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Cahill

Where will Cahill fit into our starting line-up when he returns? He's not good enough all around as a midfielder to take up one of those four spots, and AJ and Yak are pretty much sealed as our forwards. I always thought his best position was as the attacking mid in a 4-5-1, but with Gravesen, Arteta, Neville, Carsley, and Pienaar already taking up the midfield, where does Cahill fit in?
Jimmy Crack, Phoenix, AZ, USA Posted 18/09/2007 at 19:43:43

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Michael Kenrick

I wonder... have you heard of the concept of squad rotation and tactical substitutions? Not to mention the perennial problem of injuries...

For years all we heard was "threadbare squad"... now we seem to have gone to the other extreme thinking there is no room for our players! Rest assured David Moyes can add up to eleven plus five (or is it seven in the Uefa Cup?) when it comes to naming the teamsheet. He may not always choose to name the best XVI available to him, but I feel sure he'll be giving Tim Cahill plenty of playing time when he is finally available again.

Here's a thought: could you enter the various combinations and permutations of midfield line-ups, team formations and subs availble into something like, er... Football Manager, and then figure out which would be best for us to use? I think that would be great.

Matt Bone
1 Posted 18/09/2007 at 22:00:37

Cahill - not a good enough all round midfielder. There are very few players in the world who would fit into the complete midfielder bracket. Liverpool have one I?m reluctant to admit but there wouldn't too many others and certainly not plying their trade at Goodison park. Cahill has a different style of play than others though. For instance he is an attacking midfielder whereas someone like Carsely isnt at his best in the last 3rd but better suited for the defensive midfield role. Its basically horses for courses. Cahill and Arteta should be the 2 1st choice midfielders assuming they are fit.

Richard Murray
2 Posted 18/09/2007 at 22:13:21

Cahill would be looking to get in any midfield in the country (outside the top four).

I think he walks into our current midfield; if only for the ten or so goals he?ll hopefully get.

Roy Coyne
3 Posted 18/09/2007 at 22:22:34

Much as I like him Richard he is a bit reckless tackling and to be honest I hate it when he goes back to defend ? I?m always thinking he's going to give a silly freekick or worse... but as you say going forward his goals are worth his place.

Alan Clarke
4 Posted 18/09/2007 at 22:28:34

I see Jimmy Crack has listed Neville as a midfielder! Drop Neville and that’s where Cahill fits in. In fact, as Cahill is one of our most consistent players, he should be first pick and then the rest of the team is picked to accommodate him.

Clifford Maylor
5 Posted 18/09/2007 at 22:57:08

I have to say that my pref is to play Jags as right back with Cahill, Grav, Arteta and Osman for the time being on the left.

Baines shows TH for what he is. For those who say TH is a good defender.....i agree.....but if you want to complete at the highest level you have to be a great all round player not just a good defender.

A right back to match baines and a right winger who can aspire to emulate Arteta and this team could win the Premiership.

Clifford Maylor
6 Posted 18/09/2007 at 23:02:27

I have just learned another lesson.....never write these things when you have had a drink...i mean a left winger to emulate arteta and of course the ref to Arteta, Cahill, Grav and Osman is as the midfield 4

Sorry Chaps

Clifford Maylor
7 Posted 18/09/2007 at 23:05:11

Of course that means no place 4 neville in the starting 11....i think we can already assume had Grav been fit on sat.....TH would have been replaced by jag or PH
in any event

Russell Buckley
8 Posted 18/09/2007 at 23:38:00

Cahill should be one of the 1st midfielders picked whenever he is available. Not good enopugh to fill one of the four midfield spots, your kidding yourself. He actually provides a threat to the opposition. He is among the best players in the squad and could make the midfield of just about any team in the league. He should be played just behind the AJ and Yak as an attacking midfielder.

Russell Buckley
9 Posted 18/09/2007 at 23:38:00

Cahill is among the most talented players in the current squad. He should be one of the 1st selections whenever he is fit. As for his defence, its not what his game is built around. He is an attacking midfielder and Moyes should use him as one, just behind aj and yak. Not good enough to fill one of the four midfield place, what a joke

Michael Tracey
10 Posted 18/09/2007 at 23:57:41

Whats the Craic Jimmy? Cahill not good enough. He is probably our best midfielder behind Arteta. He scores goals and is good with the ball. I don’t know of many midfielders who score 10 goals a season in the Premier League. The ones that do are well a bit special. May not be the best defender in the world but I think we have other players to cover that. Pinear on left, Jag and Cahill in middle (Cahill more attacking) and Arteta on right. We would have Grav (as back up) also all the others. Phil Neville would be playing at Right Back and Hibbert would be getting splinters because thats where he should be.

Glen Strachan
11 Posted 19/09/2007 at 00:05:45

No worries guys. It will be quite a while before Tim will be able to even consider playing 30 minutes. He is at a stage in his career where he has to put his long term interests first and that probably means resting up for the remainder of 2007.

Hope Tommy Boy?s injury is as slight as the club is saying. Moyes needs his two baldies back in harness to block out the midfield.

Don?t bark at me, lads... shout at the man who picks the team !

Kevin Fowkes
12 Posted 19/09/2007 at 00:34:18

I think this debate is pointless!

Cahill for captain..... nothing else to say.

David McBain
13 Posted 19/09/2007 at 03:27:20

Cahill not good enough Matt Bone? Looking for a place in any side outside the top four Richard Murray?

Umm what drugs are they selling in your neighborhood? Obviously its the good stuff and promote long AND short term memory loss. Cahill is the best player we have ever signed. How can you forget the leading midfielder stat wise in the league for the last two years? Leading midfielder apart from Ronaldo when he got injured? Tackling, getting better skill wise (he is very good at holding up the ball if you havent noticed, strength, flair, and the supernatural positional skill, that I would say is as good as any striker in the league. To say Cahill wouldnt fit into any squad is a travesty! Name the last Evertonian to make the top 50 players in Europe. Name the last Evertonian to score in a world cup? Name the last Evertonian who goals really made you jump off your seat, run around like a looney and mimick the corner flag punching celebration with a smile as wide as wide as a Sydney Harbour Sunrise?

Its not the case of where Cahill could fit, as who will come out when he?s back. He will be rabid to get onto the park, and Moyes, like any manager worth his wage will not be able to resist dropping him straight back into the mix.

Mark Stone
14 Posted 19/09/2007 at 07:41:40

With the exception of Atteta Cahill is the best midfield player at Everton. From what I’ve seen of Pienaar so far cahill is light years ahead. So in answer to question - centre midfield behind the front 2.

Mark Stone
15 Posted 19/09/2007 at 08:35:25

Roy when you said ’he is a bit reckless tackling and to be honest I hate it when he goes back to defend ? I?m always thinking he’s going to give a silly freekick or worse’ you really could be talking about Neville more than Cahill. Every match Neville gives awat 3 or 4 free kicks in really dangerous positions. He’s so reliable at it I’m sure opposition managers have it in their game plan. Keep an eye out for it.

matt bone
16 Posted 19/09/2007 at 08:38:43

David Mcbain - Apologies for my lack of punctuation at the begining. I am in full agreement that Cahill is one of our best players. As my post went on to say he and arteta should be 2 of the 1st names on the teamsheet.

Billy Deane
17 Posted 19/09/2007 at 08:57:59

I cant believe this posting do you actually go to the Everton games. Who scores more goals than all the other midfielders put together, who wins headers in the box, who runs his socks off. How can you say he cant get into a midfield with the likes of Osman and Neville in it.

Dan Wragg
18 Posted 19/09/2007 at 10:04:34

What does everyone think about dropping Hibbert, and moving Neville to right back, Cahill could then take the Midfield Pos. and make it A-Midfield. Carsley/Graversen could sit back as the DM, creating a diamnd, with either Pineear or Osman on the wings?

Just my two cents!

Peter Singer
19 Posted 19/09/2007 at 10:18:44

Billy Deane, you may be missing the point. It’s not a question of is he good enough, of course he is. It’s a question of where does he fit tactically.

Brendan Fox
20 Posted 19/09/2007 at 10:10:24

Somebody please keep Jimmy off the ’Crack’ pipe! Don’t know what your smokin’ fella but any midfielder who routinely pops up in the box and provides the aerial threat Cahill does should be in the side just for that alone. Tim causes mayhem in opposition boxes at set pieces and also he can play a bit of footie on the deck too, he links up play well with Arteta and the forward line. So why he wouldn’t make the 11 I just can’t understand your thinking?

Billy Deane
21 Posted 19/09/2007 at 11:05:24

He fits in Peter as the attacking midfielder who scores goals which the defensive minded ones dont, ie Carsley Jagielka and Neville.
Cahill’s goals and contribution makes him priceless.

Michael Tracey
22 Posted 19/09/2007 at 11:21:35

Cracker, clearly states "He’s not good enough all around as a midfielder to take up one of those four spots". So Peter Singer I think you are missing the point. Cracker is saying that Cahill is not good enough. If Tim Cahill does not fit in a four man midfield with our current squad I will run naked through Stanley Park. Honestly I dont understand what people expect. He scores more goals from midfield than a lot of Prem strikers. If Cahill had of been playing on Saturday then we would of won.

Mark Stone
23 Posted 19/09/2007 at 16:19:41

I think it’s funny everyone wants Neville to go to right back and Hibbo dropped, but remember when Hibbo was ill and Neville actually played right back - he was wank and we all wanted Hibbo back!

Wayne Smyth
24 Posted 19/09/2007 at 19:50:19

The Everton squad doesn’t really contain any natural wingers(avdm excepted), but we are blessed with some very good attacking & defensive central midfield players, as well as some very good strikers.

I think what is required is a change of formation, as we have been trying to fit square pegs into round holes resulting in some below-average performances. My preference would be a 4-3-1-2.

You could pick two from AJ/Yak/Vaughan/Anichebe/McFadden up top.

By all accounts Pienaar/Osman and Cahill operate most effectively behind the strikers so they could battle for the supporting role.

In the midfield it would be three from Arteta, Gravesen, Jagielka and Cars.

The defence would pick itself with Neville at RB.

Not only would the above formation give a good balance but it would ensure that the likes of cahill get to play in their best position, and it provides some kind of link between our strikers & midfield which would hopefully allow the ball to be passed rather than hoofed.