I think the match you (TVI) recall was the Development squad's first game of the season (12 Aug v Bolton). Catts did take a knock and as a precaution he was subbed at half time rather than risk aggravating it; perhaps the club is starting to learn about such things. He probably wouldn't have played more than an hour anyway at that stage of his rehab but he's definitely still working his way back from injury; I don't think its a fair reflection of the situation (that many of our supporters appear to think) that he's frozen out. That's not the way I understand the position to be. Whilst the window has closed for us it will be interesting to see whether PDC does automatically include him with the first team squad which I believe he will, or there's always the option to loan him out to the Championship. (I think PDC will do with this with Connor at the end of the month if Altidore, Borini and Fletcher have all demonstrated match fitness.) Despite me not being Catt's biggest fan (19 games a season average for 4 full seasons simply isn't good enough and that doesn't factor in those matches that he didnt complete!), I would like to see him involved as we certainly miss his bite in midfield. I would bring him back but without the captaincy. Not as some petty revenge for him regularly being a plank, although that's arguably good enough reason in itself, but I think the responsibility can sometimes be a burden for some players. Cricket demonstrates this more clearly than football but i think it has a subtle effect on some. I think Bruce thought he was SAF by giving him the captaincy to 'settle him down' and he thought that it would be a masterstroke, whereas in fact for me it was a burden Catts should never have been given. On his day he's a very effective footballer (Chelsea away 3v0, Liverpool at home last year, Man City at home year before) but i understand the new coaching staff looking at the wage he earns versus games played, games finished (!) and to a lesser degree, goals and assists, and wondering if its a good enough return on investment. If anyone could get the best out of Catts he would be an asset; so far i don't think he has been relative to his salary which perhaps could have been used more effectively had he been sold.
Perhaps it's that he can't perform on a stage like the SOL where the level of expectation is higher (and quite often unrealistic in my view). At Wigan and Boro he was at smaller clubs with less expectation and a less demanding/impatient crowd and he did look a very good player and i was happy when we bought him but so far its only worked occasionally. Just as with Sess, we are not a team (currently) that can afford the luxury of a talented but inconsistent player we need consistent players even if they are more limited. Lets see what the coaching staff can do with him!
