We Need A Pretty Goalkeeper: Schalke 04 Preview!

By: Abby | March 22nd, 2008

The next visitors to the Olympiastadion, challenging our six-game unbeaten streak, are Schalke 04. Currently ranked fifth in the table, the only German side in the Champions League quarterfinals, and in a good run of form themselves, they’ll be a stern test. They’re in good form, they have a lot to play for, and they have a very solid (if not always spectacular) team.

They also have one of the current crop of attractive young German goalkeepers, 21-year-old Manuel Neuer. I pay very close attention to goalkeepers, especially if they’re around my age and pretty. Also talented. Manuel Neuer counts on all of those levels. While he’s not as flawless this season as he was last time around, he’s still good enough when he’s on to stop anyone.

Also, he’s blond and pretty and adorable. Did I mention that? I think we need one of those. Not that I don’t like Drobny, he’s done a good job, but he’s not much to look at, is he? I have to go to other teams to find pretty young goalkeepers. If I was in charge of Hertha, we’d find one of our own to charm supporters and opposition alike.

Ahem. Anyway, onto the serious part of the blog (as much as I would like to discuss Manuel Neuer a little more). Unfortunately, we’ll be without Marko Pantelic for Schalke’s visit, which means that we’re without our biggest threat to Manu’s goal. Apparently his leg is infected (thanks to the burst cyst that kept him out of the Hansa Rostock game), which sounds entirely gross. I hope he gets well soon. Other than that there are no injuries, except, of course, the long-standing one to Lucio.

Remember Lucio? The left-back was having a fine first season in the Bundesliga, firing Hertha up the table (including that one day when we were top), before a horrific injury to his knee cut his season short. It was in our last game against Schalke, in fact, that Lucio suffered his injury. There was worry that it would end his career, but the good news is that he’s running again. So far just small amounts, but he’s reportedly pain-free and well on track to be back by pre-season, which is great news.

It should be a good, exciting game with a full crowd in the stadium- over 50,000 tickets have been sold in Berlin for the visit of one of Germany’s most popular sides, and Schalke as usual have sold their entire traveling allotment. It’ll be on GolTV in the evening (hurray!) so I’ll tell you all about it on Monday!