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.

PLAYER SCORES - St. Pauli 2 - 2 MSV Duisburg

PLAYER SCORES - St. Pauli - MSV Duisburg

FORMATION: 4-2-3-1

Here's how the Starting XI lined up...

GK- Himmelmann
RB- Zander
RCB- Sobiech
LCB - Sobiech
LB- Buballa
RM- Sahin
RCM- Flum
LCM- Nehrig
LM- Sobota
CF- Allagui
ST- Bouhaddouz

#30 - Himmelmann - 7.0 RATING

Not a tremendous amount to do throughout the game for the first choice keeper. A notable save towards the end of the game kept St. Pauli ahead with twenty minutes to go. A couple of firm and commanding punches were all that was asked of the 28 year old goalkeeper. A fairly neutral performance.

#19 - Zander - 7.8 RATING

The Werder Bremen II loanee had a fairly impressive game. The 22 year old full-back started out wide, looking to progresss down the right. The first quarter of the game he was forced to pass back to Himmelmann, turning towards goal a handful of times. When confidence grew, the right back looked to progress. Three or four really nice crosses were whipped in only to find nobody. Sadly, the forwards nowhere to be seen. He did contribute to St. Pauli's first goal. One of those crosses did find Sahin at the back post. The Turk nodded into space where Sobota lurked. Zander, an important addition to the game.

#3 Sobiech - 8.3 RATING

The sturdy centre-half was heavily involved in the first fifteen minutes of the game. Lots of short and long range passes which met their targets more often than not. Careful on the ball and clean with his tackles, it was a classic Sobiech performance early on. The towering defender stepped up to take the penalty, won by Allagui. A firm, right footed strike blistered past the keeper. He could have had a finger pointed at him when Duisburg made it 2-2 though, as neither Sobiech or Avevor successfully cleared the seemingly straight forward cross, which was lofted into the box. Either way, possibly the best player on the pitch.

#6 Avevor - 7.6 RATING

Barely putting a foot wrong all day, Sobiech's partner was happy to sweep up in the back third. He didn't rush into anything and remained collected both with the ball and without. A really clean and tidy performance allowed his teammates to relax and feel confident playing the ball around him. Again, whether Avevor or Sobiech are partially to blame for the equalising goal? I'm not too sure.

#15 - Buballa - 7.1 RATING

The left back didn't have the busiest game. A few concise and solid challenges prevented Duisburg at times and definitely helped pin them back. A lovely slalom through the Duisburg back-line eventually lead up to the penalty which was in the end won by Allagui. The winding gallop into the box causing mayhem for a tiring defence.

#22 - Sahin - 6.2 RATING

Possibly one of his quietest games. I found him several times floating between the front three. He never really got involved as much as you'd like, and consequently lost himself in the game. I think Sahin really likes to play as the left or right forward on a arrow-head style attack. The Turk seemed a little suppressed, which didn't give him the freedom or direct style of play which he craves. A little too quiet in this fixture.

#23 - Flum - 7.5 RATING

Maybe a tad underappreciated by me? Or perhaps overshadowed by a sterling Nehrig performance? I'm not too sure but the partnership of the two worked well. A weird comparison, but I saw him playing similar to Matic at Manchester United. A crucial block in the first half definitely prevented an earlier Duisburg lead. The right place at the right time. Simple yet passes, and never giving too much away.

#7 (c) - Nehrig - 8.1 RATING

I have to admit, I've never truly appreciated Nehrig. I've found him frustrating to watch, with clumsy fouls and reckless passing he came across as a bit brash. In this game though he really battled throughout. The captain's positioning was perfect as he never lost concentration. Some really admirable tracking back allowed others to not have to fill in the middle of the park. A very important and brave low headed clearance in the twenty-seventh minute highlighted his commitment as a leader. A kick to the head wouldn't have been pleasant. An honourable performance, in my opinion.

#28 - Sobota - 7.8 RATING

It took the Polish winger a while to get into the game. The opening twenty minutes were very quiet, as chances came few and far between. With the lack of Daehli in the midfield, it was more than likely up to the 30 year old to create chances. It took a while, but Sobota found himself open in the box as a slack Duisburg defence offered a chance for St. Pauli to equalise. A firm fifty-seventh minute strike to the roof of the net from 8 yards out levelled the scoreline. After that, Sobota enjoyed his role slightly freer, and offered a lot more.

#11 - Allagui - 5.7 RATING

Maybe a tad harsh, but I felt the Tunisian international offered very little in the game. Once again, I believed that the centre-forward looked lost and frustrated. A handful of opportunities came to Allagui, allowing him to play the all-important pass in the final third, but he simply couldn't succeed more than often. He gambled in order to win the penalty, but even that was debatable as to whether the referee awarded the correct decision. Frequently looking weak and tired, it was a difficult watch. Allagui was substituted in the 86th minute by Schneider. It could have been a lot earlier.

#9 - Bouhaddouz - 5.3 RATING

One of the worst performances in a while for the target-man. Duisburg's number 6, Nauber was fantastic in snubbing out anything the Moroccan went for. A great aerial battle in the first half. A frustrated Bouhaddouz at times gave the impression he wanted the ball played to his feet, as he was clearly having no luck in the air. Bouhaddouz was also (I'm putting this very loosely) to blame for giving away the penalty. A very delicate push into the back of Lukas Fröde forced the referee to call it. A very harsh decision indeed. thirty-two minutes in and more bad luck fell to the already livid Bouhaddouz. Some words exchanged with the referee handed him a caution. In the thirty-ninth minute he was given the opportunity to have a chance at goal. With no imminent threat and being just 12 yards out, the ball was bizarrely passed into danger instead of driven low and hard into the corner of the goal. An absurd choice to say the least. In the sixty-eighth minute it was the end for Bouhaddouz as he was shown a red card. A water bottle squirt to the face of an opponent was picked up by the fourth official. Antics enough to warrant a straight red after a discussion with the referee. An early shower welcomed, after a really terrible day at the office for the Moroccan international.

The game finished 2-2. A really interesting debut for newly appointed manager, Markus Kauczinski. The three points were there for the taking, but the hosts had to settle for just the one. A vast improvement to previous weeks, especially noting the loss of Buchtmann and Daehli to injury in the days arriving to this game. The fight was evident, sadly a poor refereeing performance and attacking display let us down.

5 REASONS WHY...

5 REASONS WHY...

ST PAULI SHOULD SHOW UNDER ARMOUR THE MIDDLE FINGER

The global, sporting apparel brand Under Armour is a fairly new company when you compare it to the likes of Nike and Adidas. Founded in 1996 by former University of Maryland footballer, Kevin Plank It has succeeded to be one of the fastest spreading worldwide brands of the last 20 years. Under Armour has developed sponsorship deals with some of the globe's largest superstars which include NBA and Golden State Warriors' star-shooter, Steph Curry. Curry, arguably being one of the greatest Basketball players of recent years. Also on their proud list of greats is the Carolina Panther's Cam Newton who has been one of the biggest NFL names in recent seasons. I'm sure there are hundreds more to mention. Yes, it's all very impressive. However the high-rollers of the sporting apparel industry haven't had it all too easy in their short life span. Notably, the previous few years...

Their 'top endorser' Steph Curry previously had shown outrage alongside FC St Pauli (who currently have a kit manufacturing contract with the giant brand) at the now CEO of the brand, Kevin Plank. During Donald Trump's run to presidency Plank said that the orange fascist was an 'Asset to the country'. Since making this comment, Plank has tried to backtrack and claim that he doesn't agree with 'All of Trump's opinions'. However, a number of stars and teams from all over the world (most of which are endorsers of Plank's company) have shared their disapproval of the CEO's stance on Trump. Here's a few reasons why I believe St Pauli should cut ties with the Under Armour brand...

1) FC St Pauli are, and always have been proud to stand against commercialisation.

Yet, only yesterday on the 5th July 2017 did Under Armour, as current kit manufacturers release their design for the 2017/18 season. The designs gathered a mixed response, both appealing to some and many others quite the opposite. However, which neither opinion appreciated was the hefty price tag. St Pauli, a small quarter in Hamburg who have a history of homelessness and a large percentage of unemployment definitely didn't support their team's decision to happily slap on a €74.95 tag on each of the three shirts available. For a club who with great pride, recognise the importance of football fans and their input into the club's running, it feels like a lot will feel let down this year. Questions to be asked to both supplier and the board on this one.

2) FC St Pauli's complete disapproval of patriotism.

Some of Under Armour's clothing line is definitely to be questioned, regarding in particular the supporting of blind patriotism of the United States. A lot of the U.S brands' t-shirts display the usual sort of shit you'd expect to find relating America to being the 'Best Country In The World'. Back prints frequently showing the infamous Golden Eagle splaying its wings. Some often plastered with the classic stars and stripes, and a few even ironically printed with the all too familiar the 'FREEDOM' across the chest. I suppose to a few it symbolises the love of their great country. (Insert Uncle Sam)

3) FC St Pauli supporting non-violence and the importance of animal welfare.

Now, this is a tough one as I'm sure opinions towards hunting are understandably shared on this topic. However, Under Armour as we know have their own range of Trophy Hunting sporting goods. Again, more associated with the U.S, Under Armour are proud to host competitions, sponsor and promote the killing of animals for human recreation. It doesn't stop there. Having taken a look on their website earlier today, I was more than disturbed to find a toddler sized t-shirt promoting the cruel and unnecessary 'hobby'. Add to that, the blood-lust, weird affection for arms and and the sick desire to have a Stag's head mounted above your Samsung 62" plasma... It just seems to portray a message which I can't imagine the vast majority of fans at St Pauli would support.

4) FC St. Pauli's take on Police Brutality and opposition to war.

Again, returning to a few t-shirt designs spanning back a few years, Under Armour love to promote clothing appealing towards supporting U.S Policing, Veteran Troops and Current Troops. As much as there probably isn't a lot wrong with that, at times it seems as if the U.S franchise are celebrating the terrible antics of war, of both present and current. FC St Pauli shouldn't be endorsing a company who are happy to make money and clothing praising such a dark and inhumane subject. Some of the Police based designs appear to be glorifying violence and idolising those (who at times) have abused their power. With blatant recent issues regarding policing and the deaths of many innocent and unnecessary, I can't see the Hamburg based team approving such a misuse of authority. I wont even mention this weeks G20 protests which have clearly escalated the people of Hamburg's opinion on policing and the evident brutality.

5) FC St Pauli could have chosen any kit manufacture, so why choose the Under Armour contract?

Understandably, times have been hard over the years for FC St Pauli and financially speaking, the club could always do with a spare bit of cash. Have St Pauli sold out? I don't think so. However, I do think that money has been the temptress in this deal. Under Armour, with a predominant U.S market have probably tried to infiltrate the European market here, one which over time I'm sure they will compete with Nike and Adidas in. I can't see any other reason as to why a club, so heavily against everything Under Armour is about would commit to such a deal. I see no positives, but I can certainly see a lot of disgruntled fans. Will the contract be terminated prematurely? I doubt it, seeing as Under Armour have probably ironically lead-lined their contract. I'd imagine a lot of money is involved and sadly, I think the fans opinion will mean nothing to Under Armour.

Everyone will have different reasons for and against this partnership. It's just that a lot of which Under Armour and Kevin Plank are currently standing for and supporting, I can't justify. St Pauli, a club famed and adored for their strong liberal stance hopefully will not tolerate such a poorly directed company.

Will we see fan protests? Player protests? I don't know. It would be interesting to see fans potentially avoiding purchasing the 2017/18 shirt along with future releases? Will fans possibly be taping up the Under Armour logo on their shirts? We can only wait and see what awaits us in the upcoming season.

YSP - Fanzine write up - My St Pauli South West Story

My St Pauli South West Story

by Tom Trump

As a St Pauli fan who's still fairly new to the fan base, I was instantly amazed by the following here in the U.K. Within a few weeks of falling in love with the Hamburg outfit I couldn't help but investigate to see if it was just me following this unique club. I guessed I wasn't going to stumble into a St Pauli fan in the local Tesco or queuing at the post office so I knew I'd have to start my search online. I stumbled across the Yorkshire St Pauli page originally and was amazed to find just how many individuals had gathered to support a team over 750 miles away. It was refreshing to know that I wasn't the only one, and there were actually a lot more than I had imagined. It was great to discover fans regularly meeting, sharing stories and enjoying the open community that YSP have created. At the other end of the country however was me, in sunny Devon. A county which is 94% white, highly populated by the agricultural industry and UKIP supporters and Tories. I didn't get my hopes up about meeting anyone who even recognized St Pauli, yet alone understood their notorious left-wing identity. Having searched for more and more pages similar to the Yorkshire St Pauli fan base hoping to expand my knowledge and attempt to find something a bit more local, I started to follow groups spanning all over the country. Derby to Glasgow and  to Manchester, it seemed that the U.K actually had a really broad and vibrant coverage. But still, I felt like there was a void which needed to be filled. Despite Devon and Cornwall combined taking up the majority of the South-West region, my attempts had revealed nothing remotely local on social media.

I decided to set up a project for myself, to start off a 'Devon St Pauli' group which would allow those to interact and share within the area. It gave me a hobby, something different which I was craving. I was so desperate to connect others who were both local and non-local into the group. Slowly but surely, through networking with the already clearly successful Facebook groups and pages, I welcomed a highly appreciated 13 members which doesn't seem a lot, but it built the foundations of that all important social platform and allowed those few people to be a part of something which we could develop. Only a few weeks ago I created the larger and more accessible 'St Pauli South West' page on Facebook. People started joining from all over the world this time. It was amazing to see people appearing from Germany, The Netherlands, Spain and it felt so surreal. I think it shows just how special the club is, with it pulling in so much interest globally. Social media has highlighted the scale of St Pauli's support worldwide, of which most clubs just don't have. In it's current short existence, it has been an honour to be able to share ideas and generate a fan base which is open to everyone. Seeing as I come from what feels can be quite a culturally deprived part of the country, it feels very special being able to invite and welcome folks like you and me who just want to share and embrace the ethos of St Pauli and follow the club we are all united by.

Over the last few months in particular, it has been really inspiring to see such great community within a sport which is often only portrayed as hooligans who care for nothing other than a beer and to verbally abuse each other. I'd like to thank those who have helped me organize what has been set up so far, that's going back to the original 'Devon St Pauli' group all the way up to the first few weeks that 'St Pauli South West' has now been running. I have a lot planned for the future and hopefully we will be connecting with everyone in the upcoming season. Manchester, Derby, Glasgow and of course Yorkshire St Pauli have all been such a help in promoting the page, and I can only thank them for their support.

If you feel like starting your own fan base up, why not try? There could be others in your area exploring and discovering, just like I was. St Pauli is all about community and unity. It's a great way to let others know that you, and many hundreds and thousands are out there. St Pauli have an ever-growing following which spans thousands of kilometers, it's something we are very proud of. Everyone I've ever spoke to within the fan groups and following in general has always been so friendly and welcoming, so never feel out of touch or not part of the St Pauli support. 

FC ST PAULI - FC Heidenheim - GOAL ANALYSIS

FC St Pauli 3 - 0 FC Heidenheim

-GOAL ANALYSIS-

Friday, 28th April 2017

So here's to something a bit different... I decided to go full Gary Neville. With only Microsoft Paint (not the giant top-dollar touch screen pad that Sky Sports features) and my St Pauli TV account  I thought I'd share my thoughts on the 3 goals that won the fixture. I really enjoyed doing this and I really felt like if I had put my tracksuit on, I wouldn't have felt out of place with Ewald on the sidelines.

Here is a screenshot showing the set piece of the opening goal. Stood beside the ball you can see two free kick favourites - Sobota and Buchtmann. I have highlighted the 4 options which could have been used on this piece. Buchtmann as we know has a wicked left foot. Opt.1 is a difficult one to perfect, it means firstly ensuring the ball is successfully lofted over the featured two-man wall. Secondly, it must be entering a dangerous position in the box, not enough pace or whip would mean it should be easily dealt with by the goalkeeper or defenders. Opt.2 would be a left footed driven cross. A favourite for those at the back post. You'd be expecting Sobiech or Bouhaddouz to be the target with this prefence. However, it is solely reliant on a well connected header, generating a lot of momentum and direction. Allowing Sobota to take this piece using his right foot would allow a much more dynamic cross, with both pace and curve. Opt.2 again, aimed for the larger threat lingering at the back. The Pole decides to go for the highlighted Opt.1, a low and difficult to defend cross which should find someone between the near post and the centre of the 6 yard box.

The ball is fizzed in and I have noted above where you would expect the attacking runs to be. A rough split with half running towards the near post and the remaining targeting the back. Unfortunately for Ex-St Pauli forward John Verhoek, it reached neither...

As you can see, the circled Heidenheim players allow the ball to be delivered without any interception. The stray foot which was swung also doesn't help Verhoek as the forward has to assume some form of contact is going to be made before it reaches himself. The ball hits him in the chest as he flinches from the contact with the vicious whip. It deflected and went goal-bound. Unfortunately for the 28 year old, it resulted in the first goal of the night. Sobota claimed what he could, but it was Verhoek's own goal in the 53rd minute which separated the two teams. It was purely just a case of nobody taking accountability for Heidenheim on this one. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Big John.

The second goal came only minutes after the first. A complete mess from the Heidenheim defence, as you will see. The visitors were trying to play it out from the back which seems to be the trend in modern football at the minute. However, as I have shown below, it all goes wrong...





















Bouhaddouz recently has done a grand job of applying pressure to the oppositions' defensive line. He is currently sat between the two centre-halves and floating as the ball is shared between Opt.1 & Opt.2 and the Heidenheim goalkeeper, Muller. As Daehli notices that his fellow forward is being stretched both left and right, the Norwegian intervenes himself and closes down the gap between Opt.1 and the deeper midfielder as identified below.

Above I am depicting just how difficult Muller's teammates make it for him. The blue lines are the two sensible routes he could have taken, easier said than done, especially when you have a 6'2" Moroccan charging at you. The black lines signify the motion Muller's teammates SHOULD have taken to spread the coverage and widen their availability. It really is a poor offering from the rest of the team to help their keeper clear his lines. Bouhaddouz' two purple lines illustrate the angle of which he has limited Muller to passing. Him and Daehli do a great job of applying direct pressure from the front. Muller scuffs his pass and literally passes directly to the nuisance that is Daehli. Bouhaddouz actually jumps past Muller, trying to block his kick. Here below is a screenshot of just how his 'clever' body check knocks the German goalkeeper to the ground. Minimal contact made, but enough to knock him off-balance and eventually leaving him stranded on the ground. The referee could have blown up for a foul, but a surprising lack of reaction from Heidenheim didn't force his call.

The diagram following notes Daehli's finish for this piece of play. You can see how clever the body check by Bouhaddouz (highlighted in purple) is as it gives Daehli a opening as where to place the ball. He takes a step to the left of the helpless Muller and slots the ball with ease into the empty net. A terrible mistake, but I must add that Bouhaddouz' antics could have meant the goal would have been disallowed. It was one of those "I've seen them given", but I think the referee had seen 20% of a coming together, 70% of a tactical yet legitimate body check and then 10% of a "serves you right really" moment. A foolish couple of seconds from Heidenheim left them now two goals down in 56 minutes. Only 180 seconds separating the two goals.

The final goal of the game arrived from another set piece. A corner was launched in by Buchtmann, but cleared temporarily by Heidenheim, it just wasn't effective enough. Sobota calmly receives the ball at his feet and looks up to find the corner taker himself floating out wide. Take note below as FIVE, yes FIVE Heidenheim players can be found within just a few feet. a horrendous mistake as you can see...

The purple on the image above is pointing out what options St Pauli have, permitting Buchtmann should put in a decent ball. Gonther wearing the orange boots at the top of the image could make a stealthy and well-timed run behind. The two St Pauli players (Bouhaddouz and Sobiech?) who are currently offside are actually holding really good positions as they are the first ones to react as soon as the ball is whipped in. The Heidenheim defence will be turning towards Buchtmann not taking note of where the men are in the box, as you see below what pans out...

Buchtmann narrows the gap and takes the direct run towards goal. The visitors, all surprised to find Buchtmann alone now focus on the man out wide as opposed to concentrating on the physical threat in the middle. St Pauli's top goalscorer was left to tap the ball in as a perfectly paced ball was put in by the midfielder. A well taken opportunity to add to the Moroccan's impressive scoring run. Again, poor from the visitors who were the architects of their own downfall throughout the game, time and time again showing a terrible defensive performance. Not the sharpest from the hosts either, but they had taken their chances and relied on a well deserved slice of luck at the same time.

Fortuna Dusseldorf - Write Up & Player Scores

Fortuna Dusseldorf - ST PAULI

 St. Pauli's duel with Fortuna Dusseldorf was certainly one of the stranger matches of the .2 Bundesliga so far. The hosts finished the game with 9 men, as a disastrous second half waved goodbye to Bodzek and Hoffmann. After the first dismissal, Fortuna strangely and instantly took the lead. A number of clumsy challenges lead the referee no option to start handing out verbal cautions and cards. The second red was handed to Bodzek after a second yellow. No questions asked, a lousy challenge on Sahin, a long 30 minutes remained for Fortuna.

The first goal arrived minutes later, as a corner wasn't dealt with by the visitors. A series of deflections meant that the ball fell to a perfectly positioned Hoffmann, not the man Fortuna would have wanted in that scenario, but he calmly volleyed it past a flat-footed Heerwagen. St Pauli, caught off-guard despite having the extra man advantage.

Fortuna didn't have long to celebrate as St Pauli equalized only minutes later. Similar to the first goal, but from a free-kick delivered by Sobota. Again, the ball was knocked about in the box as Rensing awkwardly juggled it to Zeireis. Similar to Hoffmann, the odds weren't in his favour to score, but a moment of quality saw the ball rocket into the roof of the net. Game on.

A game-changing moment in the 82nd minute. A straight red for the first goal scorer, Hoffmann. Sahin was through on goal, permitting a solid challenge from the number 3. He couldn't handle the wingers pace as the Turk was swiped from his feet. A straight red, leaving the struggling hosts in a spot of bother. With their 9 men having the last 10 minutes to salvage what they could, it was not going to be easy. The ball was placed a yard outside the box. Buchtmann stepped up and gently lofted the ball over an unmoved wall. The grounded Rensing watched as the ball nestled to his left. The visitors now 2-1 up.

The game essentially concluded with Bouhaddouz ending up on the score sheet. A tired and depleted team failed to pick up the Moroccan, who was lingering between the broken back line. he had the time to look up and tip the ball over a fleeing Rensing, who had left his net. The easiest goal of the night, coming in the 93rd minute. A frustrated and crumbled Fortuna had lost the affair 1-3. A bizarre last 30 minutes. One which St Pauli certainly cherished a lot more than their opponents. 3 very, very important points being returned to Hamburg.

Philipp Heerwagen - 7.4/10

Not a lot to do in the first half. Most of his involvement consisted of keeping possession at the back. Not one shot required the veteran goalkeeper's input. Only one real chance in the first 45 minutes threatening St Pauli, however, the shot was lifted over the bar by Fortuna's Fink. The last 45 was equally as quiet, other than the conceded goal. Nothing he could do, as it was a well-struck volley.

- INDIVIDUAL PLAYER SCORES

Philipp Ziereis - 8.6/10

A great game for the 24 year old who actually played at right-back. He passed well, both to fellow centre-halves, up the line or central. It was a great goal which was scored by him to make it 1-1, a controlled strike, with sufficient power meant it was practically unstoppable. Strong on the ball, the Fortuna forwards' were kept quiet for most of the game.

Soren Gonther - 7.8/10

Again, another quality performance in the defensive line. Him and Sobiech had an almost perfect 90 minutes. Similar to Ziereis, he had a big role in spreading the ball through the team from the back. Gonther worked well cohesively with the equally experienced Sobiech, both eradicating any chance of a threat coming from the offence. However, he did lose his marker, allowing Hoffmann to score the first goal of the game. A simple lapse of concentration on a set-piece. Fortunately, Gonther made amends for it as he headed the assist for the equalising goal.

Lasse Sobiech - 7.6/10

A very traditional centre-half performance from the captain. All game he battled both in the air and on the ground. He flicked on the free-kick from Sobota to Gonther, which then consequently lead to Ziereis scoring St Pauli's first goal of the game. Sobiech did what was required of him throughout the game. Not many notable moments, but his presence was valued highly all the way to the final whistle.

Jeremy Dudziak - 4.5/10

(Daniel Buballa - 6.8/10 - Not a lot worth noting, other than the assist he gained for Bouhaddouz, a wonderfully executed pass)

Dudziak was replaced coming up to half time as it appeared he had injured his shoulder. This almost lead to St Pauli conceding. It may sound harsh to criticize him for this, but he practically dangled a carrot for Fortuna, as he took far too long on the ball. Dudziak was the last man, but luckily his mistake wasn't cashed in, as the opportunity was blown. The young German just appeared slack at times and not of his usual standard.

Johannes Flum - 6.3/10

(Bernd Nehrig - N/A)

*Flum then later on replaced by Thy (Thy - N/A)

Sadly, Nehrig came off after only a couple of minutes following a nasty collision with Fortuna's Akpoguma. Hopefully, both have a speedy recovery. Flum didn't have much of a role to be honest, other than to control and sweep up the middle of the pitch. Him and Buchtmann had worked well but the majority of Fortuna's offensive pressure was on the counter-attack or played through the channels, meaning Flum didn't have a lot of involvement with him featuring in the middle. Nonetheless, an average game for the substitute.

Christopher Buchtmann - 8.6/10

The midfield maestro had a very pleasing game. Firstly, his free-kick was perfect, it was both a mixture of the wall not jumping (which is understandable seeing as the free kick was only about 19 yards out) and his great technique. A wonderfully taken chance. Throughout the game he played in Sobota, Sahin and Bouhaddouz with ease, dictating the play. Earlier on this season I have wanted Buchtmann to add a bit of extra bite and desire to his game, he certainly delivered that in this fixture.

Cenk Sahin - 8.5/10

My player of the season so far didn't disappoint against Fortuna either. He didn't make it to the score sheet and he wasn't as active when pacing down the wings like he usually does. He forced 2 fouls which lead to both players being dismissed from play. His pace was godlike, as he left both Bodzek and Hoffmann left for dead. He still had his moments out wide, they weren't as significant, but he definitely posed a threat as usual. More importantly were the 2 players he removed from the game. His touch past Hoffmann and acceleration was incredible.

Waldemar Sobota - 8.1/10

Sobota was influencial in this game. The Pole delivered the ball which lead to St Pauli's equaliser. Not only that, but he could have had another assist to his name as a pin-point cross found Bouhaddouz unattended in the box. Unfortunately, the Moroccan couldn't convert. A great ball, which was certainly worth mentioning. Again, some great link up play throughout the 90 minutes, damaging on the attack and full of energy all game.

Mats Moller Daehli - 7.6/10

Daehli had a really good run out. Unfortunately, nothing in particular that really impacted on the game, but he chased everything. Putting pressure on the 2 centre-halves and not giving up on seemingly lost chances, the young Norwegian played a massive indirect role. His passing was superb and as usual, his creativity and tight dribbling tired the opponents. It was a shame he didn't get an assist or goal, but I think his teammates and fans praised his efforts.

 

Aziz Bouhadouz - 6.9/10

I know, he scored a goal. I may be slightly harsh on the target-man's score, but I do feel that he sometimes (and in this game especially) should be putting more chances away. We're not talking half-chances either, there was the cross from Sobota (as mentioned) which was praying to be slotted in, it didn't even hit the target. I can't deny, he finished his goal well, but they should be bread and butter opportunities for front-men of his quality. I appreciate Bouhaddouz' effort as the single man up top, but that early chance should have been taken.

FC St Pauli 1 - 0 Wurzburger Kickers

"It Could Have Been Wurz" -

A brief match synopsis - FC St Pauli - Wurzburger Kickers

The first 5 minutes were shambolic. A few naughty challenges from both teams set the tone early on. A scrappy start to the game, as neither team managed to dominate the ball. St Pauli pressing from kick-off and determined to get an early hold of the game. It was a feisty affair as a couple of yellow cards could have been handed out. Credit to the referee, who kept his composure. He had a lot to deal with in the early stages of the fixture. A terrible challenge on Dudziak could have definitely left Wurzburg with 10 men with 75 minutes to go.

A few good chances wasted as little football was being played on the pitch. Sahin was fed towards goal out wide by an ever-so teasing Mohler-Daehli ball. Sadly, the young Turk couldn't find space to tuck the ball in from about 6 yards out. A trademark piece of play from two very talented and important assets of the St Pauli squad this year. Minutes later, a free kick was delivered by Buchtmann. Sobiech towered above all and connected well with his head. A solid effort, which was comfortably saved, preventing the hosts from going a goal up. There was very little for the Hamburg outfit to do defensively in the first half other than a few minor threats from the visitors. Disappointingly, St Pauli could have gone in at half time the better of the two teams. However, their chances weren't taken and the quality of the end product simply wasn't enough.

Almost straight away from kick-off St Pauli again had another golden opportunity. Sobota, with acres of space out wide offered a delicately lofted ball into the box. Gonther rose, only to push the ball wide with his headed chance. It seemed like it was going to be Wurzburg's lucky day as the third St Pauli chance wasn't taken. It sounds unbelievable I know, but seconds later the counter attack was on for the Boys in Brown as another chance was created. Buchtmann pacing down the left hand side looked up to find his target. Bouhaddouz, surprisingly had a few feet of room in the box as the ball was played to his feet. All he had to do was make decent contact with the ball, unfortunately that wasn't the case. The Moroccan international fluffed his lines as the ball span out of control into the air. It wasn't to be. Mohler-Daehli had a half chance this time. About 65 minutes in, a nice bit of build-up play allowed Sobota enough time to deliver again. As luck had it, the wrong man was waiting as the Norwegian headed wide from about 6 yards. It became more and more frustrating to watch as it seemed a goal was never going to come.

It seemed a similar story to the first half. Desperation kicking in, more so from the hosts. The Milerntor eager to see a goal and fast. Time was ticking away, and chances were becoming fewer and fewer. The same fouls were being given: delaying free kicks, stopping the counter-attack and the odd lazy challenge. The game was crying out for a moment of magic. If you were to go by the previous 85 minutes you'd be expecting very little. Play was eventually quicker, more innovative from St Pauli, it was just the final ounce of quality that had been lacking.

However, in the 88th minute, the moment everyone was waiting for. The ball was played up from Heerwagen as a last chance punt. Sobiech even pushed forward to add to the attack. On the edge of the box, substitute Thy managed to find the maestro, Buchtmann lurking around the 18 yard box. Turning back inside he released a shot which seemed to find a gap at the near post. It was a big goal, potentially saving St Pauli from relegation. The atmosphere felt like all the pressure had finally been lifted. They had left it late, but it didn't matter. Only a few, plus added time remained as they tried to slow the game down. The game fizzled out and a very, very important 3 points were earned. It wasn't the most aesthetic performance from the Boys in Brown, but what mattered was the win, and eventually that was the end result.

1-0 to St Pauli. Statistically, the correct result. They had the hunger and extra desire in the end to take the 3 points. Wurzburg, not showing much of a direct threat, seemed to be happy to settle for a draw. If chances we're taken in the earlier stages of the game the Hamburg outfit could have put themselves at ease a lot sooner. Either way, the visitors were only inviting a desperate, relegation threatened team playing at home. A less than mouth-watering showcase of football, but one of the most important results so far this season.