Olympiacos Piraeus

[PsychoFan]

I went to see a video of Sebastian Blanco, he seemed good.

Was a request from VP?

[Faliro]

Surprisingly, Michel said that if he had to choose one greek player for his future club,it would be Maniatis 

Also that the biggest talento he saw in Greece was Karamanos - what a compliment. 
I had to quickly research to remember who this player was.



The weirdest thing is that every single coach that coached Olympiakos has praised Maniatis as a warrior and great professional. I just can't see it.. he was a limited right back before he became a limited centre mid... mind you, he does have guts..

Coaches always like hard working players. Obviously they always prefer the most talented ones but in public they will always praise the ones that leave their blood on the pitch for the team and are role models for the other players,in terms of professionalism,commitment in training and things like that.

I don't know who that Karamanos is,but it looks like he's a Olympiakos player,on loan at Atromitos. Maybe that´s the explanation for his choice.

Very good interview. He will probably return to Olympiakos one day. But after listening to what he said, his sacking is even stranger. He says that he had a great relationship with Marinakis and Karembeau and the only problem he had was with Affelay

Agree with everything.

The whole thing stinks. Something very dark happened and it has confused many. Journalists spent the last week inventing reasons why he was sacked. Weirder, even Michel gave no clues.

Affelay was a player I did not want at Olympiakos because I know Barcelona extremely well and I can't stand him. Think he is hugely overrated. However, he could have something to do with it.

Karamanos recently became ours, again, under the radar. Clearly he was a choice of Michel. He seems strong. There was some hype around him when he was younger, but not much since. He scored against us last year (September I think...)

[Faliro]

I went to see a video of Sebastian Blanco, he seemed good.

Was a request from VP?

If I was to guess, I would say probably yes. Simply because there was no rumour about him while Michel was here..I remember another prem latino player I think that was mentioned, but can't remember his name.. I think the Eintracht defender Carlos Zambrano was probably the last player we know of who Michel wanted this window. Blanco is a curious case. His own coach said 'it just didn't work with this player' but said it was nothing to do with his ability or talent. Just the environment most probably... or his height..5.5'

Either way, the weekness of this team is definitely the CBs. We never managed to replace Manolas just as I predicted. Was good to hear Michel was not behind any of those departures that hurt us (Xolebas included). Perhaps, this sacking was about money? Michel's contract was up in the summer of 2015 and I think he probably wanted to stay. Winning the league and doing well in the Uefa cup would have made the fans put pressure on marinakis to pay Michel whatever he wants. However this is just a random guess, I still have no idea why he was sacked.

[PsychoFan]

VP will for sure want at least 1 CB. Very important. Thoughts on Botia? Is he good with the ball?

But in the summer he will construct a nice team. There are very good players out there, that are not having opportunities and that are accessible to Olympiacos like Ghilas for example. Great forward.

Mitroglou will leave at the end of the season?

[Faliro]

VP will for sure want at least 1 CB. Very important. Thoughts on Botia? Is he good with the ball?

But in the summer he will construct a nice team. There are very good players out there, that are not having opportunities and that are accessible to Olympiacos like Ghilas for example. Great forward.

I think Pierre Issa and karembeu (the technical team) are the alfa and omega of who comes and who goes - with the blessing of Marinakis of course. I am not convinced how much power the coach has. Michel probably had the green light for 5 - 7 players in his 23 months - but that is just a guess. However, I am pretty sure there will be a serious conversation between VP and the technical team about the CB situation and I don't envy him. I am also certain if he has any targets for the CB position the technical team will make offers to get the player VP wants.

Siovas has regressed with the severe injuries he has had. Avlonitis just can't seem to get it together. Avraam may return from Turkey but he is as slow as shit. Which brings me to Botia - Benfica did well to give this guy a wide birth. He is shitty, ok passer but quite slow also. Don't rate him. I think he could have been Michel's choice to as Michel was at Sevilla. Who knows, I think Botia's agent was trying to move him from Sevilla for years, and sadly we took the bait.

VP will def be asked what he needs and then the technical team will go shopping with his list. VP now is clearly having to learn about Olympiakos's squad and ability in a very short period of time. It will not be easy.

[Faliro]

Mitroglou will leave at the end of the season?

Yip, he is property of Fulham. They can do as they please, however, I am sure we will have a good bargaining chip.

[PsychoFan]

Thank you Faliro.

Two more things. To how much Olympiacos can go for a player? 5M? 7M? 10M?
What was the the most expensive transfer in the Michel era. And of ever?

[Faliro]

Thank you Faliro.

Two more things. To how much Olympiacos can go for a player? 5M? 7M? 10M?
What was the the most expensive transfer in the Michel era. And of ever?

Transfer records:



Good to point out also, Olympiakos got some super players like Rivaldo free - but on colossal wages.

Olympiakos or should I say, Marinakis - only wants players in to use and and then throw away through loaning (Affelay) or a player he thinks he can later sell at a massive profit - Manolas, Samaris, Mirallas, Yaya Toure etc.. He is worth over €1 billion but he sees Olympiakos as a business and he has made a fortune through the club.

If the player is at the correct value - Marinakis will probably seek a loan with option to buy. If the player is undervalued, Marinakis will make a cash offer. That is the general impression of Olympiacos atm. However in general Olympiakos likes players for nothing..

[T1n0_SLB]

The weirdest thing is that every single coach that coached Olympiakos has praised Maniatis as a warrior and great professional. I just can't see it.. he was a limited right back before he became a limited centre mid... mind you, he does have guts..

Because he is a har worker, a fighter and gives 100%, it's like Maxi Perreira for us.

[Faliro]

Olympiakos can go top if we beat Xanthi.

VP selected his first squad for the game:

Megkieri, Roberto, Avlonitis, Vouros (stopper of U20) Bouxalakis, Fortunis, Dominguez Elampntelaoui, Durmaz Giannoulis, Maniatis, Mazouakou, Mitroglou, Dossevi, Kasami, Benitez, Siovas, Afelay and Strezos (goalkeeper of U20) traveled to Xanthi.

OUT:

Salinas, Gazarian, Ibrahim and Diamantakos, and not at the disposal of the Endinga (Copa Africa) and Milivojevic injured (started individual programme), Fuster (treatment) and Botia (treatment).

[sammer]

Salinas is Leandro Salino?

[Faliro]

Yes ^^

Possible transfers in:

Diego Reyes (Porto)

Also describes how much power VP will be given:

http://www.gazzetta.gr/football/article/689307/pithanotita-kai-gia-deytero-stoper-ston-olympiako

[Faliro]

Well Michel gone, here he is at the airport yesterday:



He said:

"It ends a fantastic period of my life. Thank you for everything. I would never leave Piraeus."

[H]

Michel seems like an absolute classy, great man, honestly.

Which only makes what they did to him even more reprehensible...

[Faliro]

The first 11 of Vitor Pereira:

...............................Roberto.....................

Elabdellaoui.......Avolnitis......Siovas.........Masuaku

.....................Maniatis......Kasami.................

...........................Dominguez.............................

Dossevi.............................................Affelay

..........................Mitroglou...........................

Perhaps one of the most attacking teams I have ever seen a coach put out for Olympiakos. Maniatis is the only defensive midfielder. The defensive back 4 is unchanged from Michel's.