Tim Krul has found himself being accused of Newcastle United bias over an apparent snub towards Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs.
Voetbal Primeur cover the situation today. They have comments from Krul, who is not having the Sunderland goalkeeper as the Netherlands’ number one yet.
Roefs has been shining at Sunderland since joining them from NEC Nijmegen in the summer transfer window. He quickly established himself as number one at the Stadium of Light and has more than earned that status.
He’s towards the top of the goalkeeping charts in various statistics and has saved Sunderland numerous points already in this campaign.
His impressive performances have led to calls for the Netherlands to give him his shot. The goalkeeper is yet to make his debut for his nation, despite being in the last few squads.
That’s due to Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen. He’s the undisputed number one for Ronald Koeman at this moment in time. He earned that status after seeing off competition from the likes of Mark Flekken over the last few years.
Now it is Roefs who is seen as the main contender. Indeed, Dutch analyst Johan Derksen was recently calling for change when he praised the Sunderland man. Krul, though, isn’t having any of that.
A little Newcastle United and Sunderland bias going on
“I would choose Verbruggen,” Krul told Ziggo Sport before the match between Newcastle United and PSV.
“Roefs is coming, of course, but Verbruggen has been really good for years.”
That led to a response from fellow pundit Boudewijn Zenden, who believes Krul may be letting his old Newcastle association get in the way.
“I understand that, Sunderland and Newcastle United (Krul’s former club) don’t get along that well,” joked the former international, who incidentally played for the Black Cats.
“But Roefs is really making a name for himself. He plays so well every week that he’s being praised extensively.”
