St. Pauli's Attacking Options - Kauczinski's Choices

St. Pauli's Attacking Options - Kauczinski's Choices

St. Pauli over the last few seasons have had a recurring issue, an unidentifiable source of goals. Nullifying an opponents attack hasn't really been an issue, with the likes of Soren Gonther, Lasse Sobiech and Christopher Avevor tightening things up over the years, it's notoriously been the lack of goals which the fans have been calling for. There's no hiding the fact that in the previous handful of seasons the majority of goals scored have been sourced equally throughout the squad. In fact, in the 17/18 season there were five players sharing the accolade of top scorer - three of those being traditional midfielders. Things haven't changed for this season either, as you're reading this Christopher Buchtmann has 4 goals to his name for this campaign, the current leader. After a tough previous year, with a team consistently relying on a goal-saturated midfield, the summer break had fans rubbing their hands with anticipation of packing a striker, notorious of putting away his chances.

As Aziz Bouhaddouz departed the club, for Al-Batin, in stepped his replacement - Henk Veerman, who arrived from SC Heerenveen in the summer. A seemingly 'like-for-like' replacement for the Moroccan international, who left due to a mixture of lack of play time and dropping down the pecking order. Veerman, standing at an impressive 200cm tall, appeared to be an obvious 'target man' upon his addition to the club. However, his so far brief time at St. Pauli has revealed a more complicated and refined striker than most expected...

Henk Veerman - Traditional Centre-Forward

When I first saw that St. Pauli had signed the dutch centre-forward, I had instantly stereotyped him as 'The Dutch Peter Crouch'. The 27-year-old had an almost identical build to the Englishman, notorious for his headed goals and poacher-like instincts from inside the box. He seemed a good addition to the squad, with smaller options available on the pitch it was evident that an aerial threat wouldn't go amiss. I have been surprised with what he's brought to the table so far this season, the beautiful back-heeled assist for Sami Allagui from the SV Sandhausen game from a couple weeks back was pure genius. He has a wonderful awareness about him and his pace and acceleration isn't at all bad for someone of his stature. Veerman has been a great asset coming on from the bench and that's where I think he works best from. The centre-forward is more than capable of being the spark that gives St. Pauli a critical boost in the dying stages of a game. 

Essentially, Henk is the complete forward, and has made an impressive start to his St. Pauli career. He has offered a wide range of abilities which are crucial for a modern forward. I think he's not just replaced Bouhaddouz, but actually given his teammates a more hardworking and clinical frontman. As mentioned, he has worked wonders as a later addition to a game, when called upon. Will Markus Kauczinski chance him as a starter? I'd prefer him not to, as we have all seen the Dutchman work very well when rising from the bench. If it's not broke, don't fix it.

Dimitrios Diamantakos - Winger / Centre-Forward

The Greek forward has once again linked up with former manager, Kauczinski. The two met at Karlsruhe SC in 2016 where Diamantakos was clearly appreciated. Diamantakos has never been overly prolific during his career, having started off his work with Greek powerhouses, Olympiacos. It's fair to say that the 25-year-old didn't arrive in hamburg expecting to be a fan-favourite by all means. He knew the work he'd have to put in and a frustrating spell at VFL Bochum left Diamantakos wanting first team football. After joining St. Pauli in a tough campaign battling relegation in 2018, the forward managed to chip in with a handful of goals, mainly as a substitute to Allagui and Bouhaddouz. This season may allow a change of fate for Diamantakos, having seemed to have found confidence in the last few weeks in particular. Having scored two in his last four, could we be looking at a player looking to solidify his position in a competitive St. Pauli front-line?

Diamantakos is a great mover, off the ball in particular. When in his preferred central role, he will be trying to find two or three yards of space inside the 18-yard box. The Greek likes to play on the last man, which does suit to the more creative players such as Mats Moller Daehli and Richard Neudecker who will be looking for that critical pass. I think he'll retain his place as the leading striker for the next few performances. Diamantakos will need to stay on his toes though, with competing teammates fighting for a chance to appear in the starting XI. Kauczinski seems to see a lot of good in him, so I can't see the coach rotating anything whilst Diamantakos could (extreme emphasis on could) be entering his peak.

Sami Allagui - Centre-Forward

The final option for Markus Kauczinski is the veteran Tunisian striker - Sami Allagui. A controversial performer for fans, Allagui has had plenty of time to settle in, but the statistics aren't doing a lot for the ex-Hertha Berlin forward. Only 7 goals in a St. Pauli jersey, not great considering the bags of experience he has gathered over the many seasons Allagui has had at this level. However, some fans will dispute that the 32-year-old has just had an unfortunate beginning to his career, here in Hamburg. Originally working alongside Aziz Bouhaddouz, Allagui wasn't getting much support. A frustrated Allagui lost confidence very quickly, as goals were sparse and chances were plentiful. Some fans admired his tenacity and hoped that with time would come an increase in conversions. Kauczinski frequently rotated the front-line, struggling to find out who was fitting with who, and where? Jan-Marc Schneider often making the odd appearance, impressing where Allagui could not. Over the past couple of years the centre-forward has passed in and out of the starting XI. However, the striker now has an eyebrow-raising two in two, competing with Diamantakos. A brief spell out with a broken rib enough to allow Allagui to get into the right mindset?

Allagui demands a bit more from his teammates, usually working with Veerman or Neudecker will improve his performance, whereas Diamantakos is more likely to work comfortably more independently. The Tunisian can often miraculously find the ball at his feet with little explanation as to how it got there, but it's his conversion rate which leaves both fans and Kauczinski asking questions. I think patience is wearing thin with a lot of supporters, but after scoring with his first touch over the weekend, will Allagui be expecting to start against Holstein Kiel? It's unlikely, in my opinion, but with Diamantakos' performances fluctuating, the coach may be willing to give the most experienced of the three a chance.

All three of these centre-forwards offer something unique and obviously Kauczinski will select based on not just form alone. Looking at the bigger picture though, who are St. Pauli looking at to be consistently hitting the back of the net? As said at the start of this article, the team are heavily reliant on Buchtmann having a strong scoring season, with the addition of Sobiech also chipping in last year. Another low-scoring season could mean trouble for the boys in brown, replicating the 17-18 struggle. Kauczinski will need to asses and with all forwards proving their worth in recent weeks, nobody is guaranteed a place in this ever-changing squad.

EUROPE'S HIDDEN GEMS - RUSSIA 2018

EUROPE'S HIDDEN GEMS - RUSSIA 2018

Yes, the thought of Iceland playing Nigeria in Russia this summer may not be everyone's opinion of a mouth-watering fixture. But, it's how I began to really educate myself on the players we never knew existed. We often forget that there are more to teams than their 'superhero'. Iceland at Euro 2016 for example. Everybody knew of Gylfi Sigurdsson coming into the tournament, but it was really Iceland's other 10 players who shocked us the most. Just from their success two years ago, a lot of those players' lives changed instantly. Their names plastered across the scouting list of some of the worlds biggest clubs. Some doubled their value, others increased theirs tenfold. I thought I'd give an insight into who I'll be keeping an eye on this tournament, a handful of Europe's hidden gems, expected to feature at Russia 2018...

Alireza Jahanbakhsh - FORWARD - IRAN - Currently playing for AZ

The 24-year-old winger has had an outstanding year playing for AZ in the Eredivisie. A fast, dymanic forward, the Iranian is the Asian top-scorer playing in Europe for the 2017-2018 season. A fan-favourite for the Dutch club, Jahanbakhsh offers a very direct, potent attack. Scoring 21 times in 33 appearances for Alkmaar in the Eredivisie this year, he has more than definitely caught the eye of Europe's elite. Iran may not have the most complete team heading into Russia this summer, but a mouthwatering attack consisting of some of Europe's hidden stars will definitely give them some hope.

Hakim Ziyech - MIDFIELDER - MOROCCO - Currently playing for Ajax

Another one from the Eredivisie. A well-rounded and experienced Moroccan international, Ziyech made a name for himself whilst playing for FC Twente. Ajax signed the now 25-year-old who had developed quite a name for himself by his free-kick ability and all-round technique. More of an attacking midfielder, Ziyech assisted an impressive 17 times in just 34 league games last season, including 9 goals. Dutch born, but now playing internationally for Morocco, Ziyech will be looking to continue his club form at the World Cup. A lot of Morocco's success will surely be down to how this ever-growing maestro will perform. Consistent as well as gifted, he will be one of the less-recognised stars of the tournament.

Hwang Hee-Chan - FORWARD - SOUTH KOREA - Currently playing for RB Salzburg

At just 22 years of age the South Korean prospect has already had an outstanding career. Winning 3 Austrian Bundesliga titles, as well as 2 Austrian cups. He began his professional career at FC Liefering, a feeder club for the controversial 'Red Bull' franchise. The centre-forward adopts a non-traditional style of play, venturing all-across the pitch with his neat footwork and dazzling trickery. The prodigy has got a lot to prove and with a South Korean team inconsistent in quality, we may not see him at his full potential. Keep an eye out for this youngster, he has nothing to lose. Hee-Chan has scored in the Europa League, Champions League qualifiers as well as the domestic league this year, proving he can keep up with demand at RB Salzburg.

Salif Sane - CENTRE-BACK - SENEGAL - Currently Playing for Hannover (Agreed to join Schalke for the 2018-2019 campaign)

One of the more experienced players on this list is the French-born Senegalese international. Sane has had a exceptional year for club, helping the club finish in a more than respectible 13th place in the Bundesliga. Not bad for a club with a budget much less than its competitors. The 27-year-old is a crucial part of the squad. Sane was credited with the most aerial duels won in the Bundesliga for the 2017-2018 season, a truly remarkable statistic. The towering defender is a massive threat from set-pieces, strong and fearless. Senegal have a very competitive set of centre-backs to chose from, all equally experienced and similar in physicality, but for me Sane is the one who stands out. A really impressive Bundesliga campaign means he is one to keep an eye on this summer.

Pione Sisto - FORWARD - DENMARK - Currently Playing for Celta Vigo

The Ugandan-born left-winger is currently on the books of Celta Vigo following a move from FC Midtjylland in 2016. At just 23 years of age, the Danish winger is an athletic and exciting prospect. Assisting an impressive 10 times and adding 4 goals in 34 La Liga appearances last season means that he will be gaining a lot of attention heading into the tournament in Russia. Sisto will be looking to cut inside onto his deadly left-foot in most games. Denmark,  on paper are definitely a team lacking in pace, but will be looking at him for a change of style, when their centre-forwards are struggling to get into the game. 

Nicolas Tagliafico - FULL-BACK - ARGENTINA - Currently playing for Ajax

With only 3 international caps for Argentina, Tagliafico is somewhat of a mystery to most. Those who follow Ajax have been impressed with what they've seen of the left-back so far, since joining from Independiente in January of this year. An apparent steal for the price of just £4m. Very confident venturing forward, but also just as reliable defensively, the 25-year-old is a well-rounded asset to his national squad. Yet to prove himself for his country, Tagliafico should be looking to make a name for himself on the left, especially seeing just how narrow and ageing the Argentinian squad appears. With plenty to aim for up front, the full-back can certainly look to deliver on the big stage in Russia this June.

Benjamin Pavard - CENTRE-BACK - FRANCE - Currently playing for Stuttgart

Having such an impressive season for the Bundesliga outfit, the talented French defender received a call-up to the provisional 23-man-squad for the upcoming World Cup. Although competing for a place alongside players such as Raphael Varane, Presnel Kimpembe and Samuel Umtiti, the 22-year-old will surely see some game-time this competition. A composed and confident centre-back, Pavard will sit nicely with any partner at the back. Having already gained notoriety amongst those who have been following the Bundesliga recently, the French defender will surely be looking to be first pick for Didier Deschamps, if not in Russia, then in the near future. Definitely one to watch. Pavard can also feature at right-back, a less-contested position for 'Les Bleus'.

Renato Tapia - MIDFIELDER - PERU - Currently playing for Feyenoord

One of Peru's hidden gems. A cultured midfielder, another who can be found playing in the Eredivisie. Transferring from Twente in 2016, the Peruvian hasn't seen a lot of play-time since the move to Feyenoord. However, the recent 2017-2018 season has allowed Tapia to progress. Featuring only a handful of times in his first season for 'De club aan de Maas', the 22-year-old is now starting to improve his game. A crucial part of the national squad, Tapia will be galvanizing the midfield, knitting together passes and retaining Peru's control of the ball. Not the most dynamic player, but one of the most consistent performers for his country, the Feyenoord player will be hoping to drag Peru through a really tough and heavily competitive Group C.

Season Summary 2017-2018

Season Summary 2017-2017

So, another season flies by. The top scorer of the .2 Bundesliga turned out to be a player who we loaned out at the beginning of the season. We were joint worst-scorers in the league and we lost our rock at the back, Lasse Sobiech to Cologne. But did we enjoy ourselves? Too right. An amazing support throughout the year, along with one of the best away turnouts in the division. It was a typical 'St. Pauli' season really. The team looked deflated towards the end of the campaign, as the .3 Liga stared us in the face once more. Luckily, we kept afloat. Just.

Markus Kauczinski joined us following the departure of Olaf Janssen mid-way through the season. A drop in form prompted this switch, early in December. We were stuck in a rut, lacking in confidence as well as goals. Two heavy back-to-back defeats, our last win under Janssen was the 1st of October. Change was a must as St. Pauli weren't progressing, as they started sliding down the table.

Here are a handful of interesting statistics from the recent 2017/2018 season:

- Sami Allagui's scored an average of 0.16 goals per game. More likely to get booked, than score a goal.

- Holstein Kiel's Marvin Ducksch has scored 18 goals so far this term. St. Pauli, his parent club, only managed to score 35 all season.

- Our top scorers were Allagui, joint with Aziz Bouhaddouz and Christopher Buchtmann, all netting 4 times. Allagui taking the spot of 55th top-scorer in the league.

It wasn't all doom and gloom though. St. Pauli's youthful prospects shone through in the 2017/2018 campaign. Yi-Young Park, a name rarely mentioned until this season has now appeared in 17 league fixtures. The 23-year-old, South Korean recently scored his first professional goal too, nicely slotting home against Arminia Bielefeld. A versatile youngster, who appears to have solidified a place in the first team at right-back. Composed and reliable, Park has had an incredible break-through year at St. Pauli. Only making 2 appearances in the 2016/2017 season, his quality was unknown, but with confidence booming under the watch of Kauczinski, it looks like Park will be confidently eyeing up the same position for seasons to follow.

Big things also came for Richard Neudecker, another adapting, prodigy. The 21-year old had a stunning season at the club. He really blossomed in the second half of the season, scoring 4 and assisting the same amount in 20 appearances. Another player who was given a chance by Kauczinski to really shine. A position change from central-midfield, of which he appeared many times as a substitute in the previous season, to a freer role as a left-midfielder allowed him to be more involved in games. A lot of fans would see Neudecker as their player of the year, which I believe is a more than a fair claim. A real credit to the great season he has had.

Other players worth a mention are Chrstopher Avevor, who has really upped his performance this year. The 26-year-old a lot more stronger and composed on the ball. Robin Himmelmann fought hard for St. Pauli throughout the season. With cat-like reflexes, the first choice goalkeeper had more than a couple games worth noting, retaining valuable points during the struggle. Johannes Flum was a valuable asset in central-midfield, alongside Bernd Nehrig. The pair galvanizing the team in the middle of the park, both controlling the game at their pace.

Don't get me wrong, Mats Daehli, Waldemar Sobota and Christopher Buchtmann were all crucial to the 2017/2018 campaign, but I wanted to highlight those who may not get the recognition they deserve. Notably, the newcomers to the team along with those who have improved from seasons past.

I think if we are to progress looking on, there will have to be some changes made. With Sobiech leaving over the summer St. Pauli should be looking to strengthen that back-line. Another experienced and dominant centre-back will be required to fill the boots of the departing. We will need a lot more goals further up the pitch. I think Allagui has had a very tough season, and that is evident. However, Greek centre-forward, Dimitris Diamantakos has added late on this season with a few goals. It's not enough to keep us afloat though, I think a certified goalscorer is needed. Jan-Marc Schneider another one who will be competing for a place on the front line, but similar to other options, is clearly lacking in consistency. A hole will be left in the midfield where Daehli would be playing. The Norwegian will be returning to parent club, SC Freiburg. His creativity and awareness will need to be replicated. Tough decisions to be made, as the club goes through another summer of ins and outs. Fortunately, not preparing for the .3 Liga though. We'll settle for another season in the .2 Bundesliga.

Let me know your opinions. I'd like to share your thoughts. Who would you select to lead the team for next season? Has Kauczinski done enough to retain his place as manager? Where do you believe the team could be strengthened? And finally, what do we do with Allagui?

Richard Neudecker: St. Pauli's revitalised threat

Richard Neudecker: St. Pauli's revitalised threat

Prior to the current season Richard Neudecker started off as a player who you'd only get to see in the dying stages of a game. An 86th minute substitute, a 'pair of fresh legs' in the later stages of a game. The 21 year old, who had arrived from 1860 Munich in the summer of 2016 had rarely started a game until only a few weeks ago. With regular favourite in Christopher Buchtmann missing due to injury, St. Pauli had been struggling to find goals. Recent droughts up front had meant that the likes of Waldemar Sobota and even Lasse Sobiech would be chipping in, making amends for the lack of action from the more traditional forwards. An unfortunate Sami Allagui found himself more than often looking to the skies for support as many games went goalless for the Tunisian. The same for his counterpart in Aziz Bouhadouz, who doesn't currently find himself in the top 10 goalscorers for St Pauli this season. Essentially, St. Pauli were struggling to find a constant flow of goals. However, Richard Neudecker has now scored 3 and assisted the same amount of times in only a handful of appearances.

So, where has this burst of quality come from?

After being used as a substitute in the Dresden game, with only 5 minutes on the pitch Neudecker had the chance to prove what he can be capable of. Coming on in the 67th minute, the youngster had scored in the 71st minute. A darting run into the box allowed St. Pauli to breathe easy, making it 0-2 to the visitors. The game concluded 1-3, Neudecker's goal crucial to the victory. Two games later and this time Neudecker times his run perfectly to then slide the ball to a more than appreciative Allagui. A goal and an assist in just as many games. Some would put it down to luck, but I think there's more to it than some would believe...

Neudecker was previously involved later on in games, to solidify a potentially tired or strained midfield. Bunged in dead centre, his game usually revolved around retaining possession and nullifying any energy from the opposition. Never really given a chance to explore or create, the out-of-favour replacement wasn't ever seen as a genuine replacement for someone like Buchtmann. Recently however, since the departure of Olaf Janssen, the new boss in Markus Kauczinski has identified a position in an eager Neudecker. He has now been given access to the attacking left, which has been stagnant for some time, with injury plaguing the squad, and performances often erratic and inconsistent, a fresh face and friendly competition appears to have given a temporary release of pressure to those forced to step up their game.

At the more recent Kiel game the unsung hero struck again. 11 minutes into the match and the now established midfielder hits the back of the net. A rather fortunate goal, which sees Bouhaddouz' left-footed drive ricochet off the post, redirecting straight to Neudecker's feet. The German hangs out a foot to give the hosts an early lead. Only a few minutes pass as an unfortunate series of events sees St. Pauli now 1-2 down. Eventually things pick up and into the thick of the second half Bouhaddouz flicks a ball onto the inform Neudecker. A luscious left-footed hammer of a volley rifles past Kiel's Kenneth Kronholm, who helplessly watches the ball blast past. A real moment of quality.

It's the consistently aware mentality that gives Neudecker the advantage in these situations. He reads the game very well and his decision making is second to none. A composed finisher and passer of the ball, the left-sided midfielder offers a range of qualities. He's given teammate Allagui something to work off. The experienced forward looked quite isolated until recently when working alongside Neudecker, who has been a menace when attacking. I can see this link blossoming over time, as Allagui has recently struggled to get a lot of time on the ball alongside the taller Bouhaddouz who is more of a traditional 'target man'. Neudecker's awareness and forward runs are just what Allagui will be looking to link with, as the Tunisian struggles with establishing himself as a crucial part of the team.

St. Pauli fans will be hoping to see a lot more of this fresh face in the starting 11. The Hamburg outfit have been struggling to highlight their creative spark with favourites such as Christopher Buchtmann and Mats Daehi sidelined through injury. Hopefully, this emerging talent in Richard Neudecker continues to flourish. With results both home and away being very erratic, St. Pauli may end up relying on Neudecker in order to keep pushing up the table, but more importantly, they'll be hoping to refrain from falling into another relegation struggle.

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Die Winterpause Wrap-Up

Die Winterpause Wrap-Up 

Updating you on St Pauli's newest assets, acquired during Die Winterpause

Thibaud Verlinden - Arriving from Stoke City - Loan Deal (6 months)

The 19th January saw a fresh face added to the St. Pauli squad, as 'Sister Club' Stoke City loaned out Belgian u19 winger Thibaud Verlinden. The 18 year-old was revealed to be spending 6 months at the German club to gain experience. Having only played one professional game at Stoke, a 4-0 victory in the EFL cup against Rochdale. Brought in from Standard Liege as a 15 year-old for what was believed to be a fee of around £40,000. Stoke have since used him in their development squads as he has developed with the Belgian youth ranks. Stoke fans have seen very little of the youngster, but he is believed to be 'quite the talent'. He has even recently signed a 5-year extension at Stoke City. They must see something in him?

As for goal-scoring records? Not a lot can be found on the tricky winger. However, Verlinden in an interview had stated that he "Can be used on both wings and likes to dribble as well as making goals". A lot of fans are excited to see such a dynamic and enthusiastic player help St. Pauli in the next few months. Where will he play? I think he'll be used regularly to replace Cenk Sahin and Waldemar Sobota whenever called upon. Later on in games, Verlinden may be called upon to go through the gears in the final third. Sobota appears to be having quite a good start to the season, so it would be tricky to see him removed from an ever-changing starting XI. Sahin, on the other hand is not living up to his great 16/17 season. The Turk struggling to match the goals or assists he generated in the last campaign. It's difficult for an 18 year-old to get into the many squads, but with someone of his calibre and apparent skill, I'd like to see him feature a handful of times this season.

The Belgian only has a short spell here at St. Pauli. 6 months is not a lot for a player to make a mark. Kauczinski clearly sees his quality as he described the winger as "a talented footballer with special skills" and that "he has already indicated his potential in the training camp". This move could see more Stoke City players moving back and forth in the near future, following the pairing of the two clubs. The temporary move will hopefully benefit all parties. The only question is how much of Verlinden will we be seeing? It seems the youngster has the all-important stamp of quality, it's just a matter of when and where we'll be seeing it. It would be a shame to only see him come from the bench, but with so many injuries and changes of circumstance within the club, I can see him being quite an impact.

Dimitris Diamantakos - Arriving from VFL Bochum - Contracted until 2020

About a week later, On the 25th January 2017, it was announced that former Olympiacos youth player Dimitris Diamamtakos would make the change from fellow .2 Bundesliga competitors VFL Bochum. The Greek international didn't feel like he was getting adequate playing time at a struggling Bochum. Diamantakos, who made his .2 Bundesliga debut under Karlsruhe manager at the time,Markus Kauczinski, will be linking up with the striker again at St. Pauli.

The 24 year-old forward has a very sporadic scoring record. Having been sent on several loan spells in his short career, Diamantakos has had very little chance to prove himself. Having made 59 appearances for both Karlsruhe and Bochum since the 15/16 season, he has put the ball in the net a reasonable 15 times. It's a decent record for someone who's been constantly in-and-out of squads. Kauczinski clearly has faith in him, having signed him on loan originally, and then signing him on a permanent basis whilst at Karlsruhe. A hefty €1m took him from Olympiacos in 2016. Quite a large fee for a .2 Bundesliga team, considering that Diamantakos had only ever been sent on loan featured for Olympiacos only 8 times. The Greek had a relatively successful couple of years with Karlsruhe, having helped them get to a respectable 7th place in the .2 Bundesliga.

How will Diamantakos do at St. Pauli? Only time will tell, I guess. He seems like quite an opportunistic player. Many of his goals come from only a few yards from goal. You won't find him curling them in from 30 yards, but I'm sure he will get many important goals for St. Pauli. Not the most clinical finisher there is, but a striker who is determined to get his name on the score sheet. It's something we could do with right now, with both Allagui and Bouhaddouz not finding the net as frequent as we would like. I'd like to see him challenge for Allagui's spot. The Tunisian is under-performing in my opinion and could do with a bit of friendly competition. It's the perfect time for Diamantakos to show us what he's got, with the majority of our goals coming from midfield and wider positions, it seems like we need a centre-forward to start taking the reins.