I like Colback, he's done good things since the end of last season. Always looks tidy, confident and appears to have time on the ball. Cattermole is a very different player and comparing the two isn't right. Cattermole is either loved or hated by our fans, there doesn't seem to be any middle ground with him. For me, he's class, a proper workhorse who is constantly trying to win the ball for us and set us on his way. To say his passing is crap is rubbish. Yes he gives the ball away from time to (name a player that doesn't) but he tries clever passes that others wouldn't, outside of the foot, lofted diagonal balls, fizzed low passes etc. Sunderland's midfield would be much weaker and we'd have less possession without him. I know people are saying Gardener should start in midfield against the Mags, I can't see it. I reckon Bruce will stick with what's working until it doesn't any longer. For me that means starting Colback. People have said he went missing 1st half for the Liverpool match ... utter bollocks, the whole team went missing bar one or two for the majority of the 1st half when, let's face it Liverpool showed their class.
And how often do they come off? I think he'd be better off keeping it simple. I do like him BTW, and he wins the ball back a lot, I just think that he shouldn't waste it by trying unrealistic passes.
The 1st thing that sprung to my mind there when you said 'keeping it simple' was Henderson. I was never part of the Henderson hype (but I do wish him well being a Sunderland lad) but his sideways/backwards passing was as simple as it comes. Exciting to watch? Defensive piercing passes? Balls for forwards to run onto? Never.
Charlie Nicholas was raving about him on Sky Sports after the Liverpool game. I have seen Colback in the youth and reserve teams. He finised as captain of both after a slow start. Seems the professionals like him, wonder why?
Not like Henderson, that pissed me off, keeping it simple does not have to be backwards or sideways, it can be a short pass forward.
Thing is mate, it's Premiership. Teams don't (or shouldn't) let you have simple passes forward. Clever, unexpected balls are often the only way to slide a man in. Anyway getting sidetracked from the OP. For me Colback is a starter (and a good one at that) until he has a bad game. I can't remember him having a bad game since he secured his 1st team place and has obviously continued to impress closed season. Would be a proper kick to the lads confidence if he got dropped from the Derby cos he's done nowt wrong. If things aren't working as they should then we've got a good selection (100% better than last year) of dangerous subs to use.
So i'm not the only one who believes Cattermole is a much better footballer than he's given credit for. I think he's class and i've championed him even when he went through the rough spell with the red cards. If he can stay fit and get a run of 5-10 games, i think we'll see even more what he's all about. He can make some good driving runs, too. Cattermole is a really good player, IMO.
Big fan of Colback and agree with people saying he's neither a more defensive-minded player (Catts) or a goalscoring attacking player (Gardner) - somewhere in the middle, a quality all rounder. He's got potential, that much is abundantly clear. However I'm going to agree with FlagFlyingHigh in that I really do rate Cattermole, and I think (hope) this season we get to see what he's properly capable of, as opposed to a bit of an up-and-down year last time out with injury and suspensions. Adding to that, I'm going to agree with Steve Bruce in that we didn't pose enough of a threat from CM last season (or the past ten...) so we've gone and got Gardner. For me, our first choice midfield has to be: Larsson - Cattermole - Gardner - Kranjcar (!). Class. Colback, massive faith in him, I think he could be brilliant and he certainly looks like a valuable squad player, but he's still the future for me, not quite the present. In football manager I'd play him whenever I need to rest somebody/the win is wrapped up/it's not an important game.
John you made me laugh when i read this, Colbeck is class and will only get better to buy him now we would have to shell out 7 to 10 mill that's how good he is, would be nice to refrain from insults to the lads here as well, a sorry would help
Now you say that, I can see it. Not now of course, but he is heading in the same direction as scholes. Lets see if we are calling him satnav in a season or 2....
Yes it does... Dont know how colback is going to do, or how many games he will play, still got meyler to come back yet. But one thing is for sure he is another decent player being churned out, and we cant lose money on him.
