da leao： After starting the season by scoring his team’s first goal of the campaign during the 4-0 win, Gary Cahill’s form has dropped as dramatically as the team around him. While the 25-year-old remains one of the most sought after centre-halves in Europe, he has looked a shadow of himself when he’s stepped out for Bolton since August.
da mrbet： It is no coincidence that his form is the same as his team’s, as their main player he has been pivotal in their success, leading by example and being the poster boy for the passing style of play that Owen Coyle has tried to bring to the Reebok.
Usually, Cahill’s form is outstanding. Bought from Aston Villa having struggled to break into the first team, he has risen to the top of his game and is now on the radar of teams that are far above the heights of his former team but it looks like this new platform of importance and praise has been the downfall.
During the summer transfer window, every team that could possibly be interested in buying a defender were linked with him. Arsenal (of course), Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United were all potential suitors, as were Inter Milan and the holy grail of football, Barcelona. It is hard for anybody to ignore being mentioned in the same sentence as these teams and linked with a big money move that will undoubtedly bring new levels to his game.
However, as the market drew to a close, nobody had made a bid that was ever going to get Coyle and Phil Gartside to even consider letting their star player leave. Arsenal were rumoured to have offered just £6 million to take him off their hands, which was labelled derisory and a joke during an angry retort. In the final few days he looked like he would still be on the move but nothing came about.
In hindsight, that move should have gone through. Although the money is nothing nearly what he is potentially worth, it is a decent sum for somebody nearing the end of their contract. Having lost Johan Elmander for nothing while Daniel Sturridge went back to Chelsea having looked been the find of the season and seeing Lee Chung-Yong and Stuart Holden both suffer long-term injuries, the opportunity of some extra cash should have been welcomed.
That £6 million could have brought in a centre-half and a striker to fill the voids and may have lead to a more positive season.
This psychological distraction came to a head at the weekend against Tottenham. Nobody other than Stuart Atwell will ever try to justify that being a red card, it was definitely one of the worst decisions this season but it was Cahill’s dallying in possession and poor ball control when trying to turn inside that created the opportunity for the horrific refereeing. He seemed to be caught unaware by his opponents and the usually composed defender made a schoolboy error. His lack of confidence in his team-mates has forced him to try and do it on his own.
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In October he admitted as much saying: “A few of the lads, myself included, need to have a look and question themselves over whether they are doing enough. You can maybe afford to carry one player but you cannot afford to carry a handful and it has been different players in different games.”
He is also now a regular member of the England set-up and has created a good link with skipper John Terry, making him a certain choice for Euro 2012 and potentially part of the first choice centre-back pairing instead of Rio Ferdinand. With his involvement in the national side he is surrounded by players on bigger wages, playing in European competitions and fighting for titles, something that even the most die-hard Bolton fan can’t see them doing any time soon. Being surrounded by players with bulging trophy cabinets will be difficult for the 25-year-old, who is approaching his prime and will want to make the most of any opportunity. It is a no-brainer that a player that is capable of great things will want to be playing alongside people that can help him achieve that and his failure to get that this season is affecting him.
With his current contract ending in the summer and Bolton sitting second bottom of the league and suffering serious problems, the chances of Cahill playing for Wanderers next season are less than zero. Where he will end up is still in doubt but he will be playing for a club that can offer him European football because he is a modern-day defender: tough in the tackle and confident on the ball.
And while fans may be shocked to hear this, sorting out Cahill’s future away from the Reebok is best for both parties. The defender’s head has already been turned and as hard as the club tries it will never be able to turn it back. He is set on leaving and while his performances haven’t been terrible, they have been below what we have come to expect from him. So if he is sold in January, for a fee, ironically around £6 million then there will be money for Owen Coyle to spend which could change their season and make them a little more lucky. Then they can knuckle down to try and fight off a shock relegation.
Do you agree that Gary Cahill looks like a man who wants to leave? Comment below or follow me on Twitter @jrobbins1991.
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