I think we need another quality central midfielder, Cats never plays a full season due to injury and suspension, They other 2 will also get injuries and suspensions so someone else is still needed, I would love someone like Gylfi Sigurdsson playing in the advanced role. We will need a centre half a right back a left back and a goalkeeper in the summer IMO. I can see a lot of ins and outs IF we stay up.
Think you're being a bit harsh on Catts re the bit in bold. He's a different player from what he used to be. Only had 1 red card in the last 4 seasons and played more than 100 times in the League. I do agree that to move forward and up the league we'll need to replace him, but for different reasons. More to do with the lack of quality in the final third. Sigurdsson is a cracking player IMO, definately the kind of player we need to be looking at IF we stay up.
Comm I think you underestimate how much players benefit from a full pre season, M'Vila has played catch up fitness wise since he signed, he's hardly missed a game and lately he has tired but still does the business for an hour or so it's just that final 15-30 he,tails off, in the same way Kirchof does, these guys hardly played for their previous clubs and if we can stay up and keep the majority of this squad together then with the addition of a proper goalscorer to help Defoe then we could do well next year. Here's hoping.
Think you're being harsh on Catts there too - he has played three of the best through ball passes I've seen a Sunderland player play since the days of Allan Johnston and Nicky Summerbee this season. I agree we need to be looking to improve on him - I rate Sigurdsson too and said I'd have him at SAFC to my Dad - he'd be the ideal player in that role - would you leave Swansea to com here though? But Catts' passing has been excellent for most of the previous dozen or so games. He's playing higher up the field as well - so this "three DM's at home to..." crap doesn't wash as he's not playing in a DM role. Underrated IMO - discplin, as you say, has also been very good recently. Nowhere near as many bookings as he used to (only 6 this season) - Catts passing success is 80% as well this season according to the SAFC website. Not bad for someone who can;t pass really!
I keep reading that Cattermole's passing is improving, is it? I don't think it is, he looks like a 'hoofer' every time I see him play, admittedly he may just be camera shy, I obviously don't watch him very often when you're not on live, I'm restricted to just a few minutes of highlights, in which he usually doesn't feature. He's getting worse year on year according to these stats. Don't shoot the messenger.
Stats only say so much though - if you factor into that stat that he's now playing a much more advanced role for most of this season and he's trying much more difficult passes then the 75% looks a pretty good stat considering our league position. The people (me included) who say his passing is improving are the ones who've seen him go from a limited 5 yard easy pass player to a more cultured passer of the ball. When he gets it now, he no longer just looks for the easy ball - he looks for movement off the ball and tries to pick a gap
I'm not a stat man at all mate, never have been really and rarely refer to them unless I'm waxing lyrical about Paul Scholes We'll have to disagree mate, obviously you see more of him than I do, but I just don't see anything at all. I've not just jumped to that conclusion as you know, he's huff and puff, very Scott Parker in that sense, appears to be doing a lot more than he actually is but ultimately, he's a waste of a shirt... only my opinion, nobody has to agree with me. Obviously there'll be times when I eat my own words, and he produces a top performance, just like Anderson did every now and again at United.
. . . . and some of his passing really has been exquisite, which is something that we never expected from a 'spoiler' type player that he's known as Some (including some on here) will never accept the fact that he's a very good 'bottom half' player, as well as a motivational captain who leads by example, simply because they want/expect Hoddle-esque brilliance all of the time (as well as the break-up bit) . . . . and they, literally, wait for him to make a mistake so that they can say 'I told you that he was ****e' (as an alternative to 'getting behind him') and I'll never understand that I'll be sad when he eventually leaves
I hope you're not referring to me there. I think you've just made a point that sounded good in your head, but you couldn't name a single poster who thinks that.
I certainly wasn't referring to you, Tel . . . . you haven't seen enough of him I referred to people who watch him regularly, with awaiting negativity as opposed to looking for 'positives' . . . . and I certainly wouldn't name indviduals, 'cos they know who they are Did you say that I wasn't controversial enough
Ok, fair enough... anybody on here going to own up to wanting 'Hoddle-esque' performances from Lee Cattermole? To be honest with you Gordon, I often feel like I'm the only one who thinks Cattermole is out of his depth in this league/era. I don't recall too many having a bad word to say about him, he's your hero, old high-shorts shouty boy.
I said that Cattermole had a bad game against Leicester because he did, it wasn't that he wasn't eclipsing Pirlo it was because his plan A, B and C seemed to be hoof it down the pitch in a panic. I didn't boo him at the match or anything, I never do. I'm a big fan of his anyway even if he does have the odd stinker. Since then though he's been playing in the same position but with composure and he's been picking out some real quality passes. Really valuable player for us.
What would you lot value Cattermole at? I can probably sell the results of this question as a legal high alternative to hippy crack, but anyway... be honest.
I'd say about £4-5mill. I'd be surprised if he left any time soon however he'd be good for one of the promoted teams possibly.
I think Cattermole is overrated by Sunderland supporters because he's (fairly) local and tries hard. I value his attitude and desire but I don't buy into this theory that he's underrated by the rest of the world, because I don't think he is. I certainly don't wait for him to make a mistake in order to criticise him but I do think we have better players in his natural position and that Larsson would be a better fit in the more advanced role. However, at the moment, Cattermole's sheer determination means he is worth his place and he is driving the team on by force of will. Next season is a different matter though...
