The Time is Right to Move On

The Tigers time was up, truth be known he has been past his best for some time now, but this is a time to remember his achievments.
His magnificently timed header at Old Trafford, His acrobatics at The Bridge, The way he halted RS celebrations in the dying minutes at Anfield,.
We`ll always remember his unique celebration at the corner flag - boy did City fans hate that.

Thanks for the memories Tim lad.

Maybe the style of play will change now he's gone, but we need to start bringing some more in or we will be wishing he was still here!....

You could also argue that he's leaving us while he has some resale value, however small, as a parting gift to invest back in the club. Nice that he's got a good move out of the country too, means he won't have to play against us and remains 'true blue' at the top level.

Hopefully the club will arrange some sort of send off, a Hall of Famer if ever there was one. I just hope he's reading all the messages on here, he deserves all the accolades he gets.

Everton till the day I die!

I think most of us would agree that it's good timing. For me Tim would have remained a legend whatever he did, but the longer we played him as his impact continued to lesson, the less enamoured of him many fans understandably became.

It's that curious thing about football - we demand loyalty, but only when it suits us. I'm with Lyndon in that for many reasons I see him as a legend; but I'm also glad that he - and Moyes, in terms of his mindset - is moving on.

And we can remember him as we and he would like us to.

Tim encapsulates everton under David moyes, hard-working, passionate, effective, determined and all for very little money. Surely our most notable talisman since ferguson. He goes at a good time with everyone's blessing.

For everton will this represent the start of a new era? Perhaps consisting mainly oftge type of football witnessed at the end of last season? Will a Cahill replacement be bought in or will fella or Naismith take on the role? Bold new times.

Another chapter closes.

Top top man

Goodison Park is a pooer place for his absence

I can only echo the comments. Great honest guy who did it for football and his pride and the money was a bonus. Very few like like him and he will be missed.

At the time he had the first of his metatarsal injuries, and it was touch and go that he'd recover. The club quite rightly told me it was not their call, and I'd have to contact Football Federation Australia. The club also said they'd casually mentioned it to him and he was up for it.

I emailed FFA and duly gave me a call saying they'd considered it, but would not be able to comply, and thought that was the end of it. They did put me on their circulation list, and when the squad was announced I noticed he was on it.

A few days later I was in my office and received a phonecall from an Angry Aussie who, in amongst the expletives, mentioned he was the Team Manager (not the then Coach, Graham Arnold, but another backroom guy). "You fuckin' got to 'im didn't ya?" I of course didn't have a clue what he was on about, but he then went on to tell me that Tim had told the management that he was going to do it, and they were to contact me to fix a date.

Venue duly booked, free of charge courtesy of the Aussie General Manager, we set about the plans. Singapore Everton Supporters Club set to work and compiled a guest list, I got a presenter from ESPN to ask the questions, and ESPN were going to film it (duly knocked on the head by FFA when they reviewed our "Event Plan").

A couple of days before the planned event, another phone call, and apologies for the short notice, but the coach needed the players that Monday night. They asked could we do Tuesday, knowing full well that it would be a pain to shift it at that short notice. "No problem, I understand you need to prepare for a major tournament, let's do Tuesday" I countered. Mutterings, and "Ok, pick us up from the hotel at 7.30pm".

The supporters club mailed out everyone - some of them were travelling from neighbouring Indonesia and Malaysia. The evening arrives and I'm waiting in the hotel lobby, with the ESPN presenter, our driver for the top end BMW (guess who the MD of BMW in Singapore supported?) A few of the back-room boys came down (and they were HUGE - what do they feed them?), apologised for the delay, and finally Tim appears. Nervously I went forward to introduce myself, but he was straight over, shook my hand and said he was really looking forward to it.

On to the venue, Z-cars booming out as we walked up the stairs, and to my relief it was rammed. My surprise for Tim was to have the woman who was his baby sitter when he was growing up at the top of the stairs to say hello, they hadn't seen each other since he was a kid, and it was Tim's mother who'd told her to get in touch about the event! (I think she maybe inspired him to play football, as her name is Pele!)

The FFA had their own camera crew with them, and seemed to have relaxed about the whole thing. I'd agreed to a 30 minute appearance, but they said as long as he was back for a massage on his foot by midnight, we were good to go.

The banter in the room was legendary. After the ESPN presenter had grilled him about Australia, and the tournament, it was over to the floor of 100+ who were all Everton fans (apart from a couple of friends who were invited to see how a proper club treats their fans, and a few local girls who, erm, wanted to meet a Premier League footballer! One did blatantly ask him for his phone number). He signed a couple of shirts which we raffled for the Childrens' Cancer Society, and raised a pretty penny, and posed for photos and signed autographs for everyone who wanted one.

At the end of the night as I walked him back to the car, he told me how much he'd enjoyed it, and that him and Mikel had agreed new contracts. (He'd mentioned during the Q&A how much he, and some of the other players, loved the club, and you felt it was genuine). Sure enough it was all announced within the next week.

Afterwards back in the bar, I was told by people from ESPN, and fans of other clubs, who all said how much they'd enjoyed it, and couldn't imagine a "Big 4" club doing it.

For me and my family he'll always be a 'modern legend' and Blue through and through. A tiger on the pitch, an ambassador off it. A fire burning in an Everton heart.

My favourite Cahill moment " That man Cahill! The first man since Dixie Dean in the 30's to score in three Anfield Derbys"

Thanks for all the memories Tim, come back soon and get the tumultuous welcome your feats on our behalf deserve. Can't believe I'll never see the corner flag celebration live again.

Legend isn't too grand a tag for our Tiny Tim.

I'm sad because I still think he could've transitioned into the Carsley role and been with us for another 4 years at least. (who better to cover the correct opposing attacking midfielder at the right time than one of the best at doing it themselves)

On the downside, what a shame he won't get the huge standing ovation Goodison would have given him if we'd known it was his last game, I would have thought he'll be back in the UK at some point coinciding with a home game, perhaps something could be arranged, just before kick off, for the fans to show their appreciation. This guy gave us everything.

I agree, Lyndon, the time is right and we should not begrudge Tim his move.
There are few players in the modern era who have the values of passion and loyalty and he has been a credit to himself, his family and to Everton FC.

Good luck, Tim, and I'm sure you'll never forget - once a Blue, always a Blue.

Mr Cahill, you have done us all so proud and hand on heart I hope everything works out for you in the USA.

He probably could have prolonged the inevitable by hanging around as an impact sub, but he deserves so much better than that.

A swansong in New York, playing alongside Terry Henry and earning millions of dollars is almost certainly the best retirement package in the known world.

100% Everton Legend.

I know its probably the right time for all concerned but even so.

I just can't imagine Everton without Tim.

I said years ago that he is the best value for money signing in Prem history.

A real icon and a genuine,honest and polite man. His interviews were always impeccable.

Good luck mate,thanks for the memories. I,and many others,will miss you. You always gave us everything you had.

Great article Lyndon.

I am completely gutted about this but I agree that it is the right time.

I wish the Goodison crowd could say goodbye in the manner that he deserves but I am sure he will get a raucous reception when he returns.

It looks like the club have done the right thing by him too. He hasn't been sold-off, or moved-on. This looks like a reward for eight years of fantastic service and that reflects credit on all concerned.

So let's look forward to, say, five years from now when Tim's academies in Oz are sending us the cream of their crop. Or maybe there will be a few from the States. One thing's for sure - this isn't goodbye.

My favourite Cahill memory remains an away game at City, backs to the wall with a 1 goal lead, and watching him revving up and organising the team. A real leader in a battle.

Definitely the right time to go. A season earlier we might have questioned it, a season later I'm sure we would have regretted it. Perfect timing.

And I'll be making an effort to watch his first game over there.

Good luck to Tim and his family, go show them your best Jack Dempsey impression Tim !

"The 32-year-old would end his career at Goodison Park on a sour note after being sent off on the final day of last season against Newcastle following a clash with Toon midfielder Yohan Cabaye.

Although the Frenchman apologised for his comments on Newcastle's official website, Cahill was still handed a three-match ban after Everton's appeal to the Football Association was rejected.

And while he accepted the suspension, he was left "disgusted" by Cabaye's comments, adding: "I don't wish to elaborate on the exact detail of what was said - but his words have no place either on or off the football pitch.

"Cabaye has apologised via his club's website and as far as I am concerned the matter is now closed."

Thanks for the golden memories and the passion you possessed!!!!!!!

It's easy to get watery eyed over him going but he has given us everything he had to give on the pitch and a whole lot more off it.

The fee may be low but it's a big wage off the books and another step toward getting funds for Pienaar and that in itself cannot be sniffed at.

Good luck fella – and don't ever forget what Z-Cars sounds like.

Top Man

Top Evertonian....Modern day legend in my eyes

Thanks for all those goals Tim....it's been a pleasure

Good luck for the future to you & yours

YOU WILL BE MISSED !!

Sky Sports News showed some of Tim's highlights from his days with us, makes ya remember how good he was. Maybe playing against weaker players in USA will be good for him at this time of his carreer and he can look sharper over there than he did last season.

Thanks for the memories laa.

Good story, Matt, but I can't say I'm surprised that Cahill should act that way. Top bloke.

Filiga.

No wonder he grew up so tough.

Goodbye to a legend and a real shame that we couldn't give him a cup final send off

Now I can watch a match without the Mrs going:

"Phwoaaaarrr what sexy beast",
"Phwoar look at them legs",
"Ohhh he's so cute"
"He's so dreamy"
"I won't kick him out of bed for eating biscuits"
"He can take me down under anyday"
"I hope he likes playing away"
"I'll give him a 4X alright"

The list goes on.........

But seriously Tiger Tim good luck mate... Can my Mrs go with you?

Best of luck to TC across the pond.

For me, I agree with Lyndon - he IS Moyes's Everton. This is a man who understood what it meant to play for Everton, who understood what it meant to beat the Shite, who would give his last breath for the cause.

Definitely an EFC legend and has also got to be the very best value-for-money player in PL history!!

In an era where it has been sometimes difficult to watch Everton, this man always gave his best in that shirt and never gave up. Think back to the 3-3 draw with Man U when we scored 2 in injury time. that was typical of the man driving the team forward and his never say die attitude.

Well deserving of a decent final payday and good form from the club to allow this to happen.

I bet he is gutted that he didn't belt Cabaye now as well.

All the best to him though. Some fab memories but not enough trophies.

Best of luck TC, hope they have stong corner flags !