We missed him so badly today. We had no bite or leadership out there imo and I hope those fans that would have happily dispensed with the captains services 5 or 6 weeks ago have now realised what a fantastic player the lad is and how much we are weakened without him. Come back soon Catts.
5 or 6 weeks ago I'd have kicked the twat out myself, hindsight is a wonderful thing though. I still have no time for rich twats thinking they can destroy other peoples property with no regard to the expense. He was missed today as you say, I have a feeling though he'll be a bloody twat for the rest of his days.
Didn't say I wanted him as my daughters godfather and perfect role model kidda but I do like him in my team as the rock around which to build a dynasty. All successful teams have a Lee Cattermole at their heart imo. At 23, we could have one for 10 years.
I thought he was a quality player when he was a 17 year old in a Boro shirt. He got better at Wigan and I think if could achieve big things with us, especially under Mon. At 23, his best years are ours imo.
i was definitely one of those saying get rid, i thought he was nowt more than a walking yellow card, at best. he's been a revelation since o'neill came in (or maybe we are finally seeing the player we had before that injury against liverpool in 2009), and we missed him a lot today.
I've always felt people underestimated his contribution to the game -and yes those yellow and red cards were frustrating -yes too to his recent improvement in his overall play. I stated (on old 606) that he had England potential and still believe he can achieve this.
I for one have always tried to defend catts...he was our best player when we were sixth at crimbo last season......He developed a chronic back problem that has bothered him for months......i think bruce brought him back before he was ready....and when you are the type of all action player like he is you need to be at peak condition to perform well ....you do not play over 200 games professionally by the age of 23 and captain the team in your teens.....without being a very good player...so what does this say about the catts is clueless,rubbish,liability brigade......well i think that they put the jerk in the knee jerk reaction they apear to live in the moment without any view to the context of any situation......What i did not like was that during cattsc blue period is that if you tried to assemble any sort of argument in his defence you were immediatly shot down by the same folk who are now falling at his feet......some fans are very bloody fickle............next target? mcclean anyone!.........no gardner.....or maybee vaughan........
Under Bruce, Catts was reckless, undisciplined and a liability, not disputing the lads talents or his desire. He playes the game the way i like to see it played, 100% committed. You have to admit that he is a different player under MON?
I think the fans who were on catt's back are the same fans who jump on any players back that's not on form. We had people at the start of the year critising Sess. I've always liked Lee, his commitment to the side is like no other, the ones who were on his back will be on somebody else's soon.
When Catts first came he was amazing for us with Cana in the middle. Then he got that Injury and never fully recovered. Since MON has arrived he seems like the Catts we first saw. I thought he was older than 23 like, we have some really good years to come out of him. As for getting rid of him. I too was in that court until MON came in. I thought he was a time bomb waiting to explode.
Facts change opinions, at one point Catts could not tackle without giving a foul away or being sent off and that was costing us points, playing like that he had to go. He has at last realised that as he is not that quick and if a player gets away from him not to bring him down from behind, he has also realised he cannot hit long passes and when he does what he is good at, winning the ball in midfield. he lays it off to Sess, Vaughan or Larsson. So Catts is no longer an accident waiting to happen and most team as you say have a midfield enforcer although theses days they have to be less robust. Although there was a case for Meyler or Colback being on from the start as they are defensive midfielders and we could have compared/contrasted them to Catts.
I hold my hands up ,i was one who wanted rid of Cattermole,Richardson & Bruce.Bruce has scince left(thank god),Richardson still the same not consistent enough cant pass,tackle,and allways overruns the ball when going forward.As for cattermole Oneill has had a magical effect on the lad,no longer does he run around misstiming tackles and getting booked every other game.Like you i want the best for my team and a cattermole who plays football will do.
My opinion about Catts has/is changing, but that doesn't mean my opinion about him was wrong before. Cattermole has drastically improved under MON, but that doesnt change the fact he was awful under Bruce.
A lot of people forget he is only 23 - I am not a rich twat and have been a complete twat in my time but grew up by my mid twenties and stopped ****ing about (I broke a few laws and did a few naughty things when younger) but I gre out of it - Cattermole has settled down off the field since O'Neill has got his "teeth" into him. The bloke is a great player and I have been saying for quite some time how good he can be - he had a poor start to the season but is showing us what he is capable of now. I think we'd have won with him in the side today That quote "Awful Under Bruce" could go for a lot of the players in the squad - this season they were terrible under Bruce. Cattermole, when first signed and playing with Cana, was awesome under Bruce until he got his injuries - the he was poor (but still had a massive heart and never shrunk out of a game - always got involved) Now he is showing us what he is truly capable of and long may it continue
I am happy Bruce is gone cos his tactics were awful, but I still maintain that the team were playing OK in general. You can play brilliantly as individuals, but if the tactics are **** then you will lose. Cattermole is one player who has truly improved as an individual under MON. His tackling is better, his passing has improved and so has his leadership qualities.
I did think we could get rid of Cattermole a couple of months ago because he was letting us down as a player and a captain. But the power to change this was in his hands and he has and now im proud to say the guy is both a Sunderland player and our captain.
Think you answered your own query in why other's were wanting to get shot of him, under Bruce's tactic's he was losing it. MoN seems to have changed him hence why the doubters on here are now in support of him.
