Schalke: Has Magath lost his magic touch?

Felix Magath over the last decade has build a reputation about himself of being a magician as a football coach. Be it at VfB Stuttgart, FC Bayern Munich and especially with VfL Wolfsburg he was able to transform the team into winning units, successful teams, but who all suffered after he left. And why? Simply said the system Magath is laid out for short term, meaning 18 to 24 month success and whatever happens thereafter doesn't really bother him.

Ask in Stuttgart or Wolfsburg, even at Bayern Munich; who needed time to readjust and regroup after Magath left as their coach. Felix Magath joined FC Schalke 04 in summer 2009 with a four year contract and a promise that the Ruhr valley club under him would win their first-ever Bundesliga title, their last German title had been won in 1958. Magath had a sensational first season with the club in which Schake finished second behind Bayern Munich and with this finish expectations have also risen.

But the club is facing financial problems with debts of up to 250 Million Euros and for Schalke under Magath in year two things aren't working out the way he would have hoped and maybe even expected with the club second from last in the Bundesliga with only six points from 10 matches.

Before the season started Magath said, he needs to rebuild his squad ahead of tougher assignments in the UEFA Champions League, while also having to cut down on wage bills. Sounds an interesting, but tough ask. Magath sold most of his defence in Heiko Westermann, Marcelo Bordon and Rafinha; which was last years best defence in the German Bundesliga plus dependable striker Kevin Kurayni, who will assure you 12 to 15 goals per season.

Now on the other side Magath said he needed to bring in players who would fit into his plans and could strengthen the team. But Schalke were late in the transfer market as they aren't able to pay high transfer fees as one thought, so a number of players where brought towards the end of the transfer period, some even after the Bundesliga had started in mid-August. In the end Schalke earned 17 Million Euros from transfers, but paid more then 36 Million Euros for new players amongst them Raul, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and José Manuel Jurado.

After last the successful season the believe of the Schalke management and fans in Magath were massive that this season he could once more pull off some of his magic with the new set of players. Some even dreamt of the championship, but so far the club has done well in the UEFA Champions League, okay in the German Cup to stay in the competition, but they are 17th in the Bundesliga after yesterday's loss against Bayer 04 Leverkusen with only six points from 10 matches.

Yesterday I live watched the Schalke vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen match at the Arena auf Schalke and it was a real tragedy. Schalke didn't seem to have a team on the pitch, while a far from convincing Leverkusen were just a little better to win by a lone goal to worsen the crisis at Schalke. What looked worrying was the fact that there were no positives from the game which could give the club faithfuls any hope that things could change before the winter break. Also the club fans off the field were as lifeless as the team on the field as many left early and there was no real protest against the team and coach. Insiders say a worrying sign for a club which is close to their fans.

Magath also seemed to have no clue what was happening. He even made blunders on the field, e.g. after the break attacking midfielder Ivan Rakitic was put into the left back position in place of the injured Lukas Schmitz and he looked totally out of sorts. For Magath and Schalke it will be a steep mountain to climb as relegation could put the clubs existence at stake and last seasons relegation of Hertha BSC Berlin should be a warning.