Here is a look at and projection of the 2009-2010 Bundesliga season’s runners-up:

Players In: Christoph Metzelder (centre back, free transfer), Erik Jendrišek (striker, free transfer), Tim Hoogland (right back, free transfer), Raúl (striker, free transfer), Kyriakos Papadopoulos (centre back, €2.5 million), Atsuto Uchida (right back, €1.3 million), Sergio Escudero (left back, €2.4 million), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (striker, undisclosed fee, but rumored to be about €13 million), José Jurado (attacking midfielder, undisclosed fee, but rumored to be about €13 million), Nicolas Plestan (centre back, undisclosed fee), Ciprian Deac (left winger, €3 million)

Players Out: Zé Roberto (attacking midfielder, undisclosed fee), Kevin Kurányi (striker, free transfer), Gerald Asamoah (right winger, free transfer), Marcelo Bordon (centre back, free transfer), Carlos Grossmüller (central midfielder, free transfer), Vicente Sánchez (striker, free transfer), Rafinha (right back, €8 million), Heiko Westermann (centre back, €7.5 million), reserve team player, and those out on loan

Strengths: Attacking Midfielders, with Ivan Rakitić, José Jurado, Alexander Baumjohann and Levan Kenia, Schalke have a great, young attacking midfield. Their defensive midfielders are also great, with Peer Kluge, Vasileios Pliatsikas, Jermaine Jones, Joël Matip and to some extent Christoph Moritz making up the core.

Weaknesses: Centre Backs, Schalke do have great centre backs in Benedikt Höwedes, Christoph Metzelder, Nicolas Plestan and talented youngster Kyriakos Papadopoulos, but could use another player to cover. They do have youngsters and other players to fill in, however Schalke could still use another natural player in that position.

Projected Place: 2nd

Overall: Schalke have a good team and should challenge for the Bundesliga title.