Tim Cahill: The Good, the Bad, and Why He Must Go

I have been a fan of Tim Cahill’s game since his Everton days. As a Toffee, his tenacity and work rate in front of goal was awe inspiring. Even today he is still dangerous in the air, and as we’ve seen against China, still possesses good timing and acrobatic skill. When he moved to my beloved Red Bulls, it was a dream come true. Unfortunately, that dream has come to an end, with the Sydney Morning Herald and other sites reporting that he is nearing a move to the UAE. I will be explaining why this move is the best for both club and player, but first let’s take a trip down memory lane, looking at the good times, and the bad.

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The Good – After a rather forgetful 2012 arrival, the Australian all-time leading scorer took the league by storm in 2013. He received an MLS Best XI and All Star selection, was voted the Red Bulls’ MVP, led the team with 11 goals (including 5 game-winners) and tallied 5 assists. Individual stats aside, his greatest contribution was his impact on the team in leadership and character.

According to the New York Red Bulls’ stats page, the team was 14-5-8 when he started. In the final 11 games, when New York needed him the most, he scored 7 goals and 2 assists. None was more important than his curling strike against Seattle. Away from home without Thierry Henry, Cahill took the armband and rallied the Red Bulls from 1-0 down to take a vital away point which prove crucial in obtaining the 2013 Supporters’ Shield. In that moment, he showed his true value to the team, able to step up when it mattered most. He was incredibly popular in the locker room, and I could not be happier that he came to the team.

The Bad – Well, all good things must come to an end, right? They say power corrupts, and unfortunately that seems to be what happened with Number 17. Following the end of the 2013 season, Cahill’s salary for 2014 was priced out as $3.625 million. Despite this being the second highest salary on the team and one of the highest in MLS, he wanted more money. According to Big Apple Soccer’s Kristian Dyer, Cahill, knowing that his contract had a further two years on it already, wanted an addition two years stacked on with a pay increase to $5.5 million.

The Head of Global Football for Red Bull, Gerard Houllier, denied Cahill the extension. From then on, he began to diminish in effectiveness. Cahill seemingly forgot how much he meant to the players around him. Only scoring two goals and two assists, he spent most of his time on the bench, and reports from the locker room were that he lost his popularity. Of course, he went on to score a wonder-volley against the Netherlands, and continued to have great form on the international level. Simply put, because the Red Bulls wouldn’t give him an even bigger payday, he, well, sucked.

And let’s be real. Was he going to be selected over Bradley Wright-Phillips as striker? Heck no. Using him in central midfield, as was so often done, was only going to not work at all.

That’s why, in conclusion, it is best for both Tim and the club to part ways. Cahill can get his payday in the UAE, and the Red Bulls can get significant cap space to pursue defensive support and perhaps another DP. Hopefully the next DP is as committed to the club as the 2013 Tim Cahill.

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