 |
| Courtesy: montrealgazette.com |
The New
York Red Bulls have (all-but) signed Australian Tim Cahill from
English Premier League side Everton. He joins MLS after eight
successful years on Merseyside as a attacking-minded midfielder.
He's the kind of player who can – and will – succeed enormously
in MLS.
The time was right for him to move on.
As one of the youngest members of the the Socceroo Golden Generation,
it was time for him to follow his ageing brethren in leaving a major
league for a more fiscally rewarding one. Already this summer, his
head was turned by enticements from Al-Nasr
of the Saudi Professional league,
among others. After a down 2011-12, Everton manager David Moyes
obviously thought it best to sanction the move.
Other factors play into Cahill's
eagerness to shift continents. Meaningful minutes – despite
his stature, not guaranteed as a Toffee – should cement
his spot in the Aussie midfield at the World Cup in Brazil in two
years' time; any impact he makes will also be the first any
Australian has had on MLS, hopefully making Cahill a trail blazer for
Aussies chasing a step up from the A-League.
Despite this move suggesting Cahill
sees himself more as a big fish in a smaller pond, RBNY secured a
major bargain with the acquisition. He remains one of the best
headers of the ball in world football, and still ghosts into the box
like he trademarked the phrase. These traits should
combine well with the silk of Thierry Henry and further
strengthen New York's MLS Cup push. Cahill's relative youth and a
move back into the midfield (he's played out of position as a striker
for much of the past two seasons) make him not only a bargain but
potentially a league-wide star.
No comments:
Post a Comment