I was hoping it would be a higher level tbh. But football is a timing game, and unfortunately the timing has been just off with Sarpreet for the past couple of years.
Not that long ago we were talking about a potential move to Werder Bremen before a failed medical seemed to set off an unfortunate series of events, culminating in a lot of lost playing time.
Anyway, with this move I hope he finds the form we all know he is capable of producing. Hopefully puts together a good term for Hansa and perhaps even helps them push for promotion back to the Bundesliga where they last made an appearance back in 07/08 before relegation.
Good move really. I’m still confident that he’s more than good enough to start in the Bundesliga proper, but after a difficult few years a move within the second division is for the best I feel.
It’ll allow Sarpreet to continue to develop his game without as much pressure to immediately perform. Moving to a higher division out of form always runs the risk of being permanently relegated to the bench.
Rostock is a big club and will be an excellent platform for Sarpreet to continue to build a name for himself. He’ll be in the BuLi in no time, with or without Hansa.
I had to smile when I saw that Sarpreet has signed for FC Hansa Rostock. That's because some of the most prominent graffiti that has appeared here in Christchurch since the earthquakes was by some visiting Hansa Rostock supporters. They climbed high up on to a derelict building in the central city and sprayed "FC HANSA ROSTOCK" in large letters on two sides of the upper reaches. It was really prominent because it was on Manchester St. near the Central Bus Exchange and was hard to miss from the bus when I passed by. I would always look up and smile, thinking of the dedication to do that required by some German backpacker. Apparently Rostock supporters are famous for their graffiti placed all over the world from NZ to Chile. Here is the Christchurch graffiti (since sadly covered over about two years ago):
I would always drive past that and think “surely that’s a football reference…can’t be…”
Great to hear some background on it!Big Pete 65
I had to smile when I saw that Sarpreet has signed for FC Hansa Rostock. That's because some of the most prominent graffiti that has appeared here in Christchurch since the earthquakes was by some visiting Hansa Rostock supporters. They climbed high up on to a derelict building in the central city and sprayed "FC HANSA ROSTOCK" in large letters on two sides of the upper reaches. It was really prominent because it was on Manchester St. near the Central Bus Exchange and was hard to miss from the bus when I passed by. I would always look up and smile, thinking of the dedication to do that required by some German backpacker. Apparently Rostock supporters are famous for their graffiti placed all over the world from NZ to Chile. Here is the Christchurch graffiti (since sadly covered over about two years ago):
Subbed on at the 65th-ish minute in a very impressive 2-1 win over a strong Sevilla side. 2-1 when he came on, didn’t really have much time or impact on the ball as Sevilla really took over later on
Singh on the bench again. Edit - Singh on at 68 mins, with Hana Rostock 1-0 down.
Edit 2 - Rostock grab a dramatic 2-1 win. Colombian substitute Juan Perea who came on with Singh at 68 mins, grabs a late late double at 100 mins & 103 mins!
Elversberg (promoted from 3 Liga this season) earlier with a costly pen miss at 92 mins.
Singh on the bench again. Edit - Singh on at 68 mins, with Hana Rostock 1-0 down.
Edit 2 - Rostock grab a dramatic 2-1 win. Colombian substitute Juan Perea who came on with Singh at 68 mins, grabs a late late double at 100 mins & 103 mins!
Elversberg (promoted from 3 Liga this season) earlier with a costly pen miss at 92 mins.
Singh was the one to give away the penalty, live written commentary describes it as 'quite unlucky intervention from Singh, who meets the back of Schnellbacher's [player] foot, who then goes down thankfully for the penalty. Can be given, doesn't have to be'.
Sarpreet only made 6 of 15 passes, after making 1 of 5 last week. Hopefully he gets into stride soon, but Hansa have two wins from two, so it's fine right now. Next up is a trip to 4th tier FSV Frankfurt in the DFB Pokal (the lower league side always host opening round DFB Pokal matches) who haven't opened their league campaign yet. Be nice to see him start down there.
Tougher tests to come though - Elversberg were in the 4th tier Regionalliga two seasons ago. They do have 20-year-old Danish striker Wahid Faghir on loan from VfB Stuttgart, who scored in their draw against Hannover last week. He had 5 goals last season on loan at Nordsjælland in the Danish Superliga, after breaking onto the scene at Vejle; debuting as a 16-year-old and scoring 11 in 46 before moving to Germany when he turned 18. In the 19/20 season at Vejle he was in the U19s with Matt Conroy and the two played in 5 U19 matches together.
Has his career stagnated or is he slowly improving??
You'd hope not, but he did have a a disappointing return from injury earlier this year at Jahn-Rensberg - after starring somewhat season 21/22 before his groin injury. Didn't help they were fairly shark & got relegated.
Maybe he's just struggling to get back to where he was after that nagging Osteitis Pubis. It's very early days at his new club, and at least they are winning, unlike J-R. I don't know much about Germany, but maybe there is also an off the field adjustment, going from Bavaria where he had spent all his time previously to Rostock in the old East Germany.
I'm just hoping he's available for AWs against Socceroos in October. If the AWs are ever to be a threat to higher ranked teams this WC cycle, he needs to be playing.
Needs to find his groove quickly. As he's learned: German football is unforgiving and you'll be lost quickly. Much of his Liga 3 winning buddies also not getting a foothold barr, Richards & Zirkzee. Arp benchwarming for Kiel and OBM (who was favoured ahead of Singh back a few seasons for the Bayern first team reserves) is back in 3 Liga.
Singh starts but comes off at HT (Frankfurt leading 1-0), as Hana Rostock win their German Cup tie on pens at FSV Frankfurt. Finished 1-1 after NT/ET.
FSV Frankfurt missed all 3 of their pens in the shootout. They play in the RegionalligaSüdwest(German 4th tier). Little bit of a concern Singh subbed off at HT against a German 4th tier side. Maybe they were kicking him to bits. Hopefully not an injury.
Singh starts but comes off at HT (Frankfurt leading 1-0), as Hana Rostock win their German Cup tie on pens at FSV Frankfurt. Finished 1-1 after NT/ET.
FSV Frankfurt missed all 3 of their pens in the shootout. They play in the RegionalligaSüdwest(German 4th tier). Little bit of a concern Singh subbed off at HT against a German 4th tier side. Maybe they were kicking him to bits. Hopefully not an injury.
FotMob has commentary for DFB Pokal ties so I had a look through. He was heavily involved in crossing the ball, attempting eleven but completed only one, though nine of those were corners (the team attempted 62 crosses in all). He was only fouled once, so nothing excessive in that department. He had an early shot that was 'almost dangerous' when he curled the ball around the leg of a defender towards the near post, but the keeper did well. He also had a cheeky direct shot off a corner from the right that sounded like it was going in, and forced the keeper to make a good save.
He was replaced by Juan Perea, the two-goal hero from last week, who was the most fouled player, winning five free kicks. Not ideal getting subbed off, but they won, so gets another chance once he's more bedded in. You'd think he'll be back on the bench next week against Hannover. Have to credit Hansa's keeper though, he saved all three penalties, rather than the Frankfurters missing them.
Great to catch up with Sarpreet Singh to chat about the last four years in Germany, his latest club move, recovering from long-term injury and his All Whites aspirations.
Singh on the bench. Rostock trail 0-1 after 58 mins.
Edit - unused sub in a 1-2 loss. Was 1-1 until 87th min. Early days, but not making any impact yet at his new club.
Bring him home!
If the new Auckland franchise is cashed up they might be an option too.
Can't see him coming back to the Nix at all. He might be tempted yes by the new Auckland franchise. It's his home town after all, and a new challenging venture.
But can see him trying somewhere like Denmark or Netherlands if his 3rd Bundesliga 2 club doesn't work out.