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From the perspective of most Wanderers fans, there will be only one ‘Special One’ on show in Chelsea colours tonight.
Gary Cahill may have gone on to scale greater heights since leaving Bolton two-and-a-half years ago but the England international is still held in universally high regard by people in these parts.
The down-to-earth Sheffield lad was picked up for a hefty £5million from Aston Villa by Gary Megson but sculpted into one of the country’s finest defenders during his time with the Whites.
In 147 appearances he scored 15 goals, battled back from a life-threatening blood clot, earned international recognition and became the first Bolton player in nearly 60 years to score for the Three Lions when he netted against Bulgaria in 2011.
And yet many fans believe Wanderers chose the wrong time to cash-in on Cahill, who left for £8million in January 2012.
In the grand scheme of things it was a rare profitable deal but the sums that had been discussed for several months before his eventual exit left many feeling short-changed.
Freedman never got a chance to work with the defender, now 28, but is an admirer of his work.
“He has done incredibly well since going to Chelsea and from an outsider looking in at the time, I thought he was a fantastic signing for Bolton,” he told The Bolton News.
“I think he was a major, major part of keeping the club in the Premier League for as long as they did in the couple of years he was here.
“They sold him on for more than they paid as well, so that’s good business in my eyes.
“Some of my players will know him, there are close connections there, so they should be looking forward to playing against him.”
Cahill scored the winning goal against Everton at Goodison Park in his final appearance for Wanderers, and of those players in the squad that night, only four have survived the wholesale changes of the last few years.
Adam Bogdan – who will remember that windy night on Merseyside for different reasons – Darren Pratley, Mark Davies and David Wheater remain from the Premier League era, Tim Ream having arrived by way of a replacement a couple of weeks later.
Cahill won the Champions League within months of his departure – and it is understood that he contacted members of Wanderers’ senior staff after the penalty shootout win over Barcelona to thank them for their help in getting him there.
A Europa League and FA Cup winner’s medal followed but Premier League honours have thus far remained out of his grasp.
Whether he plays for the first time against Wanderers tonight is down to how vigorously Jose Mourinho decides to shuffle his pack.
Freedman doubts he will have to Google many names on the Chelsea team-sheet.
“Mr Mourinho works with a very tight squad, maybe 22-23 players, but it’s the best in the business,” he said.
“We’re not looking at them and thinking ‘we fancy this if he changes a few’ because the players coming in will be international class. These guys will be experienced, high quality, it won’t be a bunch of kids.
“Are they the best in the country? It’s very close with Manchester City. I definitely think it’s the best squad he’s ever had at Chelsea.”
Freedman is looking forward to a reunion of his own with Cahill’s long-standing defensive partner, John Terry.
The Chelsea legend played alongside the Wanderers boss early in his career during a loan spell with Nottingham Forest.
“I know him quite well,” said the Scot. “It’ll be good to see him again.”
Source
Gary Cahill may have gone on to scale greater heights since leaving Bolton two-and-a-half years ago but the England international is still held in universally high regard by people in these parts.
The down-to-earth Sheffield lad was picked up for a hefty £5million from Aston Villa by Gary Megson but sculpted into one of the country’s finest defenders during his time with the Whites.
In 147 appearances he scored 15 goals, battled back from a life-threatening blood clot, earned international recognition and became the first Bolton player in nearly 60 years to score for the Three Lions when he netted against Bulgaria in 2011.
And yet many fans believe Wanderers chose the wrong time to cash-in on Cahill, who left for £8million in January 2012.
In the grand scheme of things it was a rare profitable deal but the sums that had been discussed for several months before his eventual exit left many feeling short-changed.
Freedman never got a chance to work with the defender, now 28, but is an admirer of his work.
“He has done incredibly well since going to Chelsea and from an outsider looking in at the time, I thought he was a fantastic signing for Bolton,” he told The Bolton News.
“I think he was a major, major part of keeping the club in the Premier League for as long as they did in the couple of years he was here.
“They sold him on for more than they paid as well, so that’s good business in my eyes.
“Some of my players will know him, there are close connections there, so they should be looking forward to playing against him.”
Cahill scored the winning goal against Everton at Goodison Park in his final appearance for Wanderers, and of those players in the squad that night, only four have survived the wholesale changes of the last few years.
Adam Bogdan – who will remember that windy night on Merseyside for different reasons – Darren Pratley, Mark Davies and David Wheater remain from the Premier League era, Tim Ream having arrived by way of a replacement a couple of weeks later.
Cahill won the Champions League within months of his departure – and it is understood that he contacted members of Wanderers’ senior staff after the penalty shootout win over Barcelona to thank them for their help in getting him there.
A Europa League and FA Cup winner’s medal followed but Premier League honours have thus far remained out of his grasp.
Whether he plays for the first time against Wanderers tonight is down to how vigorously Jose Mourinho decides to shuffle his pack.
Freedman doubts he will have to Google many names on the Chelsea team-sheet.
“Mr Mourinho works with a very tight squad, maybe 22-23 players, but it’s the best in the business,” he said.
“We’re not looking at them and thinking ‘we fancy this if he changes a few’ because the players coming in will be international class. These guys will be experienced, high quality, it won’t be a bunch of kids.
“Are they the best in the country? It’s very close with Manchester City. I definitely think it’s the best squad he’s ever had at Chelsea.”
Freedman is looking forward to a reunion of his own with Cahill’s long-standing defensive partner, John Terry.
The Chelsea legend played alongside the Wanderers boss early in his career during a loan spell with Nottingham Forest.
“I know him quite well,” said the Scot. “It’ll be good to see him again.”
Source