Schalke: Arkadiusz Milik is what Michael Gregoritsch isn’t

Schalke need to sort out their striker situation, and Arkadiusz Milik is one way to finally fix the problem that Michael Gregoritsch isn’t able to.

When we first signed Michael Gregoritsch, I was over the moon. This was padded by Schalke‘s demonstrative win over Borussia Monchengladbach, in which Gregoritsch was just shy of perfect. Pairing with Raman, we counterattacked Monchengladbach to death. They were helpless to stop us.

But since then, in case you haven’t noticed, Gregoritsch has failed. He hasn’t scored a single goal since and, worst of all, Die Knappen have gotten worse and worse, particularly in the attack. Part of that problem comes from Greogitsch not being the kind of striker we need.

But Arkadiusz Milik is. Arkadiusz Milik has made a killing at Napoli serving as the center tower for a free-flowing speed double punch on either side of him—Jose Callejon, Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne all serving to be the perfect completion of a powerful attack.

Schalke have the speed and the free-flowing bit down. With guys like Benito Raman, Ahmed Kutucu, and Rabbi Matondo, we have a young striking corps that can rival what Milik is working with at Napoli. The only thing our three guys are missing is… Arkadiusz Milik.

More from Release The Knappen

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• 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

Milik plays that hold-up style that lets speedy wingers thrive. He takes up space and attention in addition to being a class finisher and that’s what this club needs more than anything right now. Honestly, you lock down that one key requirement and the problems may start to just melt away, all in one fell swoop.

Michael Gregoritsch was supposed to be that guy. I thought he was that guy. He’s big and strong, which would hint at a Milik-type striker, but he doesn’t play that way. He doesn’t spend his time in the box. He plays the game like a speedy striker, like Raman, and rarely ever plants himself with a back to goal.

Maybe David Wagner thought he could mold Gregoritsch, maybe he thought he didn’t need someone like Milik, that Gregoritsch’s style would compliment the counterattacks of his side enough to boost their attack. It’s hard to say. But it’s easy to say that it’s not working. And adjustments have to be made.

The links to Milik are thrilling. So much so that I’m trying so hard not to get my hopes up. But even if not MIlik, we need someone like him. Not someone like Gregoritsch.