Well I like Catts on his day but like its been said cost us Villa at home sent off at Hull (and yes I think it was a sending off) cost us away He,s been lucky a few times with his wayword passing But then he was awesome first half against Man Utd ****e against Kidderminster but I think £10m for Fletch and Catts is too cheap
Like i said, i like the kid, he's my type of player but he needs to improve his discipline drastically. Far too often he loses the ball and makes a rash challenge in an attempt to get it back, usually resulting in a booking or a red. Even when booked he goes in to quiet mode and isn't effective, he needs to learn to keep calm and then he'd first choice on the team sheet every game. If we could get £5m for him and bring in Bridcutt, i'd do the deal.
Please get off the fence cest and tell us what you really think! £20m for the 2 and I'd be interested - but our issue is depth - Gardner, Colback and Larsson all out of contract at the end of the season - replacing someone we all know can definitely do it at PL level (Catts) with someone who we all hope can (Bridcutt) when we have nothing left at the end of the season is dangerous. I think it's paper talk as well - no surprise 2 of our players are linked with a Mark Hughes side that we just happen to be playing tomorrow. Wouldn;t surprise me if someone at Stoke is involved in leaking the story and there's nothing in it. Besides - why would a player want to leave a cup final team who look like they may have turned a corner for a team with only survival to play for?
Couldn't agree more. Catts is, by a distance, the best defensive midfielder we've got. Bridcutt may come in but who knows how he will cope with the step up.
I honestly think there is nothing in this at all apart from Hughes wanting to play games with a few heads before the game tomorrow. Neither of these players offer much more than what Stoke has at the moment.
I was reading somewhere that Sunderland has averaged 1.1 points per game with Catts in the team and 0.5 points per game when he hasn't. Stats aren't everything but says a lot for me.
Giaccherini was given offside from an onside position where he scored and Agbonlahor should've been sent off. He may have made one mistake which cost us a goal but there were other factors in that game (I actually meant through a sending off or a booking really!)
Poyet has had a go at Stoke over this - as I said earlier - no surprise if they're behind this and trying to unsettle players before a massive game I can't post a link as i can;t hit the site it's on - seems blocked by the place I work
GUS Poyet has hit out at Stoke City after constant speculation linking the Potters with Sunderland duo Steven Fletcher and Lee Cattermole. Reports in the Potteries for the past week have suggested Stoke are readying a £5m move for Sunderland midfielder Cattermole, while Mark Hughes’ men have also been credited with an interest in Black Cats frontman Fletcher. But Sunderland are yet to receive any approach from Stoke for the duo, and Poyet has made no attempt to hide his irritation with the Potters. Poyet said today: “I’m pleased in the local newspaper that we didn’t throw about any interest about any Stoke players. “That’s what they have done for the last week. “Not one Stoke director has made any formal approach or offer. “For them to be linked with two important players for us, is disappointing.” Poyet played alongside Hughes at Chelsea, yet the Sunderland head coach says he has not spoken with his former team-mate. “He didn’t call me,” said Poyet. “Some people say the manager calls when they want a player of the other team, but they didn’t.” http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/sunderland-boss-gus-poyet-hits-out-at-stoke-1-6401900
Sunderland have picked up 1.1 points per game in the matches (12 games) Lee Cattermole has started this season but only 0.5 in those he hasn’t (10 games). I realise that fact fights both sides of the debate but I think on balance it shows we're better off keeping him and even playing him at least for the rest of the season as Bridutt settles. He's only missed 3 of those 10 games he missed through suspension. That point losing liability has only been in the book 3 times this season (1red 2yellows) a vest improvement from a lad who's still only 25 and still learning and developing. I know the arrival of Gus also effects that fact but we've now seen season upon season with stats that we pick up more points when Catts plays. He much more disciplined these days with time still on our side to develop him into a tidy, safe, risk free holding midfielder option.
After Stoke City were continually linked with Lee Cattermole for the last week or so, yesterday it was rumoured that they were also interested in signing Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher. This has upset Gus Poyet, with Sunderland's head coach unhappy with the timing of the rumours, with the two clubs set to meet at the Stadium of Light tomorrow, and Stoke yet to make an approach about either player; I'm pleased in the local newspaper that we didn't throw about any interest about any Stoke players. That's what they have done for the last week. Not one Stoke director has made any formal approach or offer. For them to be linked with two important players for us, is disappointing. Despite being former Chelsea teammates, Mark Hughes has not been in touch with Poyet about his interest in the pair; He didn't call me, Some people say the manager calls when they want a player of the other team, but they didn't. With Poyet seemingly seething at the way the rumours have come about, it is sure to add a bit of extra spice to what is already a must-win game.
I was at the game, he actually gave the ball away 3 times on the edge of our box. he's just not good enough to play the role Gus has given him. Take on board what you say about bookings and sending offs, walks the tightrope every time he gets booked early doors.
Catts has lost any pace he had. He is excellent and breaking up play and tackling, can be reckless. I think you sell anyone if you can bring better in. Having not seen bridcutt I have no idea if he is better. Will bridcutt play in the same team as Catts?
One game,,, funny how people remember only the negative and no positive. We wouldn't be in the cup final if not for him. He was awesome against Chelsea. By the way.. He gave the ball away three times but won it back twice. His own doing but he redeemed the mistake in the short term. Only one of them led to a goal and majority of the stadium turned on him. Had it been Ki or Colback, chances are no one would've turned on him and their game may not have been affected. He's had one bad game for us and that's what everyone remembers. He's more than made up for that and, like I say, Giaccherini was definitely onside which cost us at least as many points as Cattermole did.
