Wednesday, 26th November, 2014
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar has insisted that he is not being too harsh on Simon Mignolet by calling the Belgian worse than Dracula.
Mignolet, who joined the Reds from Sunderland last summer, has struggled between the sticks at Anfield, regularly conceding goals.
The 26-year-old has thus far managed to keep just two clean sheets in 17 appearances in all competitions this season, as Liverpool have struggled.
And Grobbelaar, who played for Liverpool between 1981 and 1994, feels Mignolet’s reluctance to come off his line is a major reason behind Liverpool’s shambolic form in the present campaign.
The South African was looked down upon by Liverpool fans for pointing out Mignolet’s mistakes last season, but Grobbelaar explained that he was never too harsh on him.
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“I've always said that [Mignolet is the problem]. I've said that he doesn't command his area”, he told the BBC.
“Yes he's a great shot-stopper. I was slaughtered last year by Liverpool fans saying I'm being too harsh on him. I'm not being too harsh on him, not at all.
“I've likened him to being worse than Dracula, because at least Dracula comes out of his coffin now and then.
“He seems to stay on his line and that's it.
“That whole area, the 18 yard area, not the six yard area, is the goalkeeper's.
“And in this day and age, in modern goalkeeping, if you come out and catch the ball and you get smacked, you're going to get the foul. That's not rocket science.
“And he's a big lad. As soon as that ball is in the air, get out, come for it. You're going to get a lot more fouls going for you than you are going to get going in the back of the net.”
Mignolet, whose present deal with Liverpool runs until 2018, has thus far amassed 57 appearances for the club, keeping just 12 clean sheets.
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