The Demise of Schalke, Werder Bremen and Hamburg Revealed

(Photo Credit: Goal.com)

The Bundesliga is one of the most unpredictable leagues in the world and every match day provides a new aura and experience but traditional clubs have fallen and with four games into the new season, Schalke 04, Hamburg and Werder Bremen find themselves in the 16^th, 17^th and 18^th positions, what is the problem and how did happen to such super elite clubs in Europe?

There came a time when Schalke 04 was in the same league as FC Bayern Munich challenging the dominance of the most successful club in Germany. During the 2000-01 seasons Schalke lost the league to Bayern with just a single point but after that the closest the team has come was in the 2009/10 season when they trailed Bayern by five points but everything has changed since then with high hopes at the start of the season falling off as the season progresses. 

Werder Bremen has been in turmoil this season with manager Viktor Skripnik axed after just three games but are we looking at the real Werder Bremen. The last time Werder Bremen won the German Bundesliga came in the 2003/04 season when they led six points at the end of the season. After that season, the team has made two runner-up positions in 2005/06 and 2007/08 and after the team has been on the downward spiral. 

Hamburg has gradually become the Sunderland Football Club of German Football. Why? Because they start seasons hanging out in the last three teams battling relegation and at the dying embers of the league they start getting their stuff together. Bruno Labbadia has done all he could but does Hamburg deserve to battle season in and season out their status as the only German Club to stay in the German topflight. 

Schalke Has Sold More Quality and Now Has Quantity

Schalke 04 somehow became the Arsenal of German transfers but unfortunately the team has lacked the managerial prowess of Arsene Wenger.

Manuel Neuer and Ivan Rakitic have been revelations in their respective teams and have both won the UEFA Champions League.

The transfer of Julian Draxler to Wolfsburg last season and Sane to Manchester City this season has summed up the loss of direction that Schalke finds itself. Young defender Joel Matip who would have competed for the position of best central defender in the world in the next two to three years with the likes of Raphael Varane has been shipped to help Liverpool get back to the pinnacle of world football when Schalke goes further down.

An over-reliance on Klass-Jan Huntelaar has undoubtedly caused the team because without his services, Choupo Moting has not been his former self. 

Werder Bremen Demise Too True To Be Good?

There are certain coaches who make teams theirs and treat it as they would have treated their families. Thomas Schaaf was one coach who combined emotions with a tactical ingenuity to help the club.

The only recognizable memory of Werder fans in Europe in recent seasons was their 2-3 loss to Sampdoria at the Luigi Ferrari in a UEFA Champions League qualify that saw the team enter the group stage for abysmal performances against the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Internazionale Milano. Former hero Claudio Pizarro has returned to the club but his best days are long gone and he is no more the player he once was.

The signing of Serge Gnabry should have helped Werder in the attacking third but Vitkor Skripnik couldn’t do much to salvage the situation.

With the footballing world turning into coaches with playing background, Werder should consider Torsten Frings as with the position they find themselves they have nothing to lose.

Hamburg Still Enjoying “The Only Team That Has Not Been Eliminated From the Bundesliga”

Hamburg has sold quality players in recent seasons but do not have the same quality in their current setup.

Look at Jerome Boateng who left for City and became an English FA Cup winner and with Bayern has won everything there is to win. Jerome is among the top five best central defenders in the modern game. Hamburg benefited in the short-term of getting transfer fees but did the club benefit in the long run?

The talent in world football is currently at the mercy of Germany with Brandt at the center of events. There are no proper developmental packages for players other than Germany so traditional teams like Schalke, Werder and Hamburg should never be in need of quality players. 

Schalke has sold more quality than they have, Bremen has lost an emotional tactician and Hamburg is still focusing on “See What Happens Next Season”.

Teams have their bad runs but clubs with such financial muscle should restructure themselves, hold on to key players and resurrect sooner rather than later because German football needs them in order to gain full control over Europe.