Tonight’s Europa League group game sees PAOK Salonika take on Spurs for the first time and with no history between these sides, how much do we know about our opponents tonight?
PAOK are usually in the shadow of the larger Greek club,s but they have won their national championship on two occasions, the last triumph coming in 1984/85. In recent years, their best performance has been a runners up position in 2009/10.
Like Spurs, some may call them a cup side and they have won many knock out trophies including the Greek national cup four times. When they won it in 1973-74, PAOK went on a European Cup Winners Cup run that took them to the quarter finals – their best performance in European competition.
As for the present side, where is the danger coming from tonight? Dimitrios Salpigidis is their main threat – a 29 year old with 48 Greek caps to his name who averages around a goal every three games in domestic football.
Elsewhere, PAOK have several internationals in their line up including Stefanos Athanasiadis, who carries the middle name of Klaus due to his German family background.
Athanasiadis has only just broken through to the national side and his scoring record is modest to say the least, but he is the type of inconsistent striker that is dangerous on his day.
Overall, this is a side that a first choice Spurs team should brush aside, but with as many as 10 changes expected tonight, it could be too close to call.
CUDICINI- 6
gave away penalty, made few important late saves
TOWNSEND- 6
not a left back it showed, positive going foward
BASSONG- 5
hesitant, uninterested
CORLUKA- 5.5
typical charlie..
WALKER- 5.5
still needs work in defending, pacy going foward
FALQUE- 6
looks promising, didn’t stand out but did good..
CARROLL- 6
quick on the ball, looks a promising playmaker
LIVERMORE- 6.5
played like a young Jenas
GIOVANI- 6
as much as i wanted him to, he just did stand out..
KANE- 6
did good in first half but then moved to left midfield in second half which baffled me..
PAMELA CHENKO- 4
Very annoying to watch, lazy, wasteful, has to go in January, should be giving Coulibaly a chance.
PARRETT and FREDERICKS came on late and didnt have much time to show their worth.
Excluding Pav and Cudicini the average age of our squad played was 20.81 years old, with them it was 22.76.
Not much to say on this one.. good experience for the youngsters, chiseled out a good point. After a well played first half some unnecessary tactics used in the second, moving Kane to left mid, Falque to right, and Giovani behind Pav. In my opinion we played much better in the first than the second and changes should have been held off.. PAOK played much to cautious at home and against a young, innexperienced Spurs side. I would’ve liked to see us play a couple more experienced players, Kranjy and Lennon could have made all the difference but, nonetheless great experience for the youngsters and i’d love to see Coulibaly given a chance come next europa match.
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