Source: Northern_Echo
Cattermole defends his lion-hearted approach
WITH a hard-man reputation that goes before him, Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole has launched a defence of his playing style by claiming there should always be a place in the modern game for passion and commitment.[LNB] This afternoon Cattermole heads to Wigan, where he spent a year before moving to Wearside last August, knowing a record of picking up 44 yellow cards and four reds in less than 100 league starts has been noted by referees.[LNB] The 22-year-old still scratches his head at some of the decisions that have left him suspended on numerous occasions during the last few years, most recently in the aftermath of his opening-day sending off against Birmingham City.[LNB] Cattermole now has the added responsibility of wearing the captain's armband; he is expected to lead by example and prove the bad-boy image that follows him around is a false one.[LNB] It doesn't really bother me, I just try to do the right things on the pitch.[LNB] People don't know me as a person, I have been given a reputation of some sort of hard man, but it's not the way I am as a person or as a player of the game, said Cattermole.[LNB] I play football the way every player should play the game. I give 100 per cent in every game; if there's a tackle to be won I will go in hard and fair.[LNB] I don't go in to hurt people and never would. Some games I don't make any tackles and in others I might make four or five in half a match.[LNB] In the past nobody would have batted an eyelid about the way I play the game.[LNB] Now, because the physical side of the game doesn't go on as much, you get a reputation.[LNB] Cattermole was back in Premier League action in the win over Manchester City, having been forced to miss the trip to West Brom through suspension.[LNB] His dismissal against Birmingham still rankles.[LNB] Having been booked for kicking the ball away, he was red carded for picking up a second caution for a challenge on Lee Bowyer.[LNB] That did little to improve Sunderland's poor disciplinary record, which earned them a fine last season after picking up a record number of red cards.[LNB] World Cup referee Howard Webb has been called in to try to help the situation.[LNB] Cattermole said: I didn't know he was coming in but he blasted my foul in front of 50 of my team-mates. Howard said the second was definitely a booking, but there's no leeway these days. The referees don't talk to you any more.[LNB] Sometimes, if a player stays down, the referee has to use the book because they say you have hurt the player. It all depends who you have kicked, doesn't it Some players get straight back up and they don't milk it. You just have to be careful.[LNB] Cattermole's frustration is unlikely to be good news for his former club Wigan, who Sunderland could do with defeating in an attempt to eradicate the fears of their poor away form.[LNB] Under Steve Bruce's guidance at the Latics, where he moved for £3.5m from Middlesbrough in 2008, Cattermole established himself as one of the most promising defensive midfielders in the Premier League.[LNB] That season persuaded Bruce to pay £5m to take the Stockton-born tackler to Wearside and, 12 months on, make him Sunderland's new captain following the departure of Lorik Cana.[LNB] The manager walked past me in training and in passing he said you're going to be my captain this season'. It was a great honour for me, said Cattermole.[LNB] I got loads of texts and phone calls from friends and family. It means so much to me. I want it to give me another kick and push on to another level.[LNB] I have always been very vocal on the pitch. I expect and demand from players the very best. That's the way I play the game. That's what I look forward to at the weekend.[LNB] While grateful to Wigan for giving him the opportunity to prove himself on the topflight stage, he insists emotions will not be running high at the DW Stadium on a personal note today.[LNB] It won't be quite the same as going back to Middlesbrough because I started my career there, he said.[LNB] I had a great year at Wigan and everyone I met down there was brilliant.[LNB] They showed a lot of faith in me.[LNB]
