The Mail Bag
No Tim: no Teeth; no Spirit
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It seems there has been a growing opinion amongst some fans that Tim Cahill is no longer an automatic selection in the squad and at best is an impact bench player. Over the past few seasons he has proven time after time to be our most vital player for many reasons not just goal scoring and yet still some people doubt his value to the team.
It is no surprise when Tim is out that we lack efficiency in front of goal and seem to be playing without spirit. I have lost count how many times Tim has saved our bacon in situations exactly that we found ourselves against Newcastle and Brentford. well at least these doubters have got what they wanted and are reaping the joys of not having him in the squad.
I'm not suggesting his absence is is the reason we are playing shite at the moment and we are not a one man team, but clearly he has been the victim of some unfair critique in recent times. The arguement that he played poorly early last season just isn't accurate given the circumstances.
The fact is that Tim has either scored or played a part in nearly all our goals this season and it seems that without him we are Toothless Toffees.
Peter Bourke, Posted 22/09/2010 at 00:04:36
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I got nothing against Tim, I seriously don't but why oh why can't we just play 2 upfront FFS even when Tim is available or not? Can't any of the other strikers do a similar job? Or are they all trained to wait upfront and wait to be fed?
The only come back from your point that Tim is great - what does Moyes do when Tim isn't in the team - Lose to Newcastle and Brentford??
Other managers adapt and get the best out of their remaining squad.
Tim makes a nuisance of himself and keeps defenders occupied. We have no-one else who can/will do that.
BUT - we should play 2 up front when he's not available. Or playing 'lesser' opposition.
I thought Yak did ok last night - but age/pace/weight is getting to him and a striker alongside would help.
Beckford is still learning and is not a lone striker - Yak would be able to find him and he could learn a lot
"And perhaps all those who've recently been calling for Cahill's head should watch Saturday's game again. No Tim = no drive, energy or fighting spirit."
But as Lynn says, if Tim is unavailable we should be playing two up front as no-one can play that role like him - certainly not Fellaini who is presently being shoved here there and everywhere by Moyes. And one up front at Brentford is laughable.
But to get back to your original point, Cahill is an Everton legend in my eyes and stands for everything that's good about this club. Let's pray he's back giving defenders "behaviour" (thanks Mark O'Brien) at Fulham at the weekend.
He may not be the most skillful player at our club but, when our backs are to the wall and we need someone to stand up and fight, Tim is the man we look to. He would've loved it last night and would've driven us on.
Guess how many points we would have if it wasn't for Tim Cahill? 0. Work it out and you'll see I'm right. Unfortunately he can't do it all on his own although he seems to be trying at the moment! Literally, apart from him and Baines, there is no one who has played well this season.
Never ceases to amaze me on this site how many people suggest that Cahill should start on the bench. If we had a few more that had his competitive streak we would be better for it.
Cahill is no Arteta on a skill level but he's not alone and there is more to his game than effort , just go over the tape of the Man.Utd game where he had a hand in all 3 goals
He may not be the most 'gifted' or technically admirable players, but boy does he give us an edge.
He's a matchwinner (or matchsaver in our current plight), and clearly frightens other teams.
He's brave, very difficult to legislate for and a real thorn in the side of any opposition.
And he scores a few, doesn't he?
No-one enjoys playing against him, because he's such an unpredictable nuisance? He takes no prisoners either and has a self-belief that many of his teammates need to learn to adopt very quickly if this current team is ever going to do anything.
Tim's one of the most underrated Evertonians - and I use that word very specifically - of the last 20/30 years.
One or two players do not make a team. The RS were still winning last season when Torres and Gerrard were out. Surely we can beat Brentford etc with a few missing
Defensively, Howard Jags, Heitinga and Fellaini would get my vote.
The rest can do one!
Heitinga played in the World Cup Final and Distin can't get in the French squad even with about half the team suspended for Christ's sake. Moyes judgement with defenders over the years has been ptretty good, hes got this one wrong though. Jagielka and Heitinga are the best two centre backs at the club. So play them!!
Another thing I'm not enjoying at the moment is the stick Leon Osman takes, the lad's another one who is being played out of position. Going back to the games with Chelsea and Man Utd at home last year, Osman was one of the best players on the pitch, playing centrally however. He hasn't got the pace or strength to play out there.
Moyes needs to change things quickly or it's going to be another wasted season!!
Cahill is a good player....but he also has deficiencies. Sometimes it's right to play him, sometimes it's not.
Using these defeats as a big stick to beat those who don't wet themselves over Cahill is ridiculous.
What a gross distortion of my post your comment is. Its not about people "not wetting themselves over Cahill". I simply pointed out that i believe he has been unfairly criticised in recent times and when he is out we are missing our goal scoring threat. I don't expect people to WET themselves over Cahill at all and thats not what i indicated.
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1 Posted 22/09/2010 at 07:37:40
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I accept that he is not the best player in the world but his heart, spirit and overall his fight are greatly absent when he doesn''t feature.
For all the guile of Arteta and Pienaar, the leadership of Neville and work effort of Baines - Cahill is the heartbeat who time and time again puts his body on the line for Everton.....not himself....Everton.
I for one appreciate what he offers even if others don't.