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

[hackespitze123]

Borussia, as much as certain criticism of Slomka was justified, e.g. the lack of progress as far as the football Schalke played is concerned (although one could argue that with a squad full of technically limited 'workhorses' like this, you can't really play aesthetically), they really didn't need to fire him - he seriously could not have been worse in any way. And he got results at least, Slomka had one of the best records of Schalke coaches ever, not just in Europe, but in the league also!

I don't want to blame Rutten foremost, its his first year in the league etc. However, I do blame the Schalke board for their dilettantism. Rutten may be a good coach, but he is not a coach of "international format" (what has he won internationally?), the official reason why they replaced Slomka, despite him having reached the CL 1/4 finals with this bunch of anti-footballers.
Not to mention their rather questionable transfer policy, but that's a different matter.

[Borussia]

they really didn't need to fire him

Of course not. But well, it was their own decision...



Rutten may be a good coach, but he is not a coach of "international format"

He was "manager of the year" in Holland ... what's surely a huge tribute when knowing about the class of many Dutch managers.

I think that Rutten (who's a person like Thomas Schaaf in my eyes) would fit perfectly to a club like Werder. But well, let's wait up the rest of the season at Schalke...

[hackespitze123]

He was "manager of the year" in Holland ... what's surely a huge tribute when knowing about the class of many Dutch managers.

I think that Rutten (who's a person like Thomas Schaaf in my eyes) would fit perfectly to a club like Werder. But well, let's wait up the rest of the season at Schalke...

That's still not 'international standing'. 'International standing' implies titles / impressive performances on the international level, and Rutten does not have any to show. He did a very good job for Twente in the Dutch league, I give you that, but the same can easily be said about Slomka and Schalke (one of the best records of all Schalke coaches in the league), in addition to Slomka's international record. It simply did not make sense whatsoever.

But like I've said, I don't want to blame Rutten foremost, I blame the Schalke board, although Rutten's dogmatic adherence to the 4-3-3 system, despite not having the right players for it, justifies criticism also.
The football Schalke played under Slomka was always criticised, and Rutten supposedly was hired to change that. But despite spending big in the summer, on players Rutten wanted btw., Schalke play awful as ever. Under Slomka, they got the results at least.

[TheBoss84]

That's still not 'international standing'. 'International standing' implies titles / impressive performances on the international level, and Rutten does not have any to show. He did a very good job for Twente in the Dutch league, I give you that, but the same can easily be said about Slomka and Schalke (one of the best records of all Schalke coaches in the league), in addition to Slomka's international record. It simply did not make sense whatsoever.

But like I've said, I don't want to blame Rutten foremost, I blame the Schalke board, although Rutten's dogmatic adherence to the 4-3-3 system, despite not having the right players for it, justifies criticism also.
The football Schalke played under Slomka was always criticised, and Rutten supposedly was hired to change that. But despite spending big in the summer, on players Rutten wanted btw., Schalke play awful as ever. Under Slomka, they got the results at least.


Well Schalke did not really do a big spending in summer. Engelaar was a justified buy, but just as Farfan both are mediocre players. I mean when you have strikers like Altintop, Farfan, Kuranyi etc, its no wonder the team is going nowhere. You gotta give the defense props though. Players like Bordon, Hoewedes, Westermann, Rafinha has not impressed me much lately but still all them are solid defenders.

[hackespitze123]

Schalke spent more than any other Bundesliga club bar Wolfsburg this summer:

http://www.transfermarkt.de/de/aktuell/L1/2008/wechsel/menue_transfers/index.html

Engelaar and Farfan cost ~€16m, that's a lot of money by Bundesliga standards. I really don't know how you can think otherwise. And if Schalke spend €16m on 'mediocre' players, players Rutten wanted btw., it just proves my point.

[TheBoss84]

Sorry thats what i meant by not doing any big spending since they bought mediocre players. I mean any team in the BL by Schalkes standards has better strikers and midfielders IMO.

[PileD]

A happy new year to all.

[Equilibrium]

Well Schalke did not really do a big spending in summer. Engelaar was a justified buy, but just as Farfan both are mediocre players. I mean when you have strikers like Altintop, Farfan, Kuranyi etc, its no wonder the team is going nowhere. You gotta give the defense props though. Players like Bordon, Hoewedes, Westermann, Rafinha has not impressed me much lately but still all them are solid defenders.
Bordon I feel is quite underrated, he is like Demichellis imo and had he been playing for Bayern, he would be getting the praise Demichellis currently gets. His positional awareness is one of the best and makes up for his pace.

[BongartzUndRivera]

A happy new year to all.

Long time no see, PileD!
Happy New Year to you and all Schalkers around the world!

[Schwalker]

Long time no see, PileD!
Happy New Year to you and all Schalkers around the world!

Happy new year everyone..:D

[tadm123]

Sorry thats what i meant by not doing any big spending since they bought mediocre players. I mean any team in the BL by Schalkes standards has better strikers and midfielders IMO.
And who are you to say who's mediocre and who isn't?
You clearly don't even know Farfan or Engelaar at all, they are world class players. Don't put them in the same categorie as Altintop
What Schalke needs to do is buy a good midfielder. Jones is just not cutting it, and he's attitude is ridiculous. Also they need buy a better central striker Kuranyi is just not good enough IMO.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

You clearly don't even know Farfan or Engelaar at all, they are world class players. Don't put them in the same categorie as Altintop


:D:D:p

[hackespitze123]

Schalke wie es leibt und lebt. Only 'auf' Schalke...

http://www.bild.de/BILD/sport/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/schalke/2009/01/06/stinkstiefel-albert-streit/will-seinen-vertrag-absitzen.html

Streit zu BILD: „Rutten ist feige. Die Schuldigen stehen auf dem Platz. Aber an die großen Stars traut er sich nicht ran!“

...


Rutten ätzt zurück: „Ich würde den Besten nicht aus der Mannschaft nehmen, selbst wenn es ein Arschloch wäre. Aber wir sprechen hier nicht über Maradona – über den könnte ich stundenlang reden...“

:D:D:D

Hilarious, didn't know that Rutten had such a good sense of humour. Makes him likeable.


Manager Müller muss Streit schnell loswerden, damit der Zoff nicht noch weiter eskaliert. Doch verschenken will er ihn nicht. Müller: „Was wir investiert haben, wollen wir auch wieder rausholen.“

Yeah Müller, makes perfect sense to kick Streit out of the first team and let him train with the amateurs if you want to get the money back you invested. Definitely increases his market value...

Streit is a major arsehole though, he always was. Seems like he prefers to play in the Regionalliga and continue to earn considerable money 'auf' Schalke, instead of looking for a new club and play Bundesliga football.

[ForeverRed]

Nice reply by Rutten.

Streit seems to me like a primadona with a superiority complex topped off with an exaggerated dose of arrogance.

Hope he enjoys his competition with the reserves, lol.

And to think people were talking about him as NT material. Pfft...

[tadm123]

what did he say? ;o

[hackespitze123]

Streit zu BILD: „Rutten ist feige. Die Schuldigen stehen auf dem Platz. Aber an die großen Stars traut er sich nicht ran!“ Streit: "Rutten is a coward! Those who are responsible (for the awful situation the club is in) are playing (unlike him, who warms the bench). But Rutten is afraid to bench the stars."

Rutten ätzt zurück: „Ich würde den Besten nicht aus der Mannschaft nehmen, selbst wenn es ein Arschloch wäre. Aber wir sprechen hier nicht über Maradona – über den könnte ich stundenlang reden...“Rutten replied: "I wouldn't kick the best player out of the team, even if he was an asshole. But we are not talking about Maradona here, I could talk hours about him (Maradona)."

[TheBoss84]

And who are you to say who's mediocre and who isn't?
You clearly don't even know Farfan or Engelaar at all, they are world class players. Don't put them in the same categorie as Altintop
What Schalke needs to do is buy a good midfielder. Jones is just not cutting it, and he's attitude is ridiculous. Also they need buy a better central striker Kuranyi is just not good enough IMO.

Ill tell you who i am. Im a kid who regularly watches football and happens to know how to distinguish a good striking line from a bad one and believe me Schalkes front line is by no means good, Farfan hasnt been the exception either. As for Jones i agree. He is like a headless chicken, but so is Engelaar who happens to give the ball away every time he can. I wish Schalke better luck for the Rückrunde

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

Bordon I feel is quite underrated, he is like Demichellis imo and had he been playing for Bayern, he would be getting the praise Demichellis currently gets. His positional awareness is one of the best and makes up for his pace.

100% agree, Bordon is one of the best BL central defenders
and this Hinrunde he played much better than guys like Demichelis.
He was and still is a big factor in keeping the defense solid, which was
the key for Schalke in the last seasons.

edit:
About the new signings:
To Engelaars and Farfans defense must be said, that both suffered
under hard injuries and so didn´t really come well into the season.
I expect some impulses for the team from Farfan when staying out of
injuries in the winter preparation.

[soccer krazy]

Marvin Pourie joins
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12875_4756294,00.html

[tadm123]

wtf Streit calling his own coach coward? lol