As long as you've got Sam Allardyce as manager, there's a place in that squad for Cattermole for sure. Sam sets his teams up to be hard to beat first, then builds from there, same method every time. Kaboul and Kone are just Sunderland's Chimbonda and Samba (Blackburn under Allardyce). He's always got pit bulls in midfield, snapping at opposition, Nolan, Nzonzi, Noble, Barton, Butt, Kouyate. He'll buy a big fella for up top, somebody who's good in the air, no doubt about that. Cattermole will have a big role to play, especially if you don't get M'Vila permanently... I've got my own opinions on Cattermole, but I wouldn't build a team anything like Allardyce does, for what my opinion is worth, I think it's just accepting mediocrity which I understand would be a dream for some of you, given the last few seasons, in the short term.
He is a keep for me too, not out of sentimentality but out of requirements for squad players. If we can get someone in who is as equally committed but more composed and a better passer of the ball then keep him as a squad player. If Sam doesn't buy anyone to fill the role of Catts then i wont be overly disappointed that he will still be a first teamer next season. I would rather him play for us than against us.
We must move heaven and earth to sign up both Jan and Yan ( the Roker Beach Boys) these two are the type of player we need, despite my reservations about Catts, a team does need a mix of types, if Catts could develope his game 5 to 10 % he too could be a huge asset to us. For what its worth I would like to see him play more like Jordan Henderson, a player who rarely if ever makes a tackle, but defends space and like Catts moves the ball on quickly. Some of Catts passing is superb, this is where his strength is, his ball control and timing in the tackle are hopeless imo.
You know you've signed Jan Kirchhoff permanently already, there's no need to move anything for him! Agree about M'Vila though, he's been great this season, if you can sign him up your midfield is rock solid. Cattermole, meh, personally I'd dump him because his style of football just offends me, he'll probably make a cracking manager mind. Creativity in midfield and some goals, could push you up the table and he'd be the one I'd drop... for who... Ki seems a good place to start.
can't bear to let him go. leaves better players in his wake thru passion alone (and the occasional mis-timed challenge)
For me, the midfield 5 is one short, and it's a left sided winger. Borini left, M'Vila and Mackembauer behind Khazri, and a lefty. Catts would be a well used squad rotation player.
Ki is a great footballer but goes missing in a team that needs to fight (well he did for us anyhow!) Bu Jan, Yann and Ki in midfield would look damn good for the start of the season (and everyone knows how much I love Cattermole!)
My thoughts on Cattermole is that he is one of those players when added to the mix results in the "whole being greater than the sum of all the parts".
