Ally McCoist in complete agreement with what Jamie Carragher’s said about Sunderland player
Ally McCoist and Jamie Carragher have been hugely impressed with Sunderland’s start to the campaign – and a couple of players in particular.
Sunderland are exceeding pre-season expectations, as they sit sixth in the table despite being predicted to go straight back down to the Championship.
Regis Le Bris deserves a lot of praise for building a cohesive squad where each member knows their role, and it has been a key reason for their success.
There have been wobbles along the way, but goalkeeper Robin Roefs has stood up to every challenge he’s faced so far with relative ease.
Jamie Carragher heaps praise on Robin Roefs
Roefs has been incredible for Sunderland since joining from NEC Nijmegen in the summer for a fee of £11.5million.
Speaking on Sky Sports on 22 December, Carragher highlighted the impact Roefs has had for the Black Cats and named the goalkeeper in his Team of the Season so far on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.
He said: “I’m very impressed with him. He has the highest xG prevented (2.77) in the league.
“He has had a brilliant start to his Premier League career with Sunderland, who have one of the best defences in the league. And he’s played a huge part in that.”
| Appearances | 17 |
| Clean sheets | 6 |
| Saves | 59 |
| Save percentage | 77.6% |
| Penalties saved | 1/1 |
McCoist said he totally agreed with Carragher’s choice on talkSPORT on 23 December, and it’s no surprise to see the shot-stopper widely receiving plaudits for his performances.
As a result of his early-season success, Roefs has been called up to the last three international squads with the Netherlands.
Roefs can become a world-class goalkeeper in the future, and his spell in the Premier League can reach even further heights as Sunderland’s defence continues to improve.
One man who can’t go unmentioned is Granit Xhaka, and Carragher certainly hadn’t forgotten about what he has done this season.
Granit Xhaka also included in Jamie Carragher’s Team of the Season
At the Stadium of Light, Xhaka has added an elite level of quality to the team, and he is spearheading Sunderland’s impressive form in the Premier League table.
Xhaka’s impressive performances earned him a nomination for the September Player of the Month award, yet Erling Haaland was announced as the winner on 10 October.
Carragher added: “The impact Xhaka has had is the biggest impact of a signing on a team this season.”
Sunderland have a world-class midfielder on their hands, and he could go down as one of the best players the club has ever had if Le Bris’ side qualify for European football in May.
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