He had an immense game Syd but still Bardo for captain for me marra. One game doesn't make a season. Still, all credit to the lad.
Although it was Cattermoles best game this season thus far. It's not his only good performance, the lad has been great since QPR! We will need another "captains" performance from Cattermole if we are to get anything out of the Wigan game. Can u put in two performances like that in 2 days?
He did well yesterday and my MOTM above the rest of the team bar Bendtner who was poor again. As said if he can keep the performances at that level then he'll be well worth the armband for me anyway.
Obviously I feel the whole team deserve immense credit for what was a stunning win yesterday but for me Cattermole was outstanding and my MOTM. For me that was his best game ever in a Sunderland shirt. He was calm and controlled and played the captain's role to perfection, talking to and encouraging the lads all the time. His energy levels never dropped and he put in a very mature performance for the whole game.
This 100%. Since O'Neill came, if has been awesome for me. I really like cattermole and think Mon will develop him into a massively influential player for us. Whereas Bruce seemed to have him wound up for games, Mon seems to have just calmed him down for games but without losing that competitive edge that makes him so good. Great Man management imo.
Catts seems to have improved a hell of a lot since MON arrived, so whatever he is doing or saying to him is working...
This. Do you reckon Bruce told Cattermole to go in for tackles and be a Roy Keane?? I think MON realises Roy Keanes these days don't exist. You cant go full blooded into tackles. I think MON has given Cattermole instructions which I fully believe Bruce didn't do. With a gameplan and instructions Cattermole knows his job, rather than run round like a headless chicken. He was England U21 captain for a reason, and before Bruce had him he was tipped to break into the England squad. With MON maybe Cattermole can develop into a Parker style player.
Cattermole has always had the ability and now, for 4 games at least, if has shown it. That hunger and desire to win is vital for any team and players that can control that aggression and fire are rarer than rocking horse **** and worth lots of money.
Catts had a brilliant game. His best in a red and white shirt. Controlled aggression. A real battling captain's performance. Let's carry on at Wigan!
He was sent off at Wigan last season and it was never in doubt that he was going to be, so it will be really intering to see how much more controlled he is this time round. Show us what you are made of Catts!
Nope! To quite a lot of us, he clearly already was. The difference is now, other players are standing up and being counted. Which means there has been less need for Catts to dive in and cover for the likes of Richardson.
Good point. The likes of Vaughan is a good player and has meant cattermole has been able to do his job and not 2 or 3 peoples. I truly hope the clamour from some quarters to get rid of him stops now.
This 100% (apart from the Richardson part - I personally think Colback has been Cattermoles biggest drawback in Centre Mid) - I have been one of Cattermole's biggest advocates on here and at the matches - think the lad has so much ability - as he appears to be being managed correctly now, he is becoming a better player (in that "Parker" mould) - still not to that level but last few games he has been awesome (since O'Neill brought him back). Sundays game was one of his best since returning from the injury problems he had - constantly talking to the players and geeing them up. he seemed to have bags of energy and certainly had a better game the £20+m Nigel Do Jong... Did any of us know he was capable of this: [video=youtube;0gXqU71RZcw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gXqU71RZcw[/video]
Also just found this about him: By CHRIS YOUNG Published on Tuesday 3 January 2012 11:00 LEE Cattermole does not begrudge Sunderland supporters for targeting him during the final days of Steve Bruce’s reign. But the captain believes his Black Cats career has been reignited by the arrival of Bruce’s successor Martin O’Neill, as the 23-year-old prepares to lock horns with former club Wigan tonight. Cattermole has thrived in his three games under O’Neill after returning to the side at QPR last month, capped with an immense display in Sunday’s victory over league leaders Manchester City. Things were not so rosy under Bruce though, with opinion split on the ex-Middlesbrough midfielder’s contribution to the side. But O’Neill has kept faith with Cattermole, despite being arrested for an alleged incident of criminal damage last month, and the former England Under-21 international has responded. Cattermole said: “Under Brucie, it became hard for me. People started to look at me as ‘Brucie’s Boy’. Sunderland Chief Seeks Transfer Talks “The fans got on his back, and then they started to get on my back a little bit as well because I was his captain. “Rightly so in many respects, because if the team is not performing then I should be right at the front of the queue to get a bit of stick. “I would have to admit we were under-performing, but I think things have changed a little bit now. “I have had three good games on the bounce, and I am more than confident in my own game. “I have really clicked with him (O’Neill) since he came here. I had a bit of bother at the start and he has kept me as captain, and I think the performances have paid him back. “I think the new manager has given everyone a real confidence. He keeps telling everyone how good they are. and he has got everyone in good spirits. Everyone is working hard. “A new manager would always give you a lift in situations like we were in, but maybe not as well as it has gone under this manager.” Great to hear him say that IMO!
A good post Marcus, enjoyed reading it, looks pretty much as if Catts is back in the fold with the fans, me included. and a good topic from Syd.
