Recent content by Chonky Panda Tactics

“I still can’t believe Dortmund got knocked out by Hansa Rostock,” Kevin says as we have coffee together in the cafeteria on Friday morning. “No domestic losses all season, then that.” “Have you heard what our scouts have said too?” Zlatan asks me. “I’m fairly confident you’re the only one who...

Ah, Chelsea. Once a constant thorn in my side at Birmingham as we contrived to suffer a 1-0 defeat every time we faced off, eventually we overcame the Londoners to become the superior team in the ‘Battle of the Blues’. Since I left, however, the resurgence they’ve sparked has been almost the...

Part Sixteen Welcome back to Foal From Grace! A derby, two huge Champions League ties, the DFB-Pokal, and a match against a title rival make this one of the biggest stretches of games of the season. Oh, and Hamburg are also here. This part is spread across multiple posts, so make sure to catch...

All the usual post-loss fire is out in abundance, as predicted, and Mainz don’t look like they’ll be able to cope as we tear through them like a chainsaw through jelly in the opening minutes, with Tresoldi nodding in his third in three games to put us ahead, but our intensity starts to dip and...

After a gap year in the Europa League, Borussia Mönchengladbach and I both return to Champions League action, travelling to Spain to take on Sevilla in our league-phase opener. With much harder fixtures to come, a win here against La Liga’s tenth-placed side could be vital, so I name the...

Part Fifteen Welcome back to Foal From Grace! My debut Champions League campaign with Die Fohlen kicks off, and a clash at the Allianz Arena could set the tone for this season's title race. This part is spread across multiple posts, so make sure to catch all six games! Series Links...

In a way, I feel a little guilty over the plight of Bayer Leverkusen. Brendan Rodgers’ side were in with a chance of qualifying for the Champions League when we played them in our penultimate game of last season, until Tresoldi scored a winning goal with only three seconds to play, condemning...

Over the break between campaigns, I started looking forward to which quaint stadium we’d be visiting in the opening round of the DFB-Pokal, however that excitement soon subsided when we got matched up with one of the only four 2. Bundesliga sides to go unseeded in the draw, Karlsruher. Even...

Part Fourteen Welcome back to Foal From Grace! Four different competitions, two trophies on the line, and my first face-off with Birmingham City since my departure just over a year ago - buckle up for a loaded episode. This part is spread across multiple posts, so make sure to catch all six...

“I watched Barber in the Championship with Southampton last season, whatever you paid is probably a steal because he has huge potential,” Keith interjects. “It was €22 million, rising to €33 million with add-ons.” “Bargain,” Keith says. “I agree,” Matt adds. “Højbjerg is obviously a very...

Season Two - 2027/28 Part Thirteen Welcome back to Foal From Grace! Two familiar faces help to summarise all the preparations that've been made for my second season at Borussia-Park. This part is spread across multiple posts, so make sure to catch the whole piece! Series Links “We can’t...

If it weren’t for another player that I’ll mention later, I’d argue that the eventual €17 million outlay to bring Gregor Kobel in from the other Borussia was the best value-for-money deal of last summer. Even with the month Gregor missed with a broken hand, he managed to prove himself one of the...

It’s a first half full of fire, but when it mattered most, lacking in quality, both sides missing their one big chance of the period when Nicolò Tresoldi forces a fine reaction-save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen, before Dayot Upamecano’s effort from the edge of the area, when gifted a free run at...

Part Twelve 2027 DFB-Pokal Final Series Links Welcome back to Foal From Grace! Can we wrap up the season in style by adding the DFB-Pokal to our trophy haul? This part is spread across multiple posts, so make sure to catch the whole game, the squad report, and the outro! It’s incredible...

It just couldn’t have been anyone else, could it? The same team as I beat in my first final at Birmingham, currently the same scoreline - yet again from a set piece - and the same man in charge. As I watch yet another UFC move get broken down by our combative midfield, I look over to the other...