Few players are more loved by fans of the clubs they’ve represented than Tim Cahill. A combination of hard work, innate goal scoring ability and commitment to the cause of whichever team he is playing for makes him easy for fans to identify with.
It was at Millwall where Cahill first made his name in English football and these days a massive image of the Australian attacking midfielder adorns the side of one stand at The New Den.
Evertonians feel a similar reverence for the Socceroos star and his departure in July to MLS side the New York Red Bulls was another bitter pill for Toffee fans to swallow following on from Mikel Arteta’s sale to Arsenal 12-months earlier.
Yet, despite Cahill having scored 68 goals across eight seasons for the blue half of Merseyside, the surprising truth of the matter is Everton are now a better side without him.
Heading into this morning’s home match against Arsenal, David Moyes’ side were sitting in fifth spot ahead of a list of teams that included Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Newcastle.
While supporters are feeling frustrated at the moment thanks to Everton having conceded two last gasp equalisers in recent weeks, the team’s start to the season has largely been a success.
The reason for this, at least in part, has to do with Cahill’s departure.
This is not because the Australian wasn’t a fantastic servant for the club, but instead the player who’s replaced him in the role behind the striker, Marouane Fellaini, is now playing in a position he’s more accustomed to.
A more rounded footballer, Fellaini is thriving now he’s no longer being pushed back by Cahill’s presence in the team. This change of affairs has benefited Everton to the form of six goals and three assists so far this season.
Cahill’s ability in the air (for what it’s worth, I remember referee Howard Webb telling myself and fellow journalist Matthew Hall back in 2010 he thought the Australian was the best header of the ball in the Premier League) and knack at finding space inside the penalty area have also been replaced.
Fellaini wins an impressive 3.9 aerial duels a game – in terms of forwards in the Premier League only Andy Carroll, Peter Crouch and Steven Fletcher fair better – and in Nikica Jelavic Everton have a deadly finisher to enjoy the service Cahill used to thrive on.
After last weekend’s disappointing draw at Norwich, Moyes admitted his team has struggled in recent weeks not due to the loss of players like Cahill, but instead because they haven’t been taking advantage of what they already have – in particular their Croatian striker.
“(Jelavic)’s looking to try to find a bit of form and we could look to get him better service,” the 49-year-old said.
“He likes crosses and passes into the box for him to feed on, and we haven’t really given that sort of service for a few games now.”
Despite the blip in form they’ve been going through, Moyes should be applauded for having managed the feat of not just absorbing the loss of a corner stone player like Cahill, but in fact making his team better for it.
Dave
Guest
true that, cahill was one of their best and if everton get him back on loan it could do nothing to hinder the team. In fact I think the hunger after returning would bring cahill back to his best form, trying to prove to the everton fans that he could be vital in their title charge
Swampy
Guest
This is like saying Real Madrid are better without Ronaldo (the fat one) post 3 knee re-co's. Tim's EPL career was at its end and to compare his team of last year (how many games did he play again?) against Everton of this year is of little worth. Compare Everton of 5 years ago against this Everton would make more sense. Early days anyways - plenty of time for the Toffees to settle in to mid-table. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Jesse Wray-McCann
Roar Rookie
I'd suggest Fellaini is actually much more accustomed to playing the holding/defensive midfield role he has in seasons past at Everton and Standard Liège (and the man himself continues to say this on many occasions). When Felli is on song as a defensive mid, there are few midfield destroyers in world football that can better him. He is an incredible tackler and has the strength and skill to deal with close attention in the middle of the pitch. His match against Man City (which Everton won 2-0) on Jan 16, 2010 was one of the most dominant defensive midfield displays I've ever seen. He completely tore apart almost everything City tried to bring through the centre, and topped it off with a ridiculously good pirouette tackle on Craig Bellamy. HOWEVER, I do agree that the Toffees are better with Felli having replaced Cahill behind the striker. I still think he's a better defensive mid than attacking, but in this Everton side right now it's more beneficial for the team to have him up front. He can do what Cahill did and get on to the end of crosses into the box. But what he offers that Cahill didn't is the ability to create chances. Timmy is very much a finisher, where as Felli can also use his slick foot skills (and that incredible ability to control a long pass with his chest) to create opportunities for Jelavic and Everton's other attacking players like Mirallas, Baines, Pienaar, Naismith and Osman.
Scuba
Guest
Well, at this time each year we're normally somewhere about 14th before making a post-Christmas charge to 5th or 6th - it remains to be seen how we go in the new year this time around but we're certainly a long way ahead of where we are normally (the run to the Champions League in Cahill's first year was definitely the anomaly amongst Everton's normal slow starts!)
Matt F
Roar Guru
Cahill had a fairly average time for Everton last season and the time was right for him to move on. Fellaini had gone past him last season so it wasn't a major surprise that he moved clubs, though perhaps the destination was a little surprising.
CrossIT
Guest
Blasphemy!
Bric Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Really?,Everton are flying at the moment and Fellaini is a great player,but lets not forget Everton qualified for the champions league in Cahills first season at the club and finished fifth multiple times.Everton sit fifth at this stage but its not even christmas yet.Of course Fellaini is coming into his peak as a player and Cahill going the other way,but i don't really see how they are a better side.