St. Pauli 2 - 0 Hamburg - A Very Honourable Man-Of-The-Match Performance

A VERY HONOURABLE MAN-OF-THE-MATCH PERFORMANCE

Mats Møller Dæhli vs HAMBURG

There's no doubt about it, Mats Møller Dæhli has established himself as a fan-favourite at St. Pauli. The 'Nordic David Silva' astounded at the Millerntor on Monday night, putting in a memorable performance against a well and truly beaten Hamburg side with celebrations after the game highlighting Dæhli's passion for the club. In a game which meant so much to so many, the attacking-midfielder dominated in the final third, stretching out a busy Hamburg midfield. Now coming into his third season for St. Pauli, the Norwegian has only developed further and further under a spell of confidence under manager Jos Luhukay. The derby only continued to highlight his love for the club, professionalism and quality as a footballer. The sweet victory was truly a team effort, but the input from Dæhli deserves to be acknowledged.

Whilst the 24-year-old did not directly receive an assist for either of the St. Pauli goals, it is worth highlighting that both goals came from Dæhli in some form. The first was developed from a beautiful whipped cross on the left, Dæhli guiding the ball with his weaker right foot, finding the head of Marvin Knoll. The header bounced off the post and was offered-up to Dimitrios Diamantakos to poke in from 3 yards out. The delivery from St. Pauli's number 14 was perfect, raising just above Hamburg's Sonny Kittel, but too shy for defender Rick van Drongelen to deny Knoll an opportunity at goal. Dæhli on the left able to make an impact on his weaker foot.

St. Pauli's second of the night included another work of genius from the man himself. A free-kick from 25 yards out was enough for the attacking midfielder to work his magic. Taken quickly and assertively, the ball meets an equally alert Knoll who is facing away from goal but with enough room to pirouette. Knoll gets a delicate flick of the ball, directing it delicately to an awkwardly positioned van Drongelen. The Dutch centre-back only able to slice the ball past his own goalkeeper, Hamburg's Daniel Fernandes, who turns in disbelief. Fernandes left stunned by a well thought-out set piece. Training ground or just sheer audaciousness, the free-kick goes down in derby history, with Dæhli again showing his creativity and awareness.

Throughout the game the Norway international continued to promote positive play and in the 82nd minute he had his own moment to confirm the last St. Pauli victory against Hamburg since the season of 2011. A shot from 20 yards out ensuring the upright was well and truly firm in position. A powerful right-footed strike enough to startle Fernandes. All game Dæhli turned and twisted his way around a dizzy opposition, nobody able to read the Nordic's script. A brilliant performance, filled with determination to overrule an embarrassing previous team performance from last season's visitors.

What most fans will surely remember this game for will be Dæhli's ninety-fourth minute celebration. The camera perfectly capturing the ex-Manchester United youngter's badge kiss as he passionately screams at the fans. A true measurement of just how much the victory meant to the player. In such a tough, energy-draining fixture is when the real character comes out. some players will soak up such an opportunity, some can only just handle the weight of such a game. Whilst all St. Pauli players deserve to celebrate such an impressive and hard-fought victory over their long-term rivals, none deserve more of a standing ovation than Dæhli.

Arminia Bielefeld 1 - 1 FC St. Pauli

CONTEH'S DEBUT GOAL ONLY ENOUGH FOR A POINT AT BIELEFELD

Arminia Bielefeld 1 - FC St. Pauli

1. Spieltag offered St. Pauli a visit the Bielefelder Alm to battle out against Arminia Bielefeld, opening their 2019/2020 campaign. The visitors looked like they may have pulled-off the ultimate 'smash-and-grab' until a 90th minute goal from Manuel Prietl allowed the home fans to finally exhale, following a long, strenuous second-half. Christian Conteh impressed on his debut for the first-team, grabbing a special goal on the 32nd minute. To say that not much divided the two teams would be untrue, statistically the hosts were far the more dominant team with a handful of clear chances to take all three points throughout the match.

St. Pauli lined up with Marc Hornschuh making his first appearance since September 2017, a surprising addition to the squad, sitting just in front of the two centre-halves. With injury plaguing the squad, a rather makeshift starting eleven was present. 22-year-old Nicklas Hoffman replaced Hornschuh with 30 minutes to go, another player making his first senior appearance for the club. The call-up of Hoffman questionable only due to his lack of experience at such a hard-pressed stage in the game. With Bielefeld pushing for the equaliser it was becoming all too visible that St. Pauli were going to have to try and hold onto their narrow one goal advantage. Fabian Klos spent all night using his build in the box, straining against the experienced Christopher Avevor, whilst partnered with Marvin Knoll, who would regularly feature further forward. Bielefeld, the more physical of the two sides weren't aiming to play beautiful football, with Klos being the target for anything thrown into the box. At the end it was a headed goal which took two points away from their guests who were lucky to not have been behind. VAR was called into play prior to that equaliser, with 15 minutes left on the clock Buballa appeared to have handled the ball in the box, this was reversed when the referee walked over to the small screen on the sideline. Reinhold Yabo also had an opportunity early in the second-half, his effort hitting the underside of the bar. The chances piled up for Bielefeld, who surely felt like they had enough opportunity to come out of this game with more than a point, they weren't clinical enough and didn't punish a sloppy St. Pauli.

So, what can we take from this St. Pauli performance?

With St. Pauli lining up with such squad disruption, I don't think we'll be able to conclusively say who has nailed their position in the team. I think Dimitris Diamantakos, Mats Dæhli and Avevor will be the only players who started which will remain regulars throughout the season. Under Jos Luhukay I can see a lot of players making sporadic appearances this campaign. The coach has favoured a lot of really young talent and putting absolute confidence in the likes of Finn Ole Becker, Luis Coordes and now with Conteh has to be admired, but also questioned. I'm sure many will agree that it wasn't a strong St. Pauli performance, but given the lack of key players and the fact that their hosts were not an easy team to break down, I think there will be some acceptance. Nobody really shone on the night, you could point fingers at the goalscorer, who definitely made an impression. However, other than his tasty footwork and pace leading up to the goal, it wasn't a 'man of the match' performance. The 19-year-old may retain his place, but anything is possible with Luhukay at the wheel.

Essentially, it is hard to read what will happen following this fixture. Luhukay is still trying to sieve through the gold-lined St. Pauli II, whilst also offering players like Hornschuh a chance to prove his worth in the squad. To wipe my hands clean of any bold claim, I'm not too sure if anyone can see how this season will reveal itself. With this fixture being so one-sided and creativity being restrained, I don't believe we really got to see a fair representation of how The Boys in Brown will aim to display over the next 10 months. We can only prepare ourselves for another unpredictable year at the club.

Looking back through the last few seasons we have followed the pattern of 'not enough goals' but a 'fairly strong defence'. This has lead us finishing mid-table on most occasions, often barely surviving the drop. We've relied on a handful of players (non-traditional forwards) scoring above what is expected of them, whilst our forwards usually underachieve and find themselves frustrated. Whilst our back-line has mostly retained its shape and faces, we've had more forwards move though the club than is regular. Luhukay will need to put faith into someone, whether that may be Diamantakos, Henk Veerman or Borys Tashchy, giving them time and patience whilst the fortification is in progress. It's important that both squad, staff and manager work in cohesion with each other, ensuring that a clear plan is in progress.

St. Pauli under Luhukay - The Prospects

St. Pauli under Luhukay - The Prospects

Since the arrival of manager Jos Luhukay, St. Pauli's starting XI has been chopped and changed following the downward spiral to the closing of the season. The squad plagued by fatigue and injury, any (despite it being minuscule) hope of promotion was inevitably waved away. Luhukay, limited to player selection turned to a blossoming reserve team for assets. As the long, once-hopeful season came to a close, younger and lesser-known faces were called up to the team, in hope to excite and renovate the struggling St. Pauli. Here we look at a handful of those who stepped up to the plate at the end of the 2018/19 season, analysing what future they may have at the club...

Finn Ole Becker (5 league appearances)

The 18-year-old is the youngest on this list. Born in the year 2000, the former St. Pauli II player has featured in just a handful of games this season. In his 5 appearances the midfielder has amassed a surprising 4 yellow cards, of which 2 were returned as a red card away against Heidenheim. Becker is a very technically-gifted player who has adapted to the professional game well, despite his poor disciplinary record. A great passer of the ball, Becker has shown his potential as a youngster with impressive creativity and precision. Experience will only do him good, alongside a physical and busy midfield. St. Pauli's prodigy is already looking like he will be a name to remember, his ability just needs to be harnessed and opportunity given.

Kevin Lankford (5 league appearances)

The ex-Heidenheim midfielder arrived at St. Pauli in die Winterpause. The German-American has not really had a chance to prove of his quality. An eager 20-year-old who has had all of his playtime following the appointment of Jos Luhukay. Offering a more physical threat out wide, the midfielder hasn't really been given the opportunity to showcase his ability. Now with the number 7 shirt, Lankford will really want to establish himself as a first-team regular. A hardworking and aggressive player, the newcomer could really help add to a often one-dimensional midfield. Lankford will likely be called upon by the new boss when the new season arrives, he could be a crucial addition to the squad, substitute or starter.

Luis Coordes  (2 league appearances)

Both of Coordes' appearances this season have come from the bench. Another fresh-faced addition to the 2018/19 squad. Only making his professional debut in the game against Bochum in mid-may, the skilful winger has yet to really have a chance to showcase his class. During the short amount of time we have seen the 20-year-old on the pitch, we have seen eagerness and bundles of pace. He's a very modern winger, playing with an exciting amount of energy alongside some tricky footwork. I can see him being loaned out next year, I don't believe he's going to be ready for first-team action just yet, but we'll see what the summer holds for the Dominican-German.

Brian Koglin (2 league appearances)

A centre-half, again developed from St. Pauli II, Koglin has earned his place in the first-team. With 75 appearances in the Regionalliga Nord, the 22-year-old has developed as a regular for the reserves. His last game was for the first team against Greuther Fürth, it was cut-short following a red card in the second-half. A harsh decision, but one the trainee centre-half must learn from. He will face direct competition from Carstens for first-team appearances next year. Carstens with the more experience and greater physical qualities may be preferred, but an untested Koglin could end up being St. Pauli's future at the back. Koglin will need to impress and be heard if he is to get the attention of an intrigued Luhukay.

Svend Brodersen (2 league appearances)

The 'apprentice' goalkeeper made his first-team debut in a tricky game against Köln, away from home. Despite conceding 4 in that game, the experienced reserve team shot-stopper actually had a decent game against a strong Köln side. Considering the occasion and lack of preparation (due to a late call-up to the starting XI, following an injured Himmelmann), the 22-year-old will be looking to learn under an impressive 'first-choice' goalkeeper. Brodersen has buckets of experience, having been a regular for St. Pauli II since 2015. He'll be looking forward to next season, the young goalkeeper should be looking to feature in a handful of 2019/20 fixtures, assisting the forever reliable Himmelmann. None of Brodersen's appearances have come under the reign of Luhukay, it will be hard to budge a very consistent and highly qualified teammate.

Florian Carstens (18 league appearances)

Carstens has a significant amount of appearances to his short St. Pauli professional career. He has scored on his debut season, in a 2-0 win against Greuther Fürth. Another one who has earned their rights through the reserve team, the centre-back needed to learn fast. At just 20-years-old, Carstens towers above many, standing at 6'3". A very physical and energetic part of the back-line, the hard-hitting defender has already shown what he has to offer at this level. Given his age and what he could become, he is certainly one-to-watch for the following season. Despite his rather frequent mistakes, playing regularly will only give him confidence and a chance to iron-out those novice errors.

*Appearance statistics taken from www.soccerbase.com

PYROTECHNICS NOT ENOUGH TO HIDE A WOEFUL ST. PAULI PERFORMANCE

PYROTECHNICS NOT ENOUGH TO HIDE

A WOEFUL ST. PAULI PERFORMANCE

St. Pauli 0 - 4 HSV

A brace from Pierre Michel-Lasogga, an addition from Khaled Narey and a rare goal from Douglas Santos were enough to earn the visitors bragging rights in the final derby of the 18/19 campaign. As the atmosphere bubbled on the Südkurve, it was a different story on the pitch. The hosts were simply outplayed by their long-term rivals, having enjoyed a relatively close encounter prior to this, which finished goalless. It was a tough watch from in front of the screen and behind all the flares and colour, a bleak and dreary St. Pauli performance dampened the mood for many. Despite the lack of aggression and bite on the pitch from the boys in brown, it was the pyrotechnics which clouded the Südkurve, adding to the already intense atmosphere filling the Millerntor. As the stop-start game passed by things only got worse for St. Pauli. It was hopeful that the call for half-time would be an eye-opener for those wearing brown, but it was clear that Hamburg weren't going to kill the game at 0-1. Things never really got off the ground for Kauczinski's men, who struggled to find their feet in the middle of the park. Hamburg feasted on the lack of both quality and physical strength in the end, capitalising on a depleted home performance.

I have decided to score the starting XI, with St. Pauli clearly missing their finest creator in Moller-Daehli, it was clear that a creative influence was missing in the heavy loss. Partnering that with the clear instruction to get the ball to the towering Alex Meier, it was never going to be easy to disassemble a well structured Hamburg squad. During the game it was evident that the guests were likely to have won the battle in the middle, with the highly rated Orel Mangala playing alongside a concise Aaron Hunt. Hunt walked off late in the first half, just after striking the crossbar with a free-kick, assisting Lasogga who was most alert. Mangala was the hub of a strong Hamburg squad, keeping things ticking in midfield. The boys in brown never really challenged their rivals as they found it hard to break a solidified back-line. Due to the lack of creativity and vision, St. Pauli couldn't resist the urge to pump the ball up to Meier and occasionally try and swing a cross into the crowded box. I may have criticised more than some may deem fair, but on such a big occasion there was the need for a hard-hitting and intense performance from certain individuals, it never came. In a fixture which asked a lot from the players you can see what I took from one of the most highly anticipated fixtures in European football:

Himmelmann (5.0 Rating) - St. Pauli's first choice goalkeeper didn't really have to do much other than pick the ball out of his net four times. Neither of the goals conceded could have had the finger pointed at him. 

Kalla (3.9 Rating) - The captain really struggled to get into the game from the opening whistle. A handful of poor crosses and the failure to keep up with Bakery Jatta (Who came on for the struggling Hunt) also allowed Brazilian full-back Santos to sneak forward on occasion. A poor performance from the skipper, despite a rocket of a strike from distance with twenty minutes to go, it didn't really trouble Julian Pollersbeck who guarded Hamburg's net well.

Avevor (5.5 Rating)  - Strong and in a tough battle with Lasogga, the 27-year-old battled firm. Winning balls both aerially and on the ground, the centre-back throughout the ninety minutes had a good game compared to a few of his teammates.

Hoogma (4.6 Rating) - The Hoffenheim loanee had a difficult game. His biggest appearance to date in the brown shirt, the centre-back gave away the free-kick which lead to Hamburg's first goal and in general struggled to stay afloat, playing against such a heavily loaded attack.

Buballa (3.6 Rating) - St. Pauli's all-so-reliable full-back had a pretty poor performance. Too many times the 29-year-old threw away possession and lost the ball in crucial areas. Passing way off and lacking in confidence, Buballa never seemed to settle and was significantly off-pace compared to his usual quality.

Knoll (4.4 Rating) - The fan-favourite would have hoped to had a massive game in the derby. He got caught out of position on a handful of occasions and didn't follow runners. A few of Knoll's crosses were also disappointing taking into account his magnificent left foot, many not clearing the first man. A tough role in the game, against strong opposition, left the bearded sentinel looking uncomfortable.

Buchtmann (6.4 Rating) - Buchtmann welcomed Hunt into the game with just twenty seconds on the clock. The number 10 crashed into his opponent early on and fought hard throughout the ninety minutes. He linked well with Neudecker and Allagui at times and showed grit and bite in a squad who seemingly lacked it.

Miyaichi (5.4 Rating) - Despite the Japanese winger's palm-stinger of a strike, Miyaichi really didn't have the physicality for this game. His fourty-sixth minute rocket forcing a wonder-save from Pollersbeck. Santos suppressed pretty much every attempt on the right side wherever Miyaichi pressed.

Neudecker 5.8 Rating) - The youngster had a similar quality game to Buchtmann. Mainly consisting of shorter passes in the centre of the pitch, his performance wasn't spectacular by all means. I struggled to identify any real key moments of quality for the midfielder, never a good sign in such an important game.

Allagui (6.7 Rating) - The Tunisian forward worked hard, defending and applying pressure on both David Bates and Rick van Drongelen. Alllagui looked extremely frustrated in the early stages of the game, and understandably so. He had spells where he held up the ball well and with what he was offered, tried to create.

Meier (6.9 Rating)  - In my opinion the fußballgott was the best player in a brown jersey. A very typical Meier performance consisting of good hold-up play and spreading of the ball. He won numerous headers against an aggressive van Drongelen and Bates partnership. With the very little he was offered by his teammates, Meier tried to force effective football which just wasn't going to happen.

Schneider - N/A*

Sobota - N/A*
Flum - N/A*

*Too little game time to give an accurate scoring, or didn't impact the game enough to warrant rating.

In all honesty, it was a really tough game to try and assess individual players. I really wanted to celebrate a handful of wholehearted St. Pauli performances, but sadly most underachieved. Along with the tasty atmosphere and display from both sets of fans, what happened on the pitch was at times put to one side. Hamburg made St. Pauli look poor, and St. Pauli made themselves look even worse. Not the feast of a derby everyone was expecting and I'm sure the visitors we're relieved to see such lack of retaliation. Was it the lack of someone like Moller-Daehli (unassailable for selection due to injury) which could have sparked some creativity? Or was it just poor tactical planning from Kauczinski? The visitors walked away victorious, with the scoreline being the cherry on top of their cake.

A Sunday which St. Pauli fans will want to forget. It won't take long for the players to recover, but the supporters of Hamburg's blue side will be reminding their rivals at every opportunity of this scoreline. Those unfortunate enough to witness such a heavy defeat will hope for a chance next season to reclaim such a prestigious . With Hamburg straining to return to the Bundesliga, it could be a while before revenge can be planned. 

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?