http://www.journallive.co.uk/safc/safc-news/2012/09/28/61634-31923193/ MARTIN O’Neill hopes a month on the sidelines gives Lee Cattermole time to learn from the rashness which caused it, but the Sunderland manager will not strip the 24-year-old of the captaincy. A red card against Milton Keynes Dons this week means the Teessider will not play again until October 27 – a period including an international break and a Wear-Tyne derby. With so much time to address it, O’Neill has not rushed to speak to Cattermole, although by the end of yesterday’s press conference he reiterated the former Middlesbrough and Wigan Athletic midfielder remains his captain. He will, though, demand a change of approach. The Ulsterman said: “Whether you are captain or not you need some sort of discipline and it becomes an issue because of the number of times he has been sent off. “He is very contrite, but he has been sent off five times at this club and that is maybe three too many. He was sent off after the game at Newcastle last season when he wasn’t happy with refereeing decisions, but you have to keep your counsel and let somebody else, like me, say something. “There are different ways in this game to tackle and he is capable of doing it, but I have said that before and I have been wrong. “Deep down I don’t think I will be changing things on the understanding he shows a willingness to change that part of his game and carry out that balancing act you have to get between aggression and discipline. “He is an excellent closer-down, he is the one who will get the boys going. Players respond to that. “He does so many good things for us as a player and a captain, but you cannot be that rash.” O’Neill added: “You have to learn and more so than ever before because you cannot go lunging into players with your foot off the ground. “You can hurt an opponent and that’s why referees are in the main cracking down on it. “He is very sorry, but sorry does not help us now over that game we could have lost and the three games coming up. However, there are many qualities to him for one so young. “You can always learn if you really want to. He is an intelligent lad and he has to think a little bit more about it. If you over-run the ball you have to let it go. It is my responsibility to change Cattermole’s approach and I have to do more if that is the case.” Although Cattermole has captained all three clubs he has played for, it is not the first time his suitability has been debated at Sunderland. After red cards in two of his first three league matches of 2010-11, then-manager Steve Bruce wondered out loud if he should strip the midfielder of the armband, only to decide against it. While not excusing Cattermole’s actions at Stadium MK, O’Neill feels referees are quicker to punish him than others. He warned the former England under-21 international his reputation will harm his chances of wearing the Three Lions at senior level. O’Neill said: “I looked at two challenges last weekend which did not have a red card attached to them and they were every bit as damaging as Lee’s could have been. “His reputation precedes him and I think referees are much less lenient with him than other people. “David Luiz’s challenge against Stoke City – if that had been Lee’s challenge he would have been sent off. “Even if he was even being considered in that international field he is going to be ignored because of his record and when he comes back he needs to go a lengthy period without a red card.” Comment (1) Read More http://www.journallive.co.uk/safc/safc-news/2012/09/28/61634-31923193/#ixzz27khZoyiW ---------------------------------------- Good news IMO
good. he's been absolutely fantastic this season, but he needs to cut the stupidity out, we can't afford rushes of blood to the head from our captain.
