Panathinaikos - Anyone give a shit for them due to badge/colours

[Piraeus]

Don't like this team, it is their centenary here in Greece so they getting a lot of press and wearing their 70's shirt again this year:

[Colin McRae]

i dont pick a team to suport based on the colour of there strip though, i hope they beat rangers.

[Dazza]

If they beat rangers then i'll be happy

[Martin]

I like that strip. It reminds me of the old Saint Etiene strip.

[Celticnut]

I'll give a shit about them when they're playing Rangers.

Piraueus-Off topic but...When I look at the comments on Samaras from Greeks on Youtube it sounds like they hero worship him.It seems you are a fan also.How much of a favourite is he in Greece and are his goals in Holland the only reason for his seemingly huge popularity?

[eire4]

Looks like a good strip to me
Obviously has to be some Irish connection in the founding of the club you would think. I don't know what the history behind the clubs colours and crest are but I would be very interested if someone on the board knows and would care to share.

[Piraeus]

Originally Posted by celtic nut

I'll give a shit about them when they're playing Rangers.

Piraueus-Off topic but...When I look at the comments on Samaras from Greeks on Youtube it sounds like they hero worship him.It seems you are a fan also.How much of a favourite is he in Greece and are his goals in Holland the only reason for his seemingly huge popularity?

Well there are a couple of things to take into account.
Firstly as I am sure you will know, Greeks are absolutely fanatical about football. They follow many club teams besides their own and of course are big gamblers on many games outside Greece so know most the leagues. Pretty much every Greek abroad is followed by Greeks living in Greece and outside and the Greek media itself feeds this process.

Now the thing is that although Greece has had a few talented players in their history, one of the best who truly was a genius was one Tsiartas - YouTube - Goles de Tsartas en el Sevilla F.C. - this left-footer was also my complete idol. Since he retired early last year, there has been a little void in very exceptional players who can create that magic you sometimes need to win a game out of nothing. Now Samaras was billed as the next big thing among Greeks in the know. The fact that he could do most things with ease, crosses, shots, tricks - all with both feet and his explosive years in Holland meant he attracted an immediate Greek following, especially from diaspora Greeks (Greeks born outside Greece - England, America, Germany ect). He was treated brutally at Man City, by the fans and coach alike, even if he scored the winning goal and assisted another, people would complain about his lackadaisical demeanour on the pitch - basically because he did not have buckets of sweat pouring down his face and he was a bit of a pretty boy, he was actually singled out for abuse if you can believe that. He took it all on the chin and is a true professional, but many Greeks became very defensive over him - and this created a bigger rift in a way. His exceptional form in internationals which he seemed born for and the abuse he unfairly received at city did not sit well with many diaspora Greeks who still believe he has the potential to be very special one day and who thus always big him up on Youtube vids.

It is a weird and quite frustrating situation. I actually think he should have gone to Arsenal or nowhere in the prem because he is suited to a passing game like that often found in la liga rather than the prem. Anyway, it is too early to say imo even if he will be a success at Celtic. I think he has a better chance to do well here than at City simply because your team from what I saw of the Killie game is capable of passing to him on the ground and not booting the ball 70 mph at his face in the midfield and then questioning why he did not convert it into a goal.

I would take all the Greeks who comment on him with a pinch of salt. When he wears the Green - it is your team and your player, not theirs. Having said that, he definitely has ability and he should be able to help your club, even if it is making sure your two main strikers are threatened enough to perform well each week just to keep their place. That to me is a good thing in itself. Hope i have helped answer your question.

[Piraeus]

Originally Posted by eire4

Looks like a good strip to me
Obviously has to be some Irish connection in the founding of the club you would think. I don't know what the history behind the clubs colours and crest are but I would be very interested if someone on the board knows and would care to share.

The Trifilli or Shamrock in English was actually put into the Panathinaikos by a founding member:

EMBLEM: THE SHAMROCK

Short after the founding of the team George Kalafatis changed the name of the club to Π .Π .Ο. (Panhellenic Football Club).
After the end of World War 1, football activity resumes and in 1918 Π .Π .Ο. establishes the green colour and the emblem of the shamrock which was designed by George Hatzopoulos, director of the National Gallery and member of Club.
The shamrock was brought to the club by Michalis Papazoglou, an athlete and later general secretary of Panathinaikos, who used to wear it at his former club of “Chalkidona” in Constantinopole.

Taken from PANATHINAIKOS FC::::THE HISTORY::::

To be honest, I actually hate this team so much it is untrue. If some how both rangers and PAO get removed from the Uefa cup in some strange outcome to their tie I will be pleased.

[Celticnut]

Originally Posted by Piraeus

Well there are a couple of things to take into account.
Firstly as I am sure you will know, Greeks are absolutely fanatical about football. They follow many club teams besides their own and of course are big gamblers on many games outside Greece so know most the leagues. Pretty much every Greek abroad is followed by Greeks living in Greece and outside and the Greek media itself feeds this process.

Now the thing is that although Greece has had a few talented players in their history, one of the best who truly was a genius was one Tsiartas - YouTube - Goles de Tsartas en el Sevilla F.C. - this left-footer was also my complete idol. Since he retired early last year, there has been a little void in very exceptional players who can create that magic you sometimes need to win a game out of nothing. Now Samaras was billed as the next big thing among Greeks in the know. The fact that he could do most things with ease, crosses, shots, tricks - all with both feet and his explosive years in Holland meant he attracted an immediate Greek following, especially from diaspora Greeks (Greeks born outside Greece - England, America, Germany ect). He was treated brutally at Man City, by the fans and coach alike, even if he scored the winning goal and assisted another, people would complain about his lackadaisical demeanour on the pitch - basically because he did not have buckets of sweat pouring down his face and he was a bit of a pretty boy, he was actually singled out for abuse if you can believe that. He took it all on the chin and is a true professional, but many Greeks became very defensive over him - and this created a bigger rift in a way. His exceptional form in internationals which he seemed born for and the abuse he unfairly received at city did not sit well with many diaspora Greeks who still believe he has the potential to be very special one day.

It is a weird and quite frustrating situation. I actually think he should have gone to Arsenal or nowhere in the prem because he is suited to a passing game like that often found in la liga rather than the prem. Anyway, it is too early to say imo even if he will be a success at Celtic. I think he has a better chance to do well here than at City simply because your team from what I saw of the Killie game is capable of passing to him on the ground and not booting the ball 70 mph at his face in the midfield and then questioning why he did not convert it into a goal.

I would take all the Greeks who comment on him with a pinch of salt. When he wears the Green - it is your team and your player, not theirs. Having said that, he definitely has ability and he should be able to help your club, even if it is making sure your two main strikers are threatened enough to perform well each week just to keep their place. That to me is a good thing in itself. Hope i have helped answer your question.

That is the thing that worries me.I'm not sure if you know but our central midfield pairing is Scott Brown and Massimo Donati.Donati is often criticised for being lazy and lackadasical even though he has more goals and assists than any of our central midfielders.Scott Brown is Scottish and runs around an awful lot and this gains him a bit of leeway with the support IMO even though he doesn't actually achieve as much in a game as Donati..I hope my fears are wrong though.

Also I don't know if you noticed but I started a thread saying that Samaras should maybe start alongside Vennegoor of Hesselink instead of McDonald.Here was my explanation:







Ihave heard people talking about dropping JVoH for Samaras but I don't think this is a good idea.Samaras has said himself that he is a second striker who like to buzz around a target man and recieve the ball into his feet.This has to put McDonald's place in question.

If we play McDonald and Samaras we will invariably hoof the ball up to the big guy and hope for the best.This is a bad idea because I have seen Samaras a few times since he came here and for his height ,he is pretty crap in the air.He is not a target man but I feel he would be shoehorned into that role if he was to play uptop with McDonald.

If we played him with JVoH then the pressure would be off him to provide aerial presence and he could play his own game.One of the main reasons he failed at Man City is because Stuart Pearce played him as a target man.He is not that type of player and never will be.

IMO Samaras is just too good a player to not utilize properly.He is technically better than any of our strikers.He is quicker than McDonald and his goalscoring record in Holland is phenomenal.He has the potential to be far and away our best striker.McDonald is a great option to have on the bench and I would still play him a fair bit but Samaras and JVoH would be my preffered strike partnership.








Would you agree with that general assessment?
Thanks for the info

[Piraeus]

For me, if your front two aren't broke, don't fix em/ - meaning, wait for them to play some games that are very poor before opening the door for Samaras. Samaras will quietly get into the rhythm and hopefully take his chances to press the front two and maybe even get some starts. Seems your front two atm are looking hot.

It is very important to understand firstly that Pearce did not consider Samaras a starter and he made most his appearances as a sub behind Vassel (a truely useless player but who always got the crowd on his side for his headless chicken work rate) and Corradi, and once or twice even Dickov. When he was played, 95% of the time it was as a midfield winger, never upfront and that is where the damage to Samaras was done. Even fans who hated Samaras at city could not understand why Pearce refused to play him as a striker or anywhere near a natural forward's position. Although Samaras likes to drift sometimes to the wings, he is best starting as a forward and not as a winger.

As time goes by, I am sure it will become more obvious what role Celtic require of him and where he can do the most damage. His first goal for city was a very powerful header against Charlton (and he is usually the first to head away corners for the opposing team's corners (strange but true)) but I will concede he is not a natural prem forward who waits for headers all day in the box. He likes the ball just outside the box.

[thebhoymalone]

My ma and da were in Greece last year and saw the shamrock and bought me to t-shirt so i like them

[Celticnut]

Originally Posted by Piraeus

For me, if your front two aren't broke, don't fix em/ - meaning, wait for them to play some games that are very poor before opening the door for Samaras. Samaras will quietly get into the rhythm and hopefully take his chances to press the front two and maybe even get some starts. Seems your front two atm are looking hot.

It is very important to understand firstly that Pearce did not consider Samaras a starter and he made most his appearances as a sub behind Vassel (a truely useless player but who always got the crowd on his side for his headless chicken work rate) and Corradi, and once or twice even Dickov. When he was played, 95% of the time it was as a midfield winger, never upfront and that is where the damage to Samaras was done. Even fans who hated Samaras at city could not understand why Pearce refused to play him as a striker or anywhere near a natural forward's position. Although Samaras likes to drift sometimes to the wings, he is best starting as a forward and not as a winger.

As time goes by, I am sure it will become more obvious what role Celtic require of him and where he can do the most damage. His first goal for city was a very powerful header against Charlton (and he is usually the first to head away corners for the opposing team's corners (strange but true)) but I will concede he is not a natural prem forward who waits for headers all day in the box. He likes the ball just outside the box.

Ok thanks mate
BTW your English is superb.

[anto10]

panathinaikos have no irish connection, despite the colours and badge.
the shamrock is a lucky symbol in greece, thats why PAO use it
omonia nicosia from cyprus also have a shamrock on the crest and wear green & white.

[eire4]

Originally Posted by anto10

panathinaikos have no irish connection, despite the colours and badge.
the shamrock is a lucky symbol in greece, thats why PAO use it
omonia nicosia from cyprus also have a shamrock on the crest and wear green & white.

Thanks for the info anto. I always wondered what the story was but had no idea.

[ChampionsElect]

Supporting them in their Uefa cup run.