Sunderland’s Robbin Ruiter is talented, but not consistent enough.
Speaking to The Chronicle, Robbin Ruiter praised new Sunderland boss Chris Coleman for giving him confidence by keeping him in the first XI, and says fans haven’t seen the best of him.
Problem is, will they ever get the chance now?
There are bound to be plenty of Black Cats fans who want Coleman to sign another new goalkeeper in January because, so far, Ruiter and Jason Steele don’t inspire the utmost confidence.
Although Ruiter hasn’t done anything wrong in either of the two games under Coleman, the fact of the matter is that the Black Cats cannot rely on him throughout the whole season.
He has proven himself to be too shaky, too unreliable.
He told The Chronicle: “Of course, I was really glad that the new manager gave me the confidence that I needed.
“I know what I am capable of and I know that you guys haven’t seen the best of me yet.”
The former FC Utrecht man’s two calamitous and fatal mistakes in the draw at Millwall were witnessed by Coleman’s number two Kit Symons and it pretty much summed up his Jekyl and Hyde personna.
He is undoubtedly a talented keeper but would Sunderland fans put the house on him performing every week? Of course not, and if he doesn’t inspire the fans then he can’t inspire the players in front of him.
Jason Steele, signed from Blackburn, isn’t much better and the relegation-threatened Black Cats need a top-drawer goalkeeper in January to improve their chances of survival. Ruiter and Steele won’t do.
By the sound of things it seems like Coleman won’t have a huge amount to spend come January, but the former Wales manager must ensure that something is kept aside in the goalkeeper fund. It could make all the difference to their season.
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