After selling Simon Mignolet to Liverpool the previous week, Paolo Di Canio added another goalkeeper to his first-team squad by snapping up compatriot Vito Mannone from Arsenal on a two-year contract. The 25-year-old arrives at the Stadium of Light in a deal reported to be in the region of £2m and is the sixth player to join the Black Cats so far this summer, with Modibo Diakite, Cabral, Valentine Roberge, David Moberg Karlsson and Duncan Whatmore also making their way to Tyneside.
With Di Canio also linked with moves for Jozy Altidore, Benjamin Mendy, Gino Peruzzi and Charas Mavrias, it promises to be a busy next few weeks for the Wearsiders before the season gets underway. Speaking from Di Canio’s 10-day boot camp in Italy, Mannone he is relishing the double-training sessions and defended his manager’s somewhat hard-line approach:
“Pre-season has been tough, like it is at any club. I think sometimes people exaggerate and say that Paolo Di Canio works the players too hard when that is not the case. I know the Italian way and it is about preparation and attention to every detail and from what I have seen in the first few days here, that is what the head coach is concentrating on. I think that is the best way to prepare your body and to prepare the group to go into a big season. I’ve been really impressed because he has kind of mixed the Italian managerial skills with those here in England…Of course, he is a hard worker and that’s what I am too. It’s something good to have in common.”
The History
A product of the Atalanta youth academy, Mannone joined Arsenal back in the summer of 2005 but has rarely featured for the Gunners, despite spending a total of eight years at the north London club. Farmed out on loan to Barnsley in 2006, the Italian made a couple of appearances but was quickly dropped due to poor form and returned to the Emirates after sustaining a knee injury.
Indeed, he has played more league games for Hull – a total of 31 over two loan spells in 2010/11 and 2011/12 – than he has for Arsene Wenger’s side. Prior to last term, Mannone had been afforded a mere six Premier League matches but his manager’s decision to rest Wojciech Szeczesny, allied with an injury to Lukas Fabianski, saw Mannone selected for the first-team on nine occasions. The big stopper has also turned out for the Italy Under 21 side seven times over 2009 and 2010.
The Prospects
With Mignolet now moving on to Merseyside, it looks a straight fight between Mannone and Kieran Westwood for the Sunderland number one jersey next term. As yet, the pecking order remains to be seen but, as Di Canio looks to put his own stamp on the side, the former Arsenal man will fancy his chances of becoming the Wearsiders’ first-choice stopper. Mannone is certainly under no illusions that he must fight to win a starting role…
“We live in a world of competition. I will work and do my best to be in the first eleven, and then the manager will decide. All I can do is try to show what I am capable of.”
Given that Sunderland currently have just two pre-season friendlies currently scheduled, there may well be little opportunity for us to get a heads-up on any resolution – the worst-case scenario would be for Di Canio to alternate the pair over that pair of matches as he assesses his options.
Looking at the Black Cats’ opening schedule, perhaps this isn’t such a bad thing, though. A home opener against Fulham offers promise but Di Canio’s side then welcome Arsenal, Liverpool, United, City, Chelsea and Spurs to the Stadium of Light in six of the next seven in front of their own supporters. As mentioned in our Newcastle/Sunderland Rotation Pairs article, it’s maybe a better idea biding our time with the Sunderland defence, though from Gameweek 20 onwards their home schedule looks outstanding.
While the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) player lists are yet to be released, the Sky Sports prices are perhaps indicative of the cut-price potential likely to be on offer between the sticks for Di Canio’s side; Mannone will set you back 4.2, while Westwood comes in even cheaper, at 3.7. Bearing in mind that Sunderland produced three clean sheets and conceded a single goal on two occasions in Di Canio’s seven matches in charge, they were (aside from a 6-1 drubbing at Villa) relatively resilient in defence and may prove strong value over the season ahead.
The aforementioned risky fixtures may see Fantasy managers scour the market for cut-price rotation alternatives to kick off the FPL season with but come winter wildcard time, Mannone or Westwood will surely be earmarked by many as a strong contender for the latter part of the campaign.
