Cahill is class, I'll settle for that title for now.

We'll have to better define legend before arguing the matter but for me he's ticking some pretty important boxes.

i) playing performance - the goal record from a midfielder speaks volumes and how many of them have been crucial match-winners - quite a few. I also think he puts a hell of a shift in in midfield and though not as naturally gifted as say Arteta, he can play a bit and certainly grafts, which brings me to...

ii) attitude and passion - for me this is vital for legend status and it's primarily why big dunc is considered by some as a modern legend, the never say die, lay my lie down for the team passion as well as genuine loyalty to the club and camaraderie with his team mates

iii) ambassadorial quality - ask any non-Evertonian or middling footie fan to name Everton players and it's likely you'll get a very short list. No disrespect to Osman, Hibbo or even Saha, but thanks to his intelligent interviews, distinctive celebrations, international appearances and FIFA box-art featurings Cahill is our number one 'brand' player, followed by Arteta, Howard, Pienaar, the Yak and possibly Baines. He's certainly raised our profile massively in the Antipodes and arguably the far East too.

In terms of comparing Tim, or indeed any of the FPL era players to the legends of years gone by, that's obviously a dicey business. For starters you've got the halcyon days filter which makes anything out of immediate memory seems better. More problematically you've got the situation that those old-school players were more often than not playing in championship-challenging sides which were either stuffed full of quality or were competing against weaker opposition than the modern money-stuffed FPL. If you need to win something to be a legend then all our recent legends will have to come from the 95 side.

Then again with Big Nev and Watto I suppose that probably does apply anyway, Big Dunc is a legend for me, Horne and Stuart will remain forever golden in my eyes from that last gasp Wimbledon win and the rest of the team weren't too shabby either.

Hmmm, maybe a separate thread on the general status of modern-day (Premier League era) Everton players is warranted?

Where for instance would we place the likes of Gravesen, Kanchelskis or Carsley?

I have seen both of them and except for club loyalty where Cahill comes out on top I reckon they are pretty even. But then again I am only going on the statistical record. Perhaps it is my fading memory but I cannot remember when an individual stroke of Ball genious or brilliance swung a game in our favour.

I do not wish to belittle in any way Alan's individual contribution to the Everton cause but in all honesty I cannot see where it betters that of Cahill. I would be delighted to be wrong about this. can anyone oblige. Remember, I am only talking about the Everton record of both.

I believe that every generation will have their own particular "Legends"; having watched Everton since 1948 my own favourites include Peter Farrell, Wally Fielding,Dave Hickson, Alex Parker, Alex Young, Bobby Collins and Tommy Ring from the fifties and sixties. Mick Lyons, Martin Dobson,and Duncan McKenzie from the seventies, Andy Gray, Peter Reid, Trevor Steven from the eighties.

I also believe that Duncan Ferguson despite his disciplinary shortcomings is worthy of legendary status. I am also aware that there are other players who could quite easily be regarded as "Legends" but we have to draw the line somewhere.

Alec Young and Arteta are worthy selections for one or more of these reasons. Not far behind are Timmie, Peter Reid and a host of other players many of us cannot remember. This has been a great topic of discussion and will always be popular but it's like picking your favourite film. Everyone has a different choice for different reasons.