Schalke's goalkeeping woes have become the talk of the town in the Ruhr area. With an astounding 33 goals conceded in just 15 league games, the second division team is teetering on the brink of the third division, and fans need to be in the know.
Ralf Fährmann (35, contract until 2025, 5 games, 11 goals conceded)
The venerable Fährmann faces criticism from the club's management due to his declining fitness and inconsistent form. With three injuries this season already, his continued presence between the posts is more a result of his rival's weaknesses than his own strengths.
Justin Heekeren (23, contract until 2025, 2 games, 4 goals conceded)
Former coach Thomas Reis and interim coach Matthias Kreutzer harbored hopes of molding Heekeren into a regular player. However, the harsh reality of his limitations has dampened that dream. While Heekeren excels in opening up play, his deficiencies in core keeper duties, particularly on the line, outweigh his strengths.
Marius Müller (30, contract until 2025, 6 games, 11 goals conceded)
After recovering from his September adductor tear, Müller is reportedly making good progress and could return to the Schalke team as soon as the second-round opener against HSV on January 20th. With his impressive performances previously, a resurgence of Müller in goal could be the rescue transfer Schalke so desperately needs.
The enrichment data reveals that there's uncertainty surrounding the future of Schalke's current number one goalkeeper, Alexander Nübel, whose contract expires in 2020, and he's not keen on extending it. This potential departure could further destabilize Schalke's goalkeeping department, heightening the risk of relegation.
In the face of these challenges, Schalke finds itself at a crossroads. Relying on their younger goalkeepers, recruiting a new stopper, or improving team dynamics are all potential solutions to the goalkeeping crisis.
But one thing's for sure: with an alarming 33 goals conceded in 15 league games, every Schalke fan should pay close attention to the situation.
