Early Positional Looks for 26/27 Season

Silly season has not arrived yet, but it is being planned on already. We are going to look at very likely the candidates of players that will be departing, whether by loans agreement concludes, contracts expired or players that will be moved on.

Players that contracts are expiring and do not look likely to extend:

  • Filip Djuricic (AM/LW)
  • Giannis Kotsiras (RB)
Players who's loans that are expiring and will not be signed
  • Alban Lafont (Possibility) (Goalkeeper)
  • Renato Sanches (CM/DM)
  • Lucas Chaves (Goalkeeper)
  • Javi Hernandez (LB/CB)
Player's who are looking like they will be offloaded from what my best guess is
  • Davide Calabria (RB) - Return to Italy?
  • Adam Cerin (Midfield) - 1 year left on contract cash in
  • Tasos Bakasetas (AM/Midfield) - Tarnished relationship with fans
  • Karol Swiderski (Forward) - Down the pecking order in strikers
  • Sissoko (Midfield) - 1 of the most useless signings ever in the Alafouzos era
  • Pellistri (RW) - Seems the end product lacks, cash in when possible
  • Tin Jedvaj (CB/RB) - Was rumoured to be offloaded last summer, was not in european squad
That's an estimate of 14 players gone... which means we are going to need a lot of replacements starting from back to up front.

Two goalkeepers. Lafont has shown good glimpses as a shot stopper, but he has not been immune from blunders and the long range shot. Chaves who is a solid Greek Super League goalkeeper, has not even got a minute.

Two right backs. Calabria was linked back to a move in the winter window to Lazio or Fiorentina. The noise just suddenly left. Expect that noise to return. Kotsiras has been a loyal servant to the club, but father time has caught up & his time at PAO does look up. Tsapras signing looking imminent and 1 more.

Two centrebacks. Jedvaj was linked to a move back in Croatia, but nothing eventuated. He looked out of favour with Rafa in the rotation & was excluded from the european list. Expect a move to Croatia in the summer. Javi Hernandez hasn't exactly lit up the world since his arrival, but he has notched up 2 goals & a red card in his short stay. Signed as a back up left back he hasn't exactly shown the quality to stay. Whichever formation we continue next season, we will definitely need 2, possibly 3 CB's

One leftback. With Javi Hernandez unlikely to continue, we will need a someone to backup or possibly challenge Kyriakopoulos for the spot.

Four Midfield. The area we have struggled all season since Papadimitriou did not reinforce the midfielder following Maksimovic's sale. There has been a feeling of a gap and injuries caused us to shuffle often, including Bakasetas playing deeper & the ill-fated signing of Sissoko on a 1.5 year deal. With Sanches looking unlikely to stay beyond this season (health reasons, although he's had a good stretch & high wages), Bakasetas with his fallout with the fans who bring up his past links to AEK, Cerin who is in his final year of contract, will play at a World Cup, so suitors will show interest & Sissoko, who is too old & has been injured twice, including now what is a season ending injury in training. We will need a brand new midfield plus cover

One Right Wing. Pellistri is a gifted player, with good defensive tracking & hustle, fast speed & confidence to take on players. In theory, this sounds all great... but... his end product has been his Achilles heel. He's found himself in great scoring positions to somehow not put the ball in the back of the net. Gifted, but will be remembered more for his big chances missed in the big games. Injuries have set him back with him being injured twice in long stints whilst with Uruguay. PAO will be likely to move him on

One Left Wing. Djuricic will depart this season when his contract ends, with that Zaroury does not look like he's capable to starting and a lot will depend on Andino being able to have a good pre-season, strengthen up and be ready for the next season. Expect an experienced left wing to be signed.

One Forward. Swiderski has shown ok glimpses, but is not the man you will expect for a 10-15 goal season. Has been guilty of missing a few easy chances, penalties & not being able to provide good link up in build ups. Tetteh's arrival & goals have put him to a backup role. Dessers injuries is the reason why he hasn't been 3rd choice. Expect Swiderski to move on, question mark over Swiderski & Dessers. Also keep an eye on Pantovic also.

After all, we are heading to silly season, but the planning from now is no doubt being done by Kotsolis & co.

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