retired_kmkageler

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retired_kmkageler

September 2005

I’d driven out of town and sat by the river at a quiet spot to think.

Over 7000 had turned up to see us play Aachen, and most of them left early. It took them just thirteen minutes to break us down and they basically toyed with us before making it a 2-0 defeat with a Richter own goal. Richter also got booked, got subbed and got himself transfer listed into the bargain as I finally lost my temper with him. Also, Anel Dzaka got wind of a bid I’d rejected for him and has threatened to quit on a Bosman at the end of the season. What was worrying was that we had now lost three on the bounce without scoring, and I was having no luck whatsoever in the transfer market.

Our final game of August was at the Granwalder Strasse Stadion where Bayern II were our hosts. An early own goal in our favour settled us, and our attacking formation started to function at long last. A very smart finish from Patschinksy made it two before the half hour. They pulled one back after 54 minutes and to be fair could well turn out to be the goal of the season, an absolute peach of a drive from the edge of the box that curled passed Gurski giving him no chance. Substitute Klingmann, playing out of position out of necessity, then popped up in the box to clinically finish after a bit of a scramble and the game was won. 3-1 to us and thank goodness. Shame only 1300 or so came to see it, but after the previous few performances who could blame them?

I watched the water bubbling over some stones in the river, not really seeing them as my busy mind was hard at work. We had finished the month in 7th place in the league with figures of P4 W2 L2 D0 GF6 GA3 GD+3 which could have been worse, though we had of course been eliminated from the Cup too! Only half a dozen or so contract issues remained, and Guscinsas was back in training after his injury which was just as well as a succession of strikers had turned us down, either loan or permanent moves.

I was, I decided, deeply frustrated at my inability to bring a new striker in and also disappointed at the lack lustre performances that the lads had put in after such a bright start. I was also, I thought, maybe asking just a little too much of them and myself, after all even Rudi was fairly satisfied as to how things were going and he pretty much had his finger on the pulse of all things fan related for TuS Koblenz.

With no game until the 10th I determined to get the lads fitness up, concentrate on the tactical side of things and generally stop beating myself up so much. And, I cautioned myself, I would have to cut down on the old red wine, I really did not want to go down that road again!

It was a dry and mild Friday evening as we travelled for our away fixture at Wehen, and it was a game I fancied us to win.

retired_kmkageler

September 2005 Cont'd

Early September had seen me become a little anxious over things. Klaus had completed most of the contract issues but we had no fewer than four first team players refusing new deals, including both my first choice strikers and right winger Dzaka who was still rather mad at me for not selling him. The two players we were not offering new deals to were left back Straube and ‘keeper Auer who I thought were at the end of their playing careers in their mid-thirties.

Very much in need of some fresh faces then to bolster the squad, I hired Polish scout Radoslaw Szalak and sent him off to look at the next opposition which relieved German born Timo to have a thorough search for some players closer to home in Germany.

Second place Aalen visited on the 10th and it was a game our ‘keeper Gurski would remember for his 10th minute penalty save and overall performance which earned him the Man of the Match award. Patschinsky opened the scoring from the spot for us but Aalen equalised within five minutes and that had concluded the afternoon’s scoring, thanks to that performance from Gurski. Unhappy Dzaka picked up a knock that would keep him out for a fortnight or so, but Guscinas made a ten minute cameo at the end of the game as he continued to regain his fitness. We could have stolen it at the end but in truth it would have been harsh on the superior opposition, and so we took a point from our first draw of the campaign.

Keita resumed full training the following day. It was an annoyance to me that there was no reserve squad to push the ‘returning from injury’ and ‘not regular starters’ fitness levels up. Koblenz had an under 23 squad and an under 19 squad, but senior players had no match practice other than first team games.

September closed with news that two players had picked up injuries in training, Klingmann and Rahn. Klingmann was not so desperate but the loss of striker Rahn with Guscinas still not fully match fit was bad news indeed, but there had been good news in September, and whilst Rudi broke our chat to serve another customer I reflected upon it.

Only 800 or so had bothered to turn out for our visit to the Halberg Stadion where we completely dominated a poor Wehen side that had already lost five in a row. Patschinsky opened the scoring but it wasn’t until late on that Guscinas, on as a substitute in the pursuit of match fitness, added a stunning second to wrap up the win. Press headlines the following morning suggested that we had been somewhat fortunate to win, which prompted Klaus to learn the English expression ‘B*ll*cks!’.

Nearly 7000 turned out at the Oberwerth for the visit of Elversburg, and fit again but still unhappy Dzaka was recalled to the starting line up after injury. I really shouldn’t have bothered as he did nothing of note and was replaced by loanee Schlosser at the break. A dubious penalty to Elversburg was saved in fine style by Gurski just before the hour, and as we continued to press a brace from Patschinsky late on secured a comfortable win.

So, we’d finished the month 5th in the league with figures of P7 W4 L2 D1 GF 11 GA 4 GD+7 PTS 13. Back home, Chelsea were topping the table and my beloved Villa were 11th with only 8 points from their first 9 games and if I knew anything it was that a certain Mr O’Leary would be feeling the heat from board and fans alike if he didn’t step it up soon! I, on the other hand, was a popular figure with the fans pleased at my good start and Bruno was more than satisfied though still believing that avoiding relegation was the main object of the season.

Rudi and I finished the Merlot, not my favourite red, and we said goodnight as I left for home early prior to the following day’s trip to Augsburg. I had to be pleased with the start but couldn’t shake off a feeling of anxiety and wasn’t sure at all what my formation or starting line up would be for the following day’s game with only one fully fit striker available, and was still unsure about taking a risk with starting Guscinas. Sleep wasn’t going to come easily!

retired_kmkageler

October 2005

In the end, the regulation for having six German players under 24 years in the matchday squad almost made the decision for me. I called up Michael Stahl and Stefan Haben from the under 19 squad and started both in 4-4-1-1 with Cozza pushed on to support lone striker Patschinsky. It must have caught Augsburg out because Stahl scored on 7 and Cozza made it 2-0 on 17. No changes were made at half time but Augsburg had come out fighting and were back in it with a Thomik strike after 50 minutes, only for Patschinsky to add a third for us from the penalty spot two minutes later. I then withdrew Haben, moved Cozza back into his usual position and brought on Guscinas to see the game out. Guscinas had one disallowed (rightly) for offside before Thomik struck again on 79 and a real ding-dong end-to-end battle ensued until the referee blew the final whistle with some 96 minutes on the clock! Three more points and I didn’t mind this time as the press headlined ‘The Battle of the Rosenaustadion’ which unfortunately only 1673 had witnessed, and unfortunately for Augsburg they’d lost!

The next fortnight passed more or less uneventfully, Guscinas went off to join the Lithuanian squad and the rest of the team trained daily to maintain their fitness and sharpen up on set pieces. My scouts reports were coming back regularly now and Timo was turning up some real talent that ought to prove ‘gettable’ when the window opens, so my anxiety was starting to diminish.

The Halloween party at Rudi’s had been a blast. There were Koblenz blue and black flags and scarves everywhere and the little cafeteria was packed to the rafters. After a huge amount of backslapping and chatting with his other guests I finally made it to my screened off table and sat down to eat, not feeling like a celebrity but hugely enjoying some popularity. Villa, meanwhile, had clawed themelves to 8th place in the Premiership with 15 points from 11 games.

The trip to Darmstadt’s Stadion am Bollenfalltor had proved to be a lively one. I stuck with the same team that had beaten Augsburg even though Guscinas was fully fit he was tired from his International duties. Darmstadt had a man sent off mid-way through the first half but nevertheless took the lead just before half time. I’d told the lads to keep pressing because they looked shaky at the back and within a minute of the restart Patschinksy had us level, then added another on the hour. Substitute Keita missed a penalty and I was forced to put Guscinas on just after that as Patschinsky picked up a worrying knock. The 3400 or so spectators saw a good game and another deserved Koblenz win.

The news that Patschinsky’s injury would keep him out for a month was tempered somewhat by the return to training of Rahn and Klingmann, and Stahl and Haben thrust into the team out of necessity had done much better than expected.

Guscinas started in place of Patschinsky for the visit of newly promoted Bayreuth to the Oberwerth Stadion a week later, on a chilly and windy afternoon where over 9000 fans roared the team on to the most one-sided 1-0 win of all time. It could easily have been a cricket score, but Cozza’s 40th minute screamer proved to be enough to secure the points.

We then travelled to the Regensburg Stadion for the final game of the month looking to make it six straight wins and end the month on top of the league. Only 2000 turned up but a revitalised Guscinas banged home the first after just 12 minutes and Regensburg were pretty much holding on after that. Second half substitute Keita, still searching for match fitness, lasted all of a minute before picking up another injury which forced him off. A cynical challenge saw a red card for Regensburg’s Alder and Kolinger dispatched the resultant free kick expertly from 20 yards out to seal the win.

After the game the press asked me if I thought I could keep Phillip Langen at the club as he was being touted as the ‘best young prospect in the German game’. I said I hoped he would stay at Koblenz and the lad was beaming like a Cheshire cat after that!

Keita’s injury proved to be not so bad as feared, but training ground injuries to Stahl and Tieku would see them both out for around a fortnight, and much more worrying our superb goalkeeper Gurski picked up a shoulder injury that would sideline him for at least four weeks.

The first managerial casualty in the Regional Division South was Hoffenheim’s Hansi Flick who was sacked and replaced quickly by Kostner, but Bruno was almost beside himself that the team were so gloriously exceeding his target. The Koblenz fans were ‘fully in support’ of me too so all in all things were looking rosy, yet that little man in my head was still anxiously, if now not so vocally, waiting for the fall!

I eventually made it out of there around midnight having drunk a bit more wine than intended, but feeling relaxed and happy. We’d finished the month 2 points clear at the top of the league with figures of P11 W8 D1 L2 19GF 7GA GD+12 and 25PTS

retired_kmkageler

November 2005

There were only three games this month, albeit against three of the ‘fancied’ teams in the league in Kaiserslautern II, 1860 Munchen II and Stuttgarter K due to yet another enforced blank weekend.

The week between Halloween and bonfire night passed quietly. I left Klaus do most of the coaching and spent many hours in my office going through all the reports from Timo and Daniel, discarding some and retaining others. By Bonfire Night I had quite an extensive shortlist to work with and was feeling quietly optimistic about bringing a few new faces in in January. I’d also tied up new contracts for youngsters Stahl and Haben, whom I fancied would start to attract the attention of the bigger clubs very soon. I had also transfer listed the habitually unhappy Dzaka, poor chap, and contract rebel Evers. Patschinsky resumed full training too.

I declined Rudi’s invite to accompany him and Maria to the bonfire festivities, it being the night before the visit of Kaiserslautern II to the Oberwerth, and instead watched most of it wrapped up warm on my balcony with a glass of very good red wine.

Retiring early that evening, I did consider that my entire social life was revolving around the cafeteria and my balcony, but being a fairly private person this wasn’t an undue concern. The fact that I was happy and enjoying life was much more important to me. I smiled at the thought of my Dad’s old expression. When somebody enquired of him ‘How are things?’, he would invariably respond ‘Just about managing thanks’. That suited me right now, I thought sleepily.

The end of the month saw temperatures drop markedly and with it my enjoyment of the balcony at my small apartment overlooking the Rhine. Late in the month I sat at home watching angry grey clouds scudding on a strong wind across the horizon.

Just under 3500 came to the Oberwerth to see us play Kaiserslautern II in strong winds. Kolinger opened the scoring with a trademark blistering shot just before half time, which was cancelled out by their equaliser on 54. A perfectly good late winner from substitute Patschinsky was wrongly rules out by the officials and the game finished honours even.

After that game, Tieku resumed training and the manager casualty list in Germany continued to mount. Dusseldorf, in the Regional North Division, sacked Weidemann whilst Pogeldorf resigned from Hansa Rostock and Doll surprised everyone by quitting on Hamburg, who very quickly replaced him with Sammer.

Just over 3000 welcomed us to 1860 Munchen II’s Grunwalde Strasse Stadion to watch a match we totally dominated. Guscinas scored the only goal in just 6 minutes and we simply cruised the rest of the match to make it 10 games unbeaten.

Meanwhile, Vosic resigned from Wehen and Dusseldorf appointed Eduard Geyer as their new boss.

On the injury front, Goretskyi damaged a knee in training and will be out for about a month but Gurski resumed training after his shoulder injury.

Over 6500 came to the Oberwerth for the visit of Stuttgarter K, in which our former midfielder Mujakic played for them. They went 1-0 up on the quarter hour with an excellent free kick which we equalised after half an hour through Patschinsky, playing alongside Guscinas in a starting role for the first time since pre-season. Stahl was injured before half time and replaced with Schlosser but two more second half goals gave them a 3-1 win and our first defeat in 11 games.

Despite this, both the board and the fans remain delighted with my management of club affairs and Kolinger’s cracker against Kaiserslautern II won him goal of the month.

So as the winter really set in, we were second in the league by one point from Bayern II with figures of P14 W9 D2 L3 GF22 GA11 GD+11 and 29PTS and with the press still expecting us to finish bottom half, which suits me nicely as it keeps the pressure off.

retired_kmkageler

December 2005

I started the month started with a busy few days in the office.

I decided to go ahead and offer contract extensions to Straube and Auer despite my previous thoughts as I felt that their experience might be useful next season, even if only to help bed newer, younger players in. This thinking was spoiled a little however when Straube rejected a new deal, but Auer signed an extension and also Guscinas finally agreed his new contract which was a bonus. Patschinsky is still considering my latest contract offer and I’m really keen to tie this one up as he’s a key player for us. I have also transfer listed midfielder Bruno Meirelles. I haven’t used him at all this season and with Haben looking a better bet have decided to move him on.

Before our first trip of the month to Hoffenheim, Wehen announced the appointment of Buckner as their new boss and the world almost recoiled in shock at the sacking of Rafa Benitez by the Liverpool board. Liverpool are 8th in the Premier League with 24 points from 15 games and are now looking for a new boss. Sadly Villa still have O’Leary!

Nessos has been sent home with a virus with physio Probst predicting a three week absence, which means it’s unlikely that our Captain will figure much this month. He will be missed for sure. Transfer listed Evers will take his place, and Straube will take over the Captaincy for a while.

The trip to Hoffenheim’s Dietmar Hopp Stadion on a bitterly cold but dry afternoon brought a straightforward three points via a 1-0 win courtesy of a Langen fluke goal. 940 people braved the cold to see it, and that’s about all you could say.

Patschinsky rejected his latest contract offer and I have now resigned myself to losing him at the end of the season. Meanwhile Liverpool appointed Spaniard Irureta as new boss.

The home match against Karlsruhe II could only be described as a farce. More than 2500 fans braved gale conditions and freezing temperatures. Gurski returned to goal after injury and Patschinsky scored an absolute belter in the first half, but Karlsruhe equalised early in the second and held on for the draw. Awful conditions meant that the quality of football on show was poor, but that was no excuse for the woefully bad linesman who ruled out two perfectly good goals for offside when our players were clearly and easily onside. Two points taken off us by the officials!

I did however, after this, agree deals to bring two new faces to the club. German central defender Sven Drews would join from Concordia for GBP 1000 and German striker Oliver Goschik would arrive from Auberlausitz for GBP 2000 in January.

We travelled to Stuttgart II expecting a tough game. Only 900 or so souls braved the sheeting rain at the Robert Schlienz Stadion to see them take us on with former Villa favourite Thomas Hitzlsperger in their starting eleven. It took Patschinsky just 9 minutes to break the deadlock and in truth we never looked like conceding until some sloppy defending ended in Tieku putting the ball in his own net on 69 minutes. That’s how it finished, 1-1, and it was a disappointing result in a disappointing month on the field.

Cozza picked up an injury that will keep him out for a month and central defender Ziehl, an ever present since Richter got on my bad side, will miss a fortnight.

Elsewhere, Liverpool win the World Club Championship, former Hamburg manager Thomas Doll joins Hansa Rostock, 1860 Munchen boss Reiner Maurer resigns and is replaced with Klaus Toppmoller.

Nessos and Goretskyi return to full training only for the latter to be sent home with a flu bug likely to keep him out for another three weeks.

Polish left back Kryzysztof Kazimierczak agrees to join in January for a fee of GBP 5000 from VFB Huls in January.

As I sat in my office with Christmas only a few days away, I was frustrated by the continental break at this time of year. We have no competitive fixtures until late January now and I was concerned for the squad’s fitness. I also had no idea what I would do myself with no matches to plan for, and only paperwork to worry about for the next six weeks.

Still, we had finished the footballing month in second place on goal difference, 2 goals being the difference, with figures of P17 W10 D4 L3 GF25 GA13 GD+12 and 34PTS. Bruno could consign his relegation worries to the bin along with the Christmas Cracker waste barring a total collapse, and that was very satisfying.

Christmas saw me fly ‘home’ to England for a brief holiday. I spent Christmas Day in an hotel where the food and wine were exceptional and just totally let go and chilled out. On Boxing Day I took a trip to Villa Park, for the first time since being sold as a player, and watched unrecognised as a paying fan as Kevin Phillips and Juan Pablo Angel scored the goals in a comfortable 2-0 win. A narrow defeat at Newcastle a few days later left them in 10th place with 28 points from 19 games and O’Leary’s job looking sickeningly safe, but I was back in Koblenz by then.

retired_kmkageler

January 2006

The three new players duly arrived and there was much transfer talk and speculation. I had rebuffed enquiries for Phillip Langen and Stefan Haben, but accepted offers for the ageing contract rebel Oliver Straube, and the Portugese Bruno Meirelles.

As we travelled to Eschborn, at long last it seemed, for our only game in January I ran back through all the major activity of the month in my mind.

Right back Brenny Evers had shown a willingness to stay at Koblenz and had put in a few good performances in the absence of the injured Nessos, and had agreed a new contract and been removed from the transfer list.

Goretskyi hRegional Division North side Oberhausen terminate the contract of manager Pless.ad resumed training after his bout of flu, and Bruno Meirelles completed a GBP 5,000 (+20% of next sale) move to Engers. Aachen sacked their manager, Hecking, and appointed Peter Neururer. Regional Division North club St.Pauli sacked their manager Bergmann.

Dennie Patschinsky, our top goalscorer and want-away contract rebel finally got his wish. First division Hannover offered GBP 50,000 (+20% of next sale) and compared to nothing at the end of the season this was too good to refuse. Oliver Straube left for GBP 2,000 to join Aachen.

St.Pauli hired the former Aachen manager Hecking on the same day that Klingmann hurt his back in training and will be out for anything up to 8 weeks.

Young Turkish striker Bilal Yildiz joined Koblenz for GBP 3,000 from Freiburg whilst both Dzaka and Richter agree terms to join Essen when their respective contracts expire at the end of the season. New signing Drews resumes full training after his injury.

Experienced 28 year old German striker Rainer Hobel completes GBP 4,000 move to Koblenz from Memmingen with a fine goalscoring pedigree, and it is hoped that he will be Patschinsky’s direct replacement.

Regional Division North side Oberhausen terminate the contract of manager Pless.

Of my original transfer budget of GBP 85,000 I had spent GBP 16,000 and, due to sales, had GBP 130,000 remaining. I was also GBP 4,800 under my wage budget. I’d told an impressed Bruno that he could put away his cheque book until the Summer.

As the month ended I was fairly upbeat. I sat in my office, drinking coffee with Klaus as we reviewed things.

Our trip to Eschborn’s Heinrich Graf Stadion inspired just over 500 locals out into the bitter cold. They saw Eschborn beaten by a rusty looking Koblenz, second half goals from substitutes Rahn and debutant Yildiz securing the points. Hobel had a disappointing debut, but Polish left back Kazimierczak who captained the side for the day was outstanding, and would retain the armband, though I’d told him he would simply be Krys from now on as I just couldn’t get my mouth around his name.

Neuhaus took the Oberlausen job, and Stahl went home with a virus likely to keep him out for around three weeks

In light of the transfer profit I had chanced my arm on the way back from Eschborn and approached Bruno about upgrading the training facilities. He’d seemed amenable to the suggestion and would put it before the board.

We finished the month back on top of the table with figures at P18 W11 D4 L3 GF27 GA13 GD+14 and 37PTS. Bayern II and 1860 Munchen II in joint second place both had 35PTS so it was a close affair going into the second half of the season.

After a telephone call from Bruno, I told Klaus that the board had unanimously agreed to upgrade the training facilities and we hoped that this would also give a timely boost to the players.

We finished our meeting by discussing Klaus’ contract situation. His contract is due to run out in June, as was mine, and although I was confident that I could attract a more qualified assistant we worked well together and he was a decent man. I offered him a new contract which he went away to consider, and told him of my plans to bring in two or even three more coaches to really get the lads up to speed for a promotion push.

retired_kmkageler

February 2006

I stretched out on the couch in my small apartment, my stomach heavy from one of Maria’s wonderful beef stews and sipped at a glass of South African Cabernet Sauvignon. Rudi had been in good form that evening too, regaling anyone who would listen with stories of Koblenz’s footballing tradgedies of the past and comparing it to the present, referring to me as ‘the chosen one’, which I laughed at heartily.

We had started the month with a visit from Trier and over 7000 hardy souls assembled at the Oberwerth to see a dull, goalless draw. Trier had come for a point, and did the bare minimum to get it whilst we were out of sorts and couldn’t break them down. 0-0. Captain Krys also picked up a knock that would keep him in the physio room for around three weeks.

Before the trip to Pfullendorf’s Walstadion, Klaus signed his new contract. Just under 3000 souls turned out to see them scrape a 1-0 win, but none of them saw me absolute blast the players afterwards. I told them in no uncertain terms that the last two performances were unacceptable, that I had seen better from them and expected better. They were all quiet on the journey back to Koblenz!

The following day, Czech Republic born coach Zdenek Turek joined the backroom staff. At 23 he was young for a coach, but that also made him very enthusiastic not to mention cheap!

A disappointing 2500 fans turned up at the Oberwerth for the crunch game against Bayern II. No doubt with my words still ringing loudly in their ears the lads went and put in a solid and professional performance of the highest order. A goal in each half from Guscinas and Cozza respectively gave us a comfortable 2-0 win and some breathing space from the opposition in the league table.

Another coach from the Czech Republic arrived shortly after the Bayern II game. At 35, Antonin Spevak had a little more experience than his recently employed countryman and was welcomed by all the others ‘ into the fold.’ He was joined very soon by Ukranian goalkeeping coach Igor Kulish, and between them all they took Stahl and Captain Krys back to full training after injury.

The biggest thing about Aalen’s Walstadion am Rohrwang was its name, but 2773 fans packed in to see our visit on a mild and dry afternoon. They were to see one of the most entertaining matches of the season. Guscinas had us in front in the 7th minute as Rahn slipped the defence and put the ball in front of him six yards out with the keeper stranded. The remainder of the first half was an end-to-end affair with Gurski’s brilliant goalkeeping keeping us in front at half time. I told them at the break that I wanted all three points and sent them out fired up for the second half. On the hour, Cozza cracked in a half-volley from all of 25 yards that curled around the keeper giving him no chance at all. They pulled one back with twenty minutes to go, but two minutes later our two goal lead was restored as substitute Yildiz hit an unbelievable curler from the left wing that flew like a rocket into the net. But this was a game that we just couldn’t kill off and they scored their second from the spot with around 10 minutes to go, so I pulled Cozza off and put Klingmann in alongside Kolinger to shut out the midfield and book the points. A 3-2 win for us and great entertainment for all who saw it.

Back home, Blackburn beat Newcastle 2-1 at the Millenium Stadium in my old home town of Cardiff to win the league cup, meanwhile in our gym Keita slipped a disc and ended his season. The prognosis is a 12 week lay off and a visit to a specialist.

I drained my glass and sat up to refill it. Yildiz’ wonder strike from the last game had won goal of the month, the third consecutive Koblenz win in this which was quite satisfying.

Finishing the month 4 points clear of 1860 Munchen II at the top (and now 5 points clear of Bayern II) with figures of P22 W13 D5 L4 GF32 GA16 GD+16 and 44PTS meant that both board and fans were just delighted with the job I was doing. I still had that nagging doubt that the wheels could yet come spectacularly off and hardly dared even dream of winning the league, though admittedly it was hard not to.

retired_kmkageler

March 2006

I sat alone in my flat staring at the unopened packet of cigarettes on the coffee table. The ones right next to the shiny new ashtray and the Koblenz FC book of matches. The ones right next to the two empty cans of lager and the newly uncorked bottle of Shiraz. Anger simmered inside me. Anger that sat squarely alongside my fear, fear of failure, and listened to the annoying voice in my head screaming ‘I told you so, I told you so!’ over and over again.

Over 9000 had once again piled into the Oberwerth to roar on their title chasing team. Wehen were the visitors. They’d changed their manager and their formation since we’d played and beaten them last, and were on the back of a fourteen match unbeaten run. Morale was high in our camp and we’d fancied a win, despite their 4-5-1 ‘we want a point’ formation. Complacency is a dangerous thing, and I warned the players so much about it, drummed into them over and over never to take anything for granted. We stuck to the gameplan for eighty minutes as they frustrated us, blocking us out every which way as we’d failed to break them down. Then substitute Hobel created for himself a moment of awesome magic, a quick turn, an incisive run and a thunderbolt blast right into the top corner. 9000 voices can be very loud when raised in cheer and excitement at once. Then, just when the hard work was done and it was our turn to close the game out, a hopeless goalmouth scramble, the ball popping around like it was inside a pinball machine and it ended up in the net. Our net. 1-1.

Points dropped, but not insurmountable. We’d lost Yildiz for up to five months to injury which we could cope with now that we had extra strikers, but losing the influential Cozza for eight weeks would hurt us at a critical time where we should be looking to increase our advantage at the top.

We’d travelled to lowly Elversberg after that, to the grandly named Walstadion an de Kaiserlinde. In the first half hour we’d given them chance after chance, two or three of them gilt edged until we handed one out with an open invitation and succumbed. We never looked like getting back into it, and lost 1-0.

Despite two shoddy performances over 8000 came to see us play Augsburg. We went one down after just 20 minutes, and despite finishing the game with three strikers still couldn’t even get a point. Another 1-0 defeat and our first back to back defeats since the very first month of the season.

Phillip Langen picked up a knock that would sideline him for a fortnight, and after the game I’d locked the players in the dressing room and told them a few truths about complacency, lack of pride, and playing like a bunch of clueless pansies. I shouldn’t have but I needed to vent. Klaus looked visibly shaken by the time I’d finished as did quite a few of the players, but I’d killed morale, and I knew we’d suffer for that.

I poured another glass of Shiraz, picked up the cigarettes and turned them over in my hand. Darmstadt were in town the following night, and I had a squad shorn of it’s better players through injury and feeling sorry for themselves. I hated that it was my fault, hated to see Rudi so disappointed, hated the little b*st*rd in my head that had been warning me of this for months! Hated myself.

I’d opted for a 5-3-2, a formation I’d never used and didn’t particularly like but the absence of a left midfielder left me with no choice. 7500 turned out again, and went home disappointed again. Goals on 62 and 94 was enough for them to take a 2-0 win and three points home. In fairness to the lads they’d tried, tried like hell in fact, and I told them so, told them to forget the result and remember the spirit.

I had no idea who Hans Walter Wild was, or had been, but Bayreuth had named their stadium after him. We went there with them on the back of six games without a win. I reverted to a 4-4-2 and put Captain Krys in the left midfield slot, recalling Goretskyi to take over at left back, and with both my central midfielders of the defensive variety. Not even 200 turned up to see the game. Kolinger opened the scoring after 11 minutes with a trademark blunderbuss of a shot and Rahn added a second before the break. They pulled one back on the hour and I responded by pulling my central midfielders deeper and simply shutting the door. A much needed 2-1 win for us, but at a cost.

Guscinas would be out for two weeks, as would fellow strikers Hobel and Goschik, while goalkeeper Gursky would be out for four. Rahn picked up a knock too but it wouldn’t keep him out. That meant that I had no fewer than 7 first team players in the physio room (my number one ‘keeper, both my attacking midfielders and four out of 5 strikers!) , and out of a squad of only 24!

At the end of the month we had slipped to 4th in the league, 5 points behind leaders Bayern II, with figures of P27 W14 D6 L7 GF35 GA22 GD+13 and 48PTS. With the injury list just keeping on growing I admitted to myself that the title bid was probably over, barring a complete reversal of fortunes of course. Both board and fans were still delighted at my management, and I took some comfort that with still seven games to go relegation was not possible, even if we lost them all, so mission accomplished in that regard.

I had a very long heart to heart with Bruno at the very end of the month, resulting in me signing a new two year contract. The board were going to provide a significant (by Regional Division standards) transfer fund for the new season and maintain a higher wage budget to enable me to use it. The board were happy and optimistic for the future.

retired_manleylk

Great read!

One very minor, picky note - do Germans celebrate bonfire night? Thought this was jsut an English thing with Guy Fawkes and all that.....

Anyways, keep it up!