FC Schalke 04 - Page 13 - TalkSoccer

**Trim** · 19-03-2007, 07:23 AM

VS

MD 27: FC Bayern München vs FC Schalke 04
Stadium: Allianz Arena, München
Date: Saturday, 31st Mar, 15:30 C.E.T. (GMT +1)

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Quick Schalke stats
Current League Form: DLLDW

**Oliver_Kahn** · 19-03-2007, 06:40 PM

We are screwed, can't see us winning this one

**Trim** · 19-03-2007, 07:04 PM

Nah, we can. If we could take 1 point in VELTINS-Arena, at that time when we was in deep crisis and still under Magath, I'm sure Ottmar will tell the guys to repeat the great performance of first half against Bremen, but with improvements, not letting it drop in 2nd half and neither missing good chances. We'll get a big win, I'm sure. We never had problems with big teams, the small & defensive minded teams are what cause us problem.

**Trim** · 19-03-2007, 07:07 PM

FC Schalke 04 have registered their 60,000th member. Heinz van den Berg was honoured before the home game against VfB Stuttgart kicked-off.

The 56-year-old from Gronau posted off his application for membership of the "Royal Blues" in mid-March, and had the good fortune to be precisely the 60,000th person to do so.

Three presents

Mr. van den Berg received three special presents to mark the milestone: a season ticket for 2007-2008, a framed top with the number 60,000 on the back - and a glimpse behind the scenes before taking to the pitch with Schalke Executive Chairman Gerd Rehberg ahead of the Stuttgart game.

**Trim** · 21-03-2007, 01:13 PM

Schalke's title challenge has been boosted by the return of Gustavo Varela and Peter Lovenkrands from injury.

The Uruguayan midfielder (pictured) and the Danish striker trained with the first-team squad on Tuesday after being sidelined with knee and ankle injuries respectively.

Varela was expected to miss the rest of the season after knee surgery, but his recovery has been quicker than expected.

Lovenkrands has been out of action after rupturing a tendon in his right ankle against Wolfsburg in February.

The news is a massive boost for the Bundesliga leaders who hope to have both men fit for Schalke's crucial clash with Bayern Munich on 31st March.

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**Trim** · 21-03-2007, 05:43 PM

Mirko Slomka had 13 professional players available for training on Wednesday. FC Schalke's head coach was pleased.

Christian Pander and Fabian Ernst were back after only doing limited training on Monday because of health issues.

Lincoln returns

Lincoln returned to team training again after missing several days. Sören Larsen, Zlatan Bajramovic and Halil Altintop were absent though.

"The three of them have slight injuries", explained Slomka. "Hence the limited training."

**Trim** · 22-03-2007, 06:36 AM

Schalke coach Mirko Slomka had just eleven members of the senior squad at his disposal for Tuesday's morning training session. He therefore decided to boost the numbers by calling in amateur players such as Jakob Dallevedove and Durmus Bayram.

Whereas Kevin Kuranyi, Hamit Altintop, Dario Rodriguez, Mladen Krstajic and Levan Kobiashvili are all away on international duty, Halil Altintop has been forced to pull out of the Turkey squad with groin trouble. The Schalke striker trained at the medicos rehab centre along with Zlatan Bajramovic and Fabian Ernst, who are carrying slight knocks. Christian Pander, who played the full 90 minutes against Stuttgart in what was his first match back from injury, did some stamina work on an ergometer exercise bike.

Despite the small number of players involved there was evidence of significant progress on the injury front. Both Gustavo Varela and Peter Lovenkrands were able to complete the entire 90-minute session and used the subsequent practice match as an opportunity to ease their way back to full fitness.

**kennethlindheim** · 22-03-2007, 08:44 AM

Schalke is linked to norwegian international midfielder Fredrik Strømstad, who currently plays for Start. Schalke will have someone to watch him against Turkey on Wednesday, but Start coach Stig Inge Bjørnebye has made a hands off warning.

**Trim** · 22-03-2007, 11:30 AM

Never heard about him before...
Thanks for info. Interesting..

**Oliver_Kahn** · 22-03-2007, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennethlindheim

Schalke is linked to norwegian international midfielder Fredrik Strømstad, who currently plays for Start. Schalke will have someone to watch him against Turkey on Wednesday, but Start coach Stig Inge Bjørnebye has made a hands off warning.

Is this Stromstad good enough to break into Schalke's XI ?

What type of midfielder is he ? A strong working midfielder would be good for Schalke

**Oliver_Kahn** · 24-03-2007, 07:29 PM

In the absence of head coach Mirko Slomka - currently in Russia with an S04 delegation - Oliver Reck has taken over training at Schalke.

Eleven players took part in a skills-focussed session on Friday morning. At the same time, Zlatan Bajramovic, Halil Altintop, Sören Larsen, Marcelo Bordon and Gustavo Varela were all undergoing individual rehabilitation programmes.

Rafinha takes a break

Defender Rafinah, who has a cold, was rested completely. Also absent was his fellow Brazilian Lincoln, who travelled with the Russia-bound delegation.

For all those players not involved in international action, the end of training marked the beginning of a long weekend. The next scheduled session is on Monday at 15:30.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 25-03-2007, 01:03 PM

Board member Clemens Tönnies reveals that the Schalke board will be made up of 3 members next season.

During a visit to St. Petersburg in Russia, Tönnies revealed the new board of director setup which was decided on the 13th of March. The 50 year old Tönnies added, "We have reached an agreement regarding the successor of Gerhard Rehber and it will be Josef Schnusenberg"

A big honour

The acting chairman Schnusenberg regards ít as a privelage and Tönnies went on to add, "It didn`t take him long to think about it and he was really keen to do it."

The change will be made official during the annual meeing on Monday the 18th of June.

On the same day Schalke will thank the outgoing Gerhard Rehberg, "The board and the whole club owes a big thank you to Gerhard" added Tönnies.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 29-03-2007, 11:31 AM

When Bayern take on Schalke on Saturday, two rather young players will play key roles. bundesliga.de met up with both of them.

Schalke have a new hero, and he has got what it takes! Youngster Manuel Neuer has been rock solid between the goalposts for the league leaders.

"I have always been a Schalke fan"

Neuer's role model is another Schalke goalkeeper idol: Jens Lehmann. Indeed, Neuer's love affair with Schalke started when he was a six year-old ball boy.

"I wanted to play for Schalke simply because I have always been a Schalke fan, even as a small kid! My family comes from here, and they are all blue and white. That's why I wanted to play for Schalke. I used to go there with my parents, and I took part in a practice session. They didn't have a goalie. Someone had to play that position, and it was me. And then they took me on!", Neuer recalls how it all started.

Already an established star

FC Bayern's Lukas Podolski is barely older than Neuer, but already an established star in the Bundesliga. "Prinz Poldi” wowed the crowds for Germany during the World Cup, but found it hard at club level this season. But since Ottmar Hitzfeld returned to coach Bayern, Podolski has re-found his form.

"Is it a father-son relationship? I find that he talks a lot to me, and that is good. I believe that younger players need a coach that communicates with them. I'm not sure if it's necessary to chat every day. But it is good that a coach can reach out to a player and ask how he's feeling. It's a good thing", Podolski explains.

Favourites after beating VfB

Schalke are the title favourites, following a 1-0 win over Stuttgart. They can go a step further with a win over Bayern, who were stunned by Eintracht Frankfurt two weeks ago. The "clash of the titans” will be a massive game for both clubs, and Schalke aim to make the most of Bayern's dip in form.

"That's happened to everyone who has been at the top. In my opinion, all the teams at the top are very competitive. It will be a tough match, and we want to get some points”, Neuer says.

Bayern nine points behind Schalke

It's hard to rate Bayern's chances. The team shone against Real Madrid but disappointed against Bielefeld, Aachen and Dortmund. They may be just fourth in the standings, but Bayern are still the club to beat if any team wants to snatch the title from them. And the team is never lacking in self confidence.

"Schalke still have to play against us. If we beat them, there's only six points separating us. Then we'll have to hope for them to stumble again. Game for game, the end is drawing near. Then you'll see where we are", Podolski analyses.

Neuer feels ready

Neuer versus Podolski will be one of the highlights in a game which could decide the championship. Manuel Neuer feels more than ready to stop Bayern's star-studded strike force.

"If it's Roy Makaay in front of me, Podolski or even van Bommel, I'll try to stop every ball", Neuer promises.

"It doesn't matter who scores"

Podolski has other things in mind. "It doesn't matter who scores, who does the setting-up, who's in goal or who's playing. That we win is all that matters.”

The superstar and the newcomer will go head to head this Saturday. The whole league is looking forward to a clash to remember.

**Trim** · 29-03-2007, 12:30 PM

Poldi with another good performance hopefully and I want more goals.