Robbin Ruiter details bizarre Simon Grayson team selection decisions at Sunderland that left him stunned
Former Sunderland goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter has recalled the unusual circumstances surrounding team selections during Simon Grayson's spell at the Stadium of Light.
Former Sunderland goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter has revealed how Simon Grayson's approach to team selection left him stunned during the club's disastrous 2017-18 Championship campaign.
The Dutchman, who joined Sunderland on a free transfer from FC Utrecht in August 2017, has recalled how he was twice informed he would be starting matches only shortly before kick-off. Ruiter and fellow summer signing Jason Steele competed for the number one position following the departures of Jordan Pickford and Vito Mannone, with Grayson regularly changing his goalkeeper during a difficult opening few months. Speaking about his experiences, Ruiter revealed that he initially believed he had done enough to establish himself in the side after impressing against Cardiff City.
"Steeley [Jason Steele] started the season in goal. That was difficult for me, but in my opinion, in the first couple of games Steeley did alright. I got a debut in a cup game at Carlisle and had a great game. After that, I thought maybe I was going to play in the league. A couple of hours before the next game at Barnsley, I got a text from the goalkeeping coach [Adrian Tucker] saying, 'Heads up. You're starting.'"
Ruiter admitted that the late notice affected his preparation, although he continued to feature in the following matches. "Of course, you always need to be ready, but you have a different approach the day before a game if you know you are starting. It's just a different feeling. I couldn't do much about the goals at Barnsley, and we lost 3-0. I played a couple of games and thought I did alright."
However, despite receiving positive feedback from the goalkeeping coach, Ruiter was unexpectedly dropped for Sunderland's trip to Ipswich Town in September 2017. The goalkeeper subsequently recalled another unexpected selection decision, this time ahead of Grayson's final match in charge against Bolton Wanderers. "A friend of mine came to see me before a game with Bolton Wanderers, and I told him, 'I have a strange feeling I might be playing tonight'. Exactly the same happened. In the dressing room before the game. It was, 'Guys, some changes today: Robbin in goal...' This time it was me explaining to Steeley that I didn't know."
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The match finished 3-3, and Grayson was dismissed shortly afterwards, having won just one of his 15 Championship matches in charge. Ruiter believes the repeated uncertainty made a difficult season even more challenging. "It was not the way you wanted to prepare for a game." The goalkeeper went on to feature under caretaker boss Robbie Stockdale and Chris Coleman, but Sunderland ultimately suffered a second successive relegation to League One.