Photo by Lewis Storey - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by Lewis Storey - Danehouse/Getty Images
Tim Cahill’s comments about The Friedkin Group haven’t gone down well with everyone, but there is no denying what an amazing player he was for the club.
The Australian signed for Everton back in 2004 after a productive spell at Millwall, and quickly became a real hit at Goodison Park.
Tim Cahill launches defence of The Friedkin Group
Tim Cahill launches defence of The Friedkin Group
He went on to make 278 appearances for the club, and was renowned for chipping in goals as an attacking midfielder, with his heading ability a particular strength.
How good it would be if Everton had a modern-day version of him – but David Moyes may well have one candidate in the form of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Tim Cahill says Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall asked him about improving his goalscoring
Cahill has revealed that he recently spoke with Dewsbury-Hall, with the pair both graduating last week for their sporting directorships.
He said: “We were talking about players like Bainsey. He was asking me questions about goalscoring. I said to him, ‘I knew the exact movements Bainsey would put his foot on the ball. Keep his head down and cross the ball without looking. He knew exactly where I was. Tony Hibbert, Mikel Arteta, Steven Pienaar. We had a relationship that I knew the rhythm of when the ball hit the chest, then a control, then a cross, it was about timing.
“Using that in training, analysing each other – it helped me score more goals.
“Last year, he got quite a lot of goals and this year, he was asking about adding to that tally. Bainsey is the perfect example of the footballer that’s cultured, understands the game, but at the same time, I can’t wait for him to put a cross in for me, or hit a free-kick and score another goal.”
Dewsbury-Hall is not particularly an aerial threat like Cahill was. He did bag three headed goals in the 2023/24 season while playing for Leicester City, but has no more to his name since then. But Dewsbury-Hall is certainly someone who crashes the box just like the Australian did.
The advice could well help Dewsbury-Hall to score more goals.
If his anticipation is there and he makes the runs, then he can get across his marker to score. Either on the ground or in the air.
But of course, it takes two to tango. The ball into the box has to be good.
Vitalii Mykolenko has not really been known as an exceptional crosser during his time at Everton. But Ainsley Maitland-Niles has shown his technical quality early doors and might be to Dewsbury-Hall what Baines was to Cahill.
Ultimately, there is no reason why he can’t be that same goalscoring midfielder Cahill was.
Dewsbury-Hall for Everton (2025-present)
Appearances – 39
Goals – 9
Assists – 6
With just one goal scored so far, it is little wonder Dewsbury-Hall was seeking advice from Cahill about getting back amongst the goals.
The 28-year-old got eight goals last season and six assists, and he will no doubt want to better both of those tallies this season.
It hasn’t been the best of starts, but Dewsbury-Hall must keep starting for Everton rather than be dropped, knowing how influential he can be. His underlying data is encouraging at least, despite the lack of goal involvements.