Let’s leave the horror behind…

Τhis past Sunday we took on Olympiaco at the Karaiskaki in our first derby of the year. We had some good news and some bad news about our starting lineup.

The good being our captain Pertos Mantalos returned sporting a Zoro-like mask, a true warrior would never miss a match like this. The bad news is however that Lambropoulo once again started in the central defensive midfield position replacing Simoes once again. I really don’t understand this decision. Last year Simoes shut down the Olympiaco attack time and time again, why was he dropped for a center back playing in a wrong position?

The match started out and we were pinned back, with Olympiaco pressing us. In just the 8th minute we fell behind after Ideye opened up the scoring after a neat cut back. This was not a way to start off the biggest game of our season so far. In the 11th minute Olympiaco came close again after a deflected effort off Didac shin struck the post. We were almost defending for you lives in the first 15 minutes, a rare sight for AEK. In the 30th minute we had a dangerous little attack after a Mantalo cutback lead to another dangerous counter attack. Olympiaco continued the pressure and were looking for their second goal. A very very poor first half from us luckily ended only 1-0. We needed something at the half, we needed some changes because that first half was simply not good enough. We were playing so defensive, for what reason, yes we should always be defensively sound but we need to go out and press them and try and cause them some problems like we did last year.

The second half was very similar to the first. We again came out to defend and didn’t really go forward much as create chances. In the 63rd minute a poor Lambropulo giveaway, who was still somehow still on the pitch lead to Martins making it 2-0. In the 70th minute we almost conceded the third but a clever Anesti save denied Olympiaco. However just 8 minutes after that in the 78th minute we conceded the third. Fortounis was the goalscorer but I’m sure he knew very little about it after a massive deflection somehow found the ball nestled into out net, quite a comical goal. Not even in FIFA should anyone concede these goals, they simply shouldn’t be happening. Poor defending to say the least. Late on with the game done and dusted we created a couple of chances to score but a Bakaseta effort would strike the post in the 87th minute keeping the score 3-0. The game would end 3-0, what a disappointing result for us.

You have to question the coach at this point. Why not go out and press them a little and make them play. AEK is not a defensive team, and should be one in big games. I don’t understand why we tried to sit back all game and play counter attack. Everything was simply too easy for them. The early goal that we conceded in just under 10 minutes really hurt us. Why not play Simoes, there so many questions that we can ask. We also had some bad news come our way as Lescott, who didn’t have the best game on Sunday injured his knee which required surgery, he will be out for about 6-8 weeks. However, Hugo Almedia is close to a return, he should be fit hopefully in 10 days time for our next match.

Nonetheless we have to forget about this game and move on to the next one. It is currently international break so we have some time to regather ourselves and focus in our next match on Monday the 17th away at Larisa. Coming off two disappointing results, this game is a must win. We have to play good attacking football and create chances like the AEK that we all know and love…

George Angelidis – New York