St. Pauli’s Bundesliga Journey: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities

The first installment of our 18-part Bundesliga transfer primer on Get German Football News focuses on one of Germany’s most compelling clubs: FC St. Pauli. Currently, the team finds itself in an intriguing yet precarious position. Unlike their previous two promotions to the top tier, where they faced relegation after just one season, St. Pauli successfully evaded the drop last year.

The question remains: can they escape the notorious “second-year curse”? The situation looks more challenging than anticipated as the season progresses. Statistically, Alexander Blessin’s squad, known as the “Piraten,” is underperforming compared to their standing at this time last year. Despite this, there is a glimmer of hope for the passionate supporters of this Hanseatic club.

While their gameplay may not be aesthetically pleasing, that could prove inconsequential.

Predicted Table Position: 12th place

Actual Table Position: 16th place, 12 points

(3 Wins, 3 Draws, 9 Losses)

(-13 Goal Difference)

Admittedly, the author acknowledges a possible bias while predicting this popular club might remain above the relegation zone. Observing St. Pauli’s strong start to the season, it was evident that a decline was imminent, but a nine-match losing streak was far from the anticipated downturn. Coupled with a dismal performance resulting in seven scoreless matches, the situation has become dire.

With challenging fixtures against Werder Bremen and Leipzig approaching, there is a possibility the team could secure four points before the season’s midpoint. Many of the promising summer signings took time to find their rhythm, but they have recently started to show potential. At this stage last season, St. Pauli occupied a stronger position (14th place, 4 Wins, 14 points, -7 Goal Difference), although the current squad is notably more robust. Club sporting director Andreas Bornemann also enters the January transfer window with a notable surplus.

Estimated Summer Transfer Balance: -€1.45 million

Despite some occasional defensive vulnerabilities, Japanese midfielder Joel Chima Fujita stands out as a valuable addition. It is unfortunate that Bornemann couldn’t complete the “Samurai Double Pack” by signing Daisuke Yokota. Recently, Fujita made a significant impact by assisting Dutch striker Martijin Kaars in scoring his first two goals for the club. Similarly, the team is eager for English forward Ricky Jade Jones to break his scoring drought.

The recent additions of wingbacks Louis Oppie and Arkadiusz Pyrka have proven beneficial. Oppie has infused some of his previous “Pokal magic” into the squad, while Pyrka has decisively settled the debate about Manolis Saliakas’s starting role. It is critical for Bornemann to remove Saliakas from the roster as he has become a distraction. With USMNT international James Sands returning to fitness, his solid presence in midfield further bolsters the team’s prospects.

The form issues affecting attackers Mathias Pereira Lage and Andreas Hountondji are not overly concerning. Hountondji’s injury, which led to his withdrawal from the AFCON squad, may turn out to be a blessing in disguise—if he can avoid further setbacks during the winter break.

The question arises: is it premature to consider the return of Johannes Eggestein?

There is a considerable amount of dead weight to address within the 29-man roster, including the need to offload players and manage prospects. As mentioned, Saliakas must be moved. The transfer of Abdoulie Ceesay from last January was initially viewed as a promising acquisition, but it has not yielded the expected results. A team engaged in a relegation battle inevitably faces larger challenges than simply determining player placements for development, yet Jannik Robatsch, Nick Schmidt, and Romeo Aigbekaen should be given opportunities or allowed to leave.

Dead-Weight Ledger: Jannik Robatsch (CB), Manolis Saliakas (RB), Fin Stevens (RB), Erik Ahlstrand (CM), Nick Schmidt (CM), Marwin Schmitz (CM), Romeo Aigbekaen (LW), Abdoulie Ceesay (CF)

As we move toward the expiration of contracts, efforts are already underway to capitalize on the notorious “scripture-quoting” English striker Oladapo Afolayan.

Regrettably, it appears that the vibrant captain Jackson Irvine may be nearing the end of his tenure with the team. Blessin’s tactical maneuvers to utilize Irvine have not been particularly effective, and he has struggled to contribute meaningfully in recent matches. The situation is further complicated by an unwelcome social media scandal involving Irvine, which may necessitate his departure.

As noted annually, smaller clubs like St. Pauli often do not disclose the lengths of player contracts, and their personnel matters rarely attract tabloid interest. Alongside Afolayan and Irvine, Estonian defender Karol Mets is another player currently facing an expiring deal. There are likely additional players in this situation, possibly from the aforementioned “Dead Weight Ledger.” Last year’s primer accurately predicted that players like Simon Zoller and Andreas Albers lacked long-term contracts.

Expiring Contracts: Karol Mets (CB), Oladapo Afolayan (RW), Jackson Irvine (CM)

Currently, rumors suggest that Bornemann is preparing to acquire Japanese center Tomoya Ando while potentially offloading another central defender, possibly Eric Smith. While the rumor mill remains relatively quiet, one can expect an active January transfer period, similar to the previous year. The club is positioned to leverage several million in expenditures, even amidst a financial deficit. The funds generated from Philipp Treu’s summer transfer have yet to be fully utilized, which may allow them to maintain an air of competitiveness.

Further Needs: GK, CB, LM, LW, CF

Rumored Links: Tomoya Ando (CB)