The obligatory goalkeeper change in the middle of the season: Schalke 04 just can’t help it. Thomas Reis also forces a change between the posts, so that Ralf Fährmann is number one again for the time being. Will this decision pay off?
It seems to be a challenge for Schalke to consistently rely on the number one installed in the summer and thus before the season for a season. Mid-season changes have been made between the posts for years. Now again: Ralf Fährmann is back in the blue and white box.
Thomas Reis surprisingly decided to do this – and without warning. Although it has been mentioned here and there that the keeper is always at his best and very committed in training, while Alexander Schwolow was certainly not a secure backing, this change was undoubtedly a big surprise.
“The coach honored my training performance,” said Fährmann after the 0-0 draw against 1. FC Köln (via Sport1). Accordingly, he tried to fulfill his “duty as Schalke”. He wants to “give the boys the Schalke gene” and fight for points.
The fact that he played a game without conceding will have done him good. But the whole truth was also: Effzeh didn’t put a shot directly on the 34-year-old’s case. Nevertheless, he was able to distinguish himself in several actions. Especially with the ball at his feet, he seems to have improved.
After the game, Reis explained the starting point for his decision: “When I started at Schalke, the percentage was 51:49 percent. I decided then that Alex [Schwolow] would stay in goal.”
Now, however, Fährmann “always gave full throttle in training and also supported his colleagues”. That’s why he now thought it made sense to speculate that “especially in our difficult situation, a new impetus will arise”. After all, the goalkeeper is also “Schalker through and through”.
Now the big question is: Was this mission just a one-time attempt by Reis or is the ferryman – at least for the time being – the number one?
The latter is the case. The coach will continue to rely on ferryman for the time being. There are no “regular place guarantees until the end of the season”, and for no one. “But the plan is for Ralle to stay in goal for now,” said Reis. This change applies “until further notice”.
There seems to be no right or wrong in this decision. After all, Schwolow was not necessarily bad either, but too often too insecure (especially in the air) and at the same time not a keeper who sometimes saves a point from a relegation candidate. The new number one won’t work miracles in this regard, but it might be able to provide a little more stability.
This article was originally published on 90min.com/de as Ralf Fährmann again number one at Schalke: The right decision? released.
