Keller Coaching Discussion

Discussion in 'FC Schalke 04' started by TheHoustonHoyaFan, Aug 17, 2013.

  1. TheHoustonHoyaFan

    Oct 14, 2011
    Houston
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    After 2 matches, Schalke have 1 point and have given up 7 goals. Is Keller already on the hot seat?

    Against Wolfsburg Keller started Jones and Hoger at CM and both went 90. Jones had played 70min for the US in a mid week friendly. Jones was rated the highest Schalke player by who scored but did not have his usual energy much of the 2nd half (I did not see any first half).

    http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/723745/Live

    Schalke clearly needs help. It is clear that we have not appropriately replaced the production of even Bastos and Raffael. I get that we may need reinforcements but Keller does not seem to be effectively using the players we have.
     
  2. CCinGermany

    CCinGermany Member

    May 3, 2006
    Chicagoland
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'll say YES.
     
  3. TheHoustonHoyaFan

    Oct 14, 2011
    Houston
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    After the T1-1 with PAOK and Schalke's lackluster 2nd half the seat is getting hotter!
     
  4. timh19

    timh19 Member+

    Jul 26, 2011
    Keller won't last much longer. The thing is who is going to replace him ? Heynckes doesnt have a club but I think he is taking a break and doesnt want to coach right now. I dont think he is really retired though. I dont see any other good coaches available.
     
  5. TheHoustonHoyaFan

    Oct 14, 2011
    Houston
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Keller went to the 4-3-3 with Neu holding and Jones plus Goretzka as drivers that I suggested in the midfield battle thread. Unfortunately Howdes' red card and Goretzka's injury prevented us from getting a match long feel for that formation.
     
  6. LongDuckDong

    LongDuckDong Member+

    Jan 26, 2011
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't know about Keller, but I assumed that one of the reasons we brought in Peter Hermann was an insurance policy for Keller. If we had to let go of Keller rather suddenly, Hermann would be there to take over in the short term.
     
  7. LongDuckDong

    LongDuckDong Member+

    Jan 26, 2011
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  8. Rosebud

    Rosebud Member+

    Aug 5, 2012
    Chicago, IL, USA
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    For what it's worth I think the false nine with KPB in front of Meyer was actually pretty clever from Keller. I agree the defensive failings and mental frailty have to fall on Keller and worth firing him over, but that was a move I liked seeing as KPB not only took the physical attention off of Meyer his movement to the left was very effective at creating space, especially once Leon came on for Clemens.
     
  9. LongDuckDong

    LongDuckDong Member+

    Jan 26, 2011
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I actually agree with this. The issue with Keller's system is how far he pushes the outside backs up the pitch. Uchida and Aogo are useless at defending counter attacks because of their offensive positioning. Often times Schalke is left with Howedes and Matip plus one of Jones, Neustaedter, and Hoeger, defending a 3 v 3. It's completely reckless at this level.

    Schalke just never has enough numbers back, and thats why none of the CMs seem capable of playing a decent match. They're left covering too much ground, often times having to play defense in the corner while the center of the pitch is completely wide open. When it comes to positioning, they look like a youth team.
     
  10. Homa

    Homa Member

    Feb 4, 2008
    Aachen
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    While I agree that the way the club handled Jones' "suspension" was stupid, I'm just glad he won't play in today's game and hopefully not in the following ones either.

    Maybe Jones is playing better than Neustädter or Höger but the difference is marginal. What is not marginal is the way Jones disrupts the team's cohesion on the pitch. Don't know why, but he does and it doesn't look as if that is changeable, so he has to sit.


    I'm losing trust into Keller, too, but I think the current situation isn't really all that bad. We had a tough starting program in the Bundesliga. I wrote before the season started that we might look on a disappointing start if some things go wrong. The team now has to start winning games.

    One big reason why I'm not keen on firing Keller is his replacement. Who is there? Don't see anybody I'd like being available so I prefer to finish the season with Keller.
     
  11. timh19

    timh19 Member+

    Jul 26, 2011
    If you want Keller until the end of the season, then you can forget about qualifying for next season's Champions League.

    In terms of individual quality, this team is at least as good as Leverkusen's( probably even better) but it is already 10 points behind them after only 7 matches. The coaching difference is just huge.
     
  12. LongDuckDong

    LongDuckDong Member+

    Jan 26, 2011
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What about Peter Hermann?
     
  13. LongDuckDong

    LongDuckDong Member+

    Jan 26, 2011
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I tend to agree. I'm almost always against firing coaches. I think there have been maybe 2 or 3 instances in my life where I thought a coach of a team I supported (German NT, USA NT, Schalke, ect) absolutely needed to be fired. Now is one.

    As far as personnel on the pitch, Keller is fine, but when it comes to tactics and man management, he's been dreadful. I've been pretty patient with him and I've given him the benefit of the doubt. I've given him time to learn from his mistakes, but it just isn't happening.
     
  14. Homa

    Homa Member

    Feb 4, 2008
    Aachen
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Why should I give up the CL just because Keller is coaching? We managed to get 1 point less in our games so far than we did last year against the same opponents. Sure the composition was different (f.e. we won against Hamburg, lost against Hoffenheim) but one single point less, that is not a reason to give up on the season.
    Leverkusen won't keep winning like they did so far. Anyway the big goal is place four, anything above that is gravy.

    If you have a good alternative to Keller, I'm fine with changing the coach. I don't think continuity for its own sake on that position is much to aspire to.

    In the end I'm sure we will finish the half season with 25-30points even with Keller. More points would be better but 25 are enough to keep us in the running for 4th. Heldt can then assess the situation in the winter break.
     
  15. Bazi

    Bazi Member+

    Jan 15, 2009
    Wuerzburg (Germany)
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    I'm still worried because up to Augburg's red card they were clearly the better team and moved much better as a unit than Schalke. They deservedly scored as well.

    I mean that was freaking Augsburg and they dominated Schalke on their own turf! The double penalization (penalty+red card) saved Keller from what could have been another huge embarrassment.

    I don't know if that's a good thing though. Better a quick and painless than a long and ugly dying struggle.
     
  16. LongDuckDong

    LongDuckDong Member+

    Jan 26, 2011
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Honestly, what game were you watching? The goal was a complete fluke. The first 6 minutes were really bad, but Schalke dominated possession and chance creation from minute 7 to minute 15. Augsburg's goal came from a deflected cross on a counter attack.
     
  17. CCinGermany

    CCinGermany Member

    May 3, 2006
    Chicagoland
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It all comes back to who you would bring in as a replacement. I think Homa got it right: evaluate where the club is at the break and decide if there is someone better to bring in.
     
  18. Homa

    Homa Member

    Feb 4, 2008
    Aachen
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    I think Keller is completely revamping the team's playing style away from counterattacks to a more possession oriented style. That should take quite some time, just remember how long van Gaal needed until Bayern played his way.
     
  19. Alex Weber

    Alex Weber Member

    Jun 30, 2013
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Inevitable bump.
     
  20. LongDuckDong

    LongDuckDong Member+

    Jan 26, 2011
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't think now is the time. Maybe Heldt should be preparing for a change come winter break. This next game at 'Gladbach is essential. It's a must win. Failure to win this one should result in Keller's dismissal at some point down the line.
     
  21. naopon

    naopon Member+

    Jan 2, 2007
    California
    Club:
    Kawasaki Frontale
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  22. LongDuckDong

    LongDuckDong Member+

    Jan 26, 2011
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This quote is just about perfect:

    I couldn't have said it better. I feel like this is the case for the management and technical staff from top to bottom. They're not blatantly awful, but they're also not good enough for a club this size. I must admit, I don't know enough about the club to say what needs to be done, but I know change is needed.
     
    CCinGermany repped this.
  23. CCinGermany

    CCinGermany Member

    May 3, 2006
    Chicagoland
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yes, very good article there. Keller will not be with this club in the new year without wins in the next two matches,
     
  24. CCinGermany

    CCinGermany Member

    May 3, 2006
    Chicagoland
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Will be time to close this thread very soon. :(
     
  25. naopon

    naopon Member+

    Jan 2, 2007
    California
    Club:
    Kawasaki Frontale
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Uh yeah. The entire squad situation is pretty unfortunate ATM...but mitigating factors only take you so far. If they beat Basel it might be a tough call though.
     

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