Cahill In England Squad

[Prufrock]

Gyan should've got MOTM.

Cahill was great. Better than Jagielka and Lescott.

Not according to the readers on ESPN. Obviously some jealousy from the City and Everton fans.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/58843/e ... er-ratings" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cahill currently "Flop of the Match".

WOW at that. 4.5 out of ten! Was probably England's third or fourth best player! Lots of papers have him as lower than Jagielka in there 'ratimgs'. Clowns. BBC Live Text, written by somebody actually watching the game described him as 'quietly effective'. About right. One top class tackle, couple of interceptions, didn't do anything wrong. More composed than Jagielka and MILES better than Lescott. WTF was that 'tackle' he tried where he tried to run through Gyan right on the edge of the box. Dick.

[Zulus Thousand of em]

BBC Sport Gossip reports today that Cahill is one of Whisky Nose's summer transfer targets. So he'll be nailed on as first-choice England central defender next season.

Which is nice.

[Lofthouse Lower]

Said this on't other thread but I didn't think Cahill was that good. Better than Lescott, but then again a chimpanzee with no legs would be better than Lescott.

[hisroyalgingerness]

Think he had a really good game. Maybe tried to do too much with the ball at times but did his job well. Got beaten once for offside trap, yet played it perfectly - the linesman was in error.

[Lofthouse Lower]

Bet he's disappointed to have been so profligate at the other end, spesh as I had a fiver on at 25s

[Lofthouse Lower]

This was in some ways an audition for the 25-year-old given he is expected to leave Bolton Wanderers in the summer and join one of the Premier League's elite sides. On his third appearance for England, and on his first start, Cahill served notice of his potential as a defender of high class. Given England were facing a team with one recognised striker in Asamoah Gyan, it can be argued that this was never going to be a true test of Cahill's credentials, but he did what he had to well. There were two eye‑catching tackles, one that left the Udinese midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah strewn on the turf and another that prevented Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu from having a shot on goal. It was a perfectly timed sliding tackle and capped an encouraging display.

Courtesy of the Guardian

[Lord Kangana]

The major difference was he always tried to play it from the back, instead of giving it the big hoof. It made a huge difference to how we played, and set up a good base for some decent possession/passing football. I've rarely seen that from England, and having a centre half at the back who is comfortable with the ball at his feet is a huge plus. With the right coaching and approach, he can become an England regular with plenty of caps.

[ohjimmyjimmy]

Wasn’t sure if I had my bwfc goggles on last night when thinking Gary had a good shout for MOTM (Downing? Ahem..) , but reading most reports today and comments, it seems he did indeed impress – certainly ahead of Jagielka, and Lescott. Couple of Arsenal fans leaving comments saying that Wenger must bid for him in the summer ! Seems he’ll be going, i don’t think we can stand in his way, and impressive international performances will only make that more certain, but he’s still with us for now and doing us proud.

I like the way the Telegraph summed it up:

Didn't they do well

Joe Hart 8

Made two outstanding saves from Dominic Adiyah. He smothered the first effort and reacted brilliantly to prevent what looked a certain goal. Occasionally over-confident with his kicking but could do little to prevent the goal.

Stewart Downing 7

Involved in most of England’s best attacking play. Split the defence for Carroll, blazed one chance wide and deftly provided the assist for England’s goal.

Andy Carroll 7

Ineffectual for 42 minutes, but then finished clinically with a low left-footed drive to put England into the lead and score his firstinternational goal.

Ashley Young 7

The confidence he gained from a man-of-the-match display against Wales was evident. Wasted one glorious first-half chance but was a constant threat and he helped create Carroll’s goal.

Gary Cahill 7

Demonstrated both the ball-playing ability and defensive steel that has attracted the interest of Arsenal. Made one particularly eye-catching interception to deny Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu

James Milner 7

Was offered licence to get forward in England’s three-man central midfield. Provided Young with one outstanding chance and drove forward in the second half to force a good save from Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson.

Worth another look

Glen Johnson 6

Delivery was inconsistent and his defending remains suspect, but offers a persistent and genuine attacking threat. Tested Kingson during the first half before being replaced at half-time.

Jack Wilshere 6

Less dominating in midfield than against Wales and, despite looking weary, was kept on the pitch for 69 minutes. Arsene Wenger, his club manager, is unlikely to be impressed.

Jermain Defoe 6

Worked hard and offered more movement than Carroll when he came on after 59 minutes, but struggled to hold the ball up as effectively as the Newcastle forward.

Danny Welbeck 6

Was booed by Ghana fans when he came on as an 81st minute substitute. Welbeck was born in Manchester to Ghanaian parents and could, therefore, have represented either country.

Matthew Jarvis 6

His excellent performances this season for Wolves were rewarded with an England debut but had limited opportunity to impress as Ghana pressurised throughout the second half.

Don’t call us, we’ll call you

Phil Jagielka 5

A nervy display. Appeared uncomfortable in possession and was caught square on several occasions. Was switched to right-back at half-time.

Leighton Baines 5

Fortunate not to be sent off let alone escape a booking for dangerous first-half tackle on Isaac Vorsah. Was largely pinned back by Dominic Adiyah and offered limited attacking width.

Gareth Barry 5

The captain and midfield anchor but his place is under considerable threat. Offers less dynamism than Scott Parker and still appears short of international confidence following the World Cup.

Joleon Lescott 5

Replaced Johnson at half-time and, after almost conceding a penalty with a clumsy challenge on Asomoah Gyan, was out- manoeuvred by the Sunderland forward for the Ghana goal.

Lescott was almost an embarrassment, that shove he did to almost concede a penalty, his postioning in general and the way he was turned for the goal.

[ohjimmyjimmy]

The major difference was he always tried to play it from the back, instead of giving it the big hoof. It made a huge difference to how we played, and set up a good base for some decent possession/passing football. I've rarely seen that from England, and having a centre half at the back who is comfortable with the ball at his feet is a huge plus. With the right coaching and approach, he can become an England regular with plenty of caps.

Yep, we need a centre half who can bring it out and then a midfielder who can collect the pass from the centre half and then do more than just pass it back to the centre half for a panic under pressure and then a hoof (coughgarethbarrycough) - i think Wilshere could be that player, able to collect the ball off the centre half, turn, look, all with speed and at the same time beating the first man pressuring him. These two ares will be key to England's future development.

[Lofthouse Lower]

I just wish Wilshere would shoot more

[BWFC_Insane]

After Gareth Barry I thought Cahill was England's best player last night.

Looked commanding at the back, strong in the tackle and very comfortable on the ball. And posed a threat coming up for set pieces.

[Lofthouse Lower]

Barry? Gareth Barry? Oh dear.

In other news, who else was screaming at the telly when Tyldesley was convinced Baines was playing in just his socks? Idiot!

[BWFC_Insane]

Barry? Gareth Barry? Oh dear.

In other news, who else was screaming at the telly when Tyldesley was convinced Baines was playing in just his socks? Idiot!

Barry was good last night, controlled the game, passed the ball intelligently and was a superb anchor for the midfield IMO. Take the game on its merits not on his reputation!

[Lofthouse Lower]

I watched the game, and saw him do his usual crab-like movements across the back four, offering little in an attacking or defensive sense.

Man of the match was probably Gyan, never bloody Downing

[seanworth]

Didn't see the game but glad to hear Cahill had a good game. Not surprising to hear that Lescott was crap. Don't understand fans being unhappy about all the changes. If they keep the same side every game they complain that no new blood gets into the side, then when changes are made, even if for a friendly they whine that the team isn't kept together. No pleasing some people.

[boltonboris]

I watched the game, and saw him do his usual crab-like movements across the back four, offering little in an attacking or defensive sense.

Man of the match was probably Gyan, never bloody Downing

I thought Barry was excellent.. He seems to be a scapegoat for England fans and the Media

[Lord Kangana]

Barry, Jagielka and Cahill worked really well together in the first half. His deep lying role allowed Cahill to drop off and pick his passes (acting as a sweeper), thus retaining the ball. I like the tactic and formation, we should use it more often.

[hisroyalgingerness]

I watched the game, and saw him do his usual crab-like movements across the back four, offering little in an attacking or defensive sense.

Man of the match was probably Gyan, never bloody Downing

I thought Barry was excellent.. He seems to be a scapegoat for England fans and the Media

Well he has to be. It was the same England fans and media that overhyped him before the World Cup into him being some sort of saviour before he completely and utterly failed to turn up against Germany. And we/they wouldn't be wrong now...

[Prufrock]

Barry was good, sitting and playing the crablike easy ball is his job in that formation, Young (spit) was good, awful miss aside, Milner was brilliant then shit then brilliant then shit. Downing was good, awful miss aside, Cahill was good. Not sure Gyan was that amazing. Good goal, but also so so wasteful at times. Strong, turns people then shoots from 40 yards, or runs offside, gets away with it, then shanks it wide Downing style, on his stronger foot. Good player, played well, but hardly outstanding.

[TANGODANCER]

Boeteng in their midfield was the difference in their improvement for me.