Why Tom Cairney Is Still Crucial To Fulham FC
London’s Original
London’s Original
4 min read
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Just now
Mr. Fulham is back. After a drawn-out contract saga that had Fulham fans’ stomachs in knots, and heads in confusion, Tom Cairney has re-signed for his 11th season by the river. Thank God! Don’t get it twisted – many may see the TC signing as a sentimental signing. Here’s why you’re wrong.
Mentoring Josh King
In recent weeks, people have speculated that giving Captain Cairney another year at the Cottage will stunt future star Josh King’s growth. That’s anything but the case. King – potentially the most talented prospect to come out of Motspur Park in the modern era – has elements of prime TC’s game within his repertoire. Elegant on the ball, a metronome demanding possession off it – in later years, we all know how Cairney has slipped into more of a deeper midfield role for the Whites.
I suspect Silva will utilise King in the ten role, as Andreas Pereira’s likely departure clears Josh’s path to regular first-team minutes. King makes use of his tireless energy to replicate Andreas Pereira’s lead pressing role, whilst adding more possession-based dynamism than the Brazilian ever did in West London.
I see little positional crossover between Cairney and King at opposite ends of their career. The rumours of Cairney stunting King’s growth is purely a myth. In fact, in what looks like Josh King’s first full season as a fully fledged first-team player, having somebody that has been around the top level – at Fulham, in a similar role to Josh – is essential to King’s growth. Especially important when you factor in TC’s mentorship persuading King to sign an improved deal in SW6 for years to come.
TC: A Much Needed Leader
As club captain, it’s clear the status he has within the Fulham dressing room. The true link between Marco Silva and the playing staff – in a season where Stuart Gray, and likely Harrison Reed, two stalwarts of the dressing room structure at the Cottage, leave FFC – keeping Cairney helps the club maintain stability on and off the pitch.
Maintaining a leader like Cairney, at a point in the club’s Premier League journey where the Whites need to reduce the average age of the squad – from in and around 30 years of age – therefore reducing senior presences in the dressing room, helps maintain what makes Marco Silva’s Fulham Marco Silva’s Fulham.
Add to this that the Whites lost out on 28 points from winning positions last season – the second most in the Premier League – you may question: how does this happen? Well, a lack of leaders is a start. Allowing younger presences, or players that are new to the club, a space in the dressing room – a place to learn from what will be an 11-year FFC veteran like TC – should help reverse the Whites’ awful record when going ahead, by providing an avenue for Marco Silva’s men to create a surplus of leaders in a team that certainly needs a leadership development pathway. TC offers just that.
Don’t Forget: TC’s On-the-Pitch Quality
I’ve spoken at length about what TC offers Silva’s side, but as I outlined in my article ‘Why Fulham Must Keep Tom Cairney’, TC displayed an ability to roll back the years and dictate the tempo of a game like he did in his pomp. Cairney is a unique type of player in this Fulham squad – not as industrious or athletic as his midfield counterparts. Barring the emergence of Josh King, there is nobody in this Fulham team that can offer an imposing “leader of men”-like presence in this squad whilst maintaining unrivalled technical talent in possession.
This doesn’t just stop at the role Thomas plays when leading his teammates mentally. Cairney’s commanding status in the middle of the park allowed the Whites to take a hold late on in close games. His performances against Leicester at home, Brentford home and away, and Tottenham at home and away showed just that. Don’t consign Tom to a sentimental signing – he’s far more than that. Captain Cairney has plenty to offer this Fulham side.
Trust me, you’ll see it in the coming months…