Depressing result, and what appears to be uncharacteristically heavy handed police action going on inside the Arena as well.
Well that sucked. Still got every chance to advance and Meyer looked good for a 17 year old in his first European match, but you're gunna need to finish your movements better least another gala be in the cards.
PAOK isn't really in the same league as Schalke. I expect the blues to win but it won't be easy. Very hostile environment, I hope the refs aren't intimidated by the fans and throw the match or something Hopefully the team is still just trying to get up and walk. Will find form soon Still don't like Jens Keller At least the Champions League Kit looked nice
hearing on the grapevine that arsenal will loan poldi to schalke for the season. nothing confirmed yet but if it did go through would podolski still be eligible to play European football this season? he came off the bench in the fenerbahce playoff so thinking this might make him ineligible for schalke's European campaign.
Wow, this thread gets to continue! There were some very dull moments in the first half hour, and then some scary moments in the second half down a man where the defense seemed barely existent...but I come away with a feeling that these guys, as a group, are interested in playing for Keller.
Can you guys make it anymore dramatic and stroke inducing??? Geez..... Also the defense really needs to be sorted before CL group stage, way to sloppy in the back at times. Draxler is king of schalke right now
So where does that CL money get invested now that it's been secured? An attacker to put Clemens on the bench like Stoker or Lestienne? Or do you pry Diekmeier out of hamburg to put Uchida on the bench? Can the team afford both? Would leave just the double pivot as areas that need bolstering.
Well we have about 16 hours to wait...so might as well look at what kind of group we could end up with. Pot 1: FC Barcelona Chelsea FC Real Madrid CF Manchester United FC Arsenal FC FC Porto SL Benfica (we can't get Bayern) Pot 2: This is where we are. Pot 3: FC Zenit Manchester City FC AFC Ajax FC Basel 1893 Olympiacos FC Galatasaray AŞ (we can't get the the two other German clubs in this pot) Pot 4: FC København SSC Napoli RSC Anderlecht Celtic FC FC Steaua Bucureşti FC Viktoria Plzeň Real Sociedad de Fútbol FK Austria Wien So I say bring on Benfica, Basel and Plzeň!
I hoped for Gazprom vs. Gazprom but that's Schalkes actual Champions League group. Chelsea is close enough anyway I guess. - Chelsea - Schalke04 - FC Basel - Steaua Bukarest I think that's a manageable group. Schalke should be able to make 2nd place.
Not the best case scenario, but very far from the worst. If this club can find any sort of form, 2nd place should be within reach.
I'm a bit worried about Basel. If we can find our form it shouldn't be an issue, but that's far from guaranteed at the moment.
Hey, given the league form I wouldn't fancy our chances against most teams. I am just daring to dream that maybe things change a bit in the next 3 weeks.
Well after this past weekend, I think we could do some damage in the CL and make it out of the group. I'm a bit nervous about how Keller will handle squad rotation. Looking at the schedule, there aren't many weeks without two games. It would be really great in Meyer, Clemens, and Goretzka start playing well
So we host Steaua Wednesday. I imagine this is practically a must win. If there are going to be any changes to the lineup, I would not mind seeing Goretzka or Meyer in the 11. They should be fine as long as they're surrounded by some veteran leadership. I think Jones should start as well to give Neustaedter a rest. Hopefully we can sub out Boateng, Draxler, or Farfan around 60 minutes to rest them for the upcoming Bayern match.
Jones can't play. He's suspended. Neu and Hoeger will have to start. I agree that Keller has to start thinking about rotation. This will be a busy Fall, and if the trainers wait too long to rotate players we might see some flat performances.
Goretzka has been playing more advanced. I don't think Keller trusts him enough on the defensive side of the ball, not yet. I assume he'd be the first one on if Hoeger or Neu get hurt, given that Jones is suspended and Kolasinac is out injured until October. Matip could also play there in a pinch.
Interesting strategy: http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1...tagonise-schalke-kevin-prince-boateng?cc=5901