Here’s a rumour I didn’t expect to see any time soon: Manchester United are hot on the trail of ex-Arsenal goalkeeper, Vito Mannone. That’s according to The Mirror, at least. Strange world, eh?
It’s strange because he was something of a disaster during his time with the Gunners. I think back to his loan move to Barnsley, where in a game against Preston North End, he punched a cross onto Patrick Agyemang’s head, who diligently nodded home. This was back in 2006, but he didn’t exactly cut the errors out during the intervening years.
Do you recall Arsenal’s clash with Standard Liege back in September 2009, when he conceded two goals within five minutes that he should have saved (one was a near post effort from Eliaquim Mangala, a man who’s currently being touted around the Premier League)?
Fast-forward to 2011, when Arsene Wenger brought Vito Mannone into the first team for a Champions League clash against Olympiakos. Mannone, conceded three times (and was directly at fault for one of the goals) as Arsenal lost the game and finished second in their group.
Hopefully you get the point now. If you look back through Vito Mannone’s career, you’ll find a litany of mistakes. In that sense, it’s difficult to understand why David Moyes is interested.
But it’s worth noting how well he’s done at Sunderland this season. Whilst the club has struggled, Mannone has often stood out, displaying an uncharacteristically cool head, good positioning and fine shot-stopping ability. Having a regular run of games seems to have brought the best out of the Italian. So who knows, maybe he is ready for the step up?
It’s thought that he would play second fiddle to David De Gea and act as a replacement for Anders Lindegaard, who could well be on his way out of Old Trafford.
I’m sure United fans wouldn’t be particularly glad to see this deal go ahead. They’d probably be subject to a few quips and it probably wouldn’t further David Moyes’ reputation (not initially at least). But there really would be little to complain about.
As second choice goalkeepers go, Vito Mannone isn’t a bad option. He’s managed to prove himself in the Premier League, has ‘big club’ experience and probably wouldn’t mind playing second fiddle. That sounds like a good fit to me.
What’s your take? Should Manchester United really move in for this Arsenal reject?
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He made mistakes when he was younger but he holds a clean sheets record in the Championship I think, and his more recent performances for Arsenal were really very good. Keepers don’t usually develop till much later which is why you see so few 20 year olds in goal! It doesn’t surprise me in the least that he’s doing well at Sunderland and he wouldn’t be a bad 2nd option for a top club at all. Imo he should stay where he is for a bit and continue building his experience and confidence because he could surprise people and become a very good keeper.
NO