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.

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.