Hello and welcome to 2026, or rather the fag end of 1999 in my Cologne save. We’re into season 3 and all we have to show for it so far is a Pokal cup runners up medal.

Here’s where we left things last time out. Scoring lots, conceding lots and ten points off the pace after 12 games, not ideal really…

Let’s start things with some cup action in the Cup Winners Cup and a trip to neighbours Belgium is a decidedly drab affair. No away goals to fall back on in a fortnight.

More cup action next and our aims to go one better in the Pokal come to an abrupt end

We make a late stab at things when 4-1 down, but it’s a bridge too far.

Better things await in the league, surely? 2-1 down is easier to overcome than 4-1 down, that’s just basic mathematics.

Still can’t keep a clean sheet though, which is a worry, still when you score 6, you can ignore the Greek goal machines. Zedi is my young German regen centre back and he’s coming along nicely.

Harelbeke Girl (One for Gwen Stefani fans out there – which came out in 2005!!) threaten to kick us to the curb in Europe, but a second half turn around see’s us into the quarter finals. This shit really is banana’s..

The draw for the quarters could have been better, but it also could have been worse.

Stuttgart will be a tough challenge in Europe, that man Landreau in goal is a beast, whereas Illgner looks to have Swiss cheese hands at the best of times

Still, we’re picking up a few wins in the league, when we’re good we’re really good!

I really thought we had snuck three points away to Bremen with a last minute goal, but of course their was still time for Dieter Eilts to nab an equaliser

To make ourselves feel better, we then decide to lose to bottom of the table Bielefeld

Our problem is clear

We’re miles away from Dortmund and Bayern even after two and a half seasons. Maybe my restricted signings policy is too much of a hindrance

Again, we decide to swap three points for one by not keeping it tight until the very end

Is this a good idea? He is getting on a bit and will allow me to bring in another Belgian to improve the squad

Fair point really.

This guy looks like he could be useful

I end up replacing Emmers with this German chap

And this guy will add some steal to the back line. Maybe.

After that message from the board and shelling out on new players, this win comes as something of a relief

Another four on the floor against BMGB and new guy Karl-Heinz is off the mark.

Four more, but this time a very late trio after I bring on forgotten sulky man Anelka to make it three up top.

With that long winter break, we’re back in european action, well German anyway and we find no way past Landreau in the Stuttgart goal

This will be a hard one to recover from in the return leg.

Better, just, against basement club Bielefeld

We create plenty of chances, but are just so wasteful in front of goal. At the other end, teams only need a handful of chances and we’ll concede. What a conundrum.

Well, let us leave it there for this week. There’s 10 league games left to play and although we have moved up the table, we’re now 11 points off the pace. Securing a place in the european slots for next season is the only aim left for us now….

Hope you’ve had a great xmas and new year and thanks for following me pick this back up, next week we’ll see if we can overcome Stuttgart in the CWC and make any progress in the league standings – there’s bound to be goals!