Hello, it’s nearly Christmas and while I still have some presents to buy, there is still time to squeeze in another visit to Germany. It’s now onto season 3 after a Pokal Cup final defeat to Dortmund and the disappointment of £13m of our hard saved money being spunked on a stadium capacity increase. No matter, we’ll be back in Europe by virtue of Dortmund winning the league.

Let’s start with some cup action and it takes penalties, a lot of penalties to make it through to the Liga Cup next round.

Time to update you on some close season in’s and out’s –

First the players saying farewell. Vladoiu and Menteanu are Romanian so ineligible to play so have had to wait for their contracts to wind down. Anderson is getting past it and Frydek wasn’t much cop.

Anderson leaving means I can go for another Dane and plump for Ulrik Balling who should help with the goals. Illgner will become my first choice keeper, as mine are basically cack. The rest a German youngsters who I hope will come good, aside from Passlack who will provide cover at right wingback. I still need to strengthen the defence but the choices are slim out there.

We can’t get past the might of the big boys from Munich, but at least Balling gets his first goal for the club. Stupid tournament anyway.

The smooth jazz sounds of Kenny P will no longer be heard in Cologne, he’s off to France. He was ok, but we’re stacked up front and I can use the funds for the defence.

Which we’ll need as only a very late show against Bremen secured a win in our first league game.

Another match up with Bayern and similar result, Tony Adams somehow joining their ranks.

Rostock threaten a late comeback in our next league match, but again, we manage to outscore our opponents, which seems to be our main tactic these days.

It’s easier progress against Hamburg in the Pokal, and Balling is looking good value for the £160k we spent on him

Nice to see Bayern dumped out early doors too. Now if Dortmund could do the same, that’d be grand.

Another late show against Uncle Buck and co, but this time we only manage to score the same amount as the opposition.

Our first trip into Europe this season will be to Paul Kock’s homeland.

Before all that though, league action and despite pressing for a winner after Caniggia’s equaliser, it’s no good.

Less good against the other Borussia who have Bakayoko and Denilson in their ranks, but leave it up to their Polish striker to send us packing.

We go from bad to worse against newly promoted Zwickau. A day to forget for Kevin and co.

Cup Winners Cup respite now though and seven unanswered at least lifts the collective gloom for a while. Lars Larsen has come in as an option on the right of midfield and looks to be doing well.

Very well indeed against Dortmund. These are the games we need to be winning to make a difference this season…

Consistency is another problem for the third season in a row

We finish the job against the Bourgers from Luxem and Anelka gets his first goal of the season

He takes that form into the game away to Mainz and plunders 4 goals in a 10 goal thriller

Bye bye Bertie

I of course, throw my hat into the ring

Although I’m not sure recent results really add much credence to my CV

It’s games like this where the laptop could very easily be flying out of a first floor window

Let’s wrap it up there, 12 games played and we’re in 12th place. Rubbish.

I’m going to take a break for a few weeks from these jokers, join me back on the 6th January and to everyone who takes 10 minutes out of their day to read these meanderings, Merry Christmas and a happy new year!