“I’ve been a goalkeeper all my life. I’ve never made a mistake like that, to be honest. I don’t really know what happened, I was surprised myself.” Robbin Ruiter is, of course, talking about that free-kick from George Saville, that found its way into the net on a surreal afternoon at the Stadium of Light. He makes no attempt to play down the error, and admits that the reaction from fans was only to be expected. To those on the outside, Ruiter’s nightmare and that of his opposite number Jordan Archer was comic gold. Footage of the Sky Sports Soccer Saturday panel in stitches went viral, and there were few ‘banter’ accounts on social media that didn’t take advantage of the bloopers reel. On Wearside, it was the low point of a season where goalkeeping has been a major issue. Ruiter has impressed at times, but neither he or Jason Steele has nailed down the number one spot, the constant rotation symbolic at a club where the slide has shown no signs of halting. Many would have expected another change after the Millwall game, but a superb reflex save in the second half convinced Coleman to stick with Ruiter. At Burton, the elusive clean sheet arrived. Ruiter hopes that ‘unbelievably good’ feeling is a turning point. “The manager had faith in me,” he said. “The main thing from the manager is that I showed him that I can deal with the mistakes, I showed him in that second half against Millwall. “I came for crosses, made important saves in the second half, and I think that was one of the main reasons that he showed faith in me for Villa. “It has been a really difficult situation [this season]. The changes between Steeley and me were not good for either of us. “As a goalkeeper you want the confidence of the manager and we didn’t really know what was what. “One week I played really well, and then the next game I was on the bench, and the same thing happened to Steeley. “You mentioned my mistake against Millwall and everybody has written and spoken about it, but I think that I stood up well in the second half and made a good save at a crucial moment in the game at 2-2, and that is the important thing for a goalkeeper. “A striker can miss 10 chances, but can then score the winner in extra time. A goalkeeper can make a thousand saves, but if he makes a mistake at the end which costs the game, he is the loser. “I’m experienced enough to deal with that, and I think I showed that. “Of course, I was really glad that the new manager gave me the confidence that I needed.” Ruiter speaks warmly of former manager Simon Grayson, but hopes that Coleman’s preference for patient build-up from the back will allow him to flourish and show his best qualities. “Of course it is different, but I say it like that then it sounds like I am being negative towards Simon,” Ruiter says. “It wasn’t like that. Simon was a great guy and he tried to give his best, everyone did. Chris Coleman is a different manager, he thinks differently about the game. “He tries to helps us in different situations to the way that Simon did. I am not saying that one thing is better than the other, but for me this fits more for the way that I think about football and how we think in Holland. “It’s a different country for me, a different style of football, and I am really happy that we are starting to play football from the back now because that is more what I am used to in Holland. “I don’t think that we have the players to play kick and rush all the time, sometimes the game needs that but I think that we have quality and players to play football on the floor and to make the chances and goals. “We are all working on it. It is not something that you can fit in one day to the other. It’s a process, a project, it’s for the manager to get it into the team. “In the beginning we only focused on the attacking side of the football, but now we are looking at the defence. It is really important to defend together as a team and attack together as a team. “You need everyone to defend when you are looking to tighten things up. “Over the next few months and weeks I think you will see a big difference in the way that we play. Coleman’s arrival has seen positivity sweep the club, and Ruiter is no different. “You guys haven’t seen the best of me yet”, he says. If Sunderland are to get away from trouble he will have to be right.
I actually think that all the chopping and changing of the keepers has been a factor why neither Steele or Ruiter have hit any kind of form. To be honest neither one of them are world beaters, but to have your confidence knocked by being dropped on a regular basis isn't going to make you better. Lets hope that Coleman can install some self belief in the guy...god knows he needs it.
I would be interested to read what the fans of his previous club think of him. I'm sure the I read somewhere that he came to us with a good reputation, so perhaps it is all down to the confidence thing. Time will tell.
I like the way he’s hinted at Coleman being a better coach without saying it. For me everyone gets a clean slate, let’s see how they step up now. Coleman is incredibly high profile at the moment after what he did with Wales and if the players can’t step up for him I’ve no doubt he will stand firm and move them on or not use them. The difference not just in 2 improves performance but the general feel about the club is quite marked, actually looking forward to the game for first time in a while which is nice to have back!
We need a settled back 5. Same defence for Colemans first two games and look....a clean sheet. (may regret this come Saturday but confident we will carry on the good work)
Agreed. I know we all think JOS is finished but my pals who went said he was superb on Saturday organising the line. I’m sure folk who went on here will be able to confirm or deny. Backlines need to understand each other, we all were amazed how good Kone and Kaboul came after a run of games, bearing in mind Kaboul had never looked right for us previously.
From what I've seen this season my 7 year old daughter could cause Steele problems from a corner - but Ruiter is normally good at corners and crosses. Ruiter can;t stop shots but Steele is a good shot stopper. I think a hybrid of the 2 would be a pretty decent keeper (the other hybrid would be the worst seen ever!) Let's ge those scientists on it!! Hoping that a few games on the bounce, clean sheet on Saturday and a few good displays will bring the confidence back.
If they were both 19 year old you'd say "I see a few promising things but still a lot that needs work" - but they're both in their "Prime" and those mistakes should be removed from their game to play at this level!
Steele wasnt even first choice keeper for a relegated Blackburn side last season so he came to us with his confidence already in pieces. Ruiters probably the best of a bad bunch unless we bring someone in in Jan. I heard we were after Liverpools 3rd choice keeper on loan. I cant remember his name?
Aye Danny Ward. Coleman gave him his Wales debut so likely something in it, always been rated but never got a chance at Liverpool.
I do feel that Ruiter is a confidence keeper a bit like Mannone and the uncertainty over his position will not have helped. The negativity towards our keepers is a big factor but with a positive hat on we may see an improved Ruiter against Reading -hopefully no long shots at him though . Saying that I'm not really too sure but I see Styrick is back here
Let's see how he gets on in December. If he can show his worth against a range of sides it gives Coleman less to have to fix with the minuscule budget he has. Can we club together to take Rodwell out, freeing up wages for 3-4 good players in Jan?
