please log in to view this image The Big Interview:Catts opens up about injury setbacks Having missed the majority of last season through injury, midfielder Lee Cattermole is keen to make up for lost time. The 29-year-old’s welcome return to action as his fully-fit self was surely a joy to behold for his team-mates and fans alike this summer. Lee, it’s great to see you back in the thick of the action, how’s life under the new gaffer? LC: “It’s been good. Everything he’s brought to the club so far is exactly what we’ve needed. He’s a great fit for the job and the club and, hopefully, that will continue. It’s been refreshing and that’s what he asks for in his team and in his players as a standard level. That suits me down to the ground. That’s how I’ve made my career; on my effort and work-rate and on my honesty to go and do my best. If we can get that from the group it will be amazing how far we can go.” Players will look up to you as one of our longest-serving players, how do you handle that? LC: “I was captain when I was younger and I must have thought I was given it for a reason so I suppose I just carried on playing how I was. Now I’m a bit older I’m more comfortable in my role in that I can go out of my way to maybe help people. You understand a lot more of what comes with the job. We’ve got John (O’Shea) here who is a great help as well, in and around the dressing room, he’s quality. Between us we share the load quite a lot. It’s something I’ll do whether I’m wearing the armband or not.” It’s not just on the grass where the lads may need help and guidance, though, is it? LC: “Exactly. We’ve got a lot of new players here and they have to understand what the club’s about. The more we can get the lads understanding the club and what we think it stands for and how we have seen it be successful, it will only help. That’s part of being a captain and just helping the lads as best you can. If you lead by example that’s great because you are performing well. First and foremost, you’ve got to perform, there’s no point encouraging boys off the pitch then having a nightmare yourself! That’s one thing I’m trying to do at the minute.” How have you changed as a player as your career has progressed? LC: “You have to understand your body. That’s the biggest thing for me. I’ve had a lot of injuries so you start to become aware of what you need to do to maintain or improve your fitness, or give yourself the best possible chance of performing. That comes with experience and maturity, I’m a much better player now than what I was five years ago. Some might say I had more energy in me and I’m still enjoying it, which is great. I’m enjoying it more in the last seven or eight weeks than in the last couple of years in terms of how I’ve felt being out on the training pitch like wanting to stay out there and work on my game to improve. That comes down to being in good shape.” Are you enjoying your football more now having missed a big chunk of last season through injury? LC: “No one likes to miss games or training. I had a serious operation which is quite rare, really. For me to see the benefits from it – which I didn’t know would come – I haven’t had any pain or symptoms from the past, which is great. That’s where the buzz comes from. I’ve played for two or three years in the Premier League where I’ve been really struggling. I’m excited now to say, ‘let’s get five or 10 games in’ but I have to take it one game at a time and keep doing the stuff I did in the summer.” Is there a difficult balancing act in being ambitious but also being realistic in terms of aim this season? LC: “We’re talking already as a group that we haven’t played anywhere near as good as we know we’re capable of. It’s going to be a tough season and we have to take it a game at a time, keep our feet on the ground. There’s a lot of work to be done and a lot of games to come. We have to forget about our last game and move on. This league’s about just remembering what makes you a good team, which is your work-rate and commitment. Once you start getting ahead of yourself, especially dropping down, if you think you’re better than what you are, you’ll get punished. It’s the same in the Premier League if you win a game you think ‘we’re onto something here’, that’s when it can bite you.” please log in to view this image WEARSIDE BY SIDE please log in to view this image
Not a fan of Catts, he and JoS are way below top level, and are two of the many reasons why we are where we are, but he is not the liability at this level as he was in the Premiership, and that is all I can say about him.
No way you can blame Catts for our situation mate! Or even JoS! I'm not a fan of JoS by the way. Our problem is off the pitch not on it. Catts hardly played last season. Blaming players for our situation is far too short-sighted.
Don't think Cats attitude and service can ever be questioned(Begs the question, what do you want from him?). Always plays for the shirt. He's been the one constant of 100% effort throughout all this. He hasn't been a liability for a very very long time and I ain't going to hold an injury against him either. Any chance of more details as to why you think he's part of the problem? If you can find a single shred of evidence he's been any part responsible for our fall from grace I'd be interested to see it.
For me both players are over rated, and surely the team on the pitch must bear some responsibility for the results, which simply have not been anywhere near good enough. I stated that they were two of the many reasons, and do not think my opinion is short sighted in the least.
Harsh, very harsh IMO. Those two players have given their all for the shirt and are two of the ones every single manager has kept and had faith in. Might not be the greatest of players but to put some blame their way is harsh.
You're totally entitled to your opinions on the players mate. That's you're right as a paying fan (I think you're a season ticket holder?). You said, they're 2 of many reasons, but in my opinion, picking on Catts is particularly unfair. He's always given, in my view, 100%, which has been some of his problem, leading to far too many yellow and red cards. I wasn't, or didn't mean to disparage your view on what's wrong with the club mate. I just don't think Catts is one of the many problems with the club.
Both are far too slow and easily put under pressure and lack the quality required to lead by example on the field of play, although I am sure their is a counter opinion I don't mind being a lone voice on this one.
I agree with you to a certain extent on this. Cattermole's attitude and effort is exemplary but at premier league level he is a very average player. The fact that he remained as a first choice (when fit) and was considered by many to be one of our better players speaks volumes about our stagnation and lack of progress over the last few years imo.
i think his mind set needed to be changed to allow room for improvement in going forward ,cannot fault his commitment only his application mostly involving the red mist and reckless tackles ,perhaps age and injuries has served as a benefit.
Common myth nowadays - which is a factor I why I believe a lot of people think he's overrated. Catt's hasn't been reckless for years, it was his early career which no doubt he was and I think a lot of referee's have him marked because of this reputation when younger. Just checked and he hasn't been red-carded since Hull in November 2013.
Have a look at his disciplinary record over the last few seasons. It's not nearly as bad as people think. No red cards in over 2 years now.
Yeah Catts' reputation among some people as a thug is a load of bollocks. Even when he was actually getting red cards it was usually because he was too slow or used bad judgment rather than the red mist. Now he's had his operation and once he's got his fitness up to scratch he'll be a valuable player. Even playing with an injury he was.
Don't understand why it's a surprise to you though, do you even watch the games because if you did you'd know that he's not the same player who would dive in recklessly and give away fouls all the time.
People saying he's an "average premier league player" - I wish we were an Average premier league team!!
