Sunderland's Best Starting XI For The 2015-16 Season
Who will make the cut for The Black Cats this season?
After last season's disappointing turn out, many changes have and will be made at Sunderland. We've brought in some potentially season-changing players and gotten rid of some dead weight (let's be serious, Santiago Vergini was never really going to cut it).
When September 1st comes and all the deals are over the line, the hardest part will be choosing the strongest eleven (providing all players are fit) to compete in the league. How can one choose between Coates and Kaboul? Or Pantilimon and Mannone?
We'll be looking at the existing squad members, players recently arriving at the club and potential signings that we are linked with. Also, don't be surprised if you don't see Will Buckley or Liam Bridcutt on the list. It's assumed that they're either departing, or not playing again. Ever.
18. GK - Costel Pantilimon
After an an extremely successful season in between the sticks for Sunderland (where he conceded less goals than David De Gea, and also had a better saves per goal ratio and equalled the Spaniard's clean sheets tally of eleven) you can't look past big Costel. As talented as Vito Mannone is, it's hard to see the colossal Romanian being kept out of the Sunderland side.