Ethel The Tree

Sorry - still sounds negative to me I'm sure these players see signing professional terms as the next step on an exciting adventure After all, isn't it what they've been working towards?

Don't get the negativity, to be fair Our academy has definitely improved over the past four or five seasons Last season was disappointing - results wise - and maybe that's been reflected by the release of eight regulars from the U23s and a handful more from the juniors Prior to that though, we shouldn't ignore the fact our U23s were national champions 2016/17 and came close to a repeat the following season Our U18s also did well 2017/18 and went on to become champions in 2019 That six or seven of those youngsters have now earned their first professional deals and step up a level is worthy of praise If not yet a cause for celebration They're joining an established squad of around a dozen youngsters who, for the most part, have already tasted success as Young Owls and hopefully they'll all be able to progress further as a group I think coaching is key at all levels and recent changes may have partly affected results and performances last term So I'm hoping there'll be more stability in that department when the new season finally gets underway As individuals, some of these youngsters will greatly benefit from more experience of senior football Whether that means regular training sessions alongside our seniors or periods out on loan - whenever the opportunities become available - and whatever the level on offer I'm sure Steve Haslam & co are well on top of that So good luck lads and well done!

oops, major edit ^ How could I overlook Matt's GOAL - an absolute cracker away in the Hamburg derby, in front of a 57k sell-out crowd also voted goal of the season by St Pauli's fans That will always be a career highlight however well he does in the future oh, and playing his home games to a packed crowd just short of 30k wouldn't have done him any harm either Just stay fit, Matt

By comparison, Matt Penney's loan spell seems to have been a roaring success There's no doubt St Pauli fared better with Matt in the side, but he only managed 17 league apps (plus 1 cup tie) I suppose getting a red card on your debut (followed by a ban, then dropping to the bench) didn't help Or picking up an injury mid-season, hamstring was it? Can't remember without checking So his stats - 13 league starts + 4 as sub ... W 6 +1 D 5 +1 L 2 +2 - is a far better return than St Pauli's form when he wasn't playing, so why didn't he get to play more often? Lack of fitness? Jos acting the goat? Considering how close St Pauli were to the drop, they could've used more returns like those ^ during the run-in But Matt only started three of their last nine games He should be fighting for a place in our 1st team next season but I hope he's physically up for it I mean, the injuries he picks up, this season and last, tend to keep him out for weeks/months on end and perhaps even the 'niggles' keep him on the bench - I dunno. Let's wait and see, eh?

Starting with Joost van Aken Given how his season finished, it's easy to forget how promising things looked for him earlier on Going into the Christmas break, Joost was a fixture in a side doing well in the top half of 2.Bundesliga, that also boasted one of the meanest defences in the division Then, into the New Year, VfL went on a crappy run of form, a win-less streak and a dramatic fall down the table Sound strangely familiar? Of the 9 games following the restart, Joost gave away a penalty in the first, scored an o.g. in the second and played no part in the remaining seven So his stats - all league games and all starts ... P 22 W 6 D 7 L 9 Goals: 1 - look fairly average, but then VfL were struggling towards the end and were only safe from relegation with one game to spare It's also worth pointing out that his side didn't fare much better without him If it was concussion that kept him out these past few weeks then he can count himself unlucky His Wednesday career had been dogged by injury so far but that run of 22 games suggested he'd put all that behind him

28 June Wehen Wiesbaden 5-3 St Pauli To avoid the drop, SV Wehen needed to win this by ten clear goals and then hope Karlsruher lost They had a fair go at it tbf - 5-2 up midway through the 2nd half St Pauli scored their third with about 20mins left and that was the cue for Jos to bring Matt Penney off the bench for a farewell cameo Dynamo Dresden 2-2 VfL Osnabruck Dresden needed to win by summat like sixteen to avoid the drop! But none of it mattered anyway because Karlsruher won their game - leaving Nurnberg with a playoff to 'look forward to' Dresden led 2-0 at one stage but two goals for VfL in the last 15mins spoiled the party No sign of JvA once again I'll come back later with a full summary of what Matt and Joost did on their holidays

I'd just like to echo all the comments made above Good luck to Jordan, and all of the young lads who now have to look elsewhere to continue their careers And many thanks to @John O'Brien for his live updates over the past couple of years Naturally, we hope the club will step up their efforts when covering future games at U18 and U23 level But I have this sneaky feeling we're all gonna miss you, John

There'll be dancing in the streets of Hamburg tonight

21 June VfL Osnabruck 4-1 Holstein Kiel Still no way back for Joost van Ak <poetic licence A comfortable win that sees VfL secure their status with one game to spare Helped by Kiel going down to 10 men midway through the 1st half - although they were already losing 2-0 by then St Pauli 1-1 Jahn Regensburg This result was academic too - in the end And that despite Karlsruher coming back from 3-0 down to force a draw against the champs St Pauli took an early lead but were held 1-1 at half time Matt Penney was named on the bench and came on to play the last 10mins wide left Not long enough to have much of an impact

I dreamt we won 2-1 after extra time - Richard Walden scoring the winner with an overhead kick ... cheese at bedtime

It's a pity Owlstalk have done away with the 'agree' response There are so many posts I can agree with without actually liking what's being said Just as I can like or enjoy reading a post I don't necessarily agree with ^ @scram's post being a perfect example I agree with every word of it - but I don't like it More a case of sad but true

17 June Hannover 96 4-0 St Pauli Matt Penney kept his place and played the whole game - but that's as good as it got Hannover were good value for their 2-0 lead at the break St Pauli started the 2nd half better and Jos seemed to make changes that enabled Matt to play further forward But a third goal on the hour scotched any chance of a fightback and a fourth 10mins from the end wrapped it up So St Pauli aren't necessarily out of the woods just yet but they (and VfL) will be pleased to see Karlsruher also lost

16 June Hamburger SV 1-1 VfL Osnabruck Still no sign of Joost van Aken in the matchday squad - must've been some bump on the head Two points dropped for the home side, who were leading a three-horse race for that second promotion spot And a valuable point gained for VfL who were trailing at half time Dresden and SV Wehen look doomed but the relegation playoff spot is still there to be avoided St Pauli could be home and dry by tomorrow night but VfL will be hoping Karlsruher slip up Especially as their other main rival - Nurnberg - won tonight, 6-0 away