good luck schalke is very hard

deadzpool: Cheers mate, it is a bit up and down at the moment but you'll see in the next update!

A game that I really do not want to dwell on. We created absolutely nothing, and conceded three goals in the first 20 minutes, meaning we never had a chance to get back into the game. Alexander Nubel in goal had a shocker, picking up a 4.2 rating.


Again another hugely disappointing performance. With Nubel dropped from the last outing, Mainz were able to take the lead on 35 minutes, after Miranda gave the ball away. Schalke had chances to get back into the game, however, luck didn’t quite go our way, with two chances blocked on the line.


In a feisty and entertaining encounter, Leipzig took the lead after 36 minutes. With absolutely nothing on, Patrick Schick controlled Werner’s knockdown and smashed it in from 35 yards. We will do well to see a better goal than that this season. Schalke were able to equalise just before half-time after some good possession football saw them move the ball all the way upfield, before Morelos was played in to hammer home.

Unfortunately, shortly after half time, Leipzig took the lead after clearing the ball forwards. A footrace between Ajer and Werner was won by the German, who rounded the keeper and comfortably dribbled the ball in on 50 minutes. In the 62nd minute, however, Schalke struck back with a well worked goal. Miranda sprayed a ball to Raman on the far side, and the Belgian beat his man to float a cross in that was met by Amine Harit to level the scores. Nubel did have to make a save straight after the goal, but in the end Schalke held on for a solid point.


A game where we were caught napping early on unfortunately, as Koln’s ball over the top in the 3rd minute was enough to give them the win. We had a couple of chances to get back into it, but it was a poor performance all round.


An important win to break the streak of defeats that had preceded this game. We really had to grind this one out, scraping the victory with a McKennie header shortly before half-time.


Arguably the biggest game of the season for many Schalke fans. We triumphed in front of a sold-out Veltins Arena to try and kickstart our form into gear. Morelos nearly got us off to a flyer, heading over on 2 minutes. Nubel was forced into a couple of good saves, before Schalke took the lead in bizarre fashion. Good work from Raman and Hysaj down the right, led to the latter’s cross being met by Morelos, whose header hit the post. However, it dribbled along the line, and in an attempt to get it away Akanji actually turned it into his own net.

Schalke did lose their lead right after the break though, when poor marking from Todibo and Hysaj left Julian Brandt free to guide a header home on 46 minutes. Then, the decisive goal was scored just before the hour mark, when Morelos was brought down in the penalty area. Akanji saw yellow, before Morelos comfortably sent the keeper the wrong way to secure the victory.


Next we faced Osnabrück in the 2nd round of the DFB-Pokal, with the chance to secure another victory and help our return to form. Schalke started well, and when the ball fell to Lucas Robertone on the edge of the area on 10 minutes, he was able to bag his first goal for the club by curling into the far corner. However, the best was yet to come from the new signing, as only a few minutes later, he smashed home a free-kick from 30 yards to double his tally. Shortly before half-time, Tahith Chong headed narrowly over on his first start for the club, but Schalke took a 2 goal lead into the break.

Schalke were given a small shock after half time, when Osnabrück got one back with a header from a free-kick, however they weren’t able to capitalise on Schalke’s lethargy. With 13 minutes still to play, some intricate play from Amine Harit down the left saw his cross deflect to Robertone on the edge of the area, who took a touch and smashed into the top corner. It secured a high class hat-trick for Robertone, who had otherwise been solid, if unspectacular since his move in the summer.

All in all, a tough couple months at the club. There were murmurings that I might be facing the sack heading into the Hoffenheim game. However, with 3 wins on the trot, including one over our fiercest rivals Dortmund, those seem to be have been quietened for now. Next month sees us with the opportunity to really put a streak together, with all 4 fixtures against teams in the bottom half.

Next: November

What a strange month of results. A real contrast from start to finish. A horrific loss against Paderborn suggests signs of struggle, yet victory against Dortmund suggests a resurgence and improvement. I'm intrigued to see how the next month fairs.

ScottT: My thoughts exactly - real inconsistency so far, and I just can't keep a clean sheet!