Cahill.

[Cal]

Do you think he is as influential as Arteta?

I read that when Cahill plays for us, we have racked up twice the amount of points as when he hasn't? Not sure if this is true but it's surely near to that statement.

I do agree that he isn't an outstanding footballer in terms of technical ability but i would say that he is no yard dog. He is always involved in the good football we play at times.

But is he as crucial to us as Arteta is?

I think he is, he gives us the will to win. There are quite a few players who lack the bottle but with Cahill in the side, the team seems to man up abit and have that drive and urgency to go and win. He's a born winner and with footballers these days, that is hard to find. He gives us belief too and his body language when we are losing is very furious. I really think he gives us something extra. We know how good of a goalscorer he is, he's absolutely superb at finding the right position. Toying with defenders and making a nuisance of himself but i think one of his most important attributes is the will to win and it's something that with all these injuries and the team lacking bottle on Sunday, he'll be able to give us to drive ourselves to Wembley and that 6th position.

Thoughts lids...

 

[Brownie]

I'd say similarly influential. It used to piss me off when they were the only two of our players that got any recognition at all, but they are our most important players without a doubt. I've said it before, Timmy's attitude to life is an example for anyone, not just footballers.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

No.

Arteta can control a game, Cahill can't. It's as simple as that really.

Cahill gives us alot though, especially when he plays like he's doing at the moment.

 

[Cal]

No.

Arteta can control a game, Cahill can't. It's as simple as that really.

Cahill gives us alot though, especially when he plays like he's doing at the moment.

I'm not really talking about the football to be honest lid.

FFS WOULD YOU JUST READ THE ORIGINAL POST BEFORE SMASHING IN LIKE THA LAD.

I'm talking about the attitude etc. Gives the team belief.

 

[Brownie]

No.

Arteta can control a game, Cahill can't. It's as simple as that really.

Cahill gives us alot though, especially when he plays like he's doing at the moment.

Mikel can't win a game on his own tho, Cahill can. If Timmy had been on the pitch on Sunday I reckon we would have scored. Whatever their individual merits tho, playing together they are massive.

 

[Neiler]

Very different players, its the contrast between guts and guile.

We miss both when their not in the team.

 

[Cal]

Mikel can't win a game on his own tho, Cahill can. If Timmy had been on the pitch on Sunday I reckon we would have scored. Whatever their individual merits tho, playing together they are massive.

Agreed.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Mikel can't win a game on his own tho, Cahill can. If Timmy had been on the pitch on Sunday I reckon we would have scored. Whatever their individual merits tho, playing together they are massive.

He can't really though, he plays in the final third and depends on others to create his goals. Usually Arteta is that man who swings in the cross or makes the pass.

 

[kenada_blue]

I think he's a leader everyone follows, like Arteta is.

I think it was even you Cal that said we had no guile or gusto in the Barcodes game and that just reiterates the point.

We'd have won if either Cahill, Ossie, Yak, Arteta, Pienaar were on the pitch because they're seasoned 1st team players Rodwell, Gosling, Jo, Castillo, et all would follow. They've spurred on the team in the past individually and we didnt have that on Sunday with them all out.

I suppose Neville should've booted them up the arse but no one on that pitch would be able to pull off a defence splitting ball for eg either way.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Arteta plays in the most demanding position on the pitch, he contributes both defensively and going forward.

I'd argue that he's also our strongest defensive midfielder aswell as our chief creator. He's chasing things down, he has great positioning and he's getting stuck in just as much as any player in our team.

He's an all rounder and he can get of grip of games and control them. Something we've lacked for years.

Cahill is a great player, I respect his contribution and he is one of our most important players. Arteta is the man in the middle though, he's a beast!

If it was Arteta on the wing I'd probably edge for Cahill though.

 

[Brownie]

Arteta plays in the most demanding position on the pitch, he contributes both defensively and going forward.

I'd argue that he's also our strongest defensive midfielder aswell as our chief creator. He's chasing things down, he has great positioning and he's getting stuck in just as much as any player in our team.

He's an all rounder and he can get of grip of games and control them. Something we've lacked for years.

Cahill is a great player, I respect his contribution and he is one of our most important players. Arteta is the man in the middle though, he's a beast!

If it was Arteta on the wing I'd probably edge for Cahill though.

Arteta makes us play well, Cahill makes us score goals. I bet there's a stat out there that says we've scored 400% more goals with Cahill in the team than without.

 

[Cal]

Arteta plays in the most demanding position on the pitch, he contributes both defensively and going forward.

I'd argue that he's also our strongest defensive midfielder aswell as our chief creator. He's chasing things down, he has great positioning and he's getting stuck in just as much as any player in our team.

He's an all rounder and he can get of grip of games and control them. Something we've lacked for years.

Cahill is a great player, I respect his contribution and he is one of our most important players. Arteta is the man in the middle though, he's a beast!

If it was Arteta on the wing I'd probably edge for Cahill though.

I love Mikel, you know that and he's a brilliant footballer. He's just superb, but Cahill gives us the will to win imo. I'm not saying he's more influential, i'd say probably the same. Cahill makes us have a different attitude. Over the past 2 seasons, we've won more games with Cahill in the team then not. Infact over the past 3 seasons. I think probably about 50% more.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

I love Mikel, you know that and he's a brilliant footballer. He's just superb, but Cahill gives us the will to win imo. I'm not saying he's more influential, i'd say probably the same. Cahill makes us have a different attitude. Over the past 2 seasons, we've won more games with Cahill in the team then not. Infact over the past 3 seasons. I think probably about 50% more.

True, mainly down to us being ******* awful in a 4-4-2 though. We where playing 4-5-1 with Cahill usually and when he got injured we had to revert to 4-4-2, a formation we couldn’t play. Lee Carsley being the main reason.

If Cahill got injured and we had a fully fit squad I’d argue that we’d be fine, with the likes of Jo, Saha, Yakubu and Vaughan. We now have two centre midfielders who are capable of playing in any formation.

Obviously just my opinion but saying that I’d rather have him in my team that out of it, I just don’t think he’s as valuable as Mikel. Especially with Mikel playing centrally.

I'd argue Fellaini is more important than both of them though.

 

[ChicagoToffee]

Cahill is the heart of the team and he drives the team in that aspect. Arteta gives Cahill the chances to box the corner flag. If Cahill is not getting the service, he doesn't score the goals. Cahill is most effective when he lurks about the penalty box and taking full opportunity when the present themselves. The trouble is that those opportunities have come mostly as a result of Arteta's distribution. Hopefully, Moyes will tinker about and find an effective way to replace Arteta's command.

 

[Dom1878]

Arteta controls the game, but Cahill gives his all, and i would say has a greater influence. Helps out in defence, attack, puts 100% effort in and gets the fans going too.