How do we fit Tim Cahill into the team now?

[EFCTim Cahill]

But you're missing the point.

Without the pace and running of Beckford, Saha won't have the same kind of space. Cahill will need Saha to be his buffer, and his distraction, to play most effectively. Beckford and Saha compliment each other, whereas Cahill up front doesn't compliment either of them.

The way I see it Cahill can play to ways effectively, the ghosting in from deep to score a header cahill or, the cahill that wins the header and causes distractions in defences for other players, moyes could use the latter to great effect in a 442.

 

[RFUS]

The way I see it Cahill can play to ways effectively, the ghosting in from deep to score a header cahill or, the cahill that wins the header and causes distractions in defences for other players, moyes could use the latter to great effect in a 442.

That's just asking for a game centered around aerial bombardment and long balls. Sam Allardyce would approve, but I'd rather us try and play it on the ground as well.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Say Pienaar leaves though and we don't get a replacement in. Osman has seemingly been second choice for LM this season, and him and Cahill have very similar qualities. Osman did okay there, so is playing Tim there that outlandish? We don't have any money so we will probably need an existing player to step up and make LM their own. Cahill will do a shift anywhere, and so long as he's on the pitch he's a threat for set pieces.

CM is a waste because yes we have numerous better options. But at LM we won't, when Pienaar leaves. That's what I'm getting at there.

I don't see it to be honest, I put Osman in the same category as Arteta and Pienaar, obviously not as good, but he's a technically gifted footballer. Good Touch, excellent close control, the ability to twist and turn and create space for himself in tight spaces. Even then, he just about gets away with it. Cahill is by no means a bad footballer, he's decent with his back to goal, and has an underrated ability to see a creative pass, but that's as far as it goes really. He can be a powerful runner, but he's not going to run past a fullback or get into his stride with an opposition wide player and fullback tracking him.

He's actually played there before, when we had our injury crisis last season, him and Gosling outwide was quite difficult to watch, both players trying to pass as half decent wide players, and they struggled. You have to take into account the lack of pace and dribbling ability we already have, using Cahill outwide wouldn't solve anything really.

 

[Warzycha's Caterpillar]

The other way is to go 3-5-2 with wing backs..

Distin, Heitinga, Jags, Baines(wb), Coleman (wb), fellaini, arteta, cahill, saha, beckford

 

[RFUS]

I don't see it to be honest, I put Osman in the same category as Arteta and Pienaar, obviously not as good, but he's a technically gifted footballer. Good Touch, excellent close control, the ability to twist and turn and create space for himself in tight spaces. Even then, he just about gets away with it. Cahill is by no means a bad footballer, he's decent with his back to goal, and has an underrated ability to see a creative pass, but that's as far as it goes really. He can be a powerful runner, but he's not going to run past a fullback or get into his stride with an opposition wide player and fullback tracking him.

He's actually played there before, when we had our injury crisis last season, him and Gosling outwide was quite difficult to watch, both players trying to pass as half decent wide players, and they struggled. You have to take into account the lack of pace and dribbling ability we already have, using Cahill outwide wouldn't solve anything really.

I'm not saying he'd be ideal there, I'm just saying that he might do as decent a shift there as Osman, whilst also offering the goals from set pieces. Osman doesn't exactly run past fullbacks either, but that's not the LM player's job in our team. It's to work with Baines, and let Baines get past their fullback.

 

[EFCTim Cahill]

Cahills movement is a nuisance no matter what style of football you're playing and I think his vision is underrated as well he can pull out tricks and flicks on the ground to open up space as well.

 

[RFUS]

Cahills movement is a nuisance no matter what style of football you're playing and I think his vision is underrated as well he can pull out tricks and flicks on the ground to open up space as well.

That's my argument for him. He's pulled off a few of those cheeky backheel assists, and nice little through balls. He doesn't get the chance to do that often, in his position, but he's capable of it. Naturally with the aerial ability he has, his on the ground skills are overlooked, but he's technically a good footballer too.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

I'm not saying he'd be ideal there, I'm just saying that he might do as decent a shift there as Osman, whilst also offering the goals from set pieces. Osman doesn't exactly beat run past fullbacks either, but that's not the LM player's job in our team. It's to work with Baines, and let Baines get past their fullback.

True, although I've seen Osman skip past far more players than Cahill has, whether by dribbling or turning someone. Although slow, he's pretty agile in possession, and can get the ball out of his feet quickly, aswell as being able to control the ball effortlessly with either foot. I don't see that with Cahill.

I'd back him to 'do a job' out there because of his attitude and work ethic, but we need more than that, and have enough saleable assets to work around it, and bring a proper wide player.

 

[sw blue]

TC's got a lot of quality, but there are so many others that would offer more out wide in a 442. If Cahill doesn't play in the advanced Midfield role (451), then it should be as an out and out forward. I actually think if Moyes really wants Timmy to play alongside Saha, then King Louis needs to be playing off Cahill, picking up the knockdowns and advancing into the box. We all know how poor Saha is with back to goal.

Where would Tim fit in a team with Saha & Beckford is anyones guess! Unless Moyes gets a labotomy & goes 433!