Green Whites deny crisis

The Green Whites unfathomable start to the Rückrunde has seen them lose twice and far off their pre-season goals. Now tenth in the table and heading to their worst finish since 2003, to deny the club is in a "crisis" mode seems unfounded.

While this isn't meant to exaggerate the situation, the Bundesliga isn't very forgiving and clubs fortunes change quite quickly. FC Nuremberg was won a spot in the UEFA Cup in 2006 and now hoping to get to back in the race from promotion in the second division. Hansa Rostock situation is even more difficult to look at. Relegated out of the first division last year, they are in the second division drop zone at present. While each of these situations aren't like Werder's, my point is that you can't simply "do nothing" as the season is drifting away fast.

The question is "what to do" because both Thomas Schaaf and Klaus Allofs have been the glue to hold Werder together for the last decade, with the coach joining the club over thirty years ago. While the internet is brewing a revolt akin to villagers storming the castle with burning torches, you can't replace history.

After the loss to Schalke on the weekend Klaus Allofs said:

"I can tolerate the questions about his work because none of the arguments that I have used in the past few weeks for him have changed at all. The team was very well prepared today. And you can really see his signature within the team. I am totally convinced in the work that Thomas Schaaf is doing for us. But he cannot push the ball over the line himself and cannot cover Benedikt Höwedes himself on a free kick."

"There is no principle of oath of allegiance at Werder. But we have evaluated Thomas Schaaf’s work and have come to the conclusion that there is no need for unnecessary changes."

Frank Baumann added:

"There once was another head coach in Bremen who worked very successfully for a long time. But some times you just cannot finish in the top three. You just have to remain calm and we have to do that too."

To me this was best said by a coach of mine, when he spoke of "what it takes" to be a champion, to get off the canvass and never be vanquished. A motivator for those who motivate, Werder is missing the "venom" that digs in when everything is against you. Now in a odd twist of fate, Werder is about to face a club this Saturday that knows that and has dug in. Borussia Mönchengladbach, who look headed for relegation are gritting their teeth and while out numbered are playing with that "venom" since the restart.