late goal brings disappointing year to an end with a loss
By: Porter |
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Schalke supporters will be please to see this season finally come to an end. “Fittingly” the terrible season, the lowest place finish of the decade, ended with a disappointing 3-2 loss to Hoffenheim in Gelsenkirchen.
Die Königsblauen fell behind 1-0 four minutes perform the hour as Demba Ba turned in Carlos Eduardo’s cross. The goal came after Hoffenheim ‘keeper Timo Hildebrand had denied Schalke twice in the early stages of the day. However at the strike of the half hour there was no stopping Mladen Krstajić as he headed-in Ivan Rakitić’s corner from the right. Only four minutes later Benedikt Höwedes surged into the box before crossing to Jefferson Farfán for a close range finish. Despite controlling the majority of possession, Hoffenheim brought the match level again as Carlos Eduardo dipped a free-kick over the wall in. However Schalke’s hope for finishing off outside of the loss column ended as Rafinha was adjudged to bringing down Fabrício in the area and Eduardo converted from the spot.
With the disappointing year behind them, Schalke can now step forward under the confident leadership of Felix Magath. There is a number of changes likely on the horizon though and based upon the new coaches resume, the future bodes well for the club.
New blogger needed: If you’re interested in taking over Hoffenheim Offside, give the application guidelines a read and then send an email to daryl[at]theoffside[dot]com
Category: Schalke Team News
Schalke makes Berliners life miserable
By: Porter | 1 Comment
Schalke stymied Hertha BSC in route to a nil draw at the Olympiastadion, thus killing off the Berliners chances for the Bundesliga title. With chances for European football long since over by Schalke it was a superb display of playing for pride and one to make all fans proud.
With Heiko Westermann and Halil Altintop back in the lineup, Schalke was focused in returning from their journey to the capital with a point. Complete ball possession dominated the proceeding as Schalke limited the the home sides efforts. However that isn’t to say they didn’t have their chances, most notably with Marko Pantelić consistently denied by “man of the match”, Schalke ‘keeper Manuel Neuer. On the opposite end, Schalke’s efforts were pinned back most notably with Pál Dárdai and Serbian international Gojko Kačar keeping advances in-check. Just before the hour mark Andriy Voronin came in for Hertha but there was no way through as the match ended without a score.
Schalke’s season comes to a close next Saturday against Hoffenheim at home in Gelsenkirchen with of-course many changes to come in the summer.
Category: Schalke Team Newslate goal beats Schalke
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Schalke’s chances for European football ended as they lost 1-0 to Borussia Mönchengladbach. The second loss in a row leaves the club six points behind Dortmund with time quickly running out.
The loss was frustrating as Gladbach were unable to pose an attacking threat for the majority of the match. With the Gladback on their heels, Schalke pushed forward and were effectively in a practice ground exercise trying to break through eleven men behind the ball. After being unable to find their way through Gladbach was gift wrapped a chance from the spot twenty-two minutes in as Rafinha was adjudged to bringing Alexander Baumjohann down in the area. However Manuel Neuer stopped Marko Marin’s attempt and the match remained even. The well organized Schalke side attacked consistently but with each advance, finishing was off. In one of the most common threads of the sport, missing opportunities come back to haunt you and just as the match looked to be headed for a draw Gladbach’s veterans stepped up. Called by many as too old to have an impact when he joined Gladback in January Tomáš Galásek has consistantly been the glue to maintain a tough defending stance. The thirty-six year old Czech sent a long clearance to Oliver Neuville, who then provided Roberto Colautti the ball with striker drilling the ball to the back of the net for the win.
Category: Schalke Team NewsThe appointment of Felix Magath
By: Porter | 2 Comments
Schalke’s announcement last week that Wolfsburg’s Felix Magath has agreed to take the role of general manager and head coach has been heralded by many as the clubs chance to rebuild its stature in European football.
Via the club web-site supervisory board chairman Clemens Tönnies said of the appointment:
“We’re delighted he’s decided to join us. He is the top-class solution I said we would present. His appointment is a major success for us in the footballing area.
He has the necessary authority and expertise to do the job. It may even be the model for the future.”
While the hiring was heavily rumoured it still came with a number of surprising sub-plots, mostly to do with the new man’s discussion of “money” being the motivating factor. Given that Wolfsburg is owned by automobile manufacturer Volkswagen and is prudently trying to manage its business affairs through the difficult financial climate, a number of questions have been raised by the clubs intentions to spend with the top clubs in Europe to attract new talent as well as pay Edin Džeko the amounts needed to keep him. If this influenced Magath’s decision it is also interesting to note that Schalke is intending to reduce its own salary budget by upwards of €10m.
So what precisely does the new leader to bring to Schalke and is he merely making the move to Gelsenkirchen for his own salary demands? No doubt he is one of the best coaches in the Bundesliga today and has amassed a tremendous record of success but how will it impact the clubs development program of domestic talent remains to be seen. While I expect the results will come under Magath, I don’t for a second believe he will live and breathe for the success of the Königsblauen. And as sure as can be, when someone offers more money he’ll be gone as quick as can be because he’s also proven that also.
Category: Schalke Team NewsSchalke’s coaching trio loses first match
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Schalke’s coaching trio of Mike Büskens, Youri Mulder and Oliver Reck suffered their first loss as they fell 2-1 to Leverkusen at home.
Missing Jermaine Jones from the starting eleven due to suspension, Schalke were exposed early in match as Leverkusen took the lead only nine minutes in. Cutting apart Schalke’s flank, Gonzalo Castro chased down a long ball before crossing to Patrick Helmes to redirect-in. The goal completely exposed a Schalke’s ability to control depth and before thirty minute mark Christian Pander was schooled by Renato Augusto before sending the ball in. With twenty minutes left Ivan Rakitić and Gerald Asamoah were introduced but their impact was minimal until very late. At the eighty-seventh minute Kevin Kurányi brought Schalke to withing one via Ivan Rakitić’s provision but the leveler was not to come and the match ended 2-1.
With four matches remaining Schalke’s Europa League efforts are well off as they are six points behind Hamburg as they head Gladbach this Sunday.
Category: Schalke Team Newsfarewell Jürgen
By: Porter | 2 Comments
Schalke’s coaching trio of Mike Büskens, Youri Mulder and Oliver Reck did it again as they extended their winning streak to four as they handed Bayern a 1-0 loss in München. The win, part of a remarkable turnaround, puts Schalke back in contention for a Europa League spot and surely has many of the “experts” considering the clubs future in good hands with the trio.
A sell-out crowd in München, many who joined-in to serenade Jürgen Klinsmann of his impending departure, die Königsblauen displayed a tough demeanor as they fought their way against Bayern. Schalke took the lead twenty-one minutes in as Halil Altintop, slipped under Kevin Kurányi to rid his mark and head-in Christian Pander’s corner. For much of the remaining match, excluding Martín Demichelis opportunity near the break that he found a way to miss, chances were not of the highest probability. As the match progressed with both sides fighting for important point tempers ran hot resulting in both Jermaine Jones and Franck Ribéry sent off in the final twenty minutes with their second yellow. Be that as it may, Schalke enjoyed the role of “the spoiler” and sent Bayern to their demise with a 1-0 defeat.
Category: Schalke Team NewsSchalke 4-0 over Cottbus
By: Porter | 5 Comments
Schalke’s upswing under the caretaker coaching trio of Mike Büskens, Youri Mulder and Oliver Reck continuted with a 4-0 defeat of Energie Cottbus on Friday evening. With their third successive victory Schalke is within reach of a Europa League spot as they enter the final six weeks of the season.
Bojan Prašnikar’s Lausitzer side were victimized early in the match as Schalke aggressively poured forward. Christian Pander gave Schalke the lead four minutes in as he struck from outside the box and with a slight deflection of Cottbus defender Mariusz Kukiełka, found the back of the net. The lead was doubled nineteen minutes later as Jermaine Jones linked the ball to Kevin Kurányi with Turkish international Halil Altintop being played through and pounding the ball in from the top of the box. After a series of misses Schalke finally broke through on the hour as Kurányi sent the ball across to Altintop who played through Jermaine Jones alone on the ‘keeper before sending the ball in. With two minutes remaining in regulation time the Cottbus defending problems were exposed again as Orlando Engelaar’s long cross found Kevin Kurányi near the six-yard box, which he chested down and then sent in for the fourth and final goal.
Category: Schalke Team NewsSchalke defeat Karlsruhe 2-0
By: Porter | 1 Comment
The caretaker coaching triumvirate of Mike Büskens, Youri Mulder and Oliver Reck are making a good case for their handiwork as die Königsblauen won for their second successive week, defeating Karlsruhe 2-0. While it might be early to schedule the parade helps along Schalke European hopes.
The victory will not be called “emphatic” or anything similar but it was an all-important win in a season of stumbles. With regulars Marcelo Bordon, BenediktHöwedes and Rafinha out of the lineup, the coaching trio presumably made a democratic decision with Ivan Rakitić entering in a central defending role, along with nineteen year-old Danny Latza in the starting eleven. After KSC ‘keeper Markus Miller made a quality save, Schalke took the lead at the mid-point of the half as Jermaine Jones deep cross into the box was headed-in by a diving Kevin Kurányi. Kurányi nearly duplicated the goal with Jefferson Farfán’s cross but this time his header went just wide. Sebastian Langkamp came close to squaring the match soon after before Manuel Neuer’s last gasp dive pushed the ball wide. After the break the Gelsenkirchen supporters weren’t too pleased as KSC owned most of the serious attacking chances and could have leveled the match on a few occasions. However with ten minutes left a IvanRakitić pass was pulled in Jefferson Farfán who from a tight angle sent a curling ball over KSC ‘keeper Miller and into the net to bring the match a 2-0 final.
Category: Schalke Team NewsSieg in Bielefeld
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Schalke halted their two match losing streak with a tough 2-0 victory over Arminia Bielefeld. The match marked the debut of Schalke’s caretaker triumvirate of Mike Büskens, Youri Mulder and Oliver Reck and while not a spectacular performance, all victories are well received this year.
With Benedikt Höwedes and Mladen Krstajic out of the starting eleven due to injury, Schalke as expected were received with a tough minded play of their hosts. After DSC missed a number of clear-cut chances, Jefferson Farfán gave Schalke the lead seconds before the break with a stunning goal. Vicente Sanchez, trying to shake off a DSC defender, back heeled the ball to the corner with Christian Pander chasing it down and sending a perfect cross that Farfán headed-in from three metres. Deserving or not, Schalke went to the break leading 1-0. Playing down a goal, Michael Frontzeck was constantly in their weak spot and forced to go forward were susceptible to the counter. Schalke was on the verge of adding to the margin on many occasions but finishing was off in alarming levels. Kevin Kurányi was bewildered as his efforts feel short consistently but finally just before the match found the net from Jermaine Jones provision to make it 2-0.
Category: Schalke Team NewsKönigsblauen continue with management buffoonery
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Affectionately referred to as “the managing board” of Schalke 04 once again established that they are unable to make a business decision as they elected to have not one caretaker manager but three with Mike Büskens, Youri Mulder and Oliver Reck in-charge. Citing that each has equal powers, Schalke decisions will now be made in democratic fashion; “to take decisions democratically”.
Youri Mulder however said in German magazine Sueddeutsche the decision to fire Fred Rutten at this time of the season:
“The club didn’t really want us to continue and nor did we.
“We were just told to lead training, but we didn’t really have any desire to do so.
“We are not crazy. Mike and I thought that it would have been better for the structure of the club if Fred had continued.”
After the unceremonious firing of company-man Andreas Müller and subsequent firing of Fred Rutten, the club hasn’t found any coaching professionals interested in the position. Surprising? Not at all but what is that they orchestrated this in the final three months of the year without a contingency plan.
Category: Schalke Team News
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