Whitehead speaks about tomorrow

[BaldockMackem]

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk...l/article.html

DEAN Whitehead, Stoke's midfield dynamo, can't wait to lock horns with Sunderland scrapper Lee Cattermole at the Stadium of Light tomorrow, writes Martin Spinks.

Cattermole has already been dismissed twice this season – in his first four outings – but it was Whitehead who was close to seeing red when they last confronted one another earlier this year.

"Yeah, last time I maybe should have been sent off for clashing with Cattermole," admitted Whitehead. "It's always a good battle between us.

"We were never actually team-mates at Sunderland because he arrived just after I left for Stoke, but I know plenty about him.
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"I played against him a lot for Sunderland when he was at Middlesbrough and it was a battle then. But off the pitch it's fine between us."

Whitehead, pictured below, returns to Sunderland this weekend wary of the after-effects of their humiliating 5-1 hammering in the North East derby at Newcastle last Sunday.

Whitehead, who skippered Sunderland to a 1-1 draw on their previous visit to St James' Park, said: "That was very disappointing to watch.

"I know a bit about the build-up for that game and it would have been going on for weeks before the match.

"They just didn't turn up on the day and they got punished for it, but they're a totally different kettle of fish at home where their form has been very good.

"We're going to have to be strong because they will want a reaction for what happened at Newcastle.

"Everybody will be hurt around the club, and the players will want to get back on-side with the fans.

"But if we can start well, the fans are capable of turning on them."

Whitehead enjoyed a decent reception on his first return to the Stadium of Light last January – at least until the Cattermole clash – and he anticipates a similar reaction from the Wearside faithful towards Kenwyne Jones on his first return.

Stoke's record £8m signing was the target of some choice words from Sunderland boss Steve Bruce which, reading between the lines, could have been interpreted as questioning the big striker's day-in, day-out commitment.

"I don't think anything like that will affect him," said Whitehead. "It might even make him more determined.

"I'm not sure what happened when he left, but perhaps they didn't see eye to eye, and Kenwyne will want to prove a point by putting in a good performance and helping us get a result."

Tuncay will be similarly motivated, if for different reasons, after regaining a regular run in the first team.

His wonder strike after stepping off the bench against Manchester United was followed by starts against West Ham in the Carling Cup and Everton back in the Premier League.

And it would have been two goals in the equivalent of two matches had his close-range effort not been controversially ruled out at Everton last Saturday for pushing Leighton Baines.

"If you look at the camera panning on to the ref," Whitehead observed, "he says it was a two-armed push. "If that was a two-armed push then the game has gone soft.

"And if you look at Phil Neville on the goal-line, he's got his hands on his head because he thought it was a goal.

"I think Tunny has earned his place back in the team because he's different to what we've got – he can change a game in the blink of an eye."

But with the brilliance comes the petulance, it seems, so how do his team-mates react to the sight of Tuncay storming off down the tunnel after being substituted, or waving down the nearest taxi after being left out of the match-day 18 at Bolton?

There's a knowing grin from Whitehead, before he answers: "It doesn't get to the rest of us. That's just Tunny and you've got to let Tunny get on with it.

"When he plays, he works as hard as anyone in the team – and he's got that bit of quality as well.

"As long as he's working for the team, there's no problem."

[Pell]

comes across well
hope the rhombus headed freak doesnt score mind :D

[rocky]

Catts will skin bananaman tomorrow.

[Freddie the Greek]

Aye he was definitely working himself last time he was up here. Should definitely have been sent off. Lets hope he gets a few crunching tackles sent his way tomorrow

Always liked Deano. Isn't he not our top midfield goal scorer since Hutchison?

[BaldockMackem]

Originally Posted by Freddie the Greek

Aye he was definitely working himself last time he was up here. Should definitely have been sent off. Lets hope he gets a few crunching tackles sent his way tomorrow

He was a snide little cnut last match, kicking Cattermole then pegging it as far as possible.

[The Situation]

Who?

[joemcdokes]

Originally Posted by dan1990

Always liked Deano. Isn't he not our top midfield goal scorer since Hutchison?

Thats a shocking stat, baring in mind his record was 13 in 185 games.


Rico 8 in 78
Edwards 5 in 50
Lawrence 10 in 73

Is there anyone else I've missed.

[rocky]

Originally Posted by joemcdokes

Thats a shocking stat, baring in mind his record was 13 in 185 games.


Rico 8 in 78
Edwards 5 in 50
Lawrence 10 in 73

Is there anyone else I've missed.

How many did Liam Miller get?
Ross Wallace?

Originally Posted by rocky

How many did Liam Miller get?
Ross Wallace?

probably less than 10 between them