Lots of big relegation 6 pointers involving Kiwis this weekend. Hansa Rostock (17th, 22 pts, drop zone) host Kaiserslautern (16th, 22 pts, relegation play off spot)
Singh one of two players on at HT, with Rostock down a goal, and down a man. A CB getting his 2nd yellow at 37 mins. Chance for Sarpreet to be a hero, in this big game.
Look maybe this game is… well the opposition striker has scored in the 6 and 66th minute so the superstitious amongst may wish to examine traffic footage from the crossroads at midnight…
Yeah finishes a bit of a nightmare for Rostock with a 3-0 loss. Ache from Kaiserslautern with a hatrick. Rostock now drop 2 points off the relegation playoff spot (Eintracht Braunschweig drops into that spot). Send off obviously hurt the home team.
Roistock get another go at trying to escape the drop zone next week, by travelling to Eintracht Braunschweig
You remember how during the winter break, Hansa Rostock hired Sarpreet Singh’s old Regensburg coach Mersad Selimbegovic and how Singh used their winter friendlies to earn his way back into the starting eleven? How things were finally trending upwards for him again? Yeah so it’s not gone so smoothly since then.
Singh started two games, the second of which they won, but then found himself back on the bench and has only gotten one start from the past five matches. In two of those he wasn’t subbed on until the dying stages. Problem is that Hansa’s results haven’t improved so they’ve gotten more defensive with a back three meaning no more high wingers, limiting the positions where he can make an impact.
Singh was subbed on at half-time of their most recent game so that was a positive twist... but that was after Kaiserslautern were already 1-0 up with Hansa Rostock having been reduced to ten men just before the break. They ended up losing 3-0 and remain second-to-bottom in the Bundesliga 2. Not a lot of fun being had there these days.
To make matters worse, in the Kaiserslautern game they had a fan rush the field and attack an opposition player who was celebrating a goal. That fan has been arrested, though the conversation that incident sparked still endures. Bad vibes. Very bad vibes.
Ummm..........no Singh in match day squad as Hansa Rostock (17th/2nd last) host Greuther Furth (7th). Hopefully nothing serious. Far from like for like, but perhaps keep the phone handy A Rufer.
Rostock win 1-0 to rise to 16th, relegation playoff spot. Fingers crossed on Singh re AWs. If him & Wood are both out, it will be pop gun attack stuff.
Rufer or Jay Herdman likely call ups I reckon if Singh is out.
Singh needs to get out of Germany badly. I've come around to the fact that a move to the A-League could be the best thing for him. Auckland or Wellington - who cares which. Two good seasons under his belt, hopefully injury free, then maybe he could look at another move. The man is class.
Big part of the problem the last few seasons, is he has been at clubs (Jahn Regensburg & Rostock) that very early on have been bottom of the table. Then coaches adopting defensive tactics, in a desperate bid to grind out results and survive. And this doesn't seem to have suited Singh at all.
So where ever he goes next I'd say it should be a club with a low chance of being relegated, so hopefully he can be given some time and freedom to express himself. Somewhere in the Netherlands like PSV, Feyenoord, Twente, AZ or Utrecht. Even Ajax (6th currently) who by their high standards, are having a shark season in the Eredivisie, and are probably looking to rebuild for 2024/25, might be interested. Though at 25 he could be too old for them.
Anderlecht, Club Brugge or Genk in Belgium. Some club that might start the season in the Europa League even.
A return to the ALM to me would feel like a step backwards. But hey ain't no relegation in the ALM. I'm sure Foley could find a way to pay him well around the salary cap, and yeah like the AWs he'd have the freedom to play how it suits him best.
Interesting that Josh Zirkzee who starred alongside Singh at Bayern II, when they won the Liga 3 back in 19/20, and also debuted for Bayern senior team that season - went to Anderlecht on loan 2 seasons later (16 goals that season in Belgium). Now he's with high flying Bologna in Serie A. He was always ahead of Singh at Bayern, but still interesting career journey comparison.
best thing *for him*, he said. you don't need to come running every time the new Auckland franchise is mentioned on this forum
Yip, good summary. I don't give a toss which one he goes to. I want him to hit form which is great for NZ, especially leading up to a World Cup.
I think we'd all love him to come back to the nix, imagine what Chiefy could do with him? But if he was to return to the Aleague, I wouldnt be too upset if he went to AFC. I'd rather that than Melbourne or Sydney. Whatever happens he needs to be playing regularly, injury free and getting good game time,.
Singh needs to get out of Germany badly. I've come around to the fact that a move to the A-League could be the best thing for him. Auckland or Wellington - who cares which. Two good seasons under his belt, hopefully injury free, then maybe he could look at another move. The man is class.
I agree. Come back to Auckland (or better still Wellington...), be one of the top players in the league and the offers will roll in.. He's still pretty young and has a decent enough CV already. He just needs some serious game time at club level now.
How far off will he be a german passport - surely that would be a big reason to stay in germany to help with other european moves?
I think compared to NZ it's very hard to get a German passport.
Germany has been one of those difficult countries like Japan, that didn't allow you to hold two nationalities. But sounds like that is now changing.
Remarkable that Singh is still not cap tied to NZ. Though that should change in June. Or maybe his plan all along is to do what Wynton Rufer couldn't - and play for Die Mannschaft!! He arrived at Bayern around July 2019 (coming up 5 years)
Legislation allows people to become eligible for citizenship after five years and opens up possibility of dual nationalities. German lawmakers have approved legislation to ease the rules on gaining citizenship and end a ban on holding dual citizenship.
Looks like Singh is definitely on the outer at Rostock, and presumably leaving the club even if they do stay up.
Not in match day squad against Holstein Kiel. Also not included the Liga 2 game prior the March FIFA window. And as we saw with the AWs he ain't injured.
Surely he has friends elsewhere in German football now he’s returned to fitness? Perhaps a route back through the Netherlands or Belgium?
He should have options all over Europe you’d think. As another poster said- I can understand why some managers might not like him. Modern management is often about following dull micro-roles and Singh needs the team to be built around him. On the other hand he’s unhappy and out of form and still playing some amazing football.
Imagine if he was happy, surrounded by people who appreciate his talent and starting to find his anything like his potential? That’s a top ten player in the top ten leagues.
It’s criminal that he’s entering his prime and not playing regularly.
One of our most talented player in a while wasting his best years away not playing is such a shame. I hope his agent has been busy. He needs a team or a league that suits his style. Will there be an announcement coming soon? Maybe he needs to hit up a connection at Bayern for a signing and a loan? Wishful thinking. His old pal Musiala has been an example of making the most of his opportunity.
As someone of Asian decent, he's known here in the UK and would be a popular bloke in London or the Midlands where Asian (Indian etc) footballers never seem to make it at a high level. Odd as more Asian Brits play football then cricket.
As someone of Asian decent, he's known here in the UK and would be a popular bloke in London or the Midlands where Asian (Indian etc) footballers never seem to make it at a high level. Odd as more Asian Brits play football then cricket.
Whether he’d be popular with fans or whatever has no bearing at all. It’s about finding a coach and club who wants him. A league that suits him. I’d go top 6 club in Netherlands, Denmark or Belgium. But really could be any sort of half decent league in Europe if he’s starting and the team setup is a good fit
And yeah failing that the Black Knights for 1-2 seasons
The Bundesliga 2, is reportedly a very physical league. More so than the Bundesliga with it's better technical players I read somewhere. Folks always call The Championship a tough league. These type of comps not the best for Sarpreet to shine??
As someone of Asian decent, he's known here in the UK and would be a popular bloke in London or the Midlands where Asian (Indian etc) footballers never seem to make it at a high level. Odd as more Asian Brits play football then cricket.
Whether he’d be popular with fans or whatever has no bearing at all. It’s about finding a coach and club who wants him. A league that suits him. I’d go top 6 club in Netherlands, Denmark or Belgium. But really could be any sort of half decent league in Europe if he’s starting and the team setup is a good fit
And yeah failing that the Black Knights for 1-2 seasons
The Bundesliga 2, is reportedly a very physical league. More so than the Bundesliga with it's better technical players I read somewhere. Folks always call The Championship a tough league. These type of comps not the best for Sarpreet to shine??
Yeah thinking back he did better than many of the Bayern talents in the 2nd team. Probably shone the most, honestly, but was never going to displace Gnabry, Goretzka, Muller so would have been at best on the pine for a while if he stayed. A few injuries may have been the difference between an incredible career, we'll never know. Just hope he's able to reach his ceiling.
How far off will he be a german passport - surely that would be a big reason to stay in germany to help with other european moves?
I think compared to NZ it's very hard to get a German passport.
Germany has been one of those difficult countries like Japan, that didn't allow you to hold two nationalities. But sounds like that is now changing.
Remarkable that Singh is still not cap tied to NZ. Though that should change in June. Or maybe his plan all along is to do what Wynton Rufer couldn't - and play for Die Mannschaft!! He arrived at Bayern around July 2019 (coming up 5 years)
Legislation allows people to become eligible for citizenship after five years and opens up possibility of dual nationalities. German lawmakers have approved legislation to ease the rules on gaining citizenship and end a ban on holding dual citizenship.
I'm going to assume the idea that Singh is good enough for Germany is a joke!
Still it's crazy that he still isn't cap tied to NZ. Made his AWs debut in June 2018, coming up 6 years ago! Ironically of course in his country of parentage.
I wonder if India even know he could still be eligible for them
Still it's crazy that he still isn't cap tied to NZ. Made his AWs debut in June 2018, coming up 6 years ago! Ironically of course in his country of parentage.
I wonder if India even know he could still be eligible for them
how is he not cap tied to NZ? he's played plenty of friendlies for us? or do these not count?
If a player was eligible to play for multiple nations prior to making a competitive appearance, they are cap-tied to a nation after playing more than three matches for one national team, including at least one competitive appearance.......
Playing only in friendly competitions at any level does not cap-tie a player.
If a player was eligible to play for multiple nations prior to making a competitive appearance, they are cap-tied to a nation after playing more than three matches for one national team, including at least one competitive appearance.......
Playing only in friendly competitions at any level does not cap-tie a player.
So he'd have to play in an OFC quals match or world cup?
And India doesn't allow dual internationals to play for them - something their coach and current players complain about. There's a bunch of guys in the UK and US who would declare tomorrow if they were allowed to...
So right now Sarpreet actually wouldn't be eligible under India's own rules.
Singh not in the match day squad as Hansa Rostock beat Wehen Wiesbaden (13th) 3-1. Wiesbaden down to 10 men from 52 mins (Rostock up 1-0). New Socceroo striker John Iredale (no relation Jack) on at 63 mins for Wiesbaden. Iredale got his first Socceroos goal in March window against Lebanon.
Rostock up to 15th (out of the drop zone) but teams below with a game in hand.
Presumably Sarpreet's agent is already out their looking for a new club for next season. Though he's only 1 year into a reported 3 year deal at Rostock.
Played for Hansa reserves overnight in a 3-1 win over Greifswalder FC in the 4th tier Regionalliga (sigh). Grabbed two assists in the first quarter of an hour too.
Too good for that level.
The Sarpreet Singh conundrum continues. An hour logged for the reserves, with two assists. 🅰️🅰️
If he's not getting in and around that first team in 🇩🇪 I would love to see him chance it and look for opportunities in the neighbouring Eredivisie (🇳🇱) or the Belgian Pro League (🇧🇪) pic.twitter.com/34OUVOWg9k
— YoungHeart - 🇳🇿🏴 (@YoungHeartHM) April 6, 2024
