Chelsea Transfer Rumours: 8 Reasons Not to Sign Gary Cahill

According to ESPN, Owen Coyle has stated that Chelsea is still poised to sign Gary Cahill even though an agreement cannot be reached over the England international’s wages. 

Signing Cahill would be an indictment on David Luiz's inability to string consistent performances. 

But why is André Villas-Boas replacing inconsistency with ineptitude? 

This article will outline eight reasons why signing Cahill is a big mistake. 

Someone tell André Villas-Boas that it's illogical to fix a flawed defence with Gary Cahill, who has led his team to the joint worst defence in the league.

The decision to sign Cahill has as much logic as subbing on Paulo Ferreira with nine minutes to play against Fulham—Chelsea needed to score.   

• Source: http://www.whoscored.com/
• GC = goals conceded. 
• LP = ladder position. 

André Villas-Boas sees Gary Cahill as the saviour of his disastrous high-line strategy. 

Cahill wins 1.9 offsides per game and is in a league of his own when it comes to winning offsides. 

Signing Cahill would mean Villas-Boas continuing his much criticised and flawed high-line strategy. 

Villas-Boas is playing Russian roulette in hoping linesmen raise their flag every time John Terry and Cahill signal for an offside.  

Chelsea are doomed if they continue the high line with Terry, who has no recovery pace, and Cahill, whose tackling is as productive as Juan Mata's. 

• Source: http://www.whoscored.com/
• TOSW = total offsides won.
• OSWPG = offsides won per game. 

You could argue that it's unfair to compare Gary Cahill's defensive statistics to defenders playing on better teams. 

So, to be fair to Cahill, let's see if his tackling statistics are enhanced by comparing him to midfielders and forwards. 

It's a concern when Juan Mata has made the same amount of tackles as Cahill. 

• Source: http://www.whoscored.com/
• TT = total tackles. 
• TPG = tackles per game. 

One worrying characteristic that I've noticed with Gary Cahill is he gives the ball away. 

Perhaps Cahill has been watching too much archival footage of Franz Beckenbauer. 

Cahill's passing ability is limited, so instead of attempting Hail Mary passes, why not just complete a simple sideways pass? 

In 19 Premier League games, he's given away possession 150 times. 

• Source: http://www.whoscored.com/
• PC = passes completed.
• PP = passing percentage. 

I'm sick and tired of watching players and agents short-change Chelsea. 

The sum of £7 million is nothing to Roman Abramovich, but considering Chelsea paid £50 million for a deteriorating Fernando Torres and £18 million for Yuri Zhirkov to warm the benches—no way should Chelsea sign Gary Cahill. 

Especially after Cahill reportedly demanded  £100,000 a week. 

Who does he think think he is? Mats Hummels? 

Chelsea must not reward Cahill for leading his team to the joint worst Premier League defence. 

He shouldn't even earn £50,000 a week. 

Why sign Gary Cahill for £7 million when you can sign him for free in six months? 

Gary Cahill will be to Chelsea to what Jean-Alain Boumsong was for Newcastle United. Boumsong was rightly lambasted for being useless during his time at Newcastle. 

Yet, it's egregious that people can link Gary Cahill to Chelsea with a straight face. It just goes to show how overrated English internationals are. 

Pros

• Adept at playing the offside trap. 

• Strong aerially—averages 3.3 aerial duels won per game (third highest among centre-backs). 

Cons

• Worse than David Luiz.

• Weak tackler. 

• Poor passer. 

• Constantly caught out of position.

• Questionable leader. 

• In bad form. 

• Can sign him for free in six months' time. 

• Taking advantage of Chelsea's weak stance against high wages. 

• Will continue André Villas-Boas' doomed high line strategy. 

Here are 5 things you need to know about Chelsea's narrow 2-1 win over Wolves. 

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