The Pirates Penned Sands: James Sands to St. Pauli(olf NYCFC)

Sands can make a late push into extremely crowded midfield.

The WC training camp is going to be intense in midfield. The forwards and defenders will have it relatively easy (honestly they just have to stay healthy). Same for defenders.

 

couldnt disagree more about midfield being intense but not the other positions

the incumbants' seats should be extremely warm, if not burning ...all over the field

there is indeed a lot of competition but very few complete players. even guys like adams and mckennie have their warts (adams has no offense and progressive play and often gets pulled out of position) musah (has no end product and poor defensive positioning) mckennie (lackadaisical way too often/ questionable effort/conditioning....he was a blob last wc and couldnt even go 90) johnny (what has he even done well? for usmnt..ton of potential but yet to come close to realizing it) busio (good player but questionable if offense is good enough and if defense is good enough as well) on and on and on.....

but i agree about sands....the midfield should be a strength but its just been lacking way too often the last years....he could get into the picture

 

and this is an argument for 3-5-2 or 3-5 1-1. Whatever. But we might try to get more midfielders at this level rather than the equivalent defender or forward.

 

Starts in the big Hamburg derby FC St. Pauli vs Hamburger SV

 

Wow, they’re both in the Bundesliga? How often does that happen?

 

I think I read 2011 was the last time.

For the longest time it was St. Pauli who really struggled to reach/stay in the BL but Hamburger SV has had a tough last decade or so.

 

Sands vs Tolkin in a friendly today. Sands down hurt in just the fourth minute after a battle for a header, nearly scores off a corner in the 37th. Subs off at the half leading 1-0 as the manager spreads out minutes; ends a 1-1 draw.

 

Sands started today against Augsburg. Banks on the Bank for Augsburg.

 

Sands went the full distance in a 2-1 victory, St Pauli tied for second, with 7 points from 3 matches.

 

He won 14 duels in the match as well. He's performing at a very high level

 

St Pauli (T-2nd) will play at Stuttgart (T-11th) in tomorrow's featured Friday match. Why is St Pauli doing so well?

Possession bossers

The Kiezkicker managed to retain a slight edge against Dortmund in terms of possession in the opening match. Something like that rarely occurs against BVB. Blessin’s squad maintained midfield dominance throughout in the total mismatch that was the Hamburg derby and generated a highly impressive 57-43 split in the Augsburg match. Most of this stems from the marvelous midfield duo of new signing Joel Chima Fujita and returning American James Sands. This pair synchronize their forward movements as if they’ve been playing together for years. Captain Jackson Irvine might not find a way back into the XI.

https://www.getfootballnewsgermany.com/2025/bundesliga-tactics-check-fc-st-pauli/

 

Sands starting in a 4 man midfield (3-4-1-2 according to the never wrong ESPN site) v. Studgarden in less than an hour.

 

Sands starts! St Pauli hosting Leverkusen (Tillman starting).

 

Sands starts! St Pauli visiting Werder Bremen.

 

71 minutes for recalled USMNTer Sands in a 1-0 loss to Werder Bremen. Stats seem fine - 6 defensive contributions, eight passes into the final third - and St Pauli won the possession battle but generated fewer good opportunities.

 

New feature!

I spoke at length with James Sands for my new ASN feature on him
- his return to the #USMNT
- overcoming his injury
- the opportunity to play d-mid for the U.S.
- adjusting to the Bundesliga & St. Pauli
- US-Mex, Old Firm, & Hamburg Derby
- & morehttps://t.co/gvLjzkXDQ7 pic.twitter.com/yL9uHYY8XE

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) October 9, 2025

or a more direct link

Sands aims to carry momentum from a big year in Germany into his return to the USMNT

No paywall.. just enjoy

 

Nice article.

I always enjoy seeing young American products go over to the BL and succeed. One of the best parts of YA for me.

All the way back to the before times with Cherundolo, Conor Casey, Clint Mathis, Kasey Keller... that's about where I start at least.

I know some of the dinosaurs in here can remember Wynalda and Joe Max-Moore over there.

 

Wynalda was near the lead for BL goals when he first went over.

 

What I really like about Sands is that he's a very very experienced player at 25. He has played and been successful in three very different and difficult leagues; MLS, Scottish Prem, and now the Bundesliga. He has already played in some of the biggest Derby matches football can offer, US v Mexico, the Old Firm in Scotland, and now the Hamburg Derby in Germany. He has quite the impressive resume and I don't think any game, occasion or moment would be too big or intimidating for him. I think we have other technically more talented players at his position but given his level of experience i think he could be extremely valuable to this group going forward, especially if he continues to play and impress in Germany. I hope Poch gives him some opportunities to play.

 

Sands v Tessman. Compare and contrast. You have 45 minutes. Go. (but only in the context of club...)

 

We should add in Aidan Morris.

While we're at it Cardoso, who is injured but still "around".

 

Yeah. And Adams also plays in that space. Sands and Tessman play reasonably similar spots at least in geography on the field, tho TT looks to be getting a bit more forward in Ligue 1 and Sands is more the quintessential old school DM type - at least when I've seen him. Have not caught as much Sands in the Bund as I would like. Sands seems scrappier in defense, TT more physical in how he commands space defensively. TT seems to really be upping his attacking distribution as well. Sands did not excel there at Gers, but it sounds like he's doing better on that front at time at St. P.

 

Sands starting for St. P v hoffenheim today. interwebz have him CRM in a 3-4-1-2 fwiw.