disappointing Performer: Despite ending up the club’s top scorer, it was a terrible season by Argentine striker Ismael Blanco’s high standards (he scored a combined 34 goals in his first two seasons at the club). It’s a drop in form that cost AEK a tilt at the title and aside from his lack of goals the body language hasn’t been too good and the suggestion is that he’ll depart before next season. We’ll try to remember him for his previous contributions though…
Surprise Packet: It’d have to be between Liverpool loanee Krisztian Nemeth – the Hungarian striker saw his game time unfortunately limited this season – and teen prodigy Kosta Manolas. The former was impressive on his sporadic appearances for the first team, bringing a spark and energy that has been lacking across the park throughout the campaign. The latter however will just take the gong after finishing the season so strongly that he earned a call-up to Otto Rehhagel’s extended squad for the World Cup. At 18 years old, to command such a presence at centre-back suggest a bright future; it is unlikely that it will be played out at AEK for very long, though.
Manager: Dusan Bajevic has done an outstanding job to secure Europan football under the circumstances, keeping together a team distracted to the extent that they threatened to boycott matches in protest at having not been paid their wages.
The Signings: Krisztian Nemeth was the best of the summer acquisitions, with Brazilian Leonardo failing to impress along with Brazilian-turned-Pole Roger. Sanel Jahic and Carlos Araujo wereuseful but looked out of their depth at times, Grigoris Makos didn’t live up to his potential, Ilie Iordache and Youssuf Hersi were anonymous.
Highlight of the season: The 2-1 away win over Olympiakos.
Low point of the season: We’ll stick to happenings on the pitch here and thinking back, it was probably kicking off the Europa League campaign with a humbling 4-0 defeat away against Everton (if ever there was a sign it was going to be a long season, that was it).
Category: AEK Athens Team NewsAEK Athens 2-1 Olympiakos: A Happy End To A Turbulent Season
By: Chris Paraskevas | Add Comments
Sebastian Saja heroics and Ismael Blanco’s belated goal – has he even scored previously this season? – gave AEK Athens the perfect end to anything but the perfect season that has seen financial turmoil grab the headlines, payers go unpaid, debts grow and 
adminstrators come and go. Yes, there was a 2-1 win over Olympiakos that condemned the former champions to an embarrassing last-place finish in the Greek Super League play-offs and gave Dusan Bajevic’s men a second place finish but is there really light at the end of the tunnel for this club?
In the relatively immediate future we can all bask in the glory brought by a later entry into the Europa League (*Pop* goes the champagne cork) and the fact that Olympiakos will have to start their qualification process on July 15 rather than August 19 but qualification or the existence of the team in its current state are hardly assured next season given the current plight of AEK. There’s certainly enough talent in the squad at the moment to act as a foundation to build a far stronger team but the priority before next season will surely be to attract investment in what is a worrying European financial climate (with Greece supposedly at the centre of those problems).
Indeed, the reports are that it is not just AEK who will be reeling from the impact of the Euro-zone crisis but also Olympiakos, who along with their Athenian rivals will supposedly be looking to attract players on free transfers during the off-season rather than embarking on their traditionally lavish spending spree (not really much of a departure from the current protocol for AEK but it might take some getting used to in Piraeus – it might explain Sokratis Kokkalis’ sudden invitation of the election of a new board). Panathinaikos supposedly will still have funds left over for spending on players which should strengthen an already impressive squad, while PAOK – if they can secure UEFA Champions League football – will enjoy a financial windfall that their club probably hasn’t seen for quite some time.
In any case, it’s probably best just to enjoy a home win over Olympiakos for what it is: a derby victory. In fits and starts the players have shown passion for the jersey this season and that can be attributed to Bajevic’s management in acrimonious circumstances – one imagines that his presence will be crucial to any rebuilding process both on and off the pitch next season. A goal from Kostas Manolas underlined his undoubted talent before he was forced off early thanks to a petulant Konstantinos Mitroglou elbow – perhaps lashing out after failing to be called up to the final Greece squad for South Africa? – and one wonders just how long the starlet will remain at the club before he follows the footsteps of Papastathopoulos and Tachtsidis.
Stay tuned for my end-of-season awards and ratings on this space over the next few days.
PS. AEK will be entering the Europa League at the play-off qualifying stages, meaning they’ll only have to win one two-legged tie to secure a place in the group stages.
Category: AEK Athens Team NewsPAOK – AEK: Why Bother?
By: Chris Paraskevas | Add Comments
After a bizarrely tame display away against Aris in a match that should have seen Dusan Bajevic’s AEK Athens kill themselves to keep alive their hopes of securing UEFA Champions League football, they next travel to the Toumba Stadium to take on cousins of history PAOK.
Will I be bothering to watch the game at a typically unsavory hour? Absolutely not.
It’s about that time of the season where all the life has been sucked out of me by a club that simply seems unable to dig itself out of a particularly deep hole, reflected by the docile nature of the display against Aris. Yes, yes, there was a last minute equalizer to pick up spirits and automatic qualification for the Europa League to play for but in truth, it probably won’t do much for the club in terms of finance and pedigree. Virtually every year AEK takes its place in Europe’s second-tier cup competition and every year disappoints, unable to juggle domestic and continental commitments. Why should next season be any different?
On that note it would almost be logical to hope that the club doesn’t qualify for Europe, allowing them to focus on league matters but it would still be nice to finish the season with a couple of victories I suppose. The final match is at home (”home” hardly the word to qualify for a virtually empty OAKA Spiros Louis) against Olympiakos and for the sake of ramming home their current state of managerlessness it would be wonderful to see AEK score a win.
Category: AEK Athens Team NewsAEK Athens 4-2 Aris: Light At The End Of The Tunnel?
By: Chris Paraskevas | Add Comments
It seemed all too familiar when Eddie Johnson headed a numerically-advantaged Aris (at that point with ten men to AEK’s nine after three sending offs during a heated encounter) into a 2-1 lead at a sparsely populated OAKA Spiros Louis Stadium.
Algerian World Cup hopeful Rafik Djebbour had given Dusan Bajevic’s men a 1-0 lead with a spectacular half-volley before Aris leveled thanks to Sebastian Saja’s decision to get himself sent off, handing an in-form Aris an equalizer and all the impetus they needed to walk away from Athens with a big three points and UEFA Champions League football in their sights. Just how Hector Cuper’s men failed to complete the job is beyond this writer, who has seen all sorts of scenarios manifest themselves in Greek domestic matches but none quite so unexpected – and uplifting – as this.
The introduction of Brazilian Leonardo wouldn’t have sparked the side on any other day this season given his disappointing form since joining in the summer but it was his well-placed equalizer – set-up by the ever-present Pantelis Kafes, fast becoming a personal favorite despite (or perhaps, thanks partly to) his dive last week against Olympiakos – that set AEK on its way to what is hopefully a season-defining victory. Nacho Scocco then burst into the penalty area to win and then convert a spot-kick as Aris imploded, another sent off as parity was restored in terms of numbers on the pitch, Leonardo capping off the win with a close range header set-up by a Scocco cross.
A pulse apparently still exists at a club that has endured one of the most difficult seasons in its recent history and if Bajevic can use this win to build momentum for the remaining three games in the play-off series, why not start dreaming about a crack at Champions League football and all the prestige and financial windfall that goes with it next season? A win against Aris away, as well as PAOK, would set us up for a blockbuster home clash with Olympiakos on the final day.
Play-Off Standings:
1. PAOK 10 points
2. Olympiakos 7 points
3. AEK 5 points
4. Aris 3 points
Category: AEK Athens Team NewsOlympiakos 2-1 AEK Athens, Can We Learn Something From Valencia?
By: Chris Paraskevas | Add Comments
On another difficult week as an AEK Athens supporter that forced me to witness a depressing but utterly predictable 2-1 defeat away against Olympiakos in the Greek Super League play-offs, a piece on the resurgence of debt-laden Valencia in Spanish football for some reason picked up my spirits.
Perhaps it is because the La Liga outfit resemble AEK in that there is a clear gulf in class between themselves and perennial title-contenders Barcelona and Real Madrid, or perhaps more accurately it is because their financial plight – despite being of a larger scale – and a progression of dodgy presidents and financial situations mirrors that which has afflicted AEK in the recent past. Under the astute stewardship of Manuel Llorente, a €547m has not stopped the two-time UEFA Champions League finalists from securing for themselves qualification for European football’s showpiece club competition.
Suffice to say AEK haven’t showed quite enough spirit this season to emulate the feats of their Spanish equivalents, currently last in the race for a solitary Champions League spot and needing to win virtually all of their remaining matches – which will include among them the visit of a far superior Olympiakos side and daunting trips to Thessaloniki to face PAOK and Aris – to have a hope of finishing first in the mini-league.
Based on the performance on Sunday it looks unlikely, with a lifeless first half gifting the game to the Piraeus club, a ludicrously disallowed Kosta Manolas equalizer late in the game hardly an excuse for the lack of hunger in the players (one can point to Pantelis Kafes’ clear dive in winning the penalty that lead to the initial equalizer for a sense of poetic justice in any case). Manager Dusan Bajevic has reportedly ripped into his squad after their defeat, apparently taking aim at the Greek-born members of the team, while rather hilariously the referee for the match Manolis Giannadakis, looks set to be punished for the aforementioned poor decisions.
Perhaps within such a climate it makes sense that strong leadership candidates such as Llorente don’t bother to waste their time with lampooned clubs? Here’s hoping that AEK find their own…
Category: AEK Athens Team News
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