Tonight Schalke started the post-Rutten era with a 2-0 win at the Schüco Arena against relegation threatened Arminia Bielefeld. The first half started the same way most games had during Rutten's reign, dreadful and boring. In fact Arminia were the better side in the first half and missed four clear cut opportunities. Unfortunately for the […]

1. Hertha Berlin (2-1 home win against Bayern) Just think how good this team could be with half their starters back. Actually it probably wouldn't be much better as those injuries haven't been significant to their back line, and that is where the strength of the Old Lady lies. I will say, that after giving […]

Schalke has a superb record against Köln, but manager Christopher Daum has only ever lost twice in seventeen matches against them in the Bundesliga. That form continued today as Köln walked away deserved 1-0 winners against the league leaders. Indeed, the score line doesn’t do justice to the performance by Köln. They completely outplayed the […]

This week we make the short trip west on the A40 from Dortmund past Bochum to Gelsenkirchen, home to Schalke 04 and their new coach, Fred Rutten. Much like his new Ruhr rival, Jürgen Klopp, Rutten has been a one club man for almost his entire 30-year playing and coaching career, all with FC Twente […]