Cats skipper warns: Behave or else!

Aug 17 2008 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun

DEAN WHITEHEAD says Sunderland players will have to be on their best behaviour this season — because their places could depend on it.

The Black Cats skipper has warned that anyone who picks up pointless booking and ends up getting suspended could find themselves left out in the cold.

Whitehead revealed that Sunderland boss Roy Keane is driven to distraction when his players pick up needless yellow cards — especially when they lead to a suspension further down the line.

And a player could be made to pay a heavy price for being banned this season, with increased competition for places on Wearside meaning they could have a struggle on their hands to get back into the side.

Whitehead, pictured, said: “Managers don’t mind players being booked for a tackle — or at least not so much! But they find it hard to accept cautions for kicking the ball away after giving away a free kick or for arguing with the referee.

“The manager tells us not to pick up stupid bookings because those bookings mount up and all of a sudden you find yourself sitting out a match or two because you get suspended.

“We try to keep the needless bookings to a bare minimum because, with the squad we have now, if you get suspended then someone else might come in, do well and so you might find yourself out of the team for weeks on end.”

Keane himself was known for his fiery approach during his playing days at Manchester United, but in the early part of his career his old boss at Nottingham Forest, Brian Clough, made sure he kept his head.

Clough was a stickler for discipline and Whitehead says Keane has a similar approach now he is a manager.

“Our gaffer worked under Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest and everyone knows that Clough insisted his players kept their discipline on the pitch.” he said.

“That’s something that the gaffer seems to have carried though to his own managerial career.”

Whitehead was speaking at the North East launch of the Premier League’s “Get on with the Game” initiative, aimed at cleaning up football by reducing the rising tide of dissent towards officials.

Under the scheme, as captain, he will have new responsibilities this season including meeting with the referee before each game and, if things get out of hand out on the pitch, he can be called upon by the officials to help keep his team-mates under control.

“I’m quite calm although, like anybody, sometimes I overstep the mark,” Whitehead revealed.

“But I think it’s important that the authorities have got the players involved.

“Referees have a difficult job but if we all work together and work towards making the game easier for officials and players, that has to be a good thing.”