A former player had a night to forget on the international stage on Thursday, earning as low as a 1/10 rating.
Sunderland have produced some great players in the past. And they’re producing some more now.
Owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus along with sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has got the production line firing once again.
Some hugely exciting names are coming out of the academy right now with Real Madrid and Manchester United target Chris Rigg the pick of the bunch.
Elsewhere, names like Tom Watson continue to shine, whilst the Black Cats recruit top youngsters from elsewhere too.
Jobe Bellingham is one who looks set to go on to big things in his career, and he’s just one of several Sunderland players set to make a name for himself.
Expect focus to remain on the academy. The likes of Anthony Patterson and Dan Neil have shown that there’s a path to the first-team.
And before, the likes of Jordan Pickford did so as well. But Pickford is in headlines for all the wrong reasons right now.
- READ MORE: Five Sunderland players from way back who are still playing today, including 2008 academy graduate
Media slam Jordan Pickford after England defeat vs Greece
England played Greece in a Nations League game at Wembley on Thursday night, with Lee Carsley’s men eventually losing the game 2-1.
It was a painful watch for England fans as the Greeks scored a 94th minute goal to move to the top of Group 2.
Several England stars have come under criticism. But perhaps none more so than Jordan Pickford.
The former Black Cats academy graduate, who is also the Sunderland’s most expensive player sale at £28.5million to Everton in 2017, now has 72 caps to his name.
He’s been on of England’ best in recent years. But Pickford was slammed after Greece, with talkSPORT giving him a 1/10 rating.
The Guardian rated Pickford a 4/10, writing: “Spread panic with a horror moment in possession early on and continued to struggle. Had no chance with Greece’s goals.”
Meanwhile, GOAL also gave Pickford a 4/10 rating, adding: “Set the tone for the evening with some haphazard antics in the opening exchanges of the game.
“A little unclear if his long-range kicking helped England or if he was just showing off.”
Anthony Patterson could be a future England no.1
Pickford certainly failed to impress against Greece. But it remains true that he’s one of England’s best players, and perhaps the nation’s best-ever goalkeeper.
Coming from Sunderland, he’s shown the likes of Patterson and more that there’s a route all the way to the top from the Academy of Light.
And Patterson is certainly on track to one day challenge for a spot in the England team.
He’s one of the best young goalkeepers in the country, shown by recent links to Manchester United.
If he can eventually get a no.1 spot in the Premier League, Patterson could quickly come into the England thinking.