I just watched his interview on the SAFC site and you can see and also hear from his words that he is not getting bowled over by the emotion of tonight. He doesn't believe we should be in this position . I love how he is exactly as he is on the field. Balls to the wall player. My type of player!
Massive player and a leader of men. We're lucky to have him and wish people would stay off his back (tho I also wish he'd just break up play and pop the ball off) in his position on the pitch he needs to be quicker. We almost came unstuck a couple of times tonight because he dailies. but I won't jeer or moan when it happens. Gotta stay positive and keep them players confident and running.
For me he is the first casualty of this result, if not we are back to square one, he is not in the same class as Yan and Jan and we must add to these two or we will struggle again. Yes both he and JoS have given their all, but it is not enough, we need class and he aint got it. Just my opinion.
Not going to disagree with your assessment and the fact that he lacks the quality of the two you mentioned, but for sheer will determination and leadership they don't come much better. He can drag a team thru **** other players couldn't do.
While I agree he's a player we should be looking o improve on I can't accept the bit I bolded. He's not the reason we struggle. Manager merry go round and starting without a settled team has been to blame. He's a player we keep to put on the bench and have in reserve if he's needed.
I cant argue with that either, its the beauty of the game, I thought Defoe could not handle the lone striker role, but with the quick wide men we now have and Jan freeing the wing backs to go forward we look a real threat on the counter, Big Sam has true to his word built a team around him and we are all thankfull that he could see this.
I wonder what it would look like if someone could be bothered to compile some statistics regarding our performances compared to other teams since the January signings (so, probably since the beginning of february) with Catts and said players in the same team . . . . and more recently since we've become more settled (during the time that our starting line-up has been unchanged) ! My guess is that they would look pretty damn good Well done, Catts
The point i am making is not that Lee is alone in just not being good enough, their are many more in this squad, for me we must improve all three departments, not by wholesale replacement, but to shrewdly recruit alternatives across the board. In my opinion Cattermole is a liability, he simply cant play football and is an obvious candidate to be replaced, as is Jos who is far too slow, if we had not had Kone and Younis to step in we would now be relagated imo.
Well done to all who have contributed since January including Catts but we must move forward, how we do it is open to conjecture.
Cattermole made too many mistakes against Everton I am afraid, but is a fighter I will give him that, but Sam will bring in the 4 or 5 players in the summer to take us forward. Jan is the best defender I have seen in 34 years at this club with Steve bould, we should be grateful he came here and Khazri is fantastic and better than Vardy in my opinion. I am really lucking forward to next season, PVA is the best attacking defender as well, he has replaced Danny rose.
I wish we could just clone the squad so we always had a fit, like-for-like replacement. With the effort and work rate they've put in recently, to a man and as a collective team, they're good enough to finish higher in the league. We need all types of players as long as the chemistry is right, Leicester have proven that. I always hate replacing players who I grow attached to and right now I love this starting Xi.
Personally think Catts ball retention, passing and decision making have all improved. I've no worries about Catts at all, he's been a bit unsung in this run due to the CB's and Mackembauer, but he's been top drawer.
Agree totally. Can't understand clockstanders "liability" tag! He plays far more advanced now and, as he isn't giving the ball away near the back 4 it's not a liability. His yellow card count is also massively reduced. Wonder how many seasons in his career he's gone without a ban? Reckon this s the first. He's played 3 of the best through balls I've seen by a Sunderland player. All of which led to 1v1 situations. His through ball which almost got Defoe the lob was a fantastic pass
He's just about the most composed player in the team in the ball as well mate, shaded by M'Vila. Man tight in him he just does what he's gonna do, where he's been playing I think he's really kicking on. We do need a left footer in though, wonder if Townsend is going cheap, he'd add to an already smashing midfield!
I like this post and agree with every word, I trust in Big Sam to make the additions to the squad that will take us to safer levels without harming the team spirit, this is what we all want after all, its just how do you do it that is the fascination of football.
If you think this then I am happy to disagree, he losses the ball or creates problems for the whole team with his lack of control, it matters not what area of the field he operates in, we will never agree on this so lets agree to dis-agree and leave it there.
He's inspirational for the team & it's energy - great leader when his heads right - it seems to be now
No problem at all fella - all about opinions and I have been trying to convince people on here for years that he is a better player than he gets credit for. But he certainly isn't a liability this season - has been a massive asset for us.
