Unjust decisions against him, or just a dirty player? Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole believes referees are out to get him and he is determined to shed the bad-boy image. Under-pressure manager Steve Bruce substituted the tough-tackling former Middlesbrough and Wigan man after he received his third booking of the season with 20 minutes remaining in the 2-2 draw with West Brom prior to the international break. It was a change designed to protect Cattermole, who has been booked 47 times and sent off on five occasions in domestic competitions since 2005/06, but he defends his record. "I feel like they (the referees) are out there for me at the minute," he said. "Maybe it's my stupid mistakes in the past that have got me that reputation, so I can't sit here and blame everyone else. I have to get rid of that reputation, but it's so hard at the minute when I find myself getting a succession of soft yellow cards. "It affects your game. It's something I have to address, but if you put every foul I've ever made up on the television, I think there'd be one tackle which was actually a bad one. "That was against Scott Parker when I was playing for Wigan and I've spoken to him since to apologise about it. That's the only bad tackle I've made in my career - all the rest have been genuine attempts to win the ball, not nasty attempts to hurt someone." Whinge Cattermole was furious after being substituted against West Brom and believes Baggies midfielder Steven Reid is just one of several players who attempt to paint him as a villain. "The tackle I got booked for wasn't a foul, simple as that," he said. "But it's twice it's happened now with Steven Reid. He's six foot four and he rolls around like a girl, simple as that. "It's twice it's happened and it's a shame. People whinge about the foreigners, but he's a British lad and he's acting like that. I was booked for that challenge, and then the second one was on him again." Captain Cattermole had returned to Sunderland's starting line-up against West Brom having been dropped for the 4-0 win over Stoke. "The gaffer probably changes three players for every game, but as soon as it was me it was a big issue and highlighted everywhere," said Cattermole. "He told me the reasons, asked me if I wanted protecting in the papers and I said I didn't want anything. I just said, 'tell them it's my form and I'll bounce back from it'." .
I, maybe cos of rose tinted glasses, agree with Cattermole here. Refs seems to get the yellow card out a lot easier when they are facing Catts that other players. Next game that Catts comes up against Reid should be interesting...
He's a liability in my view. If he plays he should be subbed as soon as he gets booked as his tackling is the only benefit he gives to the team
I think its a bit of both. i think sometimes he gets yellow cards when other players wouldn't but sometimes he is just daft and gives stupid fouls away. I don't think he's malicious but like rooney he gets the red mist. If it were upto me he definitely wouldn't start against arsenal. the ref will give everything to them and we can do without giving needless free kicks away around our area
I really feel for him. I remember seeing us play Man U I believe, and Catts was booked very early for a nothing challenge really. Just a plain and simple foul, no repeated fouling, not dirty, just because it was him. John O'Shea then committed a foul minutes later which was a nailed on yellow for most players, much worse than Catts fould but the ref gave a free kick and just moved on. Stinks of double standards and its usually the big boys who benefit.
Bit of this, bit of that. His reputation goes against him but he also makes some daft tackles. Dont think he is a dirty player just not a very bright one. His big let down is pace, or lack of it, you see a player getting away from him and just know what is coming, he never lets you down. A brighter player knows he lacks pace so is able to think ahead, Catts cant.
For me its the 'way' he goes into tackles not necessarily the maliciousness or damage done combined with as he states his reputation. It is a shame as he is definately being treated unfairly but he has compounded the situation for himself down the years by being very naive and not rectifying the situation earlier, hence the reputation. Its a shame but for me theres no room for a player like Catts (given he doesnt change) in our team, too much of a liability. Players like Scott Parker, Darren Fletcher, Mikel/Essien etc perform a similar job in breaking up the play, hassling opponents etc without the ongoing threat of their team going down to 10men. For gawds sake even Robbie Savage never got sent off in his career did he?!
I've just read this on Sky Sports website and I thought there'd be a thread on this. The guy is a joke. What on earth is he saying trying to justify all but one of his challenges? He clearly needs the rules explained to him, because he thinks it shouldn't be a booking unless you go in to intentionally hurt the player. He states that other challenges are just mistimed and he's only ever done one bad tackle, which was Scott Parker. What about his challenge on Luka Modric where Modric feared his career was over? What about when he elbowed Gary O'Cokehead and left him with blood pissing from his head? Or in the same game where he tried to end Lee Bowyer's career? Or when he was playing for Boro and tried to snap your own Leadbitter's head off? I could go on... He has also got away with numerous bookings and red cards, the handball on the line vs Stoke last season springs to mind. The be all and end all is, the guy is the dirtiest player that has ever played in the EPL regardless of if he means it or not. Not only that, he's a pathetic footballer who is punching well above his weight. He deserves to be stretchered off for life that guy for the amount of times he has nearly ruined other players' careers.
If it's the same one I'm thinking, the Modric tackle was a good one. Wasnt even a foul in my book. Can't comment on the other instances you mention as I havent seen them.
Modric carrer over?? He played the rest of the game - must have been a delayed non-injury!! Catts played the ball, the ball hit the floor and Cattermoles foot bounced up off the ball - no intention on the man - yet he still got a yellow card - notice you only mention Cattermole did this that and the other, not Gerrard (who has got away with much much more than Cattermole) or Joey Barton (or many others which I don't care to mention) - Also you cannot call him "Dirty" for getting lucky with a handball on the line - he probably expected to get penalised and sent off but got lucky for a change - when you watch the game against Brum last year where he got sent off - Steven Carr, on a yellow card, took out Darren bent on the half way line and we didn't even get e free kick - Cattermole got a yellow card for a nothing shirt tug at first. Catts gets booked because he's Cattermole and for no other reason - He's spot on about Steven Reid 0 myself and my dad said exactly the same - he rolls about like a girl - he pulled out of the second challenge and Reid decided to ensure that he kicked cattermole on the side to try to get him sent off. TIT!!
A bit like Alf Inge Haaland. And when you say you could go on, how about the likes of Keane, Neville or even Scholes. I too could go on.
So do i a great deal of his card are for a bit of blocking in midfield... just free kicks for many others. I might be blinkered but I don't see him make many what I would call "bad" tackles. Compare him to our former guru Mr Keane and he is a saint!
yes we could all go one and one what about grahame souness he could dissguise his dirty play by commiting his fouls in none punishing areas
Well if ya recon the refs have got it in for ya Catts then dont give em an excuse to penilise you by jumping in 2 footed like a ****in bruce lee extra every time then! The guy is a liability in my view!
Twas just a reposte at this Terry Hardacre chap, Vincemac. As far as I'm aware he is a Man U fan, but I've only ever seen him make negative comments (well, slagging off really) regarding anything SAFC. And to me he just seems to come across as sanctimonious for the only reason I can think of- supporting Man U. I'm not having a pop at the fella, its just all I've never been privy to any constructive thoughts on his part.
He has himself to blame, he's an idiot who get's booked, then can't wait to get booked again, it's about time he grew up nd took responsibility for his own actions
As others have said, Catts is a liability and just doesn't seem to learn from his mistakes. His petulance drives me nuts and I think Syd has hit the nail on the head when he says that the lad is a bit thick. It doesn't matter one jot if the tackle was to deliberately hurt someone or to stop a player getting away from him (which isn't difficult). As a proffesional footballer he should know the rules and stop crying to the press when they are applied because of his frequent mistermeaners.
