Were Villa Right to Dump Gary Cahill?

There was a depressing familiarity about Marouane Fellaini`s late goal that gifted Everton three points in Wednesday`s match at the Reebok. This was because more or less the same thing had happened in the previous game against Tottenham. A Large striker left to head home unopposed, with two gormless centre backs marking thin air.

One of those was Andy O`Brien, the other Gary Cahill. The latter was signed from Aston Villa in the last January transfer window and has been regarded as Gary ‘Molehill` Megson`s best piece of transfer business. But is the 22 year old all he`s cracked up to be?

Cahill was sent off in a pre-season friendly and again against League One side Northampton Town as Bolton crashed out of the Carling Cup. That left disastrous Danny Shittu to figure in three league games, a man whose abilities are accurately reflected by his surname.

Last season, Cahill gave away penalties against Blackburn and Arsenal that proved costly and gifted Liverpool two goals, as they secured a comfortable victory. Clearly he is some way off being the finished product.

For most of the time, the young centre-back looks extremely competent, but those lapses of concentration are usually punished at Premier League level. Last season Martin O`Neill was criticised for disposing of Steven Davis, who flopped at Fulham and is now plying his trade in the backwater that is Scottish football. It may be that the Irishman has made the correct call again.