The Race for 4th Place

[all_funkt_up]

Originally Posted by mrmuzeman

Oh I how I love your unbiased analysis AFU

Hey I tell you what, you call me biased but I got it spot on didnt I! Infact you were 1 point further adrift of where I said you would be, but we were bang on 62 points.

Get in!

[mrmuzeman]

Hehe to be fair you did get it spot on Liverpools results. Although you only got it spot on because Liverpool have actually played as well as you thought they would for once but still fair play

Bare in mind we did win 1 of those away games (Sunderland/Fulham) like I said we would though, which was a blatant error in your analysis of Everton.

But back to the point. Weve shot ourselves in the foot by playing some really bad football the last 4 games. Its a shame cos it could have been a really good contest (with Liverpool ultimately triumphing very likely). Even barring the bad Fulham and West Ham games we would still be level on points with you if we'd just got a draw at Anfield Deserved to lose though, I cant recall a more gutless display in a derby.

We were utterly pants today against Derby too (I went). Anyone else we wouldnt have won probably, which doesnt bode well for the run in. I think Cahill is more influential to the team than id realised.

[all_funkt_up]

Cahill is the man that makes the system work. Everton without Cahill just arent the force. If they were to lose him and say Arteta in the summer, you have a mid table team there in my opinion. Cahill is absolutely outstanding when he plays the runner from midfield, drop off forward - however you wish to phrase it. He is Everton's most important player IMO. Anyone else is replaceable.

[mrmuzeman]

I always doubted his impact (in terms of whether it was just reasonable or totally influential) but this season has proved it. We were languishing in mid table until he came back from injury then he returned and we were awesome for ages, then he gets injured recently and weve played total pants. It cant be coincidence. Hes also a big game player (scored against Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal this season, not to mention his World Cup exploits for Australia) and Arteta only seems to produce against the dross

[all_funkt_up]

I dont know whether Cahill would be as successful at another clob Muze. I mean, everything just seems right for him there. Stick him into another club, another system and he could just fade into the background. Funny how Everton with him are a relentless machine and without him, they're worryingly average.

[mrmuzeman]

I know what you mean. Its like we cant play a 4-4-2, its sick. I think Cahill could do a fantastic job at someone like Man U coming off the bench. But yeah not as a starter he needs the specific system to get the best out of him on a regular basis.

If Aliens were going to destroy the earth unless we beat their super soccer alien team, then I would put Cahill on the bench for the Earth 11 and he would come off the bench to score the winning goal to save humanity. Hes that sort of player