By Tom Lee · FC Schalke 04

𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗜𝗜 — 𝗔𝗠 𝗜 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗠𝗬 𝗗𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗛 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝟭𝟬𝟬?

By Tom Lee | FC Schalke 04 | Top 100

𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀. 𝗦𝗶𝘅 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄. 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀. 𝗙𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱. 𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱.

When I took over Schalke, we were sitting 19th in Division 5, the very bottom division of one of Soccer Manager’s most prestigious and competitive game worlds.

Four consecutive relegations had taken this once-proud club from the top division to the brink of complete obscurity.

In my previous blog, The Fall of Schalke, I documented the club’s extraordinary decline, the challenge I’d inherited and my determination to stop the rot.

Nine games later, we’ve climbed from 19th to 13th, with one fixture remaining.

The immediate objective has been achieved. I will manage Schalke next season.

But rather than celebrate and prepare for a comfortable season of consolidation, I’ve decided to do something that could potentially undo all our hard work.

𝗜’𝗺 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲’𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.

𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗢 𝗥𝗘𝗕𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚

In the space of nine matches, Schalke have gone from a club staring another disastrous season in the face to one beginning to show signs of life.

Six wins, one draw and two defeats represent a return of 19 points from a possible 27. We’ve scored 15 goals, conceded just seven and climbed six places in the table.

For a manager who inherited a club sitting second bottom of the lowest division, I couldn’t have asked for much more.

But there’s a difference between keeping a club alive and actually rebuilding one.

And that’s where things get interesting.

I’ve spent the last few weeks looking at our squad, studying the other teams in Top 100 and trying to work out how on earth we’re supposed to climb back up the divisions.

One thing has become increasingly clear.

𝗪𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴.

We don’t have the assets, the bargaining power or the squad depth that many of our rivals possess.

So I’ve decided to take Schalke in a completely different direction.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗞𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗧

Next season, I’m planning to operate with just 15–18 senior first-team players.

That’s right. In a game world that allows squads of 50 players, I’m looking to dedicate the overwhelming majority of those places to youth.

It’s a decision that will probably raise a few eyebrows.

Established players are being moved on, the squad is being stripped back and almost every position is being reassessed.

Timo Werner, rated 87, has already departed. Ben Davies, also rated 87, has followed him out of the door.

And they won’t be the last.

Some people might question why I’d willingly weaken a squad that has just produced such an impressive run of results.

But my thinking is relatively simple.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿?

In Top 100, the transfer market is arguably just as important as what happens on the pitch.

A player might be rated 87 today, but if he’s approaching the latter stages of his career, how much is another manager really going to offer for him?

Compare that with a promising 19-year-old rated 82 who breaks into a top European side and suddenly finds himself attracting attention.

That youngster could become an 87, an 89 or potentially something even better.

And even if he doesn’t become a Schalke regular, he might eventually be the player who allows us to negotiate a deal for somebody who does.

𝗜’𝗺 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆. 𝗜’𝗺 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗔𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗠𝗘 𝗔 𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗢𝗡

Of course, this new philosophy hasn’t come without mistakes.

One transfer in particular still plays on my mind.

𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗹ò 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶.

The young Club Brugge striker was one of the most exciting assets I inherited at Schalke.

At just 22, he’s already established himself as a serious goalscorer in Belgium and has the potential to become a very valuable asset in the years ahead.

I made the decision to move him on in a deal that brought Cardoso and Chemsdine Talbi to Schalke.

Now, I want to make something clear.

Cardoso has been excellent for us.

The Brazilian striker, currently playing his football at RB Leipzig in real life, has performed extremely well since arriving. I have absolutely no complaints about what he’s contributed.

Talbi was another exciting addition. A young Moroccan international playing Premier League football with Sunderland, with plenty of years ahead of him.

On paper, it was a deal that made sense.

But looking back, I can’t help feeling I rushed it.

Tresoldi was exactly the type of player I’m now trying to build this club around. Young, performing at a high level and possessing enormous potential as a future bargaining asset.

Did I get a bad deal? Not necessarily.

Could I have negotiated something better?

Possibly.

And that’s the frustrating part.

I’ve also got a slight regret about allowing 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝘂𝗺 to leave.

The young German full-back is another player whose career could develop considerably over the coming seasons.

These are the decisions you learn from.

When you’re relatively new to a game world like Top 100, it’s easy to get excited about an offer, see an opportunity to strengthen two positions and pull the trigger.

But I’m beginning to understand that sometimes the best transfer is the one you don’t make.

𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗕𝗜 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗕𝗟𝗘

Perhaps the biggest indication of our new direction came with the decision to sell Chemsdine Talbi.

Having only recently acquired him, I made the difficult call to move him on in exchange for two players I believe could become valuable assets.

𝗩í𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲ñ𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗵.

Valdepeñas is a particularly interesting prospect.

The young Spanish defender came through Real Madrid’s academy before making the move to Fiorentina, where he’s now looking to establish himself in Serie A.

He’s exactly the type of player I’m hoping will benefit from regular senior football and eventually receive significant Soccer Wiki rating increases.

Joseph represents a different kind of gamble.

The young Brighton striker has already demonstrated his goalscoring ability at youth level and is another player whose career I’ll be following closely.

Neither player is guaranteed to become a star.

But that’s the nature of this rebuild.

Talbi could easily go on to become a fantastic player himself.

And if he does, perhaps I’ll regret that decision too.

However, I believe Valdepeñas and Joseph offer us two opportunities to develop valuable assets rather than relying on one.

𝗜’𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞 𝗠𝗘

So what will this new-look Schalke actually look like?

Well, this is where things get slightly concerning!

Despite our impressive run of results, I’m preparing to enter next season with a team that, on paper, will almost certainly be weaker than the one that rescued us from relegation.

And that’s entirely intentional.

Up front, 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗼𝘀𝗼 (𝟴𝟴) will lead the line. He’s been excellent since arriving and is one of the few positions where I’m completely satisfied with what we’ve got.

On the right, 𝗟𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 (𝟴𝟵) remains our highest-rated attacking player. I’m more than happy to keep him, but if an opportunity arises to bring in a younger player I genuinely believe in, I’d be prepared to accept a rating drop.

However, I won’t be selling him simply for the sake of making the squad younger. The replacement has to be somebody I’m convinced has a serious future.

𝗪𝗲𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘆 (𝟴𝟳) will operate from the left, giving us a relatively established front three.

But behind them, things start getting interesting.

One player I’m particularly excited about is 𝗡𝗼é 𝗟𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗼𝗻 (𝟴𝟮).

He’s developing nicely at NEC Nijmegen in the Netherlands, and I genuinely believe he’s approaching a significant Soccer Wiki rating increase.

But here’s the problem.

He’s currently rated just 82.

Am I really prepared to trust a player rated 82 in one of the most competitive game worlds around?

Apparently so.

In midfield, 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗲ñá (𝟴𝟳) will provide some much-needed experience, while 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗼 (𝟴𝟰) and 𝗞𝘃𝗶𝗮-𝗘𝗴𝗲𝘀𝗸𝗼𝗴 (𝟴𝟯) will alternate alongside him.

Again, these aren’t necessarily the ratings you’d associate with a team hoping to climb the Top 100 ladder.

Defensively, we’ve made what I believe is a very sensible acquisition in 𝗝𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗼 (𝟴𝟳).

At 25, the Spanish centre-back offers us a considerably younger alternative to the ageing defenders we’ve been relying on.

He walks straight into our starting XI.

But his partners next season?

𝗠𝗮𝘅 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗻𝘀 (𝟴𝟯) and 𝗩í𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲ñ𝗮𝘀, both players who represent a drop in rating from the established defenders they’re replacing.

Bruns has already gained valuable senior experience in the Netherlands, while Valdepeñas is beginning a new chapter in Italy with Fiorentina.

Both are players I’ve identified as having room to develop.

At left-back, 𝗠𝗮𝘅 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗴𝗿ä𝗳𝗲 (𝟴𝟯) will also be promoted into the senior side.

The young German has already experienced Bundesliga football and is another player whose future I’m prepared to gamble on.

And that’s essentially the story of our summer.

We’re replacing established 87-rated players with youngsters rated 82 and 83.

We’re deliberately sacrificing immediate quality in the hope that real-world development eventually rewards our decisions.

Some of these players might receive substantial increases over the coming months.

Others might not.

And that’s what makes this so frightening.

Because if Lebreton remains an 82, Bruns stays an 83 and Finkgräfe doesn’t progress, we’re potentially heading into next season with a significantly weaker team than the one that finished this campaign.

But what if they do rise?

What if Lebreton becomes an 86 or 87? What if Valdepeñas establishes himself in Serie A? What if one or two of our lesser-known youngsters suddenly become highly sought-after assets?

We could find ourselves sitting on a squad worth considerably more than the one we inherited.

And crucially, we’d have players other managers actually want.

𝗜’𝗺 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝗸𝗶 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘁.

The established players might give us a better chance of finishing 12th next season.

But will they get us out of Division 5?

I’m not convinced.

The youngsters might leave us fighting for survival again.

But if enough of them develop, they could eventually provide the foundations for something much bigger.

There’s no guarantee this works.

In fact, there’s a very real possibility I’ll look back on this decision and wonder what on earth I was thinking.

But I’d rather attempt to build something capable of climbing the divisions than spend season after season protecting a mid-table position with players who are gradually losing their value.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.

And next season, that’s exactly what I intend to do.

𝗔𝗠 𝗜 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗠𝗬 𝗗𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗛?

There’s something I haven’t really discussed much.

I’m still very new to Top 100.

Some of the managers in this world have been playing at this level for years. They’ve built incredible squads, understand the transfer market inside out and have experience that I simply don’t possess.

I’ve already had a few conversations with other managers who’ve assumed I’m an experienced player.

And I have to admit, I find that quite flattering.

Because the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.

I’m still learning.

I’ve had transfer offers laughed off. I’ve made deals I’ve subsequently questioned. I’ve spent ridiculous amounts of time studying players and trying to work out whether I’m making the right decisions.

Sometimes I look at the squads around me and wonder how I’m ever going to compete with them.

But I suppose that’s part of the attraction.

The fact that a few established managers have mistaken me for somebody who’s been around for years gives me a little confidence that perhaps I’m doing something right.

Or perhaps I’ve just become very good at pretending I know what I’m doing!

Either way, I’m enjoying the challenge.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘

And if you want an example of just how much I’m still learning, look no further than my early experiences in Top 100’s sister game world, Top 100 Regen.

I’d barely got through the door at Borussia Mönchengladbach before a certain manager appeared in my WhatsApp messages, seemingly delighted to discover some fresh meat in the transfer market! 😂

Before I’d even had time to familiarise myself with the squad, the offers were flying in. Looking back, I’m fairly certain he could smell inexperience through the phone.

And to be fair, he wasn’t wrong!

I was getting excited about signing youngsters rated 83, all aged 21 or under, genuinely believing I’d discovered the bargains of the century.

That was until I decided to do some actual research into their real-world careers.

One was serving a six-month football ban, while another had torn his ACL! 😂

Not quite the scouting masterclass I’d initially imagined.

There I was, thinking I’d outsmarted an experienced manager, when in reality I’d probably just made his Christmas card list.

It’s all part of the learning curve, though. I’ve quickly discovered that there’s a lot more to identifying young talent than looking at their age and Soccer Wiki rating.

These days, I’m researching players properly, looking at their performances, playing time, injuries and long-term prospects before making decisions.

I’m still going to make mistakes, but hopefully they’ll become fewer and further between.

And to that certain manager who welcomed me so enthusiastically to Top 100 Regen…

Don’t worry, mate. I’ve finally discovered Google. 😂

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗘

Then there’s the football itself.

If there’s one thing I’ve discovered about managing in Top 100, it’s how easy it is to overthink absolutely everything.

I’ve spent far too much time staring at tactical instructions, wondering whether a slight change in mentality, tempo or formation could be the difference between winning and losing.

Should I attack?

Should I be more cautious?

Is my formation actually working, or have I just been fortunate?

Am I changing something that doesn’t need changing?

Sometimes I find myself questioning tactics that have just delivered three points!

It’s ridiculous when you think about it.

We’ve won six of our opening nine matches, yet I still find myself looking for problems.

Perhaps that’s simply the reality of managing in a world where every point feels important.

But it’s something I need to improve.

I need to learn when to trust my players, trust my system and stop searching for answers to problems that might not even exist.

Because next season, with a significantly smaller senior squad, those decisions could become even more important.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡: 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗗𝗜

So where do we go from here?

The answer is scouting.

Lots and lots of scouting.

I want our scouts travelling across Europe, South America and wherever else we might discover the next emerging talent.

I’m not necessarily looking for the obvious wonderkids that every manager in Top 100 already knows about.

I’m looking for the players who are just beginning to establish themselves.

The teenager making his first few appearances in Germany.

The young defender quietly becoming a regular in Italy.

The striker tearing up youth football who might be six months away from a senior breakthrough.

The youngster currently rated 78 who could suddenly find himself rated 85 or higher if his real-world career takes off.

I want to find those players before everybody else does.

And when we do find them, I want to have the patience to hold on to them.

That’s where I believe Schalke’s future lies.

Our reduced first-team squad will hopefully provide enough quality to remain competitive, while the rest of our 50-player allocation becomes an investment in the future.

Some players will develop into first-team regulars.

Others will become valuable bargaining chips.

And some, inevitably, will turn out to be complete failures.

But the objective is to gradually build a squad whose value, potential and overall quality increase season after season.

Not through throwing enormous amounts of money at established stars, but through identifying talent before it becomes obvious.

𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶. 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝗱𝗼.

𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗢𝗡: 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗬𝗘𝗧

And this brings me to the part that genuinely worries me.

In Top 100, finishing 18th or below means losing your job.

There’s no room for sentiment.

It doesn’t matter how many promising youngsters you’ve signed or how impressive your long-term plans might look.

Finish in the bottom three, and you’re gone.

That’s the reality.

And here I am, having just rescued Schalke from 19th place, preparing to dramatically reduce the size of my first-team squad.

Am I mad?

Possibly.

A few injuries, suspensions or poor results could leave us desperately short of options.

Our youngsters might not develop quickly enough.

The established players we sell might turn out to be exactly the ones we needed.

And if things go wrong, this entire project could come crashing down before it ever really gets started.

I think about that more than I’d like to admit.

Because I’ve genuinely become invested in this club.

I didn’t take over Schalke simply to survive ten matches and disappear.

I took over because I saw a challenge that interested me.

A club that had fallen from Division 1 to Division 5.

A club that had become accustomed to losing.

A club that desperately needed somebody to come in with a different approach.

And now that we’ve stopped the decline, I want to see how far we can take it.

But there’s a question I keep coming back to.

𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗶𝗱-𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱, 𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟱?

For me, the answer is becoming increasingly obvious.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗗

When I wrote The Fall of Schalke, I genuinely didn’t know whether I’d still be managing this club ten games later.

We were 19th, facing the possibility of another disastrous finish, and I was stepping into a game world where I had very little experience.

Nine matches later, we’re 13th.

We’ve won six games, scored 15 goals and given ourselves something that Schalke haven’t had for several seasons.

Hope.

But I don’t want this to become another story about a manager who briefly stopped the decline before settling for mediocrity.

I want to build something.

Something that might take several seasons to come together.

Something that will probably involve more mistakes, more questionable transfers and plenty of sleepless nights wondering whether I’ve got my tactics right.

I know there are better managers than me in Top 100.

I know there are stronger squads.

And I know there’s every possibility that this gamble could end with me getting the sack.

But I’m beginning to realise that if I want to achieve something extraordinary with Schalke, I might have to be prepared to take an extraordinary risk.

The first chapter was about stopping the fall.

The second is about laying the foundations.

Whether those foundations are strong enough to support a return up the divisions remains to be seen.

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻. 𝗜’𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟱.

The scouts are heading out.

The clearout has begun.

And next season, we’re putting our future in the hands of a new generation.

𝗔𝗺 𝗜 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗵?

There’s only one way to find out.

𝗧𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗲𝗲 — 𝗙𝗖 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲 𝟬𝟰