12 hours ago, holden said:

What is this trying to prove, honestly? Slander one of our best defenders, in our most succesful era? Theres nothing wrong with slowly playing it out the back. Not every play needs to be played with a drive out the back. The person who made this caption/clip is a donkey themselves, who just exposed their limited understanding of the game as far as I'm concerned (For anyone that has played this sport or any sport competitively for that matter).

Its quite saddening that so much hate and dislike is thrown towards Cahill, and any other player thats pulled on our shirt for us and given 100% for that matter, and won so much! 

Aswell, it is very bewildering that so much attention has been thrown at one of our most decorated players, yet I can point out easily as many faults with our other fan favourites. Don't get me wrong, every player has their faults, no matter how great they are. But Gary is not some "donkey."

 

I agree with not slating him but while saying people have limited understanding you kind of showed you did. First when playing wing backs playing out from the back quickly is a key part of the system it stops pressure and allows them to push up and not be pinned back.

We were at home playing a stale game not getting the ball up enough in general, getting cut out in midfield a quick ball from the back was exactly what was needed hence luiz who is a better footballing CB was imploring him to do it, try and get in a quick ball before over run in the middle as we were all game.

The reason he didn't is because he never has and never will be comfortable on the ball, it's one of his limitations and is more detrimental in this system. 

Cahills actual footballing ability could be detrimental to the team, slow on the ball a bit dithery, never really looks for a an attacking pass, either sideways or back, cannot knock his prowess in front of goal though

If we can sacrifice Terry to the 'three at the back', i'm happy losing Cahill to it in place of better CB's. Sentiments aside, he shouldn't be in the starting 11. 

I haven't seen anyone comment on it but something interesting happened yesterday. Alonso went off (not for tactical reasons as Conte insisted but because we couldn't afford to be without him and Luiz for City next weekend) and Cahill came on. Dave took up Alonso's position on the left flank and Cahill took up Dave's position as the right-sided CB. Conte wasn't happy however and soon after Cahill went to his more familiar position on the left of the 3, and Rudiger swapped with him to take up Dave's old position on the right of the 3. Not sure this was a vote of confidence from Conte. What do others think?

Basically he was signed for quality squad depth but got made an untouchable by Jose. It's worth noting Hiddink actually dropped him for Zouma but that unfortunate ACL got Gaz back in by default. I am not knocking the contribution's he has made with us and the service he has given us but i really hope he's a squad player for now on.

He's paid his dues for us. I like Gaz but like Argo said he was signed for squad depth, however he's put in quality performances than what we expected. Nothing over exciting but he does his job and especially playing with JT at the height of JT's powers made him even better. 

He can still do a job and still does but when we look at the options that we have in that position now, it's hard to say with a straight face that he should be an automatic starter. A rotational one maybe yeah but just like Davey Baby pointed out, him starting at right then moving to left could possibly point to the fact that he is less dependable to be anywhere in that back line than Rudi.

2 hours ago, Davey Baby said:

I haven't seen anyone comment on it but something interesting happened yesterday. Alonso went off (not for tactical reasons as Conte insisted but because we couldn't afford to be without him and Luiz for City next weekend) and Cahill came on. Dave took up Alonso's position on the left flank and Cahill took up Dave's position as the right-sided CB. Conte wasn't happy however and soon after Cahill went to his more familiar position on the left of the 3, and Rudiger swapped with him to take up Dave's old position on the right of the 3. Not sure this was a vote of confidence from Conte. What do others think?

Imo it was because he couldn't handle both Crouch and Choupo-Moting on that side when he first came on. Crouch's chance came when Cahill was marking him and Choupo-Moting (who could've gotten a pen had it been a different ref) was somewhat threatening on that right side. Rudi and Cahill then swapped because Rudi had pace and physicality to deal with both Crouch and C-Moting and Cahill+Azpi dealt with Shaqiri and whoever at the left. 

3 hours ago, Argo said:

Basically he was signed for quality squad depth but got made an untouchable by Jose. It's worth noting Hiddink actually dropped him for Zouma but that unfortunate ACL got Gaz back in by default. I am not knocking the contribution's he has made with us and the service he has given us but i really hope he's a squad player for now on.

Fully agree, although I wouldn't discredit how good he was under Mourinho in his first two seasons, particularly the first one. How Kompany made it over him in team of the year I'll never know. 

12 hours ago, Argo said:

Basically he was signed for quality squad depth but got made an untouchable by Jose. It's worth noting Hiddink actually dropped him for Zouma but that unfortunate ACL got Gaz back in by default. I am not knocking the contribution's he has made with us and the service he has given us but i really hope he's a squad player for now on.

Actually it was Mournho who dropped him at the very start of the disaster that was the 2015/2016 season (third game I think). Hiddink in his first game played Cahill over Zouma than went back to what Mourinho had done before him and played Zouma for the next few games until he tore his ACL.

8 hours ago, True Blue23 said:

Actually it was Mournho who dropped him at the very start of the disaster that was the 2015/2016 season (third game I think). Hiddink in his first game played Cahill over Zouma than went back to what Mourinho had done before him and played Zouma for the next few games until he tore his ACL.

Did he? From what i remember he rotated between the Terry, Zouma and Cahill although given the form of all three it was hobson's choice at the time.

Thinking back Jose did put far, far too much trust in a lot of players he shouldn't have. Ramires, Oscar and Matic had their roles significantly reduced under Guus (i know Conte brought Matic back in but that was always a stop gap until he got a player he really wanted) and Conte took six games to realise Ivanovic and Terry didn't have it in them anymore and that Willian should only be a squad player.

From matchday 3 on Zouma played the full 90 in every league game under Mourinho bar one vs Southampton (13 starts, 2 of which came at right back, the rest at centre back) and in every Champions Legue group game (1 as right back, the rest at centre back) with the exception of a tie against Maccabi Tel Aviv. In the Hiddinks first game he was benched for Cahill, but then started every league match up to his injury. Cahill on the other hand started 8 of the premier league games after that 3:0 loss to Man City on matchday 2. 3 of which Terry was unavailable for and 2 he started because Zouma played at right back. So he was far from undroppable. Mourinho didn't drop him in the 2014/2015 season, but there was no reason to.

 

Gets a lot of stick, but he was good tonight. Fairly solid defensively, and more comfortable on the ball. 

It's always nice to see some English grit in the side. 

1 minute ago, big blue said:

Gets a lot of stick, but he was good tonight. Fairly solid defensively, and more comfortable on the ball. 

It's always nice to see some English grit in the side. 

Very solid, will be happy if he rotates more and plays the big games, I don't want him completely out the side. 

Very surprised we got anything with Cahill playing the full 90.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exclusive picture of Gary Cahill conducting his post match interview. 

 

 

29 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

 

Should have wellied it into row Z like a no-nonsense old-style centre half. Ron Harris would be turning in his grave if he was dead.

Hopefully he gets the praise get deserves from today's game, been under a lot of pressure but stepped up today.

Hopefully he gets the praise get deserves from today's game, been under a lot of pressure but stepped up today.

Several times today he twisted himself into a knot one game doesn't change that he should be on the bench

Utd played to his strengths today, long balls he'll deal with most of the time, balls down the side without much pace. It's the teams like City, Spurs, Liverpool, who press our back 3 quickly, when he really struggles.

One major factor he played well today is we played no nonsense defending, we didn't try to play out from the back so there was little opportunity of being pressed in our final third.

 

Solid as a rock today, great defending by our back line and those in front if them. Lukaku had one shot all game.

I've criticised him in recent times, but he's always been very effective in the air and it showed today against Lukaku/Fellaini. Kudos. 

It was a good display from him overall. Contained whatever was thrown or hoofed at him.

I slate him quite a lot on here but against Utd, he put in a good performance. Good show Gaz