How Robin Roefs is outperforming every keeper Sunderland were linked with in the summer
Robin Roefs has been nothing short of a sensational buy for Sunderland.
With the January transfer window fast approaching, most of the focus is on the players who could head to the Stadium of Light in the near future.
While that’s true, it’s important to think back to the business that was done in the summer as to why those in charge of the deals deserve a lot more patience than we became so accustomed to at Sunderland.
The deal to bring Roefs to Wearside is a prime example of that, and the Black Cats really have struck gold
Who else were Sunderland linked with in the summer?
Roefs has been immense for Sunderland this season, but the likelihood is that he wasnt the first choice target, and possibly not even close.
Marcin Bulka, Djordje Petrovic and Caiomhin Kelleher were all linked with a move to the Stadium of Light, and despite failing to land all of them, Sunderland have somehow managed to sign the best of all, and for the cheapest.
Roefs’ 77.8 per cent save percentage is far and away the best in the Premier League, according to FotMob, with Petrovic and Kelleher 19th and 12th for that specific attribute.
- Roefs – 77.8% save percentage
- Kelleher – 66.7% save percentage
- Bulka – 66.7% save percentage
- 61.1% save percentage
Another key metric for goalkeepers is goal prevented, which is essentially how many goals theyve prevented/conceded compared to the amount they actually should have based on the quality of shot faced.
Again, Roefs is at the top of this stat by some margin, with the other three rumoured targets all underperforming.
- Roefs: 3 goals prevented
- Bulka: -0.31 goals prevented
- Kelleher: -2.3 goals prevented
- Petrovic: -3 goals prevented
The only thing that Roefs could perhaps improve on is his distribution, with his pass accuracy so far this season lower than all of three mentioned.
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Sunderland’s data approach will be used again in January
Last season was only Roefs’ first in senior football, so it’s evident that Sunderland found him through the use of data.
He arrived as an unknown, and he is slowly growing into one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League.
That will again be the approach adopted by the Black Cats in January to some extent, though given their current position, they will also likely target some well-known names to bolster their squad.
However, it goes to show just how much work goes into recruiting these foreign talents, and how more often than not, it will pay off.
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