As you noticed, I rarely write about games Panathinaikos plays for the Cup competition. It's not that I don't watch them; It's that I could not give a hoot about this silly competion and trophy. It's painful to watch PAO lose any game, but it's not the same for me as losing games in Europe or in the Superleague.
The Panionios game confirmed pretty much what I wrote last Monday. The team has no steam and so it's increasingly difficult to keep up the intensity through a whole game. Perhaps the reported light conditioning work that took place in the summer is responsible, perhaps the diminished roster due to injuries and shallow bench depth. I have no way of knowing, but it's evident in the games that the team is not firing on all cylinders any longer.
In one sense, I am actually not bothered by the Cup elimination. Given the special circumstances of this season, I thing it's best to focus on the one meaningful competition that can make a real difference for Panathinaikos. Winning the Superleague title this season is top priority, not only because of the bragging rights, but also because it will automatically guarantee over 15 million Euro for the team's coffers next season (by the automatic inclusion in the Champions League groups).
One think I only regret is that we weren't able to rest some of our players during the game with Panionios. I know the players wanted to win - as they should - but I think the elimination from the cum is a blessing in disguise.
But reading the online media I sense disillusionment over this elimination by the fans and the reporters who are beginning to get into "whining" mode again, trying to find out what's wrong with the team, why can't we get new transfers, why there is no leadership, and overall looking to assign blame.
Sure there is a lot of blame to go around for the club's condition this season.
In my book, all of the shareholders, the media, and the fans - especially the organized ones (yes, this might be the only space where fan responsibility for the team's condition is assigned) are to blame.
But I don't intent to be part of the whiners. The only reason I write this blog is because I love the game and Panathinaikos, and the only ones that I can't blame are the coach and the players.
These players and the coaching staff have been massively overachieving this season.
With no help from the front office, with major stars departing in the summer, with low budget summer transfers, and no real presence or power in the leagues' bodies (EPO, Superleague etc), these players have performed amazingly well this season. They pulled some beautiful games, have scored tons of goals, and they are leading the league!
Let's give them a break.
It doesn't really help them to be overly analytical and overly whinny about every game, every play, and every detail. They have a huge chance of winning the title in a few months and they deserve our support.
One of the things that I noted in the last few games is how it doesn't seem fun for the players any more. They don't celebrate the goals the same way they did a few months ago, they don't recover as quickly from errors, and they have began complaining at each other on the pitch for errors. I can only attribute this to lack of focus and stress.
Now is not the time to bitch and moan about every mistake this or the other player made. It's not time to keep whining for the lack of shareholder involvement, or for the lack of transfers.
Now is the time to support the PAO players and the coach.
Let's keep our eyes on the big price and keep support the players through highs and lows.
The Panionios game confirmed pretty much what I wrote last Monday. The team has no steam and so it's increasingly difficult to keep up the intensity through a whole game. Perhaps the reported light conditioning work that took place in the summer is responsible, perhaps the diminished roster due to injuries and shallow bench depth. I have no way of knowing, but it's evident in the games that the team is not firing on all cylinders any longer.
In one sense, I am actually not bothered by the Cup elimination. Given the special circumstances of this season, I thing it's best to focus on the one meaningful competition that can make a real difference for Panathinaikos. Winning the Superleague title this season is top priority, not only because of the bragging rights, but also because it will automatically guarantee over 15 million Euro for the team's coffers next season (by the automatic inclusion in the Champions League groups).
One think I only regret is that we weren't able to rest some of our players during the game with Panionios. I know the players wanted to win - as they should - but I think the elimination from the cum is a blessing in disguise.
But reading the online media I sense disillusionment over this elimination by the fans and the reporters who are beginning to get into "whining" mode again, trying to find out what's wrong with the team, why can't we get new transfers, why there is no leadership, and overall looking to assign blame.
Sure there is a lot of blame to go around for the club's condition this season.
In my book, all of the shareholders, the media, and the fans - especially the organized ones (yes, this might be the only space where fan responsibility for the team's condition is assigned) are to blame.
But I don't intent to be part of the whiners. The only reason I write this blog is because I love the game and Panathinaikos, and the only ones that I can't blame are the coach and the players.
These players and the coaching staff have been massively overachieving this season.
With no help from the front office, with major stars departing in the summer, with low budget summer transfers, and no real presence or power in the leagues' bodies (EPO, Superleague etc), these players have performed amazingly well this season. They pulled some beautiful games, have scored tons of goals, and they are leading the league!
Let's give them a break.
It doesn't really help them to be overly analytical and overly whinny about every game, every play, and every detail. They have a huge chance of winning the title in a few months and they deserve our support.
One of the things that I noted in the last few games is how it doesn't seem fun for the players any more. They don't celebrate the goals the same way they did a few months ago, they don't recover as quickly from errors, and they have began complaining at each other on the pitch for errors. I can only attribute this to lack of focus and stress.
Now is not the time to bitch and moan about every mistake this or the other player made. It's not time to keep whining for the lack of shareholder involvement, or for the lack of transfers.
Now is the time to support the PAO players and the coach.
Let's keep our eyes on the big price and keep support the players through highs and lows.
2 comments:
I apologize for using this space for something that has to do with Olympiakos, but I was shocked to read an article in Ethnos today (http://www.sentragoal.gr/article.asp?catid=10607&subid=2&pubid=128922988) by Mr. Katsaros about bullies beating a player of Thrasyboulos inside Karaiskaki stadium after the game with Olympiakos. The cause was that the player in question was judged to be too rough in covering one of his opponents. Interestingly, the owner of Thrasyboulos tried to downplay the incident and made sure to mention that the owner of Olympiakos is a great benefactor of his team. In another country certain people would have been behind bars long time ago...
yeah, I am aware of the incident and I am also aware that Trasyvoulos' owner is a Marinakis "buddy" (or a huge brown-noser who is hopping to get some scraps).
As you noticed I don't comment on anything outside the pitch any longer. Unfortunately, Greek football is full of "owners" and assorted cronies who are there to collect the state subsidies and to cash on the "side" business like illegal betting, commissions and kickbacks from player sales, to hide money from taxes, and some would say other things like "game fixing" and other "funny" business associated with the game.
It's sad, but that's the way it is. Unless there is the will by the state to clean up the septic tank Greek football will keep sliding lower and lower, pushed by such characters that use mafia-style hits to maintain their shiny cars.
Too bad for the players who end up being pawns in these characters' shady games.
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