Last season, Vito Mannone finally overcame the threat of Costel Pantilimon when the giant Romanian was sold. This made Mannone the number one goalkeeper again at Sunderland. However, a young star was rising and putting pressure on the Italian.
After a successful loan spell in the Championship with Preston North End, he also cemented his place in the England U-21 side. The young shot-stopper Jordan Pickford was making many sit up and take notice. A new battle to be Sunderland’s number one was only just beginning.
The Battle To Be Sunderland’s Number One
Both keepers impressed new manager David Moyes during the pre-season; however, the experience of the Italian made Moyes stick with him as the new season got underway. With several games played, Mannone was injured and Pickford stepped in. With Moyes’ number one likely to be out for several months, Portugese stopper Mika was brought in to challenge the young Englishman.
Pickford established himself quickly with a string of excellent performances for a side struggling at the bottom of the table. His form has led to not only becoming a fan favourite, but it has also seen him selected twice for the senior national squad.
Mannone has now started to regain fitness and is on the verge of being match-fit for the first team. He has stated that although young Pickford has performed brilliantly, he wants his place back.
Let’s not forget Mika too.
The former Boavista keeper will not take too kindly to being third-choice at his new club, even though he has yet to feature for the first team. Let’s look at the three goalkeepers battling it out for Sunderland’s number one spot.
Vito Mannone
The Italian has been in and out of the side since his arrival from Arsenal in 2013. Fans have seen him perform heroically in relegation scraps and domestic cup adventures. His penalty saves in the League Cup semi-final at Old Trafford will stay with supporters forever.
They have also seen the opposite, with poor form, decision-making and an inability to deal with balls into the box on a consistent basis.
He lost his place soon after a 8-0 defeat at Southampton and struggled to get back into the first team. At the end of 2015 he was ultimately given another chance, kept his place and earned praise from both the manager and the fans.
He has proven to be an excellent shot-stopper. He has plenty of experience now at the Premier League level and in dealing with the pressures of a relegation battle. He is also an excellent professional who, when he has lost his place, has not complained and has battled his way back into contention.
There is little doubt that Mannone is a good keeper and with time still on his side he could improve on those parts of his game that have failed him from time to time. The Black Cats could certainly, and have in the past, do a lot worse than him.
Jordan Pickford
The youngster is one of Sunderland’s own and is becoming a real fan favourite. The potential of Pickford was seen many years ago in his hometown. Over the past 18 months, many have begun to sit up and take notice of this young Englishman.
Pickford’s form for England’s U-21 side and Preston ended Costel Pantilimon’s time on Wearside, as Sam Allardyce recalled him from the loan. He put Pickford into the first team squad and promptly sold the giant keeper before a clause was triggered in the Romanian’s contact. He was an understudy last season, but performed well for club and country when called upon.
After watching both keepers during the pre-season, new manager David Moyes had a tough call to make. He opted for Mannone. However, when the Italian was injured, Pickford grabbed his chance with both hands.
His shot-stopping, distribution and communication skills shown for the U-21’s are translating to the Premier League level. His performances have also earned him two callups to Gareth Southgate’s England squad as of late. He is currently only behind Burnley’s Tom Heaton in shots saved.
He will certainly not want to be relinquishing the number one spot anytime soon.
Sunderland know there are other managers and clubs looking at the highly-rated youngster. To drop him now may not only damage his confidence, but it may attract the vultures who will pounce if given the slightest chance.
The Black Cats could have a keeper who could hold the number one spot for many years to come and also become a regular England international. The trouble is, can Sunderland keep him out of the clutches of the so-called “bigger clubs”? Can they also match the youngster’s ambitions in the near future?
Mika (Michael Simões Domingues)
Definitely the outsider in this battle, Mika has experience in Portugal’s top division and has represented his country at the U-21 level. He impressed many as a youth international early in his career. At the 2011 U-20 World Cup, he helped Portugal to the final without conceding a goal. He saved three penalties in the quarter-finals as well. He was unsurprisingly voted goalkeeper of the tournament.
However, his experience in the Premier League consists of watching matches from the dugout. Certainly a capable keeper, he is one with the potential to win a game. His inexperience at this level is a negative against him though. This will see him only being called up to the first eleven due to an injury or poor form.
The Last Word
If Sunderland want to keep hold of one of, if not the best young keeper in England, then Pickford must remain the number one. His performances have made him a certainty to remain in the team for at least the foreseeable future.
However, if the Black Cats did cash in on the star, and there would be several willing to pay big money, they have a very capable goalkeeper in Vito Mannone waiting in the wings. A backup is also at the club in Mika, meaning the profits could be spent elsewhere.
With that being said, there will be very few Sunderland supporters wishing to see one of their own leave anytime soon.
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