Die Knappen! Schalke 04 08/09 thread [R]

[Samora]

schalke lost 4-3 to wolfsburg:(

schalke was doing great the first 15 min but after westermam scored a fantastic goal schalke stopped attaking and putting pressure which led the wolfs to score 2x

the 2nd half was the worst since schalke let wolfs dominate the whole time

the other two goals came from jones when the defense let up and kuranyi in the 90th minute

the question is whats wrong with the team is it the coach or team or certain players or the formation?:confused:

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

It´s the club management and especially the environment.
You can´t work there without hectic, because too many
people want to get involved there. An example is their
official club forum, that is full of insults and violence threats.
Normally half of the posters there must get banned.

I didn´t see Wolfsburg that dominating in 2nd half, they controlled
the match, but their chances resulted from harsh individual mistakes
by Schalke. The Wolfsburg strikers stood very often close to offside
or were offside and one - two of Wolfsburg goals looked offside to me,
but tv cameras can distort the situation a bit.

A key scene was for me, that Westermann had to leave the pitch
at half-time (he went with fibre into the match) and his replacement,
the 19 years old Latza was total overstrained. He was involved in one
against goals with a horrible pass and lost the ball as good as always.
I hope the young lad can get over it and learns from his mistakes.

The fairly passive play by Schalke could be critisized, but that´s their
style of play. In any case the huge mistakes must stop, but it must
also be pointed out, that Wolfsburg has a very good offense.

[Samora]

I will agree with you about wolfs offense but schalke has a good back four Pander, Bordon, Rafinha and Westerman exept pander has had an injury
midfield Jones, Rakitic, Engalaar, Grossmuller, which is not that great and I think they should bring one good midfield player

attack Kuranyi, Altintop, Farfan and Asamoah who I think should retire or be sold and invest



(http://www.schalke04.de/team_photo.html?&player=2&cHash=d0e9f228ac)


(http://www.schalke04.de/team_photo.html?&player=8&cHash=bcf4401345)

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

As already written at the top of the page the midfield is imo the problem, too.
The midfielders can score, but there is not much flow in their game, and so they normally have problems to create chances. The Friday match was special,
3-4 is totally intypical for Schalke this season. The defense looked unorganised without Bordon, while in offense Schalke created many more chances than usual. The second thing is something to build on for S04.

[tadm123]

If Schalke can sign a better striker they could be on the top of the table. Kuranyi has been horrible this season imo.
Another possible thing is to buy world class right winger and place farfan as a striker, where he is the most confortable.

[Samora]

Who do you think we should get or sell?

Because the team right now should not be 12 points behind hertha berlin even though some other teams have made a great run and credit to them
but schalke should be up there as well

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Sell Engelaar (although for now you wouldn't get a straw penny for him)
Sell Kuranyi (same as above)
Sell (but probably release) Grossmueller

Other than that I think a tactical readjustment is in order. Which will probably entail Rutten being fired.

------------------------Neuer------------------------
Rafinha---------Howedes------Bordon/Krstajic--Pander
-------------------------Jones-----------------------
Farfan----------------------------------------Winger/Kobiashvili
------------------------Rakitic
-----------Striker--------------------Striker/Sanchez

[ForeverRed]

Sell Engelaar (although for now you wouldn't get a straw penny for him)
Sell Kuranyi (same as above)

Other than that I think a tactical readjustment is in order. Which will probably entail Rutten being fired.

------------------------Neuer------------------------
Rafinha---------Howedes------Bordon/Krstajic--Pander
-------------------------Jones-----------------------
Farfan----------------------------------------Winger/Kobiashvili
------------------------Rakitic
-----------Striker--------------------Striker

Yea Rutten is trying to play a system for which he doesn't have the players. I can't believe he wasn't willing to compromise tactically yet. It may be too late for him now.

[tadm123]

Sell : Asamoah, Kuranyi even Altintop.

Buy: A right winger.

Loan: Zambrano (this kid is as good as Howedes imo, don't know why Rutten haven't play him already, might as well loan him)

and IMO Farfan is a striker, not a winger. I really can't believe Rutten haven't tried putting him as a striker, with Asamoah on the right and Sanchez on the left as wingers.

[Samora]

Sell : Asamoah, Kuranyi even Altintop.

Buy: A right winger.

Loan: Zambrano (this kid is as good as Howedes imo, don't know why Rutten haven't play him already, might as well loan him)

and IMO Farfan is a striker, not a winger.I really can't believe Rutten haven't tried putting him as a striker, with Asamoah on the right and Sanchez on the left as wingers.

You have a contradiction with Asamoah

But I do agree with you of putting farfan as a striker but they need to find someone who can pair up well with him NOT SANCHEZ

[Equilibrium]

They could also play a 4-5-1:

------------------------Kuranyi---------------------
----Winger---------------------------------Farfan--
------------------------Racitic----------------------
-----------------CM--------------------------------
-------------------------------Jones----------------
Pander/Wes----------------------------------Rafinha
----------------Howedes-------Bordon--------------
-------------------------Neuer----------------------

Old Lady, I don't believe they have a lot of money considering Schalke won't make Champions League for 2 years running. That's why I propose to buy 2 truly quality players.

The winger has to be a player who guarantee 10 goals along with assists.

The CM should be able to defend and attack, along with score quite a few goals as well. Let Farfan be given total freedom to attack, to become like a second striker at times as well. Simply put, this team needs some serious attacking penetration.

[Samora]

They could also play a 4-5-1:

------------------------Kuranyi---------------------
----Winger---------------------------------Farfan--
------------------------Racitic----------------------
-----------------CM--------------------------------
-------------------------------Jones----------------
Pander/Wes----------------------------------Rafinha
----------------Howedes-------Bordon--------------
-------------------------Neuer----------------------

Old Lady, I don't believe they have a lot of money considering Schalke won't make Champions League for 2 years running. That's why I propose to buy 2 truly quality players.

The winger has to be a player who guarantee 10 goals along with assists.

The CM should be able to defend and attack, along with score quite a few goals as well. Let Farfan be given total freedom to attack, to become like a second striker at times as well. Simply put, this team needs some serious attacking penetration.

You make some good points and ypur line up is almost perfect but I would take off rakitic as well and look for a better attacking midfielder since no one this season has really stepped up from that position

Also I wouldn't put kuranyi by himself since it seems that he needs someone to support him maybe farfan

[Equilibrium]

That's why I say let Farfan have much more freedom, no defensive duties. The LW plays like a true winger. Farfan plays like a second striker/right winger, similar to how Podolski played (for example) during Euro 08 when Germany switched to a 4-5-1 formation. On the left you will have plenty of width with a quick winger and Pander can cross them in, Rafinha can offer width from the right as Farfan cuts in more than staying out wide.

I don't think Schalke have a lot of money to buy an AM and such, which is why you will just have to do with Racitic. He has proved he can play well with Croatia, simply this crappy defensive formation doesn't suit him. He needs players around him attacking more, moving with the ball more to get the best out of him.

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

They could also play a 4-5-1:

------------------------Kuranyi---------------------
----Winger---------------------------------Farfan--
------------------------Racitic----------------------
-----------------CM--------------------------------
-------------------------------Jones----------------
Pander/Wes----------------------------------Rafinha
----------------Howedes-------Bordon--------------
-------------------------Neuer----------------------


Looks like their current system with one midfielder more offensive
(CAM instead CM). ;) But I also think it should work better with
the right instroctions for the players in it.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Looks like their current system with one midfielder more offensive
(CAM instead CM). ;) But I also think it should work better with
the right instroctions for the players in it.

My thoughts exactly.

[tadm123]

[/b]

You have a contradiction with Asamoah

But I do agree with you of putting farfan as a striker but they need to find someone who can pair up well with him NOT SANCHEZ
no contradiction cause i was talking about the players they have currently, so with what Schalke has ATM thats the best lineup.

Agreed tho, a very good quality set of wingers may help the team, and a better striker than Kuranyi, i also like Westermann as a holding midfielder better than Jones, but thats just me.

[Homa]

Actually it IS the current system as Westermann does not play like a DMid but more attack minded. Of course Westermann lacks the technical and creative abilities to really improve the offensive game, but at least he takes risks and scores, something which was missing.

I'm not sure if Schalke can solve its problem easily. Müller did try a lot of things but nothing stuck. He bought Engelaar, Rakitic, Grossmüller und Ze Roberto to improve the quality in midfield, especially the technical and creative aspect, and Sanchez, Streit and Farfan to improve the dreadful wings. Not one of these transfer really improved the team instantly. This in the end cost Müller his job.

There is some light as Rakitic, Kenia and Farfan all have some promise. Additionally Schalke is on the verge of signing Mazquida und Moravek.

Unsurprisingly the Schalke Forum in the last couple of days goes completly ape shit.

[Equilibrium]

Which forum you referring to boyo? :p

[Homa]

The official Schalke Forum http://www.forum-aufschalke.de/ . It is a pit even in the best of times but the last week and half it is completly gone mad.

[tadm123]

what you mean by gone mad? ;o