Fee agreed, wages agreed, and Nestos Chrysoupoli waiting with a shirt. Nobody at PAOK B is pretending otherwise, and the supporters have stopped asking whether and started asking when.
The offer from Perth Glory for Jonathan Gómez was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Kostas Polykratis was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Pavel Apetenok signs something — a contract at PAOK B or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
The least glamorous thing a foreign signing ever does and the one that decides most of them. A player who can hear the shout behind him is a different footballer from one who cannot.
The clubs have settled the fee and he has settled his wages. What remains is a medical and a photograph, and around PAOK B people have started saying his name in the past tense.
The offer from Asteras for Kostas Kotsaris was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around PAOK B they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Dimitris Tsopouroglou and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and André Ricardo was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The interest is real enough to have reached print. PAOK B have said nothing, which in a transfer window is its own kind of answer.
Squad17 Jul 2028
5 new faces, and PAOK B are still learning each other
A squad rebuilt inside one window pays for it in a currency nobody budgets for. The football is not worse than the sum of the players; it is worse than the sum of the players who have played together before.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at PAOK B, and both men came out saying it was fine.
18 days on the announcement, and a year of quiet, unwatched rehabilitation behind it. PAOK B lose a player for a season; he loses something harder to name.
The offer from Kalamata for Jason was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
The phone has started ringing about Antonis Stergiakis again, and this time the name on the line is Kavala. PAOK B are listening politely and promising nothing.
Squad10 Jul 2028
Words at PAOK B training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. André Ricardo is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Thodoros Kalogiros and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
1 months left, and both sides know what that means: every week without a signature, the fee PAOK B could ask drops and the wages Antonis Stergiakis can ask rise.
“I have done everything asked of me in training and it has not changed a thing on a Saturday.” The most familiar complaint in football, and one PAOK B will have to answer with minutes or with a transfer.
He asked about his future and was given an answer with minutes in it. The manager has now made a promise in a building where promises are remembered, and the clock on it has started.
26 days on the announcement, and a year of quiet, unwatched rehabilitation behind it. PAOK B lose a player for a season; he loses something harder to name.
The last thing about a transfer that is still about the player is his signature on his own terms, and it is there. PAOK B have lost him in all but the paperwork.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around PAOK B they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and André Ricardo was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Kostas Thymianis and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Add another name to the list: Nestos Chrysoupoli have asked the question everybody in the game has been asking about Kostas Kotsaris. The answer from PAOK B has not changed — yet.
Not a new contract, not a new number: a new place in the manager’s thinking, which is the only promotion in football that actually matters. Vangelis Gravvanis has moved up it.
In brief
The dugoutThe manager makes an example of Giannis Sarris
34 days on the announcement, and a year of quiet, unwatched rehabilitation behind it. PAOK B lose a player for a season; he loses something harder to name.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what PAOK B can pretend not to have heard.
Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Antonis Stergiakis will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around PAOK B the goodbyes have quietly begun.
The offer from Kavala for Michalis Donis was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
Dimitris Tsopouroglou and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Squad26 Jun 2028
André Ricardo falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at PAOK B, and both men came out saying it was fine.
42 days on the announcement, and a year of quiet, unwatched rehabilitation behind it. PAOK B lose a player for a season; he loses something harder to name.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around PAOK B they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Dimitris Tsopouroglou and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
5 signings in three months. Every one of them may be an upgrade and the team can still be worse for a while, which is the part of a rebuild that never appears in the transfer-window verdicts.
The words a physio says slowly. 50 days is what the club will announce and everybody who has heard this diagnosis before knows the number is the least of it: the knee comes back before the player does.
Fee agreed, wages agreed, and Marko waiting with a shirt. Nobody at PAOK B is pretending otherwise, and the supporters have stopped asking whether and started asking when.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and André Ricardo was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The name of Kostas Kotsaris has come up in conversations PAOK B were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
“I respect the manager and I am not going to sit here and pretend I am happy.” It is the most common sentence in football and it has never once been the end of a story.
58 days on the announcement, and a year of quiet, unwatched rehabilitation behind it. PAOK B lose a player for a season; he loses something harder to name.
The last thing about a transfer that is still about the player is his signature on his own terms, and it is there. PAOK B have lost him in all but the paperwork.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at PAOK B is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” PAOK B have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
The words a physio says slowly. 66 days is what the club will announce and everybody who has heard this diagnosis before knows the number is the least of it: the knee comes back before the player does.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and André Ricardo was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The list is a quiet document with a loud meaning. Giannis Michailidis may talk to anybody who asks, and everybody at the club understands what that means.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at PAOK B, and both men came out saying it was fine.
74 days on the estimate, and a long, private, unglamorous year of a rehabilitation nobody watches. PAOK B lose a footballer; he loses considerably more than a season.
The kind of year that ends with a name being read out in a hall. PAOK B had the benefit of it every week and now have the problem of everybody else knowing.
Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Vasilis Nikolakoulis will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around PAOK B the goodbyes have quietly begun.
Thodoros Kalogiros was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
82 days on the announcement, and a year of quiet, unwatched rehabilitation behind it. PAOK B lose a player for a season; he loses something harder to name.
Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Antonis Stergiakis will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around PAOK B the goodbyes have quietly begun.
Dimitris Tsopouroglou was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and André Ricardo was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
“I respect the manager and I am not going to sit here and pretend I am happy.” It is the most common sentence in football and it has never once been the end of a story.
89 days on the estimate, and a long, private, unglamorous year of a rehabilitation nobody watches. PAOK B lose a footballer; he loses considerably more than a season.
Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Karel Mustmaa will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around PAOK B the goodbyes have quietly begun.
Position 3, 22 points, and the result everyone checks first is now theirs. The word is still not being said around the ground, which is how you know everyone is thinking it.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad8 May 2028
Words at PAOK B training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. André Ricardo is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
“I did not come here to warm up in front of people.” He is out of contract eventually, he is old enough to count the weeks, and PAOK B will have to give him a reason to stay or an exit.
99 days on the estimate, and a long, private, unglamorous year of a rehabilitation nobody watches. PAOK B lose a footballer; he loses considerably more than a season.
“I have done everything asked of me in training and it has not changed a thing on a Saturday.” The most familiar complaint in football, and one PAOK B will have to answer with minutes or with a transfer.
A year in and the city has not opened up, the language has not come, and lunch is eaten alone more often than anybody at PAOK B would admit. It shows on Saturdays.
106 days on the estimate, and a long, private, unglamorous year of a rehabilitation nobody watches. PAOK B lose a footballer; he loses considerably more than a season.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around PAOK B they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad24 Apr 2028
Words at PAOK B training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. André Ricardo is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Kostas Polykratis trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
113 days on the estimate, and a long, private, unglamorous year of a rehabilitation nobody watches. PAOK B lose a footballer; he loses considerably more than a season.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around PAOK B they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Squad17 Apr 2028
André Ricardo falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. PAOK B know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at PAOK B, and both men came out saying it was fine.
121 days on the announcement, and a year of quiet, unwatched rehabilitation behind it. PAOK B lose a player for a season; he loses something harder to name.
Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Karel Mustmaa will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around PAOK B the goodbyes have quietly begun.
Position 3, 22 points, and the result everyone checks first is now theirs. The word is still not being said around the ground, which is how you know everyone is thinking it.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
“I have done everything asked of me in training and it has not changed a thing on a Saturday.” The most familiar complaint in football, and one PAOK B will have to answer with minutes or with a transfer.
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Dimitris Kottas signs something — a contract at PAOK B or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
130 days on the announcement, and a year of quiet, unwatched rehabilitation behind it. PAOK B lose a player for a season; he loses something harder to name.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and André Ricardo was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
“The manager did not use many words, and he did not need to.” Hicham Kanis has his answer from PAOK B; what he does with it is the next window’s story.
3 months left, and both sides know what that means: every week without a signature, the fee PAOK B could ask drops and the wages Karel Mustmaa can ask rise.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at PAOK B is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
Dimitris Tsopouroglou and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Squad27 Mar 2028
Words at PAOK B training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. André Ricardo is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around PAOK B they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Bruno Onyemaechi was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at PAOK B is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and André Ricardo was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Bruno Onyemaechi trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
The shape wanted a different profile against this opponent, which is a real football answer and no comfort at all to the man it is about. He did nothing wrong and he did not play.
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Dimitris Kottas signs something — a contract at PAOK B or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
“I did not come here to warm up in front of people.” He is out of contract eventually, he is old enough to count the weeks, and PAOK B will have to give him a reason to stay or an exit.
Karel Mustmaa was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad6 Mar 2028
André Ricardo falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
4 months left, and both sides know what that means: every week without a signature, the fee PAOK B could ask drops and the wages Karel Mustmaa can ask rise.
Nobody at PAOK B is suggesting he is out of form. The manager simply wanted somebody with a different set of qualities for ninety specific minutes, and there is nothing a player can train to fix that.
In brief
The dugoutPedro Lucas knocks on the manager’s door
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around PAOK B they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
The shape wanted a different profile against this opponent, which is a real football answer and no comfort at all to the man it is about. He did nothing wrong and he did not play.
“Nobody outside is coming to save us.” It was short, it was not comfortable, and by all accounts the PAOK B squad were quieter afterwards than they had been all season.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at PAOK B is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
Squad21 Feb 2028
André Ricardo falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Nobody at PAOK B is suggesting he is out of form. The manager simply wanted somebody with a different set of qualities for ninety specific minutes, and there is nothing a player can train to fix that.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. PAOK B know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“Nobody outside is coming to save us.” It was short, it was not comfortable, and by all accounts the PAOK B squad were quieter afterwards than they had been all season.
A few words of the language, a friend at the next peg, and a training ground that has stopped feeling foreign. Nothing measurable, and everything visible on Saturdays.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at PAOK B is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and André Ricardo was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
“I did not come here to warm up in front of people.” He is out of contract eventually, he is old enough to count the weeks, and PAOK B will have to give him a reason to stay or an exit.
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Dimitris Kottas signs something — a contract at PAOK B or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
The manager wanted a different profile for this opponent, which is a real football reason and no consolation. He did nothing wrong and he did not play.
“I have done everything asked of me in training and it has not changed a thing on a Saturday.” The most familiar complaint in football, and one PAOK B will have to answer with minutes or with a transfer.
The clubs have settled the fee and he has settled his wages. What remains is a medical and a photograph, and around PAOK B people have started saying his name in the past tense.
Bruno Onyemaechi and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and André Ricardo was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The shape wanted a different profile against this opponent, which is a real football answer and no comfort at all to the man it is about. He did nothing wrong and he did not play.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at PAOK B, and both men came out saying it was fine.
6 months left, and both sides know what that means: every week without a signature, the fee PAOK B could ask drops and the wages Antonis Stergiakis can ask rise.
A few words of the language, a friend at the next peg, and a training ground that has stopped feeling foreign. Nothing measurable, and everything visible on Saturdays.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what PAOK B can pretend not to have heard.
Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Vasilis Nikolakoulis will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around PAOK B the goodbyes have quietly begun.
Dimitris Tsopouroglou was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and André Ricardo was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at PAOK B has been clear about where Pedro Lucas stands, which is more than many ever get.
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Karel Mustmaa trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
Nobody at PAOK B is suggesting he is out of form. The manager simply wanted somebody with a different set of qualities for ninety specific minutes, and there is nothing a player can train to fix that.
A new face in his position and a shirt he thought he owned suddenly up for discussion. PAOK B have promised nothing, which is what clubs promise at this stage.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around PAOK B they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Position 3, 22 points, and the result everyone checks first is now theirs. The word is still not being said around the ground, which is how you know everyone is thinking it.
Player ratings17 Jan 2028
Pavel Apetenok, 20, plays like he has been here for years — 7.62
A mark of 7.62 means one thing beside a twenty-nine-year-old's name and something else entirely beside a 20-year-old's. Nobody at the ground needed telling which this was.
At 22 he is being sung about by people twice his age, which is an affection a signing has to earn over years and a local kid gets for turning up. It is also the hardest thing in football to live up to.
16 times he got in the way of something. Centre-halves get written about when they make mistakes and ignored when they do not, so an afternoon like this needs saying out loud: he is the reason the scoreline reads as it does.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Pavel Apetenok and PAOK B agree another 5 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Squad10 Jan 2028
André Ricardo falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
“It is not the end of the world and it is not good enough. Both of those are true.” The manager, after a 1‑1 draw, said the honest thing and then went to say it again inside.
Successful dribbles: 25. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.
Squad3 Jan 2028
André Ricardo falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Headers, blocks, tackles, interceptions — 16 of them, and not one goal behind him. The sort of performance that never makes a highlight reel and wins football matches.
A month is long enough that nobody gets in by accident. Maksymilian Sznaucner is in the division's best eleven for it, which is a quieter compliment than an award and a more reliable one.
The dugout3 Jan 2028
The manager’s verdict
“I am frustrated, honestly. We did enough to win and we did not win.” Fotios Papadopoulos was not hiding it after 0‑0, and nobody in the PAOK B dressing room was either.
Not a new contract, not a new number: a new place in the manager’s thinking, which is the only promotion in football that actually matters. Pavel Apetenok has moved up it.
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Pavel Apetenok signs something — a contract at PAOK B or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
12 combined actions and 6.91. The job he did is the one that shows up as other people looking good, and the only reliable way to notice it is to watch what happens on the afternoons he is missing.
Ask anyone on the way out what separated the sides and you will get one name: André Ricardo. 1‑0 against Kampaniakos, and the applause at the whistle was mostly his.
Marked 7.96. Ask anyone leaving the ground what settled it and you will get one name, which is the only award that has ever really counted.
The dugout27 Dec 2027
The manager’s verdict
“I am not going to get carried away and I will not let them either. It was a good day. There will be harder ones.” Fotios Papadopoulos kept it short after the 1‑0 win, which is what managers do when they are happy.
Every squad has one of these fixtures for somebody every season. This one is Pedro Lucas’s: the club that knew him first, the supporters who will decide in the first minute whether to applaud, and PAOK B needing him to play as if none of it matters.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at PAOK B, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Dimitris Tsopouroglou was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad20 Dec 2027
André Ricardo falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
“The manager did not use many words, and he did not need to.” Maksymilian Sznaucner has his answer from PAOK B; what he does with it is the next window’s story.
Nobody at PAOK B is suggesting he is out of form. The manager simply wanted somebody with a different set of qualities for ninety specific minutes, and there is nothing a player can train to fix that.
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Maksymilian Sznaucner trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
“Nobody outside is coming to save us.” It was short, it was not comfortable, and by all accounts the PAOK B squad were quieter afterwards than they had been all season.
They sit in position 5 and they will be waiting. Away form is where a season shows its true character, and this side has a point to make about its own.
5 without a win now, and the ground has developed the special quiet of a crowd that expects the worst. One scrappy 1-0 would cure most of it; that is the maddening part.
Bruno Onyemaechi and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Squad13 Dec 2027
André Ricardo falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
“It is not the end of the world and it is not good enough. Both of those are true.” The manager, after a 0‑0 draw, said the honest thing and then went to say it again inside.
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until André Ricardo signs something — a contract at PAOK B or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
The manager wanted a different profile for this opponent, which is a real football reason and no consolation. He did nothing wrong and he did not play.
In brief
MarketThe clock does Karel Mustmaa’s negotiating for him
1‑4 to Niki Volos, and it was every bit as bad as the number suggests. There are defeats you argue about and defeats you apologise for; this was the second kind.
At 21 he is doing things this season that he could not do last season, and doing them every week. Form comes and goes; this has stayed long enough to be called something else.
The young player of the month award goes to a 20-year-old at PAOK B who has looked like the finished article for four weekends running. The next four are the ones that decide whether he is.
“We were not good enough today and I am not going to dress it up.” Fotios Papadopoulos after 1‑4, in the tone of a man who knows the next question and does not intend to answer it.
André Ricardo falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
The chances are being made and something is happening between the making and the finishing. 3 matches now, and the anxiety in the ground arrives a little earlier every week.
There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 22-year-old it feels ownership of. Karel Mustmaa has it now, and everything he does for the rest of his time here will be measured against the goodwill he was handed for free.
At 20 he is being measured against the rest of the division's kids and coming out in front. The senior version of this award is where the club would like this to lead.
He used to wear the other shirt. On Saturday he plays against Niki Volos in this one, and whatever he says this week about it being just another game will be untrue.
Successful dribbles: 11. He went past people as if he had been told there was a prize for it, and by the end the full-back had stopped pretending to try.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and André Ricardo was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 20-year-old it feels ownership of. Pavel Apetenok has it now, and everything he does for the rest of his time here will be measured against the goodwill he was handed for free.
Position 3, 13 points, and every result so far reduced to one line. The second half of the season starts with the same squad and a different set of expectations.
Marked 7.49. Ask anyone leaving the ground what settled it and you will get one name, which is the only award that has ever really counted.
The dugout22 Nov 2027
The manager’s verdict
“I am frustrated, honestly. We did enough to win and we did not win.” Fotios Papadopoulos was not hiding it after 0‑0, and nobody in the PAOK B dressing room was either.
Pavel Apetenok is 20, and for one weekend he was the best of everybody his age in the division. Nobody should build a career on it and everybody quietly does.
Thodoros Kalogiros was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
The fixture the rest of the division is looking forward to more than either of the sides in it. Both know a win changes the season and a defeat does not end it, which is what makes it hard to play.
“I have done everything asked of me in training and it has not changed a thing on a Saturday.” The most familiar complaint in football, and one PAOK B will have to answer with minutes or with a transfer.
Successful dribbles: 31. He went past people as if he had been told there was a prize for it, and by the end the full-back had stopped pretending to try.
Karel Mustmaa was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and André Ricardo was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Squad8 Nov 2027
Pavel Apetenok is the division's best young player this month
At 20 he has spent a month being better than everybody his age in the league, which is a different and harder thing than one good afternoon. PAOK B will try very hard not to make too much of it.
The dugout8 Nov 2027
The view from the dugout
“We did not lose. Some weeks that is all you get, and I would rather have the point than not.” Fotios Papadopoulos chose the glass-half-full version of 0‑0; the supporters left with the other one.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at PAOK B, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Headers, blocks, tackles, interceptions — 12 of them, and not one goal behind him. The sort of performance that never makes a highlight reel and wins football matches.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad1 Nov 2027
Words at PAOK B training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. André Ricardo is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Ask anyone on the way out what separated the sides and you will get one name: Karel Mustmaa. 1‑0 against PAS Giannina, and the applause at the whistle was mostly his.
Successful dribbles: 18. He went past people as if he had been told there was a prize for it, and by the end the full-back had stopped pretending to try.
Bruno Onyemaechi was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
At 22 he is being sung about by people twice his age, which is an affection a signing has to earn over years and a local kid gets for turning up. It is also the hardest thing in football to live up to.
Ask anyone on the way out what separated the sides and you will get one name: Karel Mustmaa. 1‑0 against Makedonikos, and the applause at the whistle was mostly his.
“The players deserve the credit. My job was easy today.” It was not, and everybody in the room knew it; after 1‑0, Fotios Papadopoulos could afford to be generous.
Pavel Apetenok is 20, and for one weekend he was the best of everybody his age in the division. Nobody should build a career on it and everybody quietly does.
Headers, blocks, tackles, interceptions — 13 of them, and not one goal behind him. The sort of performance that never makes a highlight reel and wins football matches.
The shape wanted a different profile against this opponent, which is a real football answer and no comfort at all to the man it is about. He did nothing wrong and he did not play.
Dimitris Tsopouroglou and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Squad18 Oct 2027
Words at PAOK B training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. André Ricardo is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Successful dribbles: 20. He went past people as if he had been told there was a prize for it, and by the end the full-back had stopped pretending to try.
There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 20-year-old it feels ownership of. Pavel Apetenok has it now, and everything he does for the rest of his time here will be measured against the goodwill he was handed for free.
Marked 7.46 on an afternoon he ran from the first whistle to the last. Whatever else went wrong, PAOK B had the best player on the pitch.
The dugout18 Oct 2027
The view from the dugout
“We did not lose. Some weeks that is all you get, and I would rather have the point than not.” Fotios Papadopoulos chose the glass-half-full version of 0‑0; the supporters left with the other one.
Ninety minutes, no goals, and the argument started before the car park emptied: a point gained, or two thrown away against Kampaniakos? Both sides of it will still be going on Thursday.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and André Ricardo was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Luka Gugeshashvili trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Kostas Polykratis signs something — a contract at PAOK B or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
A side in position 8 visits next. The result will not make anybody’s season and it could quietly break the shape of one, which is why the manager has been watching the video since Sunday.
There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 20-year-old it feels ownership of. Abasiekeme Ikobong has it now, and everything he does for the rest of his time here will be measured against the goodwill he was handed for free.
Not a new contract, not a new number: a new place in the manager’s thinking, which is the only promotion in football that actually matters. Nikos Spyrakos has moved up it.
“The manager did not use many words, and he did not need to.” Kostas Balomenos has his answer from PAOK B; what he does with it is the next window’s story.
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Dimitris Kottas signs something — a contract at PAOK B or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
Successful dribbles: 27. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
Squad27 Sep 2027
Words at PAOK B training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. André Ricardo is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
“The manager did not use many words, and he did not need to.” Antonis Stergiakis has his answer from PAOK B; what he does with it is the next window’s story.
The board was up, the win was priced in, and then Anagennisi Karditsa scored. There is no worse minute to concede in and the ground emptied in the silence that follows one.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
It needed André Ricardo to find the net to bring anything home at all: 1‑1 against Anagennisi Karditsa, and half the dressing room will call it a point won.
“A point is a point and I will take it, but we should have had all three.” Fotios Papadopoulos after the 1‑1 draw, and the sentence every manager in the country said at some stage this weekend.
In brief
The dugoutThe plan did not have a place for Pavel Apetenok
Bruno Onyemaechi and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Squad20 Sep 2027
André Ricardo falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
“We were not good enough today and I am not going to dress it up.” Fotios Papadopoulos after 0‑1, in the tone of a man who knows the next question and does not intend to answer it.
He used to wear the other shirt. On Saturday he plays against Anagennisi Karditsa in this one, and whatever he says this week about it being just another game will be untrue.
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Antonis Stergiakis trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until André Ricardo signs something — a contract at PAOK B or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
Not a run of form — an actual step up, held for months. At 22 he is doing things at this level he could not do at the start of the season, and the coaching staff will tell you exactly which of them.
Successful dribbles: 20. He went past people as if he had been told there was a prize for it, and by the end the full-back had stopped pretending to try.
He is 22 and the ground already sings his name, which is a thing that happens to local boys and almost never to signings. Everything from here is measured against an affection he did nothing to earn except be from here.
“The players deserve the credit. My job was easy today.” It was not, and everybody in the room knew it; after 2‑1, Fotios Papadopoulos could afford to be generous.
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and André Ricardo was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
“I respect the manager and I am not going to sit here and pretend I am happy.” It is the most common sentence in football and it has never once been the end of a story.
It will be explained as a change for the team and it may even be one. Nobody who has worn one believes that, and neither does the man who has just had it taken away.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at PAOK B, and both men came out saying it was fine.
A conversation in the manager’s office, and a commitment that came out of it. Promises like that are cheap to make and expensive to break, and Kostas Thymianis has written the date down.
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Dimitris Kottas signs something — a contract at PAOK B or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
Form comes and goes; this has not gone. Giorgos Koupenos is 21, and the version of him training now would not have got into the side he was in a year ago.
“I have given this everything, but my family is not here and neither am I, not really.” A footballer can be coached out of bad form. Nobody has ever been coached out of this, and PAOK B know it.
Dejan Lovren was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Squad30 Aug 2027
Words at PAOK B training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Kostas Thymianis is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Bruno Onyemaechi and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Squad23 Aug 2027
6 new faces, and PAOK B are still learning each other
A squad rebuilt inside one window pays for it in a currency nobody budgets for. The football is not worse than the sum of the players; it is worse than the sum of the players who have played together before.
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Luka Gugeshashvili trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
In brief
SquadWords at PAOK B training over how hard people work
The last thing about a transfer that is still about the player is his signature on his own terms, and it is there. PAOK B have lost him in all but the paperwork.
The offer from Javor-Matis for Luka Gugeshashvili was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
Kostas Thymianis was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
The name of Jonathan Gómez has come up in conversations PAOK B were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Kostas Thymianis was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
“I know what people will say. I know what I want, and it is here.” Napredak had the fee agreed and the shirt ready; they did not have the player, and now they will not.
Bruno Onyemaechi was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
The demotion a club never announces and a dressing room always notices. Dejan Lovren is further from the side than he was, and the reason will not be given until he asks.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Giorgos Kosidis was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what PAOK B can pretend not to have heard.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and André Ricardo was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
7 new signings in one window. Every one may be an upgrade and the side can still be worse for a while, which is the part of a rebuild the verdicts never mention.
Giannis Michailidis and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Kostas Thymianis was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
A new face in his position and a shirt he thought he owned suddenly up for discussion. PAOK B have promised nothing, which is what clubs promise at this stage.
“It was not right for me. I am not going to explain why to anybody except the people I owe an explanation to.” A deal agreed between two clubs, and a player who declined to be part of it.
Everyone has stopped pretending: Spartak Subotica will make the call about Taha Ali this week. PAOK B have a number in mind, and the number is not shy.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad12 Jul 2027
Words at PAOK B training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Kostas Thymianis is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at PAOK B, and both men came out saying it was fine.
A year in and the city has not opened up, the language has not come, and lunch is eaten alone more often than anybody at PAOK B would admit. It shows on Saturdays.
“I respect the manager and I am not going to sit here and pretend I am happy.” It is the most common sentence in football and it has never once been the end of a story.
Position 2, 31 points, and the result everyone checks first is now theirs. The word is still not being said around the ground, which is how you know everyone is thinking it.
The offer from Radnicki Nis for Taha Ali was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
Bruno Onyemaechi was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
“We keep meeting, and we keep leaving the room with the same numbers we walked in with.” Another round of talks at PAOK B, another week without a signature from Luka Gugeshashvili.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and André Ricardo was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
The offer from Panargiakos for Antonis Stergiakis was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
The phone has started ringing about Giannis Michailidis again, and this time the name on the line is Zlin. PAOK B are listening politely and promising nothing.
Form comes and goes; this has not gone. Kostas Polykratis is 21, and the version of him training now would not have got into the side he was in a year ago.
Kostas Thymianis was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
The list is a quiet document with a loud meaning. Bruno Onyemaechi may talk to anybody who asks, and everybody at the club understands what that means.
Squad21 Jun 2027
Words at PAOK B training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Giorgos Kosidis is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
The offer from Radnicki Nis for Giannis Michailidis was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Form comes and goes; this has not gone. Giorgos Koupenos is 21, and the version of him training now would not have got into the side he was in a year ago.
Squad14 Jun 2027
Words at PAOK B training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Dejan Lovren is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
“I did not come here to warm up in front of people.” He is out of contract eventually, he is old enough to count the weeks, and PAOK B will have to give him a reason to stay or an exit.
The last thing about a transfer that is still about the player is his signature on his own terms, and it is there. PAOK B have lost him in all but the paperwork.
Bruno Onyemaechi was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Tom Louchet was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The demotion a club never announces and a dressing room always notices. Kostas Thymianis is further from the side than he was, and the reason will not be given until he asks.
16 games, 0 goals, and a squad option that has arrived without a fee attached. The interesting question at PAOK B now is not whether he plays but who he displaces.
Squad31 May 2027
5 new faces, and PAOK B are still learning each other
A squad rebuilt inside one window pays for it in a currency nobody budgets for. The football is not worse than the sum of the players; it is worse than the sum of the players who have played together before.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at PAOK B, and both men came out saying it was fine.
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Not a month, not a run of form — a whole season of being the best 20-year-old anybody in this division could put on a pitch. This is the honour that gets mentioned for the rest of his career.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around PAOK B they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Dimitris Tsopouroglou and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Squad24 May 2027
Dejan Lovren falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
An average of 7.03 in a first team he is several years too young for. PAOK B have something, and by now the whole division has noticed.
Squad17 May 2027
Dejan Lovren falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Dimitris Chatsidis signs something — a contract at PAOK B or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Dimitris Tsopouroglou and PAOK B agree another 4 years.
“I have done everything asked of me in training and it has not changed a thing on a Saturday.” The most familiar complaint in football, and one PAOK B will have to answer with minutes or with a transfer.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Giorgos Kosidis was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Dimitris Tsopouroglou trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. PAOK B know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Words at PAOK B training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Dejan Lovren is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around PAOK B they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Squad26 Apr 2027
Dejan Lovren falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
A season average of 7.03 at an age when most of his year group are still in the youth team. PAOK B know what they have, and so, by now, does everybody else.
Position 2 and 31 points on the board. Nobody at the ground will say the word out loud yet, and everybody at the ground is thinking it.
Squad12 Apr 2027
Words at PAOK B training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Dejan Lovren is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Dimitris Tsopouroglou and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Not a run of form — an actual step up, held for months. At 20 he is doing things at this level he could not do at the start of the season, and the coaching staff will tell you exactly which of them.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Dejan Lovren was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Dimitris Tsopouroglou was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Four or five weekends of consistency, judged against everybody in the division doing his job. Dimitris Chatsidis has come out of that comparison in the side, and PAOK B have had the benefit of every one of those afternoons.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around PAOK B they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
At 20 he is doing things this season that he could not do last season, and doing them every week. Form comes and goes; this has stayed long enough to be called something else.
A season average of 7.03 at an age when most of his year group are still in the youth team. PAOK B know what they have, and so, by now, does everybody else.
Form comes and goes; this has not gone. Vasilis Nikolakoulis is 21, and the version of him training now would not have got into the side he was in a year ago.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Dejan Lovren was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Form comes and goes; this has not gone. Dimitris Chatsidis is 20, and the version of him training now would not have got into the side he was in a year ago.
Squad15 Mar 2027
Words at PAOK B training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. André Ricardo is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at PAOK B, and both men came out saying it was fine.
He trains hard, says the right things and goes home to an empty flat. Nobody at PAOK B has done anything wrong, which is exactly what makes it so difficult to fix.
At 20 he is doing things this season that he could not do last season, and doing them every week. Form comes and goes; this has stayed long enough to be called something else.
Pavel Apetenok was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at PAOK B, and both men came out saying it was fine.
A conversation in the manager’s office, and a commitment that came out of it. Promises like that are cheap to make and expensive to break, and Magomed Ozdoev has written the date down.
Dimitris Chatsidis has done the arithmetic and does not like the answer. Nothing corrodes a squad faster, and no club has ever solved it by explaining the wage structure to a footballer.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around PAOK B they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Squad1 Mar 2027
Words at PAOK B training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Dejan Lovren is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
He used to be one of the options. He is now one of the men the options are picked around, and the change happened quietly enough that only the dressing room noticed on the day.
He asked about his future and was given an answer with minutes in it. The manager has now made a promise in a building where promises are remembered, and the clock on it has started.
A year in and the language has not come, the city has not opened up, and he eats alone more often than anybody at PAOK B would like to admit. It is showing on Saturdays.
Nobody at PAOK B is suggesting he is out of form. The manager simply wanted somebody with a different set of qualities for ninety specific minutes, and there is nothing a player can train to fix that.
He is 20, he is averaging 7.03, and older professionals have started passing to him in the difficult minutes. That last part is the real scouting report.
Squad22 Feb 2027
Dejan Lovren falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Ninety specific minutes wanted a different sort of player, and the manager picked one. He is not out of form and he is not in the side, and both are true.
Dimitris Tsopouroglou and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
“I respect the manager and I am not going to sit here and pretend I am happy.” It is the most common sentence in football and it has never once been the end of a story.
The manager wanted a different profile for this opponent, which is a real football reason and no consolation. He did nothing wrong and he did not play.
A year in and the city has not opened up, the language has not come, and lunch is eaten alone more often than anybody at PAOK B would admit. It shows on Saturdays.
“I listened, I thought about it, and I am staying. That is the whole story.” The clubs had agreed a fee. Dimitris Chatsidis had not agreed to go, which turned out to be the part that mattered.
Everything was agreed until it was not, and Mahamadou Balde reports back to PAOK B with a summer to forget. Neither club is saying who walked away from the table.
Squad8 Feb 2027
Dejan Lovren falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
“I have done everything asked of me in training and it has not changed a thing on a Saturday.” The most familiar complaint in football, and one PAOK B will have to answer with minutes or with a transfer.
Squad8 Feb 2027
A place in the month's best eleven for André Ricardo
Four or five weekends of consistency, judged against everybody in the division doing his job. André Ricardo has come out of that comparison in the side, and PAOK B have had the benefit of every one of those afternoons.
He trains hard, says the right things and goes home to an empty flat. Nobody at PAOK B has done anything wrong, which is exactly what makes it so difficult to fix.
Nobody at PAOK B is suggesting he is out of form. The manager simply wanted somebody with a different set of qualities for ninety specific minutes, and there is nothing a player can train to fix that.
Nothing in writing and nothing in public: a word about playing time, given face to face at PAOK B. The team sheets over the next month will show whether it was worth having.
In brief
The dugoutPedro Lucas knocks on the manager’s door
Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Dimitris Bataoulas will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around PAOK B the goodbyes have quietly begun.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Dejan Lovren was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Giorgos Kosidis and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
“I respect the manager and I am not going to sit here and pretend I am happy.” It is the most common sentence in football and it has never once been the end of a story.
Not a new contract, not a new number: a new place in the manager’s thinking, which is the only promotion in football that actually matters. André Ricardo has moved up it.
The shape wanted a different profile against this opponent, which is a real football answer and no comfort at all to the man it is about. He did nothing wrong and he did not play.
A conversation in the manager’s office, and a commitment that came out of it. Promises like that are cheap to make and expensive to break, and Magomed Ozdoev has written the date down.
The offer from Iraklis for Mahamadou Balde was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
Add another name to the list: Hellas Syros have asked the question everybody in the game has been asking about Dimitris Chatsidis. The answer from PAOK B has not changed — yet.
A season average of 7.03 at an age when most of his year group are still in the youth team. PAOK B know what they have, and so, by now, does everybody else.
Giorgos Kosidis was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
A new face in his position and a shirt he thought he owned suddenly up for discussion. PAOK B have promised nothing, which is what clubs promise at this stage.
The shape wanted a different profile against this opponent, which is a real football answer and no comfort at all to the man it is about. He did nothing wrong and he did not play.
The last league game has been played and the table has stopped moving: 31 points. The summer begins on Monday, and so does the argument about what it all meant.
The hardest thing about being 19 in a senior side is that nobody makes allowances. Mahamadou Balde did not need any: 7.94, and he looked the most comfortable man on the pitch.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Dejan Lovren was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
He is 20 and the ground already sings his name, which is a thing that happens to local boys and almost never to signings. Everything from here is measured against an affection he did nothing to earn except be from here.
“I know what people will say. I know what I want, and it is here.” Kampaniakos had the fee agreed and the shirt ready; they did not have the player, and now they will not.
Not a run of form — an actual step up, held for months. At 19 he is doing things at this level he could not do at the start of the season, and the coaching staff will tell you exactly which of them.
The first defeat in 8 matches. The manager will say it had to come; the dressing room will say it did not have to come against Iraklis; the supporters will say both, in that order, all week.
Squad11 Jan 2027
Dejan Lovren falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Dimitris Tsopouroglou was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
“We were not good enough today and I am not going to dress it up.” Fotios Papadopoulos after 0‑1, in the tone of a man who knows the next question and does not intend to answer it.
One weekend, judged against everybody else's. André Ricardo has come out on top of it, and for most footballers a weekly award is the only silverware a career ever produces.
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at PAOK B, and it is not being withdrawn.
At 20 he is doing things this season that he could not do last season, and doing them every week. Form comes and goes; this has stayed long enough to be called something else.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at PAOK B is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
3 wins on the spin now, and the question has changed from whether the run ends to who ends it. Confidence like this cannot be bought; it has to be earned exactly this way.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 22-year-old it feels ownership of. Nikos Spyrakos has it now, and everything he does for the rest of his time here will be measured against the goodwill he was handed for free.
Ask anyone on the way out what separated the sides and you will get one name: André Ricardo. 1‑0 against PAS Giannina, and the applause at the whistle was mostly his.
Two sides from the top of the table, one afternoon, and a month of talk decided in ninety minutes. PAOK B will not use the word title this week and will not stop thinking it.
Successful dribbles: 23. He went past people as if he had been told there was a prize for it, and by the end the full-back had stopped pretending to try.
Form comes and goes; this has not gone. Kostas Polykratis is 20, and the version of him training now would not have got into the side he was in a year ago.
Hard to beat is not the same as winning, but 7 matches without defeat is a foundation PAOK B did not have in the autumn.
Squad28 Dec 2026
Dejan Lovren falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Ask anyone on the way out what separated the sides and you will get one name: André Ricardo. 1‑0 against Makedonikos, and the applause at the whistle was mostly his.
Marked 8.01. Players have careers without a single afternoon like this in them, and he has just had one in front of everybody at PAOK B.
The dugout28 Dec 2026
The manager’s verdict
“I am not going to get carried away and I will not let them either. It was a good day. There will be harder ones.” Fotios Papadopoulos kept it short after the 1‑0 win, which is what managers do when they are happy.
Not a run of form — an actual step up, held for months. At 19 he is doing things at this level he could not do at the start of the season, and the coaching staff will tell you exactly which of them.
Hard to beat is not the same as winning, but 6 matches without defeat is a foundation PAOK B did not have in the autumn.
Squad21 Dec 2026
Words at PAOK B training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Dejan Lovren is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 20-year-old it feels ownership of. Dimitris Chatsidis has it now, and everything he does for the rest of his time here will be measured against the goodwill he was handed for free.
Successful dribbles: 17. There was always a defender in front of him and there was never a defender in front of him for long.
The dugout21 Dec 2026
The view from the dugout
“We controlled it. There were spells I did not like and we will look at them, but the group showed me something.” Fotios Papadopoulos, on a 1‑0 win that he was already picking apart on the walk to the press room.
In brief
SquadA PAOK B teenager takes the young player award
Dejan Lovren was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Successful dribbles: 22. He went past people as if he had been told there was a prize for it, and by the end the full-back had stopped pretending to try.
Behind, and beaten by any honest reading, until minute 89. Kavala had the points in their pocket and a corner of the ground still believed, which is generally when it happens.
“I have done everything asked of me in training and it has not changed a thing on a Saturday.” The most familiar complaint in football, and one PAOK B will have to answer with minutes or with a transfer.
The dugout14 Dec 2026
The view from the dugout
“We did not lose. Some weeks that is all you get, and I would rather have the point than not.” Fotios Papadopoulos chose the glass-half-full version of 3‑3; the supporters left with the other one.
Not a run of form — an actual step up, held for months. At 19 he is doing things at this level he could not do at the start of the season, and the coaching staff will tell you exactly which of them.
Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Dimitris Bataoulas will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around PAOK B the goodbyes have quietly begun.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Dejan Lovren was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Dimitris Tsopouroglou and PAOK B agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
The fixture the rest of the division is looking forward to more than either of the sides in it. Both know a win changes the season and a defeat does not end it, which is what makes it hard to play.
“It is not the end of the world and it is not good enough. Both of those are true.” The manager, after a 0‑0 draw, said the honest thing and then went to say it again inside.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at PAOK B is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
He is 20, he is averaging 7.01, and older professionals have started passing to him in the difficult minutes. That last part is the real scouting report.
Successful dribbles: 21. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
Squad30 Nov 2026
Dejan Lovren falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
“A point is a point and I will take it, but we should have had all three.” Fotios Papadopoulos after the 1‑1 draw, and the sentence every manager in the country said at some stage this weekend.
Somebody watched every match in the division at the weekend and decided he was the best thing in any of them. A small honour, and most careers end without one.
Two goals and a mark of 8.20 to go with them. Strikers are judged on afternoons like this one and remembered for far fewer of them than people imagine.
Position 3, 16 points, and the result everyone checks first is now theirs. The word is still not being said around the ground, which is how you know everyone is thinking it.
A 2‑1 win over Nestos Chrysoupoli, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
Pavel Apetenok and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
At 20 he is being sung about by people twice his age, which is an affection a signing has to earn over years and a local kid gets for turning up. It is also the hardest thing in football to live up to.
“The players deserve the credit. My job was easy today.” It was not, and everybody in the room knew it; after 2‑1, Fotios Papadopoulos could afford to be generous.
Every squad has one of these fixtures for somebody every season. This one is Antonis Stergiakis’s: the club that knew him first, the supporters who will decide in the first minute whether to applaud, and PAOK B needing him to play as if none of it matters.
Words at PAOK B training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Dejan Lovren is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Dimitris Tsopouroglou was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Dimitris Bataoulas will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around PAOK B the goodbyes have quietly begun.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Dejan Lovren was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 19-year-old it feels ownership of. Pavel Apetenok has it now, and everything he does for the rest of his time here will be measured against the goodwill he was handed for free.
A mark of 7.53, and nobody in the ground would argue with it. He was involved in everything that mattered and most of what did not.
The dugout9 Nov 2026
The view from the dugout
“We did not lose. Some weeks that is all you get, and I would rather have the point than not.” Fotios Papadopoulos chose the glass-half-full version of 0‑0; the supporters left with the other one.
Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Giorgos Kosidis will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around PAOK B the goodbyes have quietly begun.
0‑2 to Iraklis, and no complaints worth printing. The performance asked for nothing more than it got.
The dugout2 Nov 2026
The view from the dugout
“We will look at it, we will learn from it, and we go again.” The three sentences every manager keeps for a 0‑2 defeat, delivered by Fotios Papadopoulos to a room that had heard them before.
It will be explained as a change for the team and it may even be one. Nobody who has worn one believes that, and neither does the man who has just had it taken away.
He used to be one of the options. He is now one of the men the options are picked around, and the change happened quietly enough that only the dressing room noticed on the day.
Ninety specific minutes wanted a different sort of player, and the manager picked one. He is not out of form and he is not in the side, and both are true.
“If we are going to be beaten, let it not be because somebody in here could not be bothered.” He stood up and said it in front of everybody, which is a thing a squad remembers about a man for years.
A mark of 7.68 means one thing beside a twenty-nine-year-old's name and something else entirely beside a 19-year-old's. Nobody at the ground needed telling which this was.
Squad26 Oct 2026
Words at PAOK B training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Dejan Lovren is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
At 21 he is being sung about by people twice his age, which is an affection a signing has to earn over years and a local kid gets for turning up. It is also the hardest thing in football to live up to.
Iraklis next, and the two sides the division is watching meet each other. Whoever wins will be told nothing is decided in the same breath as being congratulated.
Successful dribbles: 16. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.
The dugout26 Oct 2026
The view from the dugout
“We controlled it. There were spells I did not like and we will look at them, but the group showed me something.” Fotios Papadopoulos, on a 1‑0 win that he was already picking apart on the walk to the press room.
A mark of 7.81 means one thing beside a twenty-nine-year-old's name and something else entirely beside a 19-year-old's. Nobody at the ground needed telling which this was.
Form comes and goes; this has not gone. Dimitris Chatsidis is 20, and the version of him training now would not have got into the side he was in a year ago.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Dejan Lovren was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Dimitris Bataoulas will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around PAOK B the goodbyes have quietly begun.
At 19 he is doing things this season that he could not do last season, and doing them every week. Form comes and goes; this has stayed long enough to be called something else.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Makedonikos next, and one man in the PAOK B dressing room knows their training ground better than his own. The reception will tell him what they thought of him.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around PAOK B they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Form comes and goes; this has not gone. Kostas Polykratis is 20, and the version of him training now would not have got into the side he was in a year ago.
Squad5 Oct 2026
Dejan Lovren falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Conceding is one thing; the response is what tells you about a dressing room. Dimitris Chatsidis had PAOK B level again within 3 minutes, and Kampaniakos never got to play with a lead at all.
At 20 he has spent a month being better than everybody his age in the league, which is a different and harder thing than one good afternoon. PAOK B will try very hard not to make too much of it.
Successful dribbles: 15. He went past people as if he had been told there was a prize for it, and by the end the full-back had stopped pretending to try.
It is a specific kind of quiet, a ground watching a winning position dissolve. Kavala kept coming because nothing stopped them, and PAOK B will be asked about the last half hour all week.
Successful dribbles: 28. He went past people as if he had been told there was a prize for it, and by the end the full-back had stopped pretending to try.
At 19 he is doing things this season that he could not do last season, and doing them every week. Form comes and goes; this has stayed long enough to be called something else.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Dejan Lovren was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Pavel Apetenok and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
“We were not good enough today and I am not going to dress it up.” Fotios Papadopoulos after 2‑3, in the tone of a man who knows the next question and does not intend to answer it.
Two goals and a mark of 9.06 to go with them. Strikers are judged on afternoons like this one and remembered for far fewer of them than people imagine.
Form comes and goes; this has not gone. Vangelis Gravvanis is 19, and the version of him training now would not have got into the side he was in a year ago.
A 2‑1 win over Anagennisi Karditsa, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
Pavel Apetenok was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
He is 22 and the ground already sings his name, which is a thing that happens to local boys and almost never to signings. Everything from here is measured against an affection he did nothing to earn except be from here.
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
The dugout21 Sep 2026
The view from the dugout
“We controlled it. There were spells I did not like and we will look at them, but the group showed me something.” Fotios Papadopoulos, on a 2‑1 win that he was already picking apart on the walk to the press room.
93 minutes played. Dimitris Chatsidis found the finish in time that only existed because of earlier delays, and Niki Volos went from a point to nothing inside one movement.
The hardest thing about being 20 in a senior side is that nobody makes allowances. Dimitris Chatsidis did not need any: 7.60, and he looked the most comfortable man on the pitch.
Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Dimitris Bataoulas will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around PAOK B the goodbyes have quietly begun.
At 19 he is doing things this season that he could not do last season, and doing them every week. Form comes and goes; this has stayed long enough to be called something else.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Dejan Lovren was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
At 22 he is being sung about by people twice his age, which is an affection a signing has to earn over years and a local kid gets for turning up. It is also the hardest thing in football to live up to.
A mark of 7.68, and nobody in the ground would argue with it. He was involved in everything that mattered and most of what did not.
The dugout14 Sep 2026
The manager’s verdict
“I am not going to get carried away and I will not let them either. It was a good day. There will be harder ones.” Fotios Papadopoulos kept it short after the 1‑0 win, which is what managers do when they are happy.
The deal that would have taken Dimitris Chatsidis to Levadiakos has collapsed at the last stage, and he reports back to PAOK B with a summer to forget and a season still to play. Nobody is saying which side walked away.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around PAOK B they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“I did not come here to warm up in front of people.” He is out of contract eventually, he is old enough to count the weeks, and PAOK B will have to give him a reason to stay or an exit.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and André Ricardo was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
A brace, and André Ricardo takes the afternoon — 8.86
There is a particular kind of quiet from an away end watching one man score twice. André Ricardo provided it, and the 8.86 beside his name is if anything generous to everybody else.
Fee agreed, wages agreed, and Kampaniakos waiting with a shirt. Nobody at PAOK B is pretending otherwise, and the supporters have stopped asking whether and started asking when.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what PAOK B can pretend not to have heard.
Minute 89, against Nestos Chrysoupoli, and a goal that felt like a win to everybody who had stayed. It was a draw. Nobody leaving the ground will describe it as one.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at PAOK B this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
2‑2, and both dressing rooms will call it two points lost. A draw that asked plenty of questions and answered none of them.
The dugout31 Aug 2026
The view from the dugout
“We did not lose. Some weeks that is all you get, and I would rather have the point than not.” Fotios Papadopoulos chose the glass-half-full version of 2‑2; the supporters left with the other one.