Nonsense

Why do all these clever newspaper reporters point out that only a victory counts in Tuesday's game - when it is a direct elmination competition? You always have to win in the DFB Pokal. Which is what we will do.

Greulich Fuerth Means Nothing

What's all this Schmarn about the game against Fuerth deciding Babbel's future?

Let's say we win. Whoop-dee-doo. We beat a team from the second Bundesliga. That would make me keep a coach. Are we going to win against Sevilla and Bayern afterwards? I'd love it, but I don't see it happening. You can lose games like that. Any of our best coaches has at times. Now, keeping on losing afterwards wouldn't be pretty, and that needs to stop.

Let's say we lose. You really want to fire your coach and waste whatever stimulus you're hoping for from a new coach on very possible losses to Sevilla and Munich? Nice move. Either way, let's just give Babbel time at least until after the Moenchengladbach game.

And yes, Markus Babbel needs to remain our coach. We need to become a team like Manchester United or Arsenal who stick with a great coach for years.

P.S. Send that Mappus fellow across the border to Bavaria. Or better yet, France. Traitor.

Nothing Has Happened

Alright, let's assume that we're going to lose in Sevilla, too. What does that mean?

Nothing.

Of course, I'm assuming Sevilla keeps on winning. As long as they do,

• if Glasgow beats Unirea in Romania, we need to tie Glasgow and beat Unirea
• if they tie, we need to tie Glasgow and beat Unirea
• if Unirea wins, we need to beat Glasgow and Unirea

If we managed to tie Sevilla, we could even afford a loss to Glasgow if they beat Unirea. All this would leave us second in the end. While all that doesn't look pretty, our chances are anything but terrible.

And yes, Markus Babbel needs to remain our coach.

Playing It Safe

Out of the blue, I quoted (the German translation of) Augustus this morning after he heard of his army's defeat by Arminius:

"Varus, Varus, gib' mir meine Legionen wieder!"

Ch gave me a skeptical look, and decided to respond with an answer she deemed safe:

"I love you."

Shortly thereafter, La chimed in,

"Ich hab' den Bananen-blues."

Guess we still need to work on that German language expertise.