Scouting report: Schalke 04

[kellzfresh 7,229]

But Cardiff and Schalke are different.

True their basic foundation is two blocks of four and deep defending. But there are tiny tiny intricate details that we miss out. Cardiff for one don't mark zonally in the middle, that would be stupid to do in the Premier League. That is where Torres can come in handy. It's much much tougher to do it against team's that will press zonal and mark man to man. But if you are going to press zonal and mark man to man, an English team will find it very easy with a striker that doesn't drift too much.

We were both wrong,

Schalke never defended deep through out the match. They attacked and left spaces behind so torres was now perfect for this type of match. He was deadly on counters as I expected. In fact, our attacking four were all built for counters in that match.

That means mourinho expected schalke to attack us at their home. I thought they were a more defensive team though, so that's why I thouight eto will play.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

But Cardiff and Schalke are different.

True their basic foundation is two blocks of four and deep defending. But there are tiny tiny intricate details that we miss out. Cardiff for one don't mark zonally in the middle, that would be stupid to do in the Premier League. That is where Torres can come in handy. It's much much tougher to do it against team's that will press zonal and mark man to man. But if you are going to press zonal and mark man to man, an English team will find it very easy with a striker that doesn't drift too much.

We were both wrong,

Schalke never defended deep through out the match. They attacked and left spaces behind so torres was now perfect for this type of match. He was deadly on counters as I expected. In fact, our attacking four were all built for counters in that match.

That means mourinho expected schalke to attack us at their home. I thought they were a more defensive team though, so that's why I thouight eto will play.

[hjperdeath 2,226]

We were both wrong,

Schalke never defended deep through out the match. They attacked and left spaces behind so torres was now perfect for this type of match. He was deadly on counters as I expected. In fact, our attacking four were all built for counters in that match.

That means mourinho expected schalke to attack us at their home. I thought they were a more defensive team though, so that's why I thouight eto will play.

Sadly they didn't treat us like the they treated Bayern. They aren't a defensive team cause they pretty much demolished Eintracht. The report was pretty much made taking into consideration that Schalke would be facing a team in the mould of Bayern.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Sadly they didn't treat us like the they treated Bayern. They aren't a defensive team cause they pretty much demolished Eintracht. The report was pretty much made taking into consideration that Schalke would be facing a team in the mould of Bayern.

Yea they didn't treat us like bayern, maybe because we scored so early, it tore up their plan

[hjperdeath 2,226]

Yea they didn't treat us like bayern, maybe because we scored so early, it tore up their plan

True. Keller might be an innovative manager, but is very quick to shift around things. Oh well, even Mou tears up reports like this after every game !