There’s been a bit of nonsense written about Tom Cairney this season. I felt the skipper, such a loyal servant to the club that has seen plenty of strife since he signed from Blackburn Rovers in 2015, deserved far better than the pelters he received in the aftermath of last month’s defeat to Chelsea. Yes, the collapse was criminal but the defeat from a position of strength was a consequence of Marco Silva failing to react to Enzo Maresca’s half-time tweaks and then asking Cairney, a playmaker, to try and protect a slender lead rather than turning to a more defensively minded midfielder like Harrison Reed.
The Scottish international’s appearance in soul-destroying SW6 derby was his 350th game for Fulham. The Whites wouldn’t be back in the top flight – let alone in with a shot of Europe for the first time in thirteen years – without the latest custodian of Johnny Haynes’ number ten jersey. Cairney came to the Cottage from Blackburn Rovers a decade ago, helped the Whites avoid back-to-back relegations and then flourished under Slavisa Jokanovic. He didn’t just score the goal that beat Aston Villa at Wembley in 2018, but he stuck around as Fulham went up and down between the top tiers like a yo-yo. Cairney lifted the Championship play-off trophy again in lockdown after Joe Bryan deceived David Raya two years later and he has been a reliable substitute for Marco Silva as one of the continent’s most underrated coaches re-established London’s oldest professional club as a Premier League force once again.
Father time eventually catches up with all of us – and, there have been signs of that of late – but Cairney’s skillset is special. He has enjoyed a number of eye-catching cameos from the bench this season, scoring an equaliser at Spurs, and added valuable experience within the Boxing Day clash with the Blues at Stamford Bridge was in the balance. The 34 year-old took plenty of opprobrium, alongside his head coach, after Fulham surrendered a lead to lose at home to Everton last weekend, but yesterday afternoon showed he still has the technique and tenacity to trouble top-tier defences.
He spread the play intelligently as Fulham began to get a hold of the midfield in a way that they never managed when Sander Berge was on the pitch. Boosted by the introduction of Josh King and Harry Wilson from the bench, Cairney relished the freedom he was offered to carry the ball deep into Brentford territory and, with his side still behind, drove Fulhm forward impatiently. Cairney’s glancing header from Kenny Tete’s cross demonstrated why is so keen to keep him at the Cottage – the finish was one thing, but Cairney had to get in the box and occupy the home centre backs.
The joyous celebrations in the aftermath of a rare headed goal and the raucous nature of the Fulham faithful’s response might it can easily be interpretated as farewell, as the Guardian have done this afternoon. But Cairney is keen to continue his career at Craven Cottage – and, even setting aside his footballing ability, Fulham are very lucky. We are all familiar with the number ten’s lovely left foot, but the midfielder’s class extends well beyond the football field.
Cairney has quietly – but consistently – supported the family of Fulham fanatic Danny Fullbrook since the former Daily Star and Daily Mirror man was taken from us far too soon by cancer in 2012. Fullbrook conducted Cairney’s first ever press interview when he was Hull City reporter for the Hull Daily Mail and a fresh-faced teenager was breaking into the Tigers first team. Danny would be very proud of the leader he’s product – as well as those star turns as a pundit on Sky Sports. Selfishly, we hope he won’t be tempted by the lure of a television studio. It seems as though Fulham’s finest custodian of the number ten jersey since Johnny Haynes has plenty more to give.
As the Hammersmith End sings, there ain’t nobody like Tom Cairney.
Fulham do need to bring down the age of the squad and if Wrexham offer him more money, it would be a great move for him, but happy if he stays as one of our own and players with that talent, who look after themselves can play for longer.
Fulham need at least 4/5 new players greatntom cairney score one player who put his foot on the ball Anderson is far to slow
If he goes or stays I’m sure he will be a success (really hope he stays!)
I agree with Andrews comment re Anderson… I’ve thought that a, he’s not defended as well as the first 3/4 of the season and b,his distribution has got worse but there are many worse CBs out there.
As for TC I hope that he stays he’s losing his speed but still a great sub to bring on. The squad is too small so why make changes, when he and Josh came on they transformed the middle of the park. He was quick enough to race forward and attempt the lob which could have been another goal of the season
Cairney is a unique player – still! When he’s on his game, there is no-one else who can dictate play like him: that may not be as often as it used to be but he must be worth another season. It’s not so much about losing his speed; he never really had it, he’s never really needed it.
Tom has been an excellent servant to the club on all levels, except playing for Scotland:)) can’t blame him for that I guess.
He appears to be held in high regards by players and fans alike and despite the ravages of time still could play a part in the club. Whatever, he has earned the right to make the choices that are good for him. Thanks and Good Luck.
Give him another year,We owe him that and he can turn a game from the substitutes bench. Play King more one or our own much prefer to see him in the team than ESR. I concur Anderson is too slow and with Berg being in the same category at best only one of them should play. At times I feel we would better off with Diop.
I too would like to see Cairney get another year he has earned it I think Berge was a mistake he doesn’t get forward and keeps passing backwards and sideways and offers very little and Andersen needs a player with speed along side of him if he is in the team, I have been saying king should be in the team for sometime but it seems Marco wants old players not young players. King offers more than ESR and Sess should also be in the team.
No one ever debated if the captain has served the club well, but the truth remains that advancing age and his frail legs has made Cairney as incapable of holding a squad number any more. More than once he was introduced by Silva when we were chasing a result hoping for one of his defence splitting passes or a left foot belter from outside the box, but what we saw was a drop in tempo and a litany of sideway passes. Cairney is a club legend but if he still wants to keep playing he should drop a division and retire on a high in a season or two, sadly the Pemier League is not for him anymore.
A lovely portrait! I didn’t know about his support of the Fullbrook family, and it makes me rate him even higher. Fulham owes him a debt of gratitude.
There’s no doubt about what a great servant he has been to this great club and has given the fans some great moments as he did on Sunday,but I think the time as come to move on depending on what additions Silva makes in the Summer Fulham also have to decide about what’s the next step for them with Cairney to move to the next level hopefully,then there’s the captains roll, which must be sorted for next season at present it’s Robinson with Leno filling in when possible IMO Anderson seems capable of the role as he captains Denmark with maybe perhaps Lukic as his Vice captain this would start a new era if TC goes