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

[Samora]

Schalke does have some young talented player for the AM: Rakitic, Holtby, Moravek, Kenia.
The problem is that they are ALL young and inexperienced. The only established pure midfielder is Jones, who is injured and a mainly defensive oriented player.

Kobiashvili and Westermann can play there but its more a reflection of the poor state of the midfield and not of their genuine ability to play the position. Besides Kobi is needed as a leftback because Pander usually won't play more than 10-15games.

I really don't know what squad Magath will choose. I think it is quite possible that all three forwards play, Farfan, Kuranyi and Halil, one of them in the midfield. As talented as the youngsters may seem they DO lack vital experience and quality.May hopefully change in the next months/years. On top of it Westermann doesn't look too good as the lone defensive mid. He may be better of playing leftback but Magath clearly stated that he will play on a central position either in the midfield or as centerback.
I think this year were going to do better, Magath is a great manager
he already was taking the right steps in getting rid of dead weight and bringing in new blood and talent

[Schalkoholic]

u mean a AM, or a CAM
Attacking midfielder, Central attacking midfielder
since Schalke dont have alot of $ they have to look for a young talent

I create my own abbreveations:D

[tadm123]

heard Magath is fed up with Kuranyi and his looking at Pantelic as his replacement.

[Kirsten19]

is holtby going to play at LW under 4-3-3?

I dunno how it calls but seems like there is a LCF rite? Will Holtby be that player?

He is versatile and is able to play at striker. Media should call him a hybrid forward who manages to play various positions up front: LW, AM n SS.

There are some very good examples of hybrid frowards, which u never know what their best position is: C.Ronaldo, Messi, Rooney, Walcott, Balotelli, Juan Mata, Kuijt, Arshavin.........etc.

Holtby has the potential to be a good hybrid forward imo.

[Samora]

is holtby going to play at LW under 4-3-3?

I dunno how it calls but seems like there is a LCF rite? Will Holtby be that player?

He is versatile and is able to play at striker. Media should call him a hybrid forward who manages to play various positions up front: LW, AM n SS.

There are some very good examples of hybrid frowards, which u never know what their best position is: C.Ronaldo, Messi, Rooney, Walcott, Balotelli, Juan Mata, Kuijt, Arshavin.........etc.

Holtby has the potential to be a good hybrid forward imo.

Hopefully he can also score goals at schalke, then make big money
cause we all know when a player becomes a star thats when they want to go to a bigger club

[Schalkoholic]

There is no bigger club.
Maybe there are one or two who pay more but thats it:D

[Homa]

Magath is set on using a 4-4-2 system. So no luck with Holtby playing as a winger. I also doubt that he will be used as a forward, at least at the beginning, because of the relative abundance of quality players there in comparison to the midfield.

The midfield has been at the heart of Schalke's problem over the last years even so the forwars weren't a revelation either. Holtby's creativity is much more valuable there than at the front.

[Kirsten19]

from the Nt thread, Icke mentioned that Magath hates Marvin Pourie(who doesn't?) and doesn't want him in his squad.

We shouldn't see him play in the first team this season, even many people should agree that he is a good prospect with unlimited potential. He is just a physcho most of the time.

Being a captain of U18 n his previous expereince in U18, its sad that no club actually wants him at the moment. From the information given by Icke, he is "clubless"

Whereas, Loheider who's talent is half as Pourie's , may be given a chance this season as a sub. Better than nothing to be honest

[ForeverRed]

Magath is set on using a 4-4-2 system. So no luck with Holtby playing as a winger. I also doubt that he will be used as a forward, at least at the beginning, because of the relative abundance of quality players there in comparison to the midfield.

The midfield has been at the heart of Schalke's problem over the last years even so the forwars weren't a revelation either. Holtby's creativity is much more valuable there than at the front.

I can very well see Holtby as the guy behind the strikers if Rakitic doesn't work out there or is injured.

I think he'll be slowly integrated into the team, not a set starter right away.

[Kirsten19]

Holtby will be a starter in this tea.

Scalke has an aging squad, n they need quality youngsters like Holtby there.

Magath said Holtby is one of the best talents in Germany (along with Kroos, Marin, Ozil n Howedes) att the moment and he said he'd do all his best to make him a NT player.

Apparently, Holtby's versatility help too. He can play at various positions, unlike Kroos who cant play anywhere else but AM.

Holtby's best/natural position will be Second striker

[CCinGermany]

There is no bigger club.
Maybe there are one or two who pay more but thats it:D

Bestimmt! :)

[Homa]

Schalke does not have an aging squad, where does that come from?

If you take 1979 as the cut off, then there 5 players who are born in 1979 or earlier:
Schober (1976), Bordon (1976), Kobiashvili (1977), Asamoah (1978) and Sanchez (1979).
If you include 1980, Albert Streit has to be added.

That simply is not an old squad. On top the only two regulars of that group are Bordon and Kobiashvili. Everybody else is a sub at best.

[Cris 09]

Wow, this thread is finally seeing some traffic - where the hell were all of you guys last season?? :confused:

[Samora]

Wow, this thread is finally seeing some traffic - where the hell were all of you guys last season?? :confused:
Pissed off I guess:D

[Equilibrium]

Magath must be a lady killer.. Well he seems to get people excited is what I mean, all of youse have come back. My two posts in here were more than all of yours last season. :D

[Samora]

Magath must be a lady killer.. Well he seems to get people excited is what I mean, all of youse have come back. My two posts in here were more than all of yours last season. :D
doubt it, but maybe ur right:)
plus some people are new to Big socccer
which reminds me
WELCOME EVERYONE
TO THE SCHALKE Thread, :)

[CCinGermany]

I was busy (sadly) moving away from the Ruhrgebiet and watching the trainwreck of a season from afar. :(

[humin12]

I find it really interesting that the 2nd largest sports club in Germany has such few posters. Is it coincidence? Can anyone make any assumption as to why there's more VFB, VFL, 96, even Bochum fans in here?

[Bundesligafan]

schalkians dun speak english!

[Schalkoholic]

I was at soccer24-7.com :D and of course the Forum of the Schalke website.

some more adds?

a spare t.for Nürnberg anyone?

That will be a big party see wether the match will be that good:D