I remember Kiko did very well against him last time we played Wolves. From the highlights I saw Cathcart did ok but gave the ball away which lead to the Lithuanian penalty (missed )
Good performance in a 0-0 draw against the Swiss, I suppose if Sierralta isn't playing at the weekend, he's done his chances of nicking ahead of Kabasele no harm...unless he's picked at right back again of course
Thanks for everything Craig, but we simply can't be starting with him going forward, even Kabasele must be a better option
He’s been Glenn Murray’d. Literally switched from being a competent, if somewhat limited defender, to absolute droppings in what seemed like a blink of an eye. The scary thing is that this changed happened 18+ months ago and we’re still starting him.
Also strange is the fact that he is 32 - it's not like he's one of the nephilim - Gary Cahill was proving extremely effective last season at this level as a 35 year old. Cathcart fell off a cliff when he should have been in his absolute prime, as a 30 year old, so you can't even blame it on anything as simple as the wheels falling off naturally with age.
Wait…he’s only 32? He’s about 37 in my head. Minimum. This is a bigger shock than waking up to discover we won 3-1 today.
That moment when he just let a simple through ball pass him to set up an almost one on one for Norwich was pure class.
Obviously only plays well for his country then . Although don’t think he is quite as hopeless as some think if not against pace (yes I know that is quite an issue!)
Pukki is better than Seferovic tbf! I didn't watch the Norn Iron game, but there's generally less space in international football, I'd imagine Cathcart and his partner were defending deeper than us yesterday
He's been an effective if unspectacular CB for us in the Prem, but he looks like he's lost a bit of pace now. Not that he was ever quick, but it doesn't take much of a drop at this level to become no longer good enough. He/we won't get away with it against sides better than Norwich. If Sierralta is unavailable Kabs should start next week.
Not necessarily, we might ship him out a la deeney, gray, hughes and chalobah. He’s not worth much now so we might let him have free transfer somewhere if he is no longer required.
Perhaps or we will have to pay him off. His contract extension is a good example of why Pozzo struggles so badly with finances.
I love your use of the word Nephilim. Fields of the Nephilim were quality, proper goth back in the day, plus the later Nephilim. As for Cathcart, he's been a dependable sort, no longer a Moonchild, but for a football OAP, he's so so useful for the team
He really didn't. He's an utter donkey. Doing the basics of a centre backs job here and there doesn't mean he played quite well. He's ******* awful.
I don't mind him as a squad player and to make up the numbers on the training ground, but first choice? Really? Xisco is going to be gone by the international break at this rate
So did i tbh. Stopped that Maximo whatever his name is a few times. Our midfield was getting dominated so defenders were busy.
He's too slow and immobile. It's too easy to play the ball around him. Yes, he got better as the game went along, but seriously, that back pass was so, so bad and cannot be overlooked.
Unable to keep a solitary clean sheet over the first six relatively ‘easier’ looking fixtures, you really fear for our defence when we soon start meeting the likes of Liverpool, Man U, Chelsea and City. I fear some real tonkings. As I mentioned elsewhere, Wolves haven’t scored in any of their other matches but carved us open quite easily. Norwich have scored half their season’s goals against us. Spurs haven’t scored since they played us. We’ve not yet faced any freescoring sides, bar Villa, but no clean sheets to date. Poor. My guess with Sierralta is it’s been a chain of events. He started his pre-season later than most, so was on the back foot at once. Then the fuss over the Chile matches. So he’s not been able to make a settled start to the season, leading to his error against Wolves and now his apparent dropping.
I think the drubbing is going to come at Elland Road. They will keep our defenders under pressure and we will make the same mistakes as we have all season.
He was fantastic (again) last night. His performances just seem to be massively influenced by the system (3 at the back), but also by those he plays alongside (like Jonny Evans) being so much better than the likes of WTE.
Unfortunately we haven't had the numbers in recent times, but I would like to see us try a 3 at the back sometimes this season, maybe we might actually start keeping clean sheets!
Norn Iron didn't concede a goal all qualifying at Windsor Park (4 games). Admittedly they only scored one goal, but still, not bad at all against Italy, Switzerland, Bulgaria and Lithuania
I don't know if it's Ranieri, Nkoulou or just not being partnered with WTE but Craig is looking a lot better. Obviously we need to be upgrading but he's having a run of good performances for club and country.