Agree. Love the guy, even more so because of his acts off the pitch. I wasn't worried about his lack of goals until I saw him live, ironically when he scored against Sunderland in the cup. He's not the same player and there's no room for sentiment

Its probably very much up to Tim what he does next. He should have attractive choices, but one of those for him is staying with us. I'm quite sure sentiment won't come into it from the club's side if a decent money offer comes in for him though.

But its not so bad. Moyes put him on the bench a few times last season and although in terms of wages he's quite an expensive sub for us he can still do a good job in his former role, getting stuck into the opposition. It looks like the attack support job is going elsewhere anyway.

Top man. I would trust him to make the right decisions himself. He wouldnt mug the club off money wise, but if he had a bit more in the tank, I for one, would use him.
He is banned for the first few games anyway. Maybe a good chance to get properly fit ?

I don't buy this "Moyes always plays his favourites" tag, but lets just say it's true. If he's his favourite, why would he let him go? Why does everyone assume that because some team called Roy Al Jubilee will pay him a few million $ salary, that we would automatically get a big fee? Has anyone actually bid for him, or was it our favourite footy scribe Phil Space up to his tricks?

I know Paul and Ov Collyer are true Blues, and occasionally post on here (I still owe you guys a pint from Southampton a few years back) but sometimes I think their creation CM / FM really clouds peoples views.

As soon as a player reaches 30 he's shit. (What does that make the likes of Vic?) Or we shouldn't sign anyone over 25 because of limited re-sale value. We've just seen a major final with 2 of the best midfielders in the game, both in their 30s.

Yes, Tim has had a poor season by his (high) standards, and yes he's probably at an age where he needs to be used more sparingly, by his country as well as his club. But whilst he is with us (and there has been no bid for him) then he will still have a role to play. Every year we have to pad out the squad with 2-3 loan players, and we're still light at times. I know we won the league in 85 using something like 14 players, but game's changed blah blah.

He's been great for us, but his best days are well over. His wages are costing us over 2.5 million a year, he ws offered a too many years on a contract extension and now we are stuck for (I think another) 2 years with these wasges draining us. It's just like the Arteta salary, he even took apaycut when he joined Arsenal. Why do we pay wages we cannot afford, we got money for Arteta but we won't for Cahill.

Matt 835, understand your points but I think they're a bit exagerated. First of all Cahill has not just turned 30, he'll actually be 33 this Dec so his best days are behind him. Secondly, he's been badly off form since around Dec 2010, i.,e. a season and a half now so not exactly a short time. Add to these two points the fact that he's one of our top earners and we are skint, then it begs the question of whether it really makes any sense to keep him.

If he was on a much lower wage I would be happy if he stayed, could maybe come off the bench every now and then and make an impact and also add a bit of depth to the squad. Realistically though, barring a miracle, he is not going to be good enough to make the starting XI if everyone is fit (assuming Moyes actually picks the best players). Given that, if the opportunity arrives for the club to offload him, why should they say no? As it is, Cahill holds the cards as he's got another 2 years at 2.5m a year left on his contract.

It would also be nice for a change, to have someone with pace and/or creativity/technical ability playing off the striker, as opposed to someone who just 'gets in the face of the oppo' and is mainly there to be a nuiscance rather than attack first. Need better for support up top for Jelavic and I dont think Cahill is the man for the job.

He`s shot and he knows it, he`s become very wealthy at Everton and if he loves the club, he`ll tear up his contract.

If he really loves the club, He`ll tear the Mancs up as well

Denis #841, I've been told a million times not to exaggerate...

I do think generally there's a problem with contracts for the older players. It's not like it's one last payday to top up the pension, as they're already multi-millionaires.

When people bring players salary into it, it's easy to get emotive and start comparing players according to what they're on, if not FM, then Top Trumps style (suspect that'll fly over the heads of half the readership).

Generally it should make sense that over 30s get shorter / lower contracts, or a trade off between the two. (Wenger is pretty strict with no more than 2 years for those 30+). I'm veering off topic slightly here, but I think a club needs consistent policy with contracts in terms of length etc., but should be free to offer what it deems "fair" pay.

In F1, it's normal to back-load a 5 year contract, to try to ensure a driver doesn't jump ship. E.g. Lewis Hamilton's 4 year £25 million contract pays him over £8m in the final year. With the new rule about players being able to buy themselves out of the last 2 years, I'd like to see if there was a way this could be viable in football.

Sadly Timmie has had his heyday. Great while it lasted and he seems to have a chronic back problem these days. Yes, we should let him go if someone wants him but Moyes is a stubborn man and seems to want to select players even when they have no more consistancy in their game.
Timmie struck such fear into defences especially when the Blues had corners or free kicks but alas no more. Since probably January last year when he came back from the Asia cup he where apparently he played injured for Oz he has never been the same. As a reward Everton should let him go on a free if they can.

I dont know if its sentiment that keeps him in Moyes sights so squarely and I think that a lot of you are missing what Cahill brings to the dressing room.

How often has Moyes 'legendary' man management skill been lauded by press and worthy pundits alike?. Its by no means all deserved...Moyes is a fair manager with one real trick....he knows how to build a squad with the right mix of personality and attitude....he's a good judge of character. Cahill is the squad icon - the strong personality that rallies the team and he is absolutely dedicated to the cause. He's the type of personality that has to have a cause to commit to and Moyes gave him that taking a chance on him at Millwall.

If we lose Cahill we lose a lot more than the odd headed goal....we'll lose, I believe, a fair slice of the team spirit and strength we, and Moyes, have depended on so long.

If someone comes along with a big sack of Chinese or Arab folding, and the lad fancies a last challenge in his career, no-one could fault him for it and I'd expect he'll leave Goodison with the respect and warmth he's earned. I'd not expect Moyes to rush to show him the door though and I'd expect his words a few weeks back, that he'd not quite finished with Timmy just yet, were sincere.

Steve (859)

I also read an interview with Tim towards the end of last season, in it he said he realises that moving forward he is going to be an impact player, but that's fine, so long as he can make a contribution to the team he will take that, because he is grateful for what the club and supporters have done for him, and the opportunity they gave him.

Again, I think that is a measure of Tim Cahill, no ego just a honest guy who always gives his all.

I'd rather have a dressing room full of Cahills than prima donna Balotellis any day.

You have to see the irony when we fans abuse 'money-grabbing traitors' such as Rooney and Lescott because they move on to bigger things against our wish, yet we're the first to offload someone who has been nothing but loyal as his career slowly declines. Just saying, is all...

GJ I see your point to some extent but Tim has been very well paid for doing a very good job. I just think that the term loyal is rarely appropriate for men who earn so much. We seem to expect so little of footballers that when one behaves well and works hard we accord him inflated respect.

Like it or not, moving players on at the right time is part of being a successful coach. If Moyes keeps on Cahill I hope it is entirely due to his belief that Cahill has one more good year in him, not out of loyalty.

Andy, I agree the term loyal is rarely appropriate these days, but in my own opinion Cahill is one of the rarities.

Secondly, my point was more about the fickleness of fans as opposed to my own views on the subject. I think Cahill has been nothing short of septic for the past 18 months and I'd happily see him off to the Middle East this summer, wish him all the best and thanks for the memories. (I won't, for what it's worth, shout abuse at former players who moved on because it was right for them and not the club).

Sorry Steve, but the “what Cahill brings to the dressing room...” argument isn’t backed up by the facts.

The season before last, we had yet another poor start to the season, but Cahill scored a few goals during the autumn. The miserabilists on the site said that it was only those goals keeping us above the relegation places and, once Cahill flew out to Qatar, we were buggered.

They were wrong. The side blossomed in his absence.

He may very well be a thoroughly decent guy, but Cahill’s presence on the pitch is detrimental to the way we function as a team and his presence in the dressing room is an irrelevance.

Here we go again.
How many times in the last 3 to 6 months has this subject been raised? I know it is the off season but can't we find someone else or something else to talk about.

@ Aiden
That argument is equally weak to Steve's.

I think the only one who can really comment on whether or not Cahill should be at Everton next season is Moyes. I trust his decision.

If he stays then Moyes obviously sees him being a useful player in ways other than his goal output. See the 2011-12 TW "Goalmakers" chart. By applying pressure in the right place at the right time he has "created" 8 goals. Maybe he also sees his influence as good factor.

But I will agree that at £50k he's quite expensive for a sub but again I trust Moyes will make the right decision.

Just a thought, but maybe players should have it written into their contracts that as they get beyond the 30-mark, then an annual reduction in wages be mandatory, at least in the top divisions, where they've probably earned more than most of us will in our lifetimes. This would save them from being shipped out to save clubs money, therefore allowing them to remain at a club they may havegrown to love, save the upheaval of moving to another location and giving them a chance to stay playing at the same level, even if not as a regular starter. As I said, just a thought...

Conundrum? What conundrum.

Great player for the outlay, has sadly had better days, and with money tight someone that needs to leave in favour of someone who will be first choice XI. Has struggled since the world cup - shame someone didn't sign him for big cash.

"While watching the usual non-movement of players for Everton..."

Sorry, I didn't read past this bit... off the top of my head since the 3rd July 2011 arrivals included Gibson, Jelavic, Pienaar, Straqc, McFadden, Drenthe, Donovan... that's not 'non-movement'

Why do you people still talk about loyalty when it comes to footballers, do you really think Cahill has stayed at Everton out of loyalty or the fact we pay him huge amounts of cash to kick a ball round. Football fans are so deluded and JG Butler newsflash they are all moneygrabbers.

Andy, I agree with you that footballers are money grabbers but that doesn't mean some of them aren't loyal to their clubs.

If you're an half decent footballer these days, you can be set up for life wherever you play but some chose to stay at the clubs they profess to love.

I don't think hes going to be starting many games this forthcoming season given what's seemingly in front of him. I think the club should let him go on a free... the lad has given us magnificent service and will go down as an absolute legend but sadly his best days are behind him. He's no longer the goal threat he was and he was never blessed with great pace anyway... and what pace he had looks gone .

I'd hate to see him start getting stick, so maybe it would be better to let him move on. One thing is for certain though: we know he absolutely loves Everton. I bumped into him in town years ago and he said "Love Everton, Hate Liverpool!" — classic statement, Tim. Maybe Moyes has got a coaching role lined up for him... who knows?

Everton have to move on. Older players who may no longer have the pace or attributes they once had are superfluous. I am not sure dressing room banter is worthy of being selected.

If we continue to play a team consisting of Distin, Hibbert, Osman, Neville, Cahill and Anichebe not necessarily all together then it is likely we will continue as a an also ran behind the top six. They have all been good servants and some may even do well for a while coming off the bench but the fact remains the best is behind them.

Tom, you say "They have all been good servants and some may even do well for a while coming off the bench but the fact remains the best is behind themTom?

You've actually included Anichebe in that list and he's (I think) 24! Or maybe you mean big old Vic never actually had or will have a 'best'....:-)

Probably right..

If your asking Andy, would I expect Cahill to play for free to show his loyalty, then no, I dont. I think as long as we pay him what we've agreed to pay him by way of his contract, then he'll remain loyal. The day you stop paying him, his loyalty may become stretched. That would be the case, I suspect, with everyone in a working environment - I am loyal to my employer so long as my wages hit the bank every Thursday.

As for all footballers being 'moneygrabbers', it is a common misconception. They are earning what they are entitled to earn, like it or not, and in any other business if a prospective employer offered to double your wages for the same job, I expect the vast majority of people would take the position. Because we are not in that position of course, gives us the right to call someone who doubles their earnings a 'moneygrabber'.

Finally, to suggest loyalty does not exist in any form is naive - a few recent Evertonian examples (my opinion of course):
1. Phil Neville not forcing a move to Champions League chasing Spurs at the time
2. Jagielka not forcing a move to Arsenal the summer they were in for him.
3. Baines currently ignoring the endless speculation about Man U and not handing in a transfer request to force a move (yet).

Cahill may move for one big payout (China, Middle-East?), otherwise he will see out his contract which he has every right to do. Not alluding to Tim, but what fans dislike is players deciding they will not stick to the contracts they signed when the club wants to keep them. Ok for them to earn what they are entitled to but should be a two way street - which it isn't at the moment. Setting a FIFA rule that players must pay their own agent's fees in entirety rather than the club paying fees related to transfers would be a start.

For the next stage of the team's evolution, the time has come to phase some of the youngsters into the team - phasing out Neville, Cahill, Ossie etc in the process. It need to be done over the next 1-2 seasons otherwise when will it ever be done?

@ GJ Butler
with regards to Phil Neville, maybe he knew he had bob hope of getting in that Spurs squad the way he waltzes into our team, also maybe the thought of moving home with his family down south wasnt appealing and also whos to say Spurs offered him more money. Maybe he realised he's on a good screw where he is and so he chose what was best for him NOT what is best for the club. So I wouldnt say he chose to stay out of loyalyty.

Jagielka admitted his head was turned and his form suffered through the rumours of Arsenal wanting him but we will never know why that deal fell through, perhaps it was because Everton value him more than the Gunners were prepared to offer. Personally I dont think hes that great and would have gladly seen him move on.

Baines- lets just wait and see what happens.

My point is that money talks and bullshit loyalty walks.
Maybe Moyes stays at Everton not through loyalty but the fact he earns a small fortune and is under no great expectation from his employer to achieve anything bar a top ten finish. He recently spoke about players and managers taking a 20% cut in their wages, I wonder what his views are on that now his contract is up for renewal, he can probably get a few more racehorses out of it.

I think we all know that Cahill is falling down the pecking order {even he knows it I think} the signing of Naismith will make it even harder for him to hold down a regular place.
I'm not one for keeping players because of sentiment or misguided loyalty, but on the other hand, how many times has our bench been populated by kids who have no chance of playing, never mind making a game changing impact? loads of us on here complain about lack of depth in the squad, so maybe he's worth keeping for that reason alone, having said that any offer over £2M would have to be considered imo.

I remember I was gutted when Steve Watson left.....I soon got over it.

Cahill, one of my favourite players and I will miss him when he goes but will then get over it.

He has the winning mentality that many others lack. If that could be bottled the person who did it would be a millionaire overnight.

Steve #914.
I agree, players contracts are only worth anything when it suits the player {or his agent}
Apart from the club being able to command a fee for a player under contract, everything else is very much weighted towards the player, even with this new TV deal commencing 2013, I'll bet not that many chairman were rubbing their hands with glee, but hundreds of players were, because they know that all of that money will be going straight into their bank accounts.
There has to be a balance where a club can actually be allowed to make some profit to invest in it's future rather than every penny being taken by the players and their agents.

Anichebe was more of a goal threat than Cahill last season which tells you all you need to know really!

He's finished and the signing of Naismith will make him a permanent bench warmer. Not one we can afford to have on his 50k per week wages.

Time to move and for both parties and remember the fond memories.

Andy Codling, if Neville wasn't going to get into the Spurs team is there any chance you could shed some light on why they intended to buy him in the first place? To make the coffee perhaps?

I recently moved employers myself. Having been given an opportunity by one company I remained loyal to them for a number of years, before deciding to move to a rival for more money and better prospects. Am I a moneygrabber? Do I epitomise what's wrong with the modern world? Or am I just a sensible person who wants the best for myself and my family?

Just because footballers earn more than you do, it doesn't make them completely different beasts. Some of them are tossers, some aren't, a bit like every job.

We have too many old players these days, it's not good for the future of EFC. With little cash to replace them I think it makes sense that people are talking about cutting down the wages by letting Cahill go and bringing in some younger talent.

Jimmy Kelly, perhaps he could have served the coffee while Pienaar served the biscuits.

I`m sick to death of all this cap doffing to Spurs, They`re jumped up nobodies who havent finished in the first two of the top flight for araound 50 years.

Why didn't Phil Neville go to Spurs? Because he was already at a bigger club — that's why... Do honestly think Pienaar would have gone near the place if Everton paid him what he was looking for?

I can't wait for the "match" betting to open for next season, because as soon I can get a bet on Everton to finish above these no-marks, I'll be relieving a bookie of his hand.

Spurs? ... fuck me!

Dave, match betting only open so far on us finishing above Liverpool. ( were 7/4 ) I blindly do it every year..

Who am I to question your wisdom, Mr Wilson, but I do get this feeling that, over the last fantastic decade of sumptuous football, the outcome has been more in favour of them finishing above us.

[Notwithstanding their extensive lack of 'history'...]

Just saying...

Head to head is something like 6 vs 4 over Moyes 10 years, vs something like 9 vs 1 in the previous decade. Play in the bigger transfer budget – that ain't too shabby MK?

Over that ten year period, Spurs have only gained 9 more points than us.

That clinches it then...

We're miles better than Spurs.

How could anyone think otherwise?

Miles better value, MK. £7.5M per annum net spend Spurs, £1.9M per annum net spend Everton over TWENTY years.

Boom boom Andy Crooks :D

GJ (912) - there is a level where it is undoubtedly money grabbing. We are talking about 50 times a very decent normal salary in a lot of cases nowadays, so more money in a year than we can earn in a lifetime. Earning all that money at such a young age is also extremely advantageous as you should avoid ever having large levels of debt and it can be invested to provide continued income when you retire, things we have to deal with out of the meat of our wages, not the massive surplus.

Doubling an average salary could make huge differences to an average family but going from 40 to 80 thousand a week - well, you would be hard pushed to spend it all whether you stayed put or moved for the pay hike.

I have no problem with players moving to play at a higher level and with improved chances of honours, but if they go from first team regular to bench warmer then you have to be a little suspicious. If they were fuelled by ambition, then they have a grace period in which to find out they were mistaken, but if they continue to hang on when they know they would be better used elsewhere then they are more interested in the money.

The high level of wages is one of the things that has made the EPL so uncompetitive and threatens the long-term future of teams like ours, so I think we have the right to doubt whether players and agents are just acting as anyone else would in the same situation. Personally, if I did a job I loved and if it was important that it continued past my period of employment I would be happy to forego a few luxuries to make it happen. I know a lot of players probably do a lot of good with their wages, but any way you look at it the rewards are huge even if you aren't a top earner.

The right offer and Tim should go, if no one really wants him then he can still help us out coming off the bench.

I can just see you, Ian, heading off to the bookies with your sidekick, Mr Wilson, to place your bets on Everton edging Spurs, safe in the knowledge they are "better value"...

And the bookie rubbing his hands, saying "Knock yersleves out, lads!"

Michael - So your expectation is that we should be keeping up with spurs by that comment?

Do I expect us to finish above spurs? No. Do I think the gap will be cut? Yes. Do I think avb will be sacked before Christmas? Don't BET against it.

Si, while your intentions are honourable, I believe most people who are put in a situation where they can double their wages from £40k to £80k per week, would do, even if it makes no difference to their lifestyle except simply adding zeros to their bank account.

You mention you can understand a player moving out of ambition - most of the time the two go hand in hand. Althought there are a few exceptions, you are rarely doubling your wages to go to a smaller/less ambitious club. I'm sure Pienaar was of the opinion he could make it into the Spurs team, otherwise why would Spurs want to sign him in the first place?

I agree the high wages is part of the reason football is on the brink and becoming less competitive, but again, I don't blame the players. They will only be paid what a club is willing to pay. If no club is willing to pay a certain player £40k a week, then I'm sure that player will rethink his demands.

Finally, could you elaborate on your statement '...if I did a job I loved and if it was important that it continued past my period of employment I would be happy to forego a few luxuries to make it happen'?. Are you talking about working for free after your contract expired because the job was that important? Which is fine, and again honourable, but did you consider that when your contract expires there may be another company looking for your services and willing to offer you a huge signing on fee to move? It may or may not make you think again.

Michael

If we finish above Spurs this year,nobody would bat an eyelid, it would be the fifth time since Moyes took over.

Without being saddled with this illogical and seemingly rampant inferiority complex, I can accept that the current Spurs board is light years ahead of ours and because of that, bookies are likely to offer odds against us finishing above them. Does that make them a bigger club ? No chance. Does it mean they`ll finish above us ? only in the humble world of the deferring cap doffer.

You could be right, the bookie may well rub his hands when He see`s me coming, at least they`ll be nice and loosend up for when he has to count my winnings.

If I worked in the City, I`d be arrested for what I`m about to do

I doubt it Dave, the "city" seems to lead the way on law breaking and scamming these days, I watched one of the fuckers on the telly last night, laughing whilst telling us that our taxes (in the form of the bailout for the banks) had help to pay for his 4 million pound house in Notting Hill. Should be strung up by the bollocks imo.

GJ, my issue isn't about the amount of money they are paid, it is more to do with the way they often seem to compete to drive their wages up, even when they must be aware that their wage demands are putting greater strain on clubs that have existed for a long time before they turned up and should be around for a lot longer.

For example, compare Arteta and Pienaar. One went to warm a bench at a club only marginally better in performance than us for more money, the other took a pay cut to play regularly for a genuine top 4 club. Why do players like Pienaar not hand in transfer requests if they genuinely want to try for a better club? Why do their agents stir things up publicly when the players are tactfully silent? Because they are playing a political game where the only aim is to look after themselves (when they are already fantastically rewarded).

According to a lot of posters we could have kept Pienaar in the first place if we had been prepared to match his wages to Arteta's. Why do clubs end up with such disparate wage structures in the first place if it isn't in some way influenced by the desire for that extra 10 grand a year to demonstrate your more valued than your team mates? You can argue that the clubs are themselves complicit, but the reality is they are driven by market forces where the players and their agents are often the dominant force.

You know, I do think that I would be happy on my XX grand a week playing at a club that had looked after me, rather than feeling I needed to move to ensure I was paid double that. If the choice was about the standard / level I was playing at then that has merit, but we can all think of examples were players are not operating on that principle. Dan Gosling anyone?

I don't expect anyone to play for nothing, but I would be happier if attempts to moderate wage demands didn't so often seem to end up with a player running down their contract and departing to the highest bidder. I would also hope that if Tim Cahill thought to himself that he was no longer able to operate at the level that Everton require from him he may be minded to take a decent offer from a wealthy club in a developing league rather than sitting tight, especially if his long-term future is not going to be in this country.

I thought the same about Arteta too......until news came that after being at the club for 9 months wanted talks about a wage increase.

Took a wage decrease to get there and when the season ends demands more money...hmmmm