This is a season Sunderlands first-choice goalkeeper has followed up an eight-goal thrashing with a calamitous error against his former club that has forced his managers hand to drop him to the bench. His replacement, Costel Pantillimon, is well versed in taking advantage of his team-mates mistakes having replaced Joe Hart for an extended period of time around this time last year. With the Romanian goalkeeper, he was unable to keep Hart on the sidelines however - Vito Mannone will hope Pantillimon hasnt picked up any habits to keep him in the team any longer this time. While Simon Mignolet is picking up his critics at Anfield, he was a revelation at Sunderland. The Belgian goalkeeper was heralded as one of the top goalkeepers in the Premier League during his time at the Stadium of Light, before his every move was analysed and scrutinised to the last sinew in the pressure dome that is Anfield. Sunderland need stability between the posts and at this moment in time, they do not have that. Mignolet may not be the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, but the 2012 Sunderland Player of the Year is a damn sight better than what they currently have battling it out for the number one jersey.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
