Still...........

Why is Cahill 'top class' though? He's been good for Bolton but in the absence of Terry and Ferdinand he never established himself with England nor has attracted attention from any other big team.

Don't get me wrong, a good defender, but certainly a liability for the price Bolton are reported to want for him.

I think a germany international, 80 caps for his country and captain of his club...for half the price, thats the sort of player we should be going for!

Merty>Cahill

Yea me too I wanted Barton, Downing and Parker too also think we should of gone for Defoe or Crouch maybe but Matt Jarvis then we've all that Englishness how could we not win the league .

I think the OP has a valid concern. Per is a very good player but like any player who moves to the Prem, there is always a slight doubt about if they can handle the pace of the game.

Many German players have done well here which is a good sign but there is always that nagging doubt.

Who said we won't sign another CB ?

Godleebarnes

pace of the game, Tony Adams was probably the slowest CB we've had in last 20 years not all about pace just ability to read the game well

I didn't mean his pace it's more about time to control the ball and pick out passes etc. I'm not saying he can't but there is always that doubt until he plays in the Prem.

Robinho, Morientes, amonst others couldn't hack it.

So someone who has had 75 caps for Germany, who are much better than England in every respect, is worse than a player who can't nail down a place in the England side?

Ok, let's say Arsenal agree with you and decide they want to bring in an English centre back to improve the squad...

First we would need to identify the players who would be good enough...

Ferdinand, Terry.

Then we need to look at their availability...

Ferdinand and Terry, absolutely no chance unless the player wanted to leave and we offered about £30m+.

End of search

Lescott and Carragher would not improve us IMO and are also not available anyway.

Cahill is a punt as he is not proven at the top level.

It makes much mor sense to go abroad for Mertesacker, who is a far better and a more proven player than Cahill in my opinion.

Plus Bolton wanted to start a public auction, which I found more insulting than our supposedly derisory bid.

Now we will have a better player, both physically and mentally and spent the same or less money