Sarpreet Singh (FC Hansa Rostock | Germany)

Rostock (16th) travel to Karlsruhe (14th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/12/03/germany/2-bundesliga/karlsruher-sc/fc-hansa-rostock-ev/4105654/

Same old shark. Singh on the pine. I hope, Sarpreet and his agent are exploring ideas for him to go elsewhere in the Jan transfer window. Oxford United? Anywhere really where he's at least getting good playing time.

14 matches into the Budesliga 2 season, he's been in 12 match day squads. Yet to start a game, for sum total of 72 mins.

Make that 72 mins in 13 match day squads.
Unused sub in a 2-2 draw. Rostock were up 2-0 early on.

mrsmiis

Napier Phoenix

Based on Sarpreet’s game v Ireland, Rostock must have a world ranked player in front of him. (Sarcasm).

From what I've seen, Rostock fans are genuinely dumbfounded that Singh can't get a game ahead of their two AMs (who aren't world ranked, it's safe to say). I've seen some say Singh is far and away more creative and likely to create something out of nothing. Particular criticism levelled at Svante Ingelsson, a 27-year-old Swede who spent a couple of years as a reserve in Serie A before moving to Germany a few years ago

I was having a look and the shape that the team is playing limits Singh's involvement. The coach seems to prefer wingers (so right foot for RW, left foot for LW) and plays with two strikers and two deeper CM. The sub appearance that Singh made in this game was replacing a deeper CM.

Singh must surely be near the top of Auckland's wishlist.
An Auckland boy, has name recognition with the New Zealand public (relatively speaking), and is a Phoenix academy product too, to add to the rivalry.

I'd be surprised & disappointed if Singh returned to the ALM before the age of 30. Might as well put that fluent German, or ability to learn a 2nd language to use for a few more years yet.

Hansa Rostock (15th) host Schalke 04 (16th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/12/10/germany/2-bundesliga/fc-hansa-rostock-ev/fc-schalke-04/4105664/

No surprise, his posterior on some fine German wood or plastic.

Comes on at 82 mins (0-1) in a 0-2 loss. Rostock down to 10 men from 41 mins (0-0). Sack the coach!

Rostock (16th) travel to Paderborn (9th).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/12/15/germany/2-bundesliga/sc-paderborn-07-ev/fc-hansa-rostock-ev/4105671/

Rostock lose 3-0. Their keeper sent off at 63 mins (1-0)

No Singh in match day squad. On the move in January?

Hopefully on the move to a league that suits his style more but he’s hardly been able to show off his talents of late (other than the All Whites).

The Rostock board must have read my post after the loss to Schalke 04! The coach Alois Schwartz and his long-time assistant coach Dimitrios Moutas were sacked midweek prior the overnight loss at Paderdorn. Academy coach appointed as interim boss.

Who knows what that means for Singh?? Hopefully he just missed last night's game with a niggle. He either gets a go with the new gaffer, or he's off somewhere else in the Jan window.

https://www.fc-hansa.de/news/f-c-hansa-rostock-stellt-chef-trainer-alois-schwartz-frei.html?utm_source=x&utm_medium=x-Feed&utm_campaign=x-Feed-schwartz-entlassung-13.12.23

Kein Singh, sogar auf dem Bank? Lass ehrlicherweise den Typ frei pic.twitter.com/WloEfHxbon

— Carlin 🇳🇿 (@carlxn_) December 15, 2023

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/301028151/football-fans-disrupt-game-by-hurling-chocolate-coins-to-protest-investment-deal

There were also protests in the second division. A game between Paderborn and Hansa Rostock was briefly stopped because Rostock fans followed the 12 minutes of silence with a display of flares.

Really good news. New Rostock gaffer a very familiar face for Sarpreet! Surely he gets some game time now!

A potentially great appointment for Sarpreet Singh been made by Hansa

Selimbegovic was head coach at Jahn Regensburg from 2019 until May this year, where Singh arguably played his best football in Germany

Singh had 16G/A in 41 games across 2 loan spells under Selimbegovic https://t.co/84f4wZv6rm

— Carlin 🇳🇿 (@carlxn_) December 18, 2023

First game for the new coach, and it's a trip to one of Sarpreet's former Liga 2 clubs in Nürnberg (10th). Their fans apparently give Singh a frosty reception everytime he returns there. He didn't perform for them in their eyes.

Hopefully he's fit.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/01/20/germany/2-bundesliga/1-fc-nurnberg/fc-hansa-rostock-ev/4105684/

Cancel the above post. Game is 21st Jan next year! Whoops.
A month long winter break. Maybe short trip back to NZ for Xmas. In tne ROF stands this weekend?

New year, new (old) coach, new beginnings hopefully in Germany.

Sarpreet Singh played the second half of Hansa Rostock’s winter friendly against Dortmund (as a winger in a 442)

Set up one goal and helped create another in a 3-1 win

Low key stuff but hopefully a solid stride towards a much bigger role under the new manager#FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/mlB34MygRl

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) January 8, 2024

Should add this was a warmup apparently against Borussia Dortmund II (10th in the German 3rd tier) not the senior Bundesliga side. Dortmund II are only 13 spots below Rostock (3rd last in the 2nd tier) based on current standings in the German football pyramid. Training camp in Turkey for both teams. 

The Dortmund first side are at their own camp in Spain.

Looks like the new coach is still going to have him playing wide on the left. Main thing is I guess hopefully he's getting alot more mins.

Sarpreet did it again in their second winter friendly too… keep ‘em coming fella 🍽️

Again he played the second half, this time in a 2-1 loss vs LASK#FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/WvT500e4ms

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) January 12, 2024

Niche Cache.
 

It looks like that coaching change was just what the doctor ordered. Last week we had a Sarpreet assist in a promising second half performance in a winter friendly against Borussia Dortmund (their reserve team, to be clear). Since then he’s added another assist in a 2-1 friendly defeat against LASK, also subbed on at half-time for the second stanza. Then following that he failed to get an assist against Lubeck... but more importantly he started. Played an hour in a 1-1 draw.  

Kicker.de: “If you look at the training camp overall, Sarpreet Singh is one of the winners. The attacking midfielder is back on the front-foot after a disappointing first half of the year with only 126 competitive minutes. The New Zealander appears to be benefiting from December's coaching change to Mersad Selimbegovic. Singh worked with the Bosnian at Jahn Regensburg from 2021 to 2023. 

The 24-year-old was “happy” when he found out during his Christmas vacation in his home country that Selimbegovic would be the new Hansa coach. "It could be an advantage that I know him and what he expects," says Singh. The changed playing style under Selimbegovic could also suit him. The team of Rostock want to play more proactively in the future. They should also solve tricky situations using the short passing game. Singh seems ready for it.”

The progress has been real. Singh’s been making an impact under the new boss and it’s gotten him elevated to the first eleven, just in time for the 2.Liga’s resumption next week. Which, for Hansa Rostock, means a trip away to one of Singh’s old clubs: FC Nürnberg. The first half of the season was a write-off and unfortunately Singh’s had a few spells like that in Germany, cursed with rotten luck around loans and injuries. But suddenly the omens are positive again. 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350151783/all-white-sarpreet-singh-set-bigger-club-role-after-change-coach

Having recently seen what Singh is capable of when he turns out for the All Whites while not playing regularly for his club, national men’s coach Darren Bazeley is eager to see him receive regular playing time, as he plots a course for his side to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

“He found it very hard under the last coach, it was a bit more of a physical game and the coach maybe didn't think that Sarpreet was going to be great for that team at that time. The new coach, he's worked with Sarpreet before and I feel like Sarpreet is optimistic that the change of coach could bring more game time for him.

Liga 2 restarts with Rostock (16th) travelling to one of Singh's old clubs Nurnberg (11th). He'll apparently get a frosty reception there, but hopefully he gets a start.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/01/20/germany/2-bundesliga/1-fc-nurnberg/fc-hansa-rostock-ev/4105684/

And there you go, gets his first start of the Bundesliga 2 season.

Edit - unfortunately Nürnberg leading 2-0 at HT. Singh playing out on the left.

Edit 2 - finished a 3-0 loss. Singh 81 mins (3-0).

Flying Kiwis.

Sarpreet Singh spent his winter break steadily building up his reputation with his new/old manager, chipping away with an increased role in each of their friendly games. That led into the return of the 2.Liga and a game away to FC Nürnberg and guess what? He was back in the starting eleven. His first league start for the club and just his second overall, after a cup game in which he was subbed off at half-time. In fact by lasting 81 minutes against FCN he doubled his combined tally from the first half of the season. Beautiful.

Only issue was that they lost 3-0. So... a lovely personal milestone but another stinker of a day for the club. Singh did have a shot blocked after only 20 seconds, but his team’s defence just could not handle what Nürnberg threw at them. The margin of defeat was not misleading. Singh played on the right wing in a 4-4-2 formation, occasionally swapping over to the left. Maybe next week will be more fruitful. At least he’s back in the mix now.

Hansa Rostock (17th/2nd last) host Elversberg (10th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/01/27/germany/2-bundesliga/fc-hansa-rostock-ev/sv-07-ev-elversberg/4105691/

Another start for Sarpreet. But unfortunately Rostock down 0-1 at 58 mins.

Rostock come back to win 2-1. They equalised at 69 mins, and immediately post that goal Singh & 2 team mates were subbed off.

They got the winner late on at 92 mins (pen). Hugely important win you feel for their confidence, and they go up one spot to 16th (relegation playoff).

Rostock (16th) travel to Hannover 96 (6th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/02/04/germany/2-bundesliga/hannover-96/fc-hansa-rostock-ev/4105700/

Bugger. After 2 starts Sarpreet is back to the bench. Rostock trail 1-0 after 4 mins (oggie).

Finished a 2-1 loss for Rostock. 
Singh one of 3 subs on at 80 mins (2-1), just after Hannover's 2nd goal.

Big relegation 6 pointer, Hansa Rostock (17th/2nd last) travel to Osnabruck (18th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/02/11/germany/2-bundesliga/vfl-osnabruck/fc-hansa-rostock-ev/4105711/

Singh back in the starting lineup.

Edit - is 0-0 at HT. Singh with a yellow.

Sarpreet off at 57 mins, as one of 3 subs in a 0-0 draw.

Maybe Rostock were chasing the win more than the home team, last placed Osnabrück (who made their subs later on). Osnabrück look already doomed with only 12 points from 21 games, and 9 points adrift of 2nd last Rostock.

Bottom 2 teams are automatically relegated. Rostock are equal on points with
Kaiserslautern (3rd last - relegation playoff spot). 13 rounds left, so plenty of time to edge up the table to safety.

Rostock (17th/2nd last) host Hamburg (4th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/02/17/germany/2-bundesliga/fc-hansa-rostock-ev/hamburger-sv/4105719/

Back to the bench for Sarpreet. 

RR

pic.twitter.com/JaEO3swbUP

— Seb Stafford-Bloor (@SebSB) February 17, 2024

Seems these disruptions won't be going away any time soon either. Lots of fan anger at the DFL (Deutsche Fußball Liga) who run the top two tiers (though not the third tier, DFB (Deutscher Fußball Bund) runs that) and their decision to sell a proportion of television rights to overseas investors (Blackstone and CVC) for a billion Euros. Wasn't purely a DFL decision, it was passed by a vote by the thirty-six clubs of the top two tiers of 24-10 (two abstained). Hamburg openly stated they voted for the investment, Hansa didn't announce publicly their vote but appears they voted for it as well.
 
Almost every game since the winter break has had some sort of disruption; chocolate coins and tennis balls mostly, though the RC-car was first trotted out in Köln Friday evening (German time). Darmstadt against Stuttgart this morning had a first half which lasted seventy minutes, for example. Possibly stoked a bit by Hans-Joachim Watzke (DFL and Borussia Dortmund head) coming out on Friday (German time) and publicly denouncing the protests as unnecessary and harmful to the fans' own clubs, and that during the weeks-long discussion process the clubs had chances to object and none did. 

As for the game, a 2-2 draw, a decent point for Hansa against HSV, who have their promotion hopes just the same as every season since they were relegated for the first time out of the Bundesliga in 17/18. Their 2.BL record is (depending who you ask funny/sad: 4th, 4th, 4th, 3rd, 3rd (losing the Relegation playoff both the last two seasons). Result sees both sides climb one spot into the respective playoffs; though Lautern will overtake Hansa again if they get a point in Nürnberg tomorrow.

However, Sarpreet only came on in the 93rd and had just the one touch, so not too ideal for him.

A 3rd Kiwi on the pine tonight. Rostock (17th/2nd last) travel to Fortuna Dusseldorf (7th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/02/25/germany/2-bundesliga/dusseldorfer-tus-fortuna-1895-ev/fc-hansa-rostock-ev/4105723/

Edit - Dusseldorf lead 2-0 at HT. Ao Tanaka part of the Japanese U23 team, who beat NZ on pens in the QF at Tokyo Olympics, with one of the goals.
 

Not many kiwi's in europe getting serious game time at the moment... :( 

Certainly no one scoring any goals with Wood injured

Finishes a 2-0 loss for Rostock, Singh only subbed on at 89 mins