Cahill at fault again last night? Was just like the goal against Reading where he/we fell asleep and Le Fondre ran infront to slot in.

 

I want Cahill to succeed as much as anyone else. He's put in some absolutely stellar performances - Arsenal, Barca at home, and Munich - but he's made too many errors this year. I want him to prove me wrong but I'm beginning to doub whether he's good enough for us.

 

On a general level, we've not collectively defended anywhere near to our standards this year. Its not just Cahill; Ivanovic, Luiz and to a degee Ashley Cole even have not played up to par. Hopefully for next year we'll have an astute manager who can organise the defensive unit better.

Cahill at fault again last night? Was just like the goal against Reading where he/we fell asleep and Le Fondre ran infront to slot in.

 

I want Cahill to succeed as much as anyone else. He's put in some absolutely stellar performances - Arsenal, Barca at home, and Munich - but he's made too many errors this year. I want him to prove me wrong but I'm beginning to doub whether he's good enough for us.

 

On a general level, we've not collectively defended anywhere near to our standards this year. Its not just Cahill; Ivanovic, Luiz and to a degee Ashley Cole even have not played up to par. Hopefully for next year we'll have an astute manager who can organise the defensive unit better.

 

 

When I see some of the errors we are making I have a hard time seeing how someone can just change tactics to make them go away. I mean when your defensive line falls asleep and decide to not mark anyone, thats hardly up to tactics. Some of the defending Ive seen this year has been shocking

Cahill at fault again last night? Was just like the goal against Reading where he/we fell asleep and Le Fondre ran infront to slot in.

I want Cahill to succeed as much as anyone else. He's put in some absolutely stellar performances - Arsenal, Barca at home, and Munich - but he's made too many errors this year. I want him to prove me wrong but I'm beginning to doub whether he's good enough for us.

On a general level, we've not collectively defended anywhere near to our standards this year. Its not just Cahill; Ivanovic, Luiz and to a degee Ashley Cole even have not played up to par. Hopefully for next year we'll have an astute manager who can organise the defensive unit better.

Did so well last year in the Champions league etc, played brilliantly at times.

This year he's been erratic for sure, and also had a few blunders in the England team recently.

Here's hoping he gets a bit of form back as he seems like a good lad.

Edited February 22, 201313 yr by Zola

Slightly puzzled why Cahill is deemed to be solely at fault for the goal? He most certainly wasn't anymore culpable than at least four other players I could list. No one picked up any of the runners coming into the box from the free-kick. Nobody stood in front of the ball to stop the quick free-kick. Indeed hardly anyone was even facing the ball when the free-kick was taken. Everyone momentarily switched off.

 

 

I rate Gary Cahill. I rate him alot and think he has been a great signing for us with the potential to improve even further. Dave and Cahill have been the two defensive bright spots for me this season. Does he make mistakes? Yes, occaisionally, as do most defenders. But not half as many as Luiz did at centre-half and his defensive decision making in when to close off and when to challenge is miles better.

 

For those that think he was at fault for the goal perhaps they can also balance the scales and give him the credit for that fantastic flying block on the edge of the six yard in the first half. JT would have been proud of that one.

Slightly puzzled why Cahill is deemed to be solely

For those that think he was at fault for the goal perhaps they can also balance the scales and give him the credit for that fantastic flying block on the edge of the six yard in the first half. JT would have been proud of that one.

I don't solely Cahill at all, I think he did well to pick up the quick freekick and shepherd him out wide but then once there I just felt he was a bit too... Irrational? No that's not the word, but it's the jist... I've said elsewhere he could have done better but I also pointed as Azpi should have perhaps tracked the run. That said sometimes you've just got to take your hat off to a quick piece of thinking by the attackers.

I'm a big fan of Cahill, think he's done very well since being here but I think he could have dealt with the situation better. I guess I'd have to see it again to point out any other player who may be at fault. I agree his block was a beat.

not Cahill's biggest fan, I think he's a good defender but not a great defender. Would definitely prefer a terry luiz partnership.

I think in the last 15 years weve had alot of centre backs that are a level above cahill. terry, alex, carvalho, gallas, desailly, were all world class internationals.

I think luiz will reach that level especially under jose if he were to come back, Im hoping one kalas, bruma, omeruo, or ake can make the grade and become world class.

more than likely wel end up bringing someone in when terry leaves in the next year or two.

We were crap today except for Cahill who was fantastic. Credit where it's due.

surprised to see the tone of this thread and singling him out...all the defenders have been below their best this season...cahill did seem to be effected from the start when he was clearly made third choice behind JT and Luiz...he has not hit the heights of last season since, but who has?

Today I thought he was superb, apart from standing off Yaya Toure a bit too much before for his goal, but as he'd saved our arse many times, can hardly blame him for it....

when we signed him I thought he was an average player who was only coming in because he was cheap, young and english (which helps with the squad lists).

 

I was definitely wrong- he's a good defender. tidy on the ball, great at attacking it in the air.

 

what he isn't, is a top class defender. no one should reasonably expect him to be as good as terry, carvalho, gallas or desailly. we've been spoilt in recent years in defence.

 

gary is not a world class defender. it's not realistic or reasonable to expect him to keep the very best strikers from being dangerous and getting chances. he is reliable and though. you know he won't lose his head, that he's fairly quick, strong and good in the air. against most strikers he has a decent bet of coming out on top. he's a great squad player and a 7/10 starter for a side with our ambitions. ivanovic is similar. luiz is obviously a far, far weaker defender despite his physical and technical qualities because he's totally brainless. he is, in many respects, an ersatz steven gerrard playing in defence.

 

luiz is the bigger problem not only because he's objectively not as good as cahill but because the hope was he would be the top player around which the defence would be constructed post-terry. that surely cannot be the case anymore. so long as terry is playing, cahill and ivanovic will get by. once jt is gone (and ideally before that) we will need a top defender to build the defence around. I'd love to see hummels sign. someone in that bracket of quality and presence.

I'm not sure Hummels is really the right choice, as many on here are suggesting. Here's similar to Luiz (obviously better); very good on the ball but prone to lapses in concentration. I agree that we do need a top class centre back.

I am always skeptical about defenders from Bundesliga. After all that is a league where Mario Gomez has scored 20+ goals in quite a few seasons. Not exactly the best advertisement for defensive strengths. 

surprised to see the tone of this thread and singling him out...all the defenders have been below their best this season...cahill did seem to be effected from the start when he was clearly made third choice behind JT and Luiz...he has not hit the heights of last season since, but who has?

Today I thought he was superb, apart from standing off Yaya Toure a bit too much before for his goal, but as he'd saved our arse many times, can hardly blame him for it....

 

I have two problems with Cahill, actually, three problems.  

 

One is he lacks pace.  This is a problem because so do JT and Ivan.  It might seem unfair to pick on him for something which is a failing in others too, but we can't have two slow centre backs and play the way we are trying to.  Given that JT should still be first choice when fit that means Cahill can't play alongside him.

 

Secondly, he is poor on the ball.  Teams are very happy to let him have the ball because he does nothing with it.  We need at least one centre back who can be relied upon to bring the ball out if teams are pressing our deeper lying midfielders. (This criticism also applies to Ivanovic)

 

Thirdly, he is prone to getting caught out of position.  He made some great challenges yesterday, but almost all of them were needed because he was caught out in the first place.

 

I tend to agree with G3.7  He is a good player but he isn't top quality like Carvalho and Gallas were.

I dont think its any coincidence that the form of Cahill and Ivanovic have both gone downhill this season and i think its because they have played together so much - one of our biggest weaknesses these few months has been their CB partnership in the absence of JT and its down to the fact they both have the same 2 flaws - lack of pace and the fact they are so easily turned by opposing attackers. They both often resort far too quickly too hoofing it as well (Ivanovic is the bigger culprit) and in that respect our play has certainly missed JT and Luiz bringing it out of defence.

 

Cahill is a decent defender and was an excellent signing. He clearly isnt JT/Carv/Gallas quality but certainly has his place in the squad and should play many games for us moving forward. I would suspect when/if the club gets a bit more settled and the sqaud as a whole get their mojo back and get some better managment his play will improve no end, especially if he plays more games alongside JT or Luiz.

Also of our 4 CBs, JT is the only one who is left footed. 

Edited February 25, 201313 yr by stamford_blue

Jt is right footed hes just very good with both feet

Also of our 4 CBs, JT is the only one who is left footed. 

 

JT plays left centre back and that is Luiz's preferred side as well.

Chelsea defender Gary Cahill believes a "ridiculous" fixture list is endangering Chelsea's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League. Sunday's game against Manchester City was their 46th of the season.

"We haven't had a clear week for about 29 weeks and you're expecting to go into games feeling 100% fresh, trying to push on further in all competitions," Cahill told Chelsea TV.

 

 

Not sure I'm comfortable with these comments, I mean we have a big enough squad and we were expecting all these games being Euro Champs and wanting to win the cups we enter into.

 

I hope the squad don't start to feel sorry for themselves as it will be a free for all for 2nd, 3rd and 4th.   

Chelsea defender Gary Cahill believes a "ridiculous" fixture list is endangering Chelsea's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League. Sunday's game against Manchester City was their 46th of the season.

"We haven't had a clear week for about 29 weeks and you're expecting to go into games feeling 100% fresh, trying to push on further in all competitions," Cahill told Chelsea TV.

 

 

Not sure I'm comfortable with these comments, I mean we have a big enough squad and we were expecting all these games being Euro Champs and wanting to win the cups we enter into.

 

I hope the squad don't start to feel sorry for themselves as it will be a free for all for 2nd, 3rd and 4th.   

ehh? Small squad is exactly what everyone has been crying about. He is right. We have played more games than any other team this season. But the players arent exactly helping the case by drawing against Brantford and thus being forced to play an extra game.

It's a bit of a worry when players start complaining about fatigue. It's one thing it comes from a clueless manager, but if players start using it as an excuse, we are stuffed. Just 1 thought, make sure you win  the next FA cup match, so you don't get another 90 minutes replay.

I have two problems with Cahill...

 

One is he lacks pace....

 

Secondly, he is poor on the ball. 

 

cahill isn't slow for a cb & he definitely isn't poor on the ball for a cb. 

 

he is flawed but not in those ways. 

It's a bit of a worry when players start complaining about fatigue. It's one thing it comes from a clueless manager, but if players start using it as an excuse, we are stuffed. Just 1 thought, make sure you win  the next FA cup match, so you don't get another 90 minutes replay.

 

 

Probably found FSW's excuse book in the toilet while having a crap.

I have two problems with Cahill, actually, three problems.  

 

One is he lacks pace.  This is a problem because so do JT and Ivan.  It might seem unfair to pick on him for something which is a failing in others too, but we can't have two slow centre backs and play the way we are trying to.  Given that JT should still be first choice when fit that means Cahill can't play alongside him.

 

Secondly, he is poor on the ball.  Teams are very happy to let him have the ball because he does nothing with it.  We need at least one centre back who can be relied upon to bring the ball out if teams are pressing our deeper lying midfielders. (This criticism also applies to Ivanovic)

 

Thirdly, he is prone to getting caught out of position.  He made some great challenges yesterday, but almost all of them were needed because he was caught out in the first place.

 

I tend to agree with G3.7  He is a good player but he isn't top quality like Carvalho and Gallas were.

 

I disagree, Cahill is definitely quicker than Iva or JT, obviously he's not going to win a race against Walcott or Aguero, but the majority of EPL strikers he should be quick enough to keep up with them, I haven't seen forwards getting in behind him frequently.

 

As for being poor on the ball, I'm pretty sure he was a center midfielder while at Villa so i'm not sure thats true either.

ehh? Small squad is exactly what everyone has been crying about. He is right. We have played more games than any other team this season. But the players arent exactly helping the case by drawing against Brantford and thus being forced to play an extra game.

 

 

We don’t have a small squad for a start, we have 2 players for every position for goodness sake!!

Cech – Turnbull

 

 

Cesar – Paulo

 

 

 

Ivan – Cahill

 

 

 

Terry – Luiz

 

 

 

Cole – Ryan

 

 

 

Hazard – Marin

 

 

 

Lampard – Mikel

 

 

 

Ramires – Romeu (injured)

 

 

 

Mata – Yossi

 

 

 

Oscar – Moses

 

 

 

Ba – Torres

 

 

 

Then we have the youngsters who other clubs tend to bleed in during cup competitions to help out.

We do not have a small squad, we have an underperforming squad.

I thought Cahill looked poor against City, he was caught out with a ball over the top on more than one occasion and had to make last minute blocks/clearances to make amends.

 

The trouble is, those last minute blocks and tackles look impressive and so it can look like he is playing well, my opinion is that he could have prevented a lot of those situations earlier. 

I disagree, Cahill is definitely quicker than Iva or JT, obviously he's not going to win a race against Walcott or Aguero, but the majority of EPL strikers he should be quick enough to keep up with them, I haven't seen forwards getting in behind him frequently.

 

As for being poor on the ball, I'm pretty sure he was a center midfielder while at Villa so i'm not sure thats true either.

 

He has decent pace, obviously not as much as Luiz but that's not too much of a concern. I would say he is okay on the ball, better than Terry and Ivan in my view, but not a ball-playing centre back by any means (which is fine since that's not the type of defender he is).