FC Shalke 04 - A New Start

1st July 2013



There are rumours around FC Shalke 04 that current manager Jens Keller who has been the manager since the 16th December 2012 has had a major bust-up with the members of the board particularly the chairman Clemens Tonnie. It is not yet known whether Keller will keep his job but mangers such as Roberto Di Matteo and Andre Villas Boas are the bookies favourites to take over if he departs.

Good luck mate, will be good to see how you go as I'm doing the same save. Oh and welcome to the site

3rd July 2013



FC Shalke 04 manager Jens Keller has been dismissed today after days of talks with the board over his reported bust-up with the chairman and a fair amount of his players as well.

The Bookies have Roberto Di Matteo at 2/1 to get the job.

3rd July 2013

This evening a shock announcement came out of FC Shalke 04 that an unknown would be taking up the head managerial role at the club. Youngster Jack Murray has been given the job under perilous circumstances but Murray had this to say to Sky Sports News:

"I am proud to be named as the new manager of Shalke as I can understand what a great risk the board are taking with appointing such an inexperienced manager. At only the age of 16 I hope that the players and other managers can give me as much respect as they would anybody else. Finally I would also like to ask the fans who may be angered by my appointing, to wait and see what I can do with the squad running up to the start of the season, and then make their minds up about me."

Bookies were not even offering odds on him to become the new manager!

4th July 2013

There was a shock announcement today as Murray decided to transfer list -- players. Some of them are club favourites so he is taking a risk as he is currently trying to get the fans to support him.

The players listed were:

Robert Leipertz
Anthony Annan
Jermaine Jones
Christian Fuchs
Rene Klingenburg

And the players loan listed were:
Leon Goretzka
Kaan Ayhan
Dennis Erdmann

5th January 2013

We are sad to announce the departure of 3 players today.

Left Back Christian Fuchs was sold to Hamburger SV for a fee of €2,000,000
Right Midfielder Rene Klingenburg was sold to Wiener Neustadt for the fee of €100,000
and
Centre Back Dennis Erdmann was loaned out to English Championship side Blackburn Rovers until the end of the season.

We wish them all well on the endevours

Today we have heard news that FC Shalke 04 have sent out two youth scouts to The English League and the Bundesliga and have also set up general scouting networks in The English League, Bundesliga and Liga BBVA.

We have also heard whispers that they are scouting the following 4 players:

Christian Benteke
Stevan Jovetic
Javier Hernandez
Danny Welbeck

We will keep you posted on any developments.

29th July 2013



Today was our first pre-season friendly against Elche CF from Liga BBVA.

Starting XI:

GK-Fahrmann, RB-Uchida, RCB-Papadopolous, LCB-Howedes, LB-Aogo, CDM-Hoger, RM-Farfan,
CM-Boateng, LM-Draxler, RS-Huntelaar, LS-Szalai

Substitutes:

GK-Unnerstall, LB-Kolasinac, CB-Matip, RB-Hoogland, RM-Obasi, CM-Meyer, LM-Clemens

The game started very well with a lot of possession and then a stunning solo effort from Julian Draxler hit the back of the net in the 5th Minute. The game was relatively quiet for the rest of the first half except for a few half chances from Elche and the first half ended 1-0 thanks to Draxler.

The Second Half got under way much like the first with a lot of possession in our midfield and a lot of quick passing. Elche couldn't handle the pressure and gave away a free kick from a dangerous position and Charles Gil obtained a yellow card for his troubles. Draxler didn't really threaten from the free kick.

In the 67th Minute 3 changes were made by Murray which were:

Joel Matip (On) - Kyriakos Papadopoulous (Off)
Chinedu Obasi (On) - Jefferson Farfan (Off)
Maximilian Mayer (On) - Kevin Prince-Boateng (Off)

10 Minutes after coming on Mayer and Obasi link up and Obasi made it 2-0 and that was it.

Marco Hoger was voted Man of the Match

Full Time: FC Shalke 04 2-0 Elche CF

The next match is another pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao who like Elche CF are from the Liga BBVA

2nd August 2013

Today was our second pre season friendly against Athletic Bilbao from the Liga BBVA.

Starting XI:

GK-Unnerstall, RB-Uchida, RCB-Matip, LCB-Howedes, LB-Aogo, CDM-Hoger, RM-Obasi, CM-Meyer,
LM-Draxler, RS-Huntelaar, LS-Szalai

Substitutes:

GK-Fahrmann, LB-Kolasinac, CB-Papadopolos, RB-Hoogland, RM-Farfan, CM-Boateng, LM-Clemens

The first half was very bog standard, with it ending at a dreary 0-0 at half time, with no real opportunities or chances for either team.

The game sprang to life in the second half with a sublime strike from Maximilian Meyer in the 50th minute which put us 1-0 up. Bilbao were not going to give up that easily and an equally as good strike from Susaeta put the two teams on par in the 67th minute.

Straight after the goal Murray subbed Chinedu Obasi off for Jeffeson Farfan. There was alot of possesion from Bilbao intil we hit them on the counter attack with the substitute Farfan down the right hand side, who crossed the ball in and Adam Szalai finished it well with his head which made it 2-1 and that was game over.

Joel Matip was voted Man of the Match

Full Time: FC Shalke 04 2-1 Athletic Bilbao

The next match is our final pre-season friendly against another Liga BBVA side which is Getafe CF

3rd August 2013

Injury Worry for FC Shalke 04



Speaking after their last game Jack Murray revealed that FC Shalke 04 player Maximilian Meyer has a hamstring injury which will keep him out of action for at least three weeks. This could force Murray into the transfer market to buy a replacement as it is now a real possibility that Meyer could miss the start of the season.

5th August 2013

Ambitious Murray?



FC Shalke 04 have put in an ambitious bid for Manchester United and England striker Danny Welbeck. The bid is belived to be in the region of €9,000,000. They are also said to be interested in Saint-Etienne centre back, Kurt Zouma and there is also a strong possibility that they are in the market for a new right winger.