A FIFA 20 CAREER MODE WITH FC ST. PAULI - PT. 1

A FIFA 20 CAREER MODE 

My 'Semi'-Realistic Venture with FC St. Pauli

So, with the lack of football being played globally (with a few odd exceptions, of which none are anywhere near as fulfilling as the 2. Bundesliga) I decided to bring out my inner-nerd by starting a 'career mode' with my beloved St. Pauli. Desperately scrawling through my wardrobe to find my full 'Under Armour' tracksuit, I flicked the kettle on and scoured the house for my match day slippers.

I wanted to overhaul St. Pauli with my favourite 3-5-2 formation, which could also be quickly adapted to form a 5-3-2, when called upon. The 5-3-2 option would be deployed when trying to hold onto a tight lead, or allowing more aggressive teams to push, then allowing for a quick counter-attack. Essentially, the only change between the two would be the wide players sitting deeper to form a makeshift pair of wing-backs.

Here's how I intended my standard starting XI to setup...

Having identified the players I'd be relying on, plus a handful of tidy additions on the bench and forming the reserves, I found a selection of players who could move on with their careers or benefit from a loan spell...

Marc Hornschuh (TRANSFER LISTED) - to Beijing Guoan for €430k

Park Yi-Young (LOAN LISTED) - to Preston North End for 1 year

Jakub Bednarczyk (LOAN LISTED) - No Takers!

Daniel Buballa (OFFER MADE & SOLD) - to West Bromwich Albion for €1m

My targets set by the board, for my first season in charge of St. Pauli were fairly tame. I was expected to fulfil a 'mid-table finish', whilst also reaching the 'round of 32' in the DFB-Pokal. I am hoping to do better than that, by aiming to push for a top 5 finish in the 2. Bundesliga, whilst at least going the one round further in the cup.

So, it was time to play some matches. In order to keep things realistic and interesting I decided to 'simulate' every other match, meaning the result was completely out of my control, bar the team selection coming into the game. Here are my first 6 results...

League games have been highlighted in orange, cup games in green

ARMINIA BIELEFELD 0 - 2 FCSP (Gyokeres, Veerman)

*sim* FCSP (Veerman) 1- 2 GREUTHER FURTH

DYNAMO DRESDEN 2 - 3 FCSP (Buchtmann, Knoll, Becker)

*sim* STUTTGART 3 - 0 FCSP

FCSP (Gyokeres) 1 - 0 HOLSTEIN KIEL

*sim* DYNAMO DRESDEN 1 - 0 FCSP

EVERY GAME I 'SIMULATED', I LOST...

Transfer deadline day arrived and I was yet to replace those who I had lost, but couldn't really identify where I could strengthen. My only concern was the lack of a true play-maker who could feed the ball in all directions in the final third. After hours spent scanning the market for the right player, I wasn't able to find the addition I was looking for, within my budget. In order to please the fans and not leave the window empty-handed, the search for a back-up striker was still an option. I moved in for an attacking player with plenty of pace, to contrast my existing options...

Daniel-Kofi Kyereh (PURCHASED FROM WEHEN WEISSBADEN - approx €1m)

*can play as a ST or RM*

Whilst the negotiations for Kyereh were coming to an end I was told that in a last-ditch attempt to bolster their squad, a price was being thrown at me for one of my central defenders...

Phillipp Ziereis (OFFER MADE & SOLD) - to Leeds United for €1.7m

Leeds United took Ziereis from me and I was one centre-back down. Ziereis was only a reserve player at that point, lacking in play time and confidence. I was happy to receive that fee for him as he was unlikely to be used unless serious injury occurred to one of my predominant back three. The window closed and no further transactions were made. I had made a good profit, from players who I couldn't really see having much game time for the remainder of the season. A tasty sum made, with a sensible addition to the attack.

The next fixture in the season is one of the most anticipated in the calendar - the stadtderby, at home. Luckily, I don't have to 'simulate' this one...

*TO BE CONTINUED*

FCSP's SUMMER RECRUITMENTS - The Impressions So Far...

FCSP's SUMMER RECRUITMENTS

The Impressions So Far...

St. Pauli invested heavily in the summer of 2019 bringing in a mixture of players to resolve an all-too-familiar injury plagued squad, as well as replacing those who had departed during the window. Jos Luhukay linked-up with familiar faces, whilst also being introduced to new and lesser-known talent. From a Welsh international, to a pair of Seagulls, I have taken a look at the Kiezkickers latest additions and how they have impacted the 19/20 season so far.

James Lawrence (on loan from R.S.C Anderlecht)

The 27-year-old made his debut against Holstein Kiel only 4 days after his loan move from R.S.C. Anderlecht. Scoring a header in the game, the Welsh international impressed almost instantly, replacing the injured Christopher Avevor perfectly. A questionable signing seeing as very few had heard of the English-born centre-back. Comfortable with both feet and composed under pressure, Lawrence seems incredibly suited to playing at this level. His time spent learning the role throughout Europe has formed a nice player, with this move to St. Pauli highlighting Lawrence's adaptability and professionalism. In my opinion, Lawrence has been the most surprising, yet most effective signing of Luhukay's time in Hamburg - A perfect mould of the greatly missed Avevor.

Viktor Gyokeres (on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion)

On loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, St. Pauli acquired the services of one of Sweden's attacking prospects on loan until the end of the 19/20 campaign. Having proven of his quality during his time at IF Brommopojkarna in Sweden, the 21-year-old looks like he may have a promising future ahead of him. Whether he makes it to Premier League quality is yet to be proven, but his current spell in a brown jersey suggests he will be returning to the South Coast with a handful of goals to his name. The young Swede almost reminds me of a young Edin Dzeko, able to find space in the box, clawing at any chance which he sees potential in. So far the loanee has proved to be a decent addition, though not having a massive amount of game time to his name this season.

Borys Tashchy (signed from MSV Duisburg)

The Ukranian has had a tough footballing career so far, having been plagued by injury for a large duration of his time as a professional. Things struggled to really lift-off for the 26-year-old during his spell at VfB Stuttgart, a time at which Tashchy was really hoping to progress. Luhukay worked with the centre-forward during this period and clearly saw something in the target-man. We definitely haven't seen the best of Tashchy, but the question is -'how good CAN he be?'. An unappealing signing, considering his injury history and one which has yet to pay-off.

Rico Benatelli (signed from Dynamo Dresden) - N/A

Matt Penney (on loan from Sheffield Wednesday)

The full-back who joined from Luhukay's previous employers is a favourite amongst many. Despite being sent-off on his debut, the 21-year-old has really been thrown into the deep end. Penney shows all the signs of a good modern full-back - predominantly attacking, with the capability to defend when called upon. Even though the youngster has his flaws, he has adapted well to intense atmospheres and looks comfortable playing a more defensive role or hitting the opposition higher up the field. Wednesday have the option to recall him in the New Year but I'm sure St. Pauli fans will be hoping to get a full season from the rookie.

Leo Ostigard (on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion)

Another one from the South Coast, Ostigard joins for the current season only, returning at the end of the campaign. The Norwegian made his first start in the surprising 2-0 win against Hamburg. At just 19-years-old the centre-back has filled-in nicely when called upon. He has made mistakes and definitely has room to improve, but he stands strong and hasn't been afraid to prove of his quality. The defender could have a big future ahead of himself, permitting he can iron-out these defensive hiccups and develop as a leader at the back.

Youba Diarra - (on loan from Red Bull Salzburg)

One of our more technically gifted players acquired is Youba Diarra. The Malian scored in the friendly against Werder Bremen with a wonderful 30-yard strike. He has played a lot of his football so far starting on the bench, so we probably haven't seen a fair representation of the talented African youngster. Whilst able to confidently pass the ball anywhere with a wide variety of styles, Diarra can spread play effectively and is a good engine to have in a dynamic, creative midfield - A nice addition to possess in the latter stages of a gruelling game.

It will be interesting to see what happens in January, with an ever-existing injury problem and a roller coaster of a season so far. I can't see much strengthening required, but it's too hard to predict the next handful of games, yet alone 3 months from this. Either way, it looks like St. Pauli, with Luhukay have recruited quite well, with most players adding something to a talent-filled squad.

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.