Roker Report's Player Of The Month: Vito Mannone

Another Roker Report Player Of The Month has been crowned following a monster month of games which started (for us) and ended with games against Southampton.

The triumphant victor this month is your friend and mine, Vito Mannone, who narrowly pips Adam Johnson and Liam Bridcutt to the title.

Johnson can feel somewhat disappointed that he didn't manage to take the top gong, however in another month the likes of Mannone, Bridcutt, John O'Shea and Lee Cattermole all put in scores which would have likely given them the win.

All in all though, it can't be too disappointing to see that so many players were in with a shout.

Here's what some of our writers thought of Mannone's month...

Michael Graham: I absolutely love Vito Mannone. There can surely be fewer greater natural elixiral highs on the planet than being on the receiving end of a Mannone man-hug.

What a great month he has had too. Given his heroics against Southampton, Stoke and Manchester United, he most certainly deserved his afternoon off against Newcastle...

Gareth Barker: Since he came into the side at Hull, Vito has been immense. He's been as good as Simon Mignolet, which is testament to a keeper whose signing was severely questioned over the summer. He's more than taken his opportunity and will be forever remembered for that night in Manchester. He seems to be loving his football at Sunderland and the fans seem to be loving him. If he fancies being the hero on March 2nd, I certainly won't object.

Craig Clark: Amazing to think Vito Mannone looked every inch the comedy 'keeper we feared he'd be when he played against MK Dons in the League Cup many months ago. Turns out he's the complete opposite. Actually, I think he's better than Simon Mignolet. Sunderland always seem to come up trumps with bargain goalies and Mannone is certainly following in the footsteps of predecessors including the aforementioned Belgian and Thomas Sorensen rather than genuine clowns like Kelvin Davies. Now let's get him tied down to a long term contract.

Chris Weatherspoon: We don't miss Simon Mignolet. I think that sums it up perfectly.

And here's the table for the month with everyone who appeared for us' scores;

Scores up almost universally across the board and encouraging new entries in the chart from the likes of Liam Bridcutt. Hopefully this sort of standard can be kept up and see the club to some Cup Final success and Premier League survival.