Lee Cattermole believes he is the man to anchor Englandâs midfield One position in Roy Hodgsonâs team which appears up for grabs Sunderlandâs in-form midfielder has urged Three Lions manager Hodgson to check on his progress Lee Cattermole has invited Roy Hodgson to the Stadium of Light â for the Sunderland enforcer believes he is the man to anchor Englandâs midfield. There has been much debate over the merits of Arsenalâs Jack Wilshere in such a role and it is the one position in Hodgsonâs team which appears up for grabs. Cattermoleâs former Black Cats team-mate Jack Colback â now at Newcastle â had been earmarked for a trial run in the holding berth until injury ruled him out of the recent matches with Norway and Switzerland. But Sunderlandâs in-form midfielder has urged Three Lions manager Hodgson to check on his progress having made huge strides under the tutorship of Gus Poyet on Wearside. Indeed, the Uruguayan boss says his own country would relish a Cattermole type at the heart of their engine-room. And the 26-year-old said: âYou see lads getting opportunities now and for me that has got to be a motivation. âIn recent years, it is not something for me to be too interested in because of the names that were playing - the Gerrards and the Lampards. But you look at the boys who have got in and who are playing well and that is something that I am trying to achieve. âSo yes, it has become a goal for me getting into the squad. England is going through that cycle of change right now. âWeâve got a few English players here â Jack Rodwell, Adam Johnson, Connor Wickham and me - and Iâd like to think Roy Hodgson will come up (to see us play).â Cattermole, of course, is hindered by a chequered disciplinary record, seven red cards having earned him the nickname âLee Clattermoleâ. But he has now enjoyed a run of 28 matches without seeing red â he previously averaged a dismissal every 26 games, a ratio only bettered by John Hartson and Vinnie Jones â and believes a calmer head is a by-product of Poyetâs faith. âI am in a good time in my career at the moment,â he went on. âI feel I am not having to try as hard on the pitch and that helps. âThat is a big thing for me. I am really comfortable about my game, very focussed every week now. âGus Poyet sides have a big role for the defensive midfielder. Since the manager has come in I have adapted my game to what he wants and that is pure and simple, a defensive midfielder. I have learnt an unbelievable amount since he came here.â Cattermole was capped at every level from Under-16 to Under-21 and admits he expected to progress to the seniors. And the former Middlesbrough academy player makes no secret of his desire to once again pull on the white of his country. âMy last game for the Under 21s was in the Euros final in Sweden against Germany. I could have played on the next season but Stuart Pearce told me it was time for the next generation,â he said. âI probably did expect a senior call up at the time. So it would mean an awful lot to me to get a call-up now. Every English player would be lying if they said they were not looking to play for England. âThe wider perception is that players donât care but a lot of the time, it is just trying to be cool around each other, not letting on how much you really do care.â Cattermole, meanwhile, believes there would be room for himself and North-East adversary Colback in the England set-up. âJack has got in thanks to his performances for us last season and he has obviously had a good pre-season (at Newcastle),â he said. âThe manager obviously fancies him and fair play to him. I spoke to Jack last week and he really enjoyed his time with England. Now he is in that circle he has an opportunity to improve himself.â We know Catts deserves a call up, but will that 'orid ald twat accept the invitation and come and watch our lads in action. I'd be surprised.
A lot of people have been critical of Roy Hodgson,and I can see why!Surely,he needs to look at the young English talent available at our club!!!!
His leadership qualities aren't to be underestimated, Colback is as quiet as a church mouse in comparison. So are most of the England team. Now he's sorted out his discipline he's becoming quite a player.
Abso-****ing-lutely!! I don't get why that would be an issue. He's already proven himself at every level within the national squad. He's resolved his issues on the pitch recently regarding the disciplinary aspects of his game, and he must keep that up. The local and national press should give Catts a chance and start reporting on his performances, not his notoriety. Just realised I may be his biggest fan on here now. I've had my doubts, but after the miracle of 13/14, for which I put that mainly down to Catts, now I'm now a believer!
Cattermole has every right to make that claim on his current form, but look at his booking against QPR, was never one in my opinion, but it caused him to curb his natural game after it which diluted his performance. If he can add a bit of patience and better timing to his game he would be in. Same applies to Rodwell, some consistent good performances for us and he too would be in the frame. Down to both players to show RH they are worth the call. Further, I rate Hodgson as cute enough to keep tabs on all players via his scouts and TV as putting an international squad together is no mean feat.
Absolutely agree NOstalgic. The booking against QPR wasn't half as bad as hundreds of other challenges I've seen this season - but sadly he gets booked simply because he's Lee Cattermole - referee's seem to target him so opposition players target him. Look at Fer's play acting to try to get him sent off just after the yellow - he never touched him yet he rolled about. Players responsible for that should be punished and refs shouldn't buy it - but I honestly think it was THAT which caused his game to be diluted and not the yellow card. Wilshere could've done 5 or 6 of the fouls Cattermole got booked for and he wouldn't even be spoken to by a ref! Darren Gough was asked last night by Adrian Durham if Cattermole could play in that position and he said "No" but couldn't really explain why - used some lame excuse "are we putting Cattermole in a bracket with Wilshere" or some ****e like that - I actually think Cattermole is a far better DM than Wilshere will ever be. He is also getting much better going forward (his goal against West Brom prime example). I also think Wilshere is as dirtier than Catts but, because of who he is and his reputation, he gets away with it a lot more. Look at the Utd game as well - Juan Mata simply kicked him from behind - I was 100 yards away and I saw it plain as day - RVP did it too - neither of them spoken to and either of them could easily have been sent off - Mata's was disgusting but NOTHING was said about it and the ref simply gave a free-kick on both occasions. Oh and, FWIW, Yaya Toure rates him as one of the best DM's in the country too apparently - said he is one of the hardest he has ever played against - best midfielder in the PL says that someone should be listening
Re the view that Catts disciplinary record goes against him. If I remember correctly, Steven Gerrard has only one less career sending off ( and add all the times we've watched MOD and said ''the refs let him off because its Stevie G'') So again, back to the wrong club scenario.
Catts has become a very good player imho. At one time I viewed him as a liability but now that he's sorted out his 'red mist' problem I see him as one of the best English DM's. At the arse end of last season against WBA when we secured our PL status he was immense. I'd make him club & team captain. He deserves his England chance but he wont get it as Woy of the Wovers wont watch him. I really don't give a **** about Woy as he'll be getting the heave ho after another failed Euro's. It's as if there's some unwritten rule with the FA that you can't pick a Sunderland player.
Niether do I fella, but I care about our English lads. Woy has been to the SOL just once since he took over, that's a piss take, he'd rather go to Anfield where the game is ****ing televised
Well exactly marra & the lazy doesn't even need to get off his fat arse. He can watch it on a stream.
I respect the fact that he's come out on record and backing himself, though to all of us he doesn't need to explain nothin..
He could simply get his laptop out and check the stats. Delph takes it but has played ten games more, Catts' stats beat Wilshire and Colbacks. The shocking thing is Catt's hasn't been considered at all. When Woy comes out with the inevitable jibe about Catts' discipline and temperament, then these stats get really interesting as he's no worse than his competition, plus he'll be playing on a platform where reffs won't even have heard of Lee Cattermole, let alone his reputation. please log in to view this image
imo compared to his rivals for that position he's earned his chance just as much as any of them. Yet Woy hasn't even come to watch him play. Piss take.
catts has matured really well under gus and seems to have left some of his bad old ways behind him. he really should be close to a call up but we all know there's not much chance while he is wearing a red and white shirt
Why do SAFC fans always come out with the same old patter, like we are victimised? It's the same with the refs... It's ****ing pitiful at times.
If Catts keeps up to the standards he has set recently, I think he will be playing for England within 12 months.
