..hi guys, I have never followed the Bundesliga religiously, but I am going to try to pay more attention to German soccer in general, and Schalke in particular. So I would appreciate any relevant info. about this year's edition of the Schalke club. What is the "basic, must have info." that any legitimate Schalke fan should know? I am doing research into the history of the club, and the club's performance this year, but I would GREATLY appreciate it if any knowledgeable Bundesliga and/or Schalke fans could chime in and offer me some tips on how I can be the best Schalke fan possible. Thanks guys.
Why Schalke, out of curiosity? Just so you know, Schalke are probably the 2nd most hated team in Germany! Not that that should stop you.
Schalke is a workers club with a large fanbase and a great stadium. The fans there have a lot of might, that means the club management does usally decision based on the mood in the stadium. Players and managers have partwise very diffcult working conditions there and often decisions are done the management, that seem stupid for fans of other teams. That´s one of the reasons, why other fans don´t like the club. Another one is, that there play some players, that don´t have a good image in Germany, such as Kuranyi, who drove once from the national team home by car during a match, because he wasn´t playing, or in the past players like Poulsen, who played dirty. A third point is the behavior of some fans at away matches. Nevertheless the club has many positive sides. The club has an interesting history, passionate fans (partwise fanatic), a great stadium and there are always news around the club. For the coming season they signed the coach, that became this season champion with Wolfsburg. You will get for sure more opinions/information at the bigsoccer Schalke forum
Hey guys, thanks for the replies. I guess I chose Schalke due to their history, which is quite fascinating. I also didn't want to be a Bayern fan, since that is kinda rooting for the team that always wins, that everyone loves, no? Kinda boring, you know? In regard to your comment Eisenfuss, can you explain a little bit more about the power that the Schalke fans have over the club's management? Do I interpret your response correctly if I assume that you are saying that that Schalke's management is prone to making a lot of knee jerk reactions/moves to appease the whims of a passionate fan base? Is that what you were saying? The management actually is intimidated by the fans, and makes moves (player acquisitions/coaching hires/firings)to appease them, even if those moves aren't really all that wise in the eyes of the rest of the league? IS that what you are saying or am I wrong? Thanks.
Yes, there were such ridiculous moves in the last years, where coaches (Slomka, Rangnick) got fired, when the club was on a UEFA-cup (4./5.) or even a CL (1.-3.) rank.
thanks EisenFuss, I appreciate the info. Are you a Schalke fan? You seem to know a lot about Die Knappen!
cool, thanks EisenFussen. Just FYI, I sent you an PM. If you check your inbox it should be in there. Thanks again for your help, I appreciate it.
Hi, myself and a couple of friends at work are going to follow the Bundesliga next season and we are looking at clubs. I had it down for Karlsruche, Arminia (sp), Bochum, Hoffenheim and Schalke - the reason, they all wear blue as my team, Birmingham City do (i'm a very simple person ). I was looking at the reports of the final games when i came across the fact the Schalke are referred to as the "Royal Blues". Birmingham play in Royal Blue so for me, i'm going to take an interest in Schalke next season. Told you i'm a simple person
Rangnick got fired after he said he would leave at the end of the season. Granted Assauer, the manager, sniped against him all the time but he was pretty much the only one. I'm still pissed at Assauer for this. All in all the fans wanted Rangnick to stay but ce la vie. Schalke played horrible, horrible football last year even though it was successfull. But it was obvious that there had to be some changes. Slomka's sacking came at a bad time, no argument there, but the reasoning was understandable. A large part to these bad decision lies in the power vacuum that opened up after Assauer lost his influence (or better his good touch) and left the club. Müller, trained by Assauer himself, succeded Assauer but could never establish enough respect and influence in the club to keep things quit. Therefore the surroundings constantly flooded the media with rumours and internal matters. Müller's lack of charisma and his bad media management didn't help either. Some bad choices (transfers, coaches) led to an expensive team this year that not only played horrible football but also wasn't successful in any way so Müller and Rutten (coach) both got sacked mid season. To end the power vacuum the chairman of the board, Tönnies, lured Felix Magath away from Wolfsburg and gave him a job comparable to a football manager in the EPL. He is now responsible for all things related to the football side of the club including transfers, coaching, tactics etc combining the job of a traditional German football coach and a manager. Unfortunately Müller's transfer have left the club without much money so Magath can not only not go on a shopping spree but has to lower the payroll down from 55Mio€ to 45Mio€. At least the financial situation isn't as dangerous as it was when Assauer left a couple of years ago. Schalke does have some nice young players: Neuer, Höwedes, Kenia even Rafinha, Westermann, Jones, Farfan or Kuranyi aren't that old. They sorely lack, for quite some time now, quality in the offensive midfield. There are some rumours about new players for that position but nothing is finalized and it probably won't be someone who will inspire a lot of confidence or optimism. So the defence and hard work will have to carry the team again. As a positive note, if you can read German, you probably will never be short on news about Schalke. There is hardly another club with as much (bad) press, Bayern obviously, maybe Dortmund.
Thats funny stuff All the "Schalke haters" explaining why to choose Schalke . So why not get your info first hand from the english part of the Schalke website at http://www.schalke04.de/index.php?id=762 or from english section of our forum at http://www.forum-aufschalke.de/index.php or from the Schalke Supporters Club Association at http://www.sfcv.de also good info at wikipedia in English at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Schalke_04 or simply because its a club different from all the others in Germany owned by members and Pope John Paul II was one of them Need more info after reading all the stuff above just ask Greetings from a member and season ticket holder of FC Schalke 04
Hi Schalkoholic I've found the English language website, very good. I didn't know there was any English language forum too ... i'll have a look at that later.
You can come over to Schalke for the T-Home Cup on 18/19th July. Tournament with Schalke Bayern Hamburg and Stuttgart in the Veltins Arena. Tickets from 10 Euro (stands) upto 25 Euro (most expensive seats) or 99 Euro (catering and seats) Just to get an impression of the Bundesliga.
I was fortunate enough to live close to the glorious Arena for 4 years, but I have been a fan since 1996 (when they won my respect during their ultimately successful UEFA Cup campaign that year). Their detractors love to complain about the fans, but they are in no way worse than any major club in Germany. The first time I was fortunate enough to visit the Arena in 2004 I was blown away by the family atmosphere there. Even in the relatively short time I have been a fan, I have had my heart bitterly broken a number of times...but I am definitely a fan for life no matter their place in the table.
Another info as a "need to know" for all Schalke fans 2. Mai 1987 100,000 in the Parkstadium Holy mass with Pope John Paul II in the Schalker Park Stadium The Pope became a member of FC Schalke 04
I like to look at all this info as I am doing my more indepth Bundesliga investigation as I want to find out more about all the various clubs as I love the league a lot compared to other Euro leagues. It is nice when the various clubs have at least a section of their forums and websites to English speaking.
really?, but your profile says the EPL as your fav., anyways there is alot of history in schalke and alot of other clubs as well, one thing you wont like to know is the past history of racial abuse in almost all german clubs there is some radicals wait.......Almost every club in europe has radicals......I never thought of it until now.....hmmmmmm anyways the SCHALKE ULTRAS are one of the best supporter fans in the world dont believe me , check youtube for the ultras of Gelsenkirchen [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SF3Ps_aLHE"]YouTube - Schalke04 rocks!![/ame] plus the song rocks! [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AWWIdL43PE"]YouTube - U.L.T.R.A.S.-.G.E.L.S.E.N.K.I.R.C.H.E.N ![/ame] the quality kinda sux though
Well, I mention EPL as Liverpool was the first club I ever saw on tv back in the very early 80's when I started playing the sport. That said, from the moment I saw the weekly tv show Week in the Bundesliga, I was hooked. I really started to only be able to follow it more than on the internet though over the last couple years thanks to Gol tv and now ESPN Deportes. I love the parity of the league. I just want the clubs to do better in both the Champions League and now the Europa League.
and I know that every club has their far more extreme form of ultras that sometimes gives the rest a bad name. I also think I got super hooked on the Bundesliga from my 3 years living there while in the army back in late 80's,early 90's.
Europa league definetly, but not the CL Bayern and HSV, Hamburg are probably the only squads with enough depth and players to do well both in the europe and the bundesliga that and talented players in the Bundesliga tend to leave for other leagues(nevetheless the german league still has alot of talent) the rest of the German teams Strutgart, Bremen, BVB, schalke, Frankfurt,Hoffenheim, and Berlin are not able to cope with playing in europe and in germany(they have on and off seasons) schalke however is in transition, we bought alot of young talent, sold the deadweight and Magath is starting to create a better Schalke this is a team worth looking at for next year(heck maybe even in the spring)
I know and you are right and being realistic. I am being hopeful as I want the Bundesliga to gain more attention world wide without going crazy like other leagues with money.