The Mail Bag
Cahill Unscathed
Comments (19)
My fellow Evertonians, you'll be happy to know that Cahill got through the game and only played around 60 mins.
He scored one of his classic headers (being biased here, any goal from him is a classic!) and assisted in another goal.
He played a different role to his stock standard role for us as he sat in front of two strikers that did all the donkey work which enabled him to use his skill and energy to create a number of chances for himself and others.
I've read a number of posts that have said that he needs to be benched if we move to a 4-4-2 set up. I battle to see the reasons why when he continually plays well for Australia in this formation.
Unfortunately he's being stereotyped in a certain role as he's been instructed to play that way for us. I think we need to release his shackles and promote his attacking nature.
Steve Pendleton, Posted 06/02/2008 at 10:42:18
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Richard Ewart
2 Posted 06/02/2008 at 11:53:30
2 Posted 06/02/2008 at 11:53:30
Tim Cahill played from the start and scored the second goal with a header. He could have had a hattrick, going close with two other headed chances. The Aussies rang rings round the Qatar and were really only in third gear in the second half. Tim was subbed with about half an hour to go and seemed in decent shape to me. I reckon he will be fine for Saturday.
Ex-Everton youth player David Carney played the full 90 minutes and not for the first time was impressive. At the right price I reckon he could be a really useful acquisition for Everton, particularly as he is a left sided player, with a good shot and a decent cross, as well decent defensive skills. Bit of an all-rounder really.
Dan Mckie
3 Posted 06/02/2008 at 16:29:32
3 Posted 06/02/2008 at 16:29:32
Sat in FRONT of 2 strikers?? That sounds an odd formation!
Paul Niklas
4 Posted 06/02/2008 at 16:35:26
4 Posted 06/02/2008 at 16:35:26
Sorry dont care what he does for Australia or how he plays.
What he does for Everton is all that matters.
This might not be something you want to hear but believe its what most and I say most people think, although someone will post something against this.
We really dont care about Australia or any other national team for that matter.
Tim get back here score and do t he job we all know you can do for your pay masters.
What he does for Everton is all that matters.
This might not be something you want to hear but believe its what most and I say most people think, although someone will post something against this.
We really dont care about Australia or any other national team for that matter.
Tim get back here score and do t he job we all know you can do for your pay masters.
Paul OHanlon
5 Posted 06/02/2008 at 16:47:27
5 Posted 06/02/2008 at 16:47:27
It’s one thing playing Cahill behind 2 strikers against Qatar, but you can’t play that formation in the premier league. It’d leave Carsley or Fernandes far too exposesd.
Chelsea tried it last season to accomodate Shevchenko and Ballack...it didn’t work.
Chelsea tried it last season to accomodate Shevchenko and Ballack...it didn’t work.
Paul OHanlon
6 Posted 06/02/2008 at 16:47:27
6 Posted 06/02/2008 at 16:47:27
It’s one thing playing Cahill behind 2 strikers against Qatar, but you can’t play that formation in the premier league. It’d leave Carsley or Fernandes far too exposesd.
Chelsea tried it last season to accomodate Shevchenko and Ballack...it didn’t work.
Chelsea tried it last season to accomodate Shevchenko and Ballack...it didn’t work.
Dick Fearon
7 Posted 06/02/2008 at 21:05:29
7 Posted 06/02/2008 at 21:05:29
Tim did well for Oz and on our local TV he gave Everton and David Moyes a marvellous wrap.
A very good ambassador for Everton.
He was the first to be rested uninjured and would have been rubbed down caught up with friends and family who were at the Qatar game, and flying home first class before Englands game kicked off. I reckon he will be raring to go against Reading.
A very good ambassador for Everton.
He was the first to be rested uninjured and would have been rubbed down caught up with friends and family who were at the Qatar game, and flying home first class before Englands game kicked off. I reckon he will be raring to go against Reading.
Russell Buckley
8 Posted 06/02/2008 at 22:34:25
8 Posted 06/02/2008 at 22:34:25
The Socceroos outclasses Qatar in ever area of the game. Tim was on top form and was rested as soon as the game was safe for Australia. He gave Everton a big rap when interviewed and one broadcast stated ’he showed tonight why he is playing for Everton, one of the best clubs in the World. Shows how well he is promoting Everton down under.
Cameron Hamilton
9 Posted 06/02/2008 at 22:46:07
9 Posted 06/02/2008 at 22:46:07
I love Everton and Australia but to play devil’s advovate for a minute, if Everton or any other club want to sign players from Australia, Africa or wherever, then they surely realise these players will want to come home and play for their countries.
In the case of the current Australian team, their 2006 World Cup run has put the sport on the map in Australia. 50,000 attendance for a game against Qatar showed how far the sport has come and why this squad feels great responsibility to keep the momentum going.
Tim or the rest of the squad should not be criticised for wanting to play these qualifiers. There is great pride in the national shirt at the moment and long may it continue.
In his interview last night, Tim said he was worried about the criticism he would face in Australia if he didn’t make the trip so he’s on a hiding to nothing whatever his decision.
The bottom line, Tim is a professional and will be fit and firing for the Reading match on Saturday. COYB!!
In the case of the current Australian team, their 2006 World Cup run has put the sport on the map in Australia. 50,000 attendance for a game against Qatar showed how far the sport has come and why this squad feels great responsibility to keep the momentum going.
Tim or the rest of the squad should not be criticised for wanting to play these qualifiers. There is great pride in the national shirt at the moment and long may it continue.
In his interview last night, Tim said he was worried about the criticism he would face in Australia if he didn’t make the trip so he’s on a hiding to nothing whatever his decision.
The bottom line, Tim is a professional and will be fit and firing for the Reading match on Saturday. COYB!!
Dennis Karanikolopoulos
10 Posted 07/02/2008 at 00:37:16
10 Posted 07/02/2008 at 00:37:16
Paul Niklas, if you don’t care about anyone else don’t sign players from anywhere else, simple!!! Amazing that I’ve supported Everton all my life and feel a real distate toward my own club by some of the comments the supporters make, very disappointing including previous posts by others recently regarding Cahill and Australia. It’s okay for English players to play in World Cup Qualifiers. What’s the difference? It can only benefit Everton if our players excel on the world stage. Firstly they’re more confident, probably more satisfied with what they’re achieving, they’re building up their own value (should any ever choose to leave) and building up the profile of the club. How can that be bad?
If you don’t want players representing their nations, don’t buy them, that’s all. I was a proud Evertonian AND a proud Aussie last night, I don’t see why that should change....comments like yours and others I’ve read recently have the potential to alienate people from our great club.
If you don’t want players representing their nations, don’t buy them, that’s all. I was a proud Evertonian AND a proud Aussie last night, I don’t see why that should change....comments like yours and others I’ve read recently have the potential to alienate people from our great club.
Michael Hunt
11 Posted 07/02/2008 at 04:09:38
11 Posted 07/02/2008 at 04:09:38
Dennis, A very good point you make. Another point worth noting is that many Evertonians have reservations regarding international call ups, because more bad than good can (and often has) come from it. E.g. Rooney and possibly the likes of Barmby, Keown, Linekar and Jeffers etc. being tapped up for transfers away when involved with the England set up. Injuries e.g. Pienaar at the moment are also real concerns. It can be fine margins in football, so for a small squad like ours, it is fear of such problems leading to us finishing 5th rather than 4th (with the Champions League implications) that causes valid concerns.
That said, all Evertonians are proud of players representing their countries and just hope they do well and that it does not backfire on the Club.
The likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and some ManU fans have similar issues relating to the injury/burnout worries.
Lastly, Well Done Tim, a very justifiably proud Australian and Evertonian. (From an English toffee.)
That said, all Evertonians are proud of players representing their countries and just hope they do well and that it does not backfire on the Club.
The likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and some ManU fans have similar issues relating to the injury/burnout worries.
Lastly, Well Done Tim, a very justifiably proud Australian and Evertonian. (From an English toffee.)
Matt Traynor
12 Posted 07/02/2008 at 05:39:51
12 Posted 07/02/2008 at 05:39:51
Tim had to go through 6 years of action and appeals to get the right to play for the Socceroos. He’d run through brick walls to play for them, as he would for Everton. David Moyes knows and respects that - I think some of our fans should too.
Julian van Lingen
13 Posted 07/02/2008 at 07:05:45
13 Posted 07/02/2008 at 07:05:45
The Socceroos next World Cup qualifier is away, at altitude, to China on 26 March 2008 ... half a week before a Merseyside Derby in which more than just pride is likely to be at stake.
Just when you cut one head off the hydra, another grows in its place. Can’t wait for more of this tiresome debate and the "you’re not as big a Blue as I am because I don’t give a stuff about international football" chorus ...
Just when you cut one head off the hydra, another grows in its place. Can’t wait for more of this tiresome debate and the "you’re not as big a Blue as I am because I don’t give a stuff about international football" chorus ...
Paul Niklas
14 Posted 07/02/2008 at 08:24:24
14 Posted 07/02/2008 at 08:24:24
Dennis, you miss the point completely, I said England also, I have no interest in International football it is a distraction to the premier league and are chances of progressing, I am not singling out Australia it everyone.
I appreciate you might have 50, 000 at the game, however that game to you is our premiership games every week, we dont need International football to get us excited and motivated we have it every week. Selfish I know but its fact.
interestingly and again a fact the bulkof supporters who follow england are those fromthe lower leagues who dont have the crowds and the excitement and who dont get to watch top players every week. so its their chance to do so. I respect that.
How many supporters watch with respect and how many top players do you see in Australia every week the answer not a lot.
Which is why your top players play everwhere else.
So yes we sign them but they want to be signed.
I appreciate your position but its not reality for everton supporters here in England.
Club first country second always will be.
Country no doubt first when the club scene is not as attractive.
I appreciate you might have 50, 000 at the game, however that game to you is our premiership games every week, we dont need International football to get us excited and motivated we have it every week. Selfish I know but its fact.
interestingly and again a fact the bulkof supporters who follow england are those fromthe lower leagues who dont have the crowds and the excitement and who dont get to watch top players every week. so its their chance to do so. I respect that.
How many supporters watch with respect and how many top players do you see in Australia every week the answer not a lot.
Which is why your top players play everwhere else.
So yes we sign them but they want to be signed.
I appreciate your position but its not reality for everton supporters here in England.
Club first country second always will be.
Country no doubt first when the club scene is not as attractive.
Michael Hunt
15 Posted 07/02/2008 at 14:01:43
15 Posted 07/02/2008 at 14:01:43
A few weeks ago Tim Cahill came out and said something along the lines of, ’Everton are the Club that gave me my chance in the big time when they bought me from Millwall. I owe them a lot for that and therefore my prioirty is Everton, not Australia’.
Quite a contrast now: http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23175547-23215,00.html
To my mind, it is pathetic to state he would travel to the other side of the world in the middle of Everton’s season even if he was injured. Also inappropriate to be paid a veritable fortune by Everton and be willing to jeopardise his place in the potentially CL place deciding Anfield derby to play for Australia at altitude in China. FFS, either be a blue kangaroo or hop on!
Quite a contrast now: http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23175547-23215,00.html
To my mind, it is pathetic to state he would travel to the other side of the world in the middle of Everton’s season even if he was injured. Also inappropriate to be paid a veritable fortune by Everton and be willing to jeopardise his place in the potentially CL place deciding Anfield derby to play for Australia at altitude in China. FFS, either be a blue kangaroo or hop on!
Paul Niklas
16 Posted 07/02/2008 at 14:44:49
16 Posted 07/02/2008 at 14:44:49
At last, someone who sees the reality.
Micheal to balance this out, I take it you would feel the same about any other international team.
See the thing is we dont get the problem with England as we tend not to play when its a competitive game.
But we need TIm and especially this season we need him and everyone else to get 4th.
We have all seen the effect, I am convinced we would have beaten Chelsea, Tottenham and Blackburn with the Africans back.
I know we understand they have to play or want to play internationally, if everyone decided not to buy them because they are african or Australian then where would they be , playing at home in some poor league not using their talent and getting their rewards for it , which they all do very well thankyou.
The bigger question ultimatley for me is with domestic football getting stronger and stronger, is their a place for international football.
Apart from at best, the semi finals of a world cup its pretty boring stuff.
Why not just have the world cup once every two years and forget euro championships and African nations etc.
Play the friendlys as last night without cancelling out our saturday games.
Big subject but I believe at some point the debate will come.
Micheal to balance this out, I take it you would feel the same about any other international team.
See the thing is we dont get the problem with England as we tend not to play when its a competitive game.
But we need TIm and especially this season we need him and everyone else to get 4th.
We have all seen the effect, I am convinced we would have beaten Chelsea, Tottenham and Blackburn with the Africans back.
I know we understand they have to play or want to play internationally, if everyone decided not to buy them because they are african or Australian then where would they be , playing at home in some poor league not using their talent and getting their rewards for it , which they all do very well thankyou.
The bigger question ultimatley for me is with domestic football getting stronger and stronger, is their a place for international football.
Apart from at best, the semi finals of a world cup its pretty boring stuff.
Why not just have the world cup once every two years and forget euro championships and African nations etc.
Play the friendlys as last night without cancelling out our saturday games.
Big subject but I believe at some point the debate will come.
Michael Hunt
17 Posted 07/02/2008 at 15:04:55
17 Posted 07/02/2008 at 15:04:55
The issue is irrespective of the nationality of the player. Premier League teams play massive wages to players to perform for the premier league team. IMO, it is unacceptable for a player to jeopordise his fitness for a truly massive derby game to fly all the way to China, play a game at altitude, and then back to England without the proper preparations. Cahill has a great record against Liverpool and for him to be willing to risk missing it, whatever the reason, is wrong IMHO. Should he have been English I would strongly feel exactly the same in such circumstances.
Dennis Karanikolopoulos
18 Posted 08/02/2008 at 00:06:07
18 Posted 08/02/2008 at 00:06:07
Interesting point boys, however I will agree to disagree with you on this one.
The highest honour in the game has and always will be representing your country. And if you think about it, it doesn’t matter how good a player is at club level, the real accolades (and subsequent big money contracts) come when they star on the international stage. Who was Zidane until he won the World Cup?? Ballack, same story.
At the end of the day, everyone loves their country and wants to do well for them. I don’t think it’s fair to expect them to not do that.
Yes, Everton pay their wages and invest in them......as do the national federations too with scouts, physios, flights & accomodation, training camps etc.
All that’s needed is an understanding from both sides of the issues and try and come to a compromise, rather than black & white views of should never go, should always go.
National coach Pim Verbeek did the right thing by Timmy and Everton in taking him off after 60 minutes....job was done, let him return unscathed. The players were all flown first class, and the physios are on their return flights so they return to their clubs in tip top shape.
How many other football federations would do that for their players? I think Australia have done really well in that regard and if anything, it should show club coaches that they’re willing to look after the players as much as they can when they come back for internationals....
The highest honour in the game has and always will be representing your country. And if you think about it, it doesn’t matter how good a player is at club level, the real accolades (and subsequent big money contracts) come when they star on the international stage. Who was Zidane until he won the World Cup?? Ballack, same story.
At the end of the day, everyone loves their country and wants to do well for them. I don’t think it’s fair to expect them to not do that.
Yes, Everton pay their wages and invest in them......as do the national federations too with scouts, physios, flights & accomodation, training camps etc.
All that’s needed is an understanding from both sides of the issues and try and come to a compromise, rather than black & white views of should never go, should always go.
National coach Pim Verbeek did the right thing by Timmy and Everton in taking him off after 60 minutes....job was done, let him return unscathed. The players were all flown first class, and the physios are on their return flights so they return to their clubs in tip top shape.
How many other football federations would do that for their players? I think Australia have done really well in that regard and if anything, it should show club coaches that they’re willing to look after the players as much as they can when they come back for internationals....
Michael Hunt
19 Posted 08/02/2008 at 20:03:33
19 Posted 08/02/2008 at 20:03:33
Good points there Dennis. It is a fine line at times. On reflection. common sense needs to prevail all round. Cahill is a class act, on and off the pitch usually. Good luck to him, Everton and Australia. In an ideal world, Everton would come first always. I find it hard to understand when it does not as I believe all players should adhere to the NSNO principle as far as Everton Football Club is concerned.
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1 Posted 06/02/2008 at 11:20:14