Schalke: Saving money and saving face, by Ralf Fahrmann

Schalke was about to have a bit of a conundrum at keeper, but Ralf Fahrmann has stepped in and saved us tons of money and face in one fell swoop.

With the loss of Alexander Nubel, Schalke were somehow yet again caught with their pants half-way down. I say half-way because at least they had the sense to purchase Markus Schubert as they headed into the last year of Nubel’s contract. They also let Ralf Fahrmann go on loan to Norwich, perhaps as a show of faith in Nubel.

As such, Nubel retained the No. 1 spot and the captaincy until the time when he decided he would be leaving for Bayern Munich, at which point he was stripped of everything and Schubert took over.

Schubert wasn’t bad. He was quite good, but he was inadequate at times, and it has since given way to rumors that Schalke would be looking to sign a new No. 1 keeper. Maybe someone like Zach Steffen.

That’s a bad situation for Die Knappen to fall into, having to spend money on a keeper when they really need to funnel money into the attack. But you have to do what you have to do.

Thankfully, they don’t have to do that anymore.

More from Release The Knappen

• Schalke 04: Arkadiusz Milik would take everything, but he’s worth it
• Schalke 04: Ozan Kabak makes Jean-Claire Todibo pass quietly
• Schalke 04: Omar Mascarell the only boost between now and then
• Schalke 04: David Wagner just has to make it to the end of the season
• Schalke 04: At least we still have Weston McKennie

Ralf Fahrmann, arguably the best keeper in club history (certainly the most utilized), has rededicated himself to the club and to returning to the No. 1 role that Nubel took from him mere months before. His words: “I want a fair chance, and when I get it, I am so convinced that I can be No. 1 again. But it is also clear, I don’t want to get anything for free.”

I can’t imagine hearing anything better from him. He wants the, but he doesn’t want it handed to him. Meaning he is ready and willing to duke it out with Markus Schubert for the starting job, which is exactly what we need. We don’t need to buy another No. 1 keeper and we really don’t want to have to buy a No. 2 either. As I said, we need to focus that attention elsewhere.

Fahrmann is saving us both money and face. It sucks that Nubel is leaving like he is, but Fahrmann is a true professional and he was good enough to keep Nubel on the bench prior to this, so he’s good enough to start again.

Thus, Nubel’s exit isn’t nearly as distressing as it might be. Bring Fahrmann back, we’ll be better off because of it.