Anyone who doubts TC's continued value to the team needs to relook at that second half, and look at how we played before he came on and then compare it to after he came on.
Agree with the previous post. He brought back some control to the team and general game management. Also calmed a few heads at the right time.
Can he dominate an EPL game for 90+ minutes now? Definitely not, but he was the right man for the right time and well done to the manager for recognising it.
Loved the little interaction he had with the Hammy End after the game had finished.
He 'gets it.'
Today was a perfect example of a game where TC can be useful. Tiredness kicked in in the second half and we started making mistake after mistake, which gave Forest confidence and suddenly we were barely able to string 3-4 passes together. TC came on and we were the better team for the next 10 or so minutes.
I'm shocked that so many people have completely written him off.
Quote from: SerbianLad on December 23, 2025, 12:05:23 AMToday was a perfect example of a game where TC can be useful. Tiredness kicked in in the second half and we started making mistake after mistake, which gave Forest confidence and suddenly we were barely able to string 3-4 passes together. TC came on and we were the better team for the next 10 or so minutes.
I'm shocked that so many people have completely written him off.
Totally agree
If one had to guess Tom Cairney's age, he looks 25-27. His running regime is a pace he can easily last 90 minutes+ so there is no worries over fitness. His intelligent passing is the best in our squad, he merely needs more games. I saw Silva giving him a hug post-match, possibly apologetic to not giving him more game time.
Also thought he calmed things down and helped us regain control when they looked likely to score. His class was fully visible.
Came on, took total control of the game, stabilized us and got us the 3 points
When the final whistle blew Marco went straight up too him and wrapped his arms around him
Pure quality as always
Ive no doubt that he could do this for a couple more years
Quote from: SerbianLad on December 23, 2025, 12:05:23 AMToday was a perfect example of a game where TC can be useful. Tiredness kicked in in the second half and we started making mistake after mistake, which gave Forest confidence and suddenly we were barely able to string 3-4 passes together. TC came on and we were the better team for the next 10 or so minutes.
I'm shocked that so many people have completely written him off.
Exactly this.
In fact 5 minutes before he came on I turned to my mate in the HEnd and said 'TC needs to come on'. To be fair, my mate agreed.
Cairney gave us back the composure we were lacking. His range of passing and vision helped the team link up together again after 10 minutes where we could barely string two passes together and were in danger of letting Forest back into the match.
Fulham will have a headache this summer deciding what to do with TC. As seen tonight, he's still more than capable of putting in a telling cameo.
Absolutely, Tom C made a huge impact on the game straight away as soon as he entered the field of play.
Took control of the midfield his passing was accurate and he put his foot on the ball, but most of all he made himself available to the player on the ball to receive a pass.
Changed the dynamics and took the game back to Fulham.
The other bonus was that we also collected a clean sheet.
My wife made a rare appearance and said that tc looked the best player on the pitch by a mile. Funny when you have two England Internationals playing against him and couldn't get a sniff.
That sub won us the game imo. Classy cairney.
Quote from: Jim© on December 23, 2025, 02:19:56 AMMy wife made a rare appearance and said that tc looked the best player on the pitch by a mile. Funny when you have two England Internationals playing against him and couldn't get a sniff.
That sub won us the game imo. Classy cairney.
Perhaps your wife should be on here not you Jim?
his influence was huge
Have to admit that, whilst it was clear we needed changes, subbing Berge for TC hadn't occurred to me but it was a master stroke so full credit to Marco.
TC took back control of the midfield which we had lost. I'm pretty sure we would have conceded had he not come on. There wasn't much about the game that was easy on the eye but TC's contribution was an exception.
Never doubted him...his brain works quicker than his feet...always making space to receive a pass... gives himself a yard of space then moves the ball
I pondered the sub when he came on, but he showed why Silva and him are in the dugout and I'm not!
Quote from: iansthailand on December 23, 2025, 06:13:31 AMQuote from: Jim© on December 23, 2025, 02:19:56 AMMy wife made a rare appearance and said that tc looked the best player on the pitch by a mile. Funny when you have two England Internationals playing against him and couldn't get a sniff.
That sub won us the game imo. Classy cairney.
Perhaps your wife should be on here not you Jim?
Ha, it's a fair point. Her other views were no one gets past Kenny and she thiught Kevin needs confidence! Clearly knows her stuff!
Until he came on second half it looked inevitable they would score at some point as we had lost all control in the game and they had us completely penned in. The transformation with his introduction was crazy.
This is exactly why we kept him and why all the moaning about that from many was crazy. It has to be the right game but in certain situations he gives you the control that no one else can and that essentially wins you points as it did last night. Did the same against Brentford away end of last season. May only be in the odd game but more than possible that wins us an extra 5 or 6 points a season and that is worth the salary.
I hold my hands up. Tom shut my big ugly mouth right up. He looked so elegant with his play. Well played Tom. ::thumb::
Am I the only one who thought his effort was actually on target and saved by their keeper and that we should have got a corner there? To me it seemed like he saved that chance with his fingertips.
Quote from: SerbianLad on December 23, 2025, 11:40:27 AMAm I the only one who thought his effort was actually on target and saved by their keeper and that we should have got a corner there? To me it seemed like he saved that chance with his fingertips.
On the Sky replay he clearly tipped it, but I couldn't tell from the angle whether it was going in.
Tom was great and also diffused the situation with Cuenca and Milencovic. In my opinion the replay of Tom's on target strike at their goal clearly showed that their goalkeeper touched the ball with his fingertips and if that is enough for a corner we should have been awarded one.
I can't help thinking that if only Marco had put on TC instead of Reed up at Newcastle that game would have gone differently.
Quote from: susiescw on December 23, 2025, 11:56:52 AMTom was great and also diffused the situation with Cuenca and Milencovic. In my opinion the replay of Tom's on target strike at their goal clearly showed that their goalkeeper touched the ball with his fingertips and if that is enough for a corner we should have been awarded one.
To be fair the only way you could see that the keeper touched it was from the camera behind the goal, can't blame the ref for not seeing that.
To be fair these days TC s role is settling us down and being cool in possession giving us more control.
he did it superbly yesterday.
That game was tailor-made for Cairney. They were trying to press high and force the long balls, but there was loads of space in there for someone who can play on the turn and pick a pass
I just can't believe it took until 65 mins to bring him on. We were all saying at half time it was a Cairney game - could easily have thrown away the points in that 20-minute window
No sign of Bongo or Ex Pat on this thread huh ?
Must of gone away on a cheap package holiday together
He changed the game in an instant. It really was something to watch.
Quote from: perry geyton on December 23, 2025, 03:28:02 PMNo sign of Bongo or Ex Pat on this thread huh ?
Must of gone away on a cheap package holiday together
I'm here Piri. Remember he has more bad games than good nowadays. One swallow doesn't make a summer. Every dog has it's day.
Quote from: blingo on December 23, 2025, 03:34:47 PMQuote from: perry geyton on December 23, 2025, 03:28:02 PMNo sign of Bongo or Ex Pat on this thread huh ?
Must of gone away on a cheap package holiday together
I'm here Piri. Remember he has more bad games than good nowadays. One swallow doesn't make a summer. Every dog has it's day.
Oh your back
Welcome home Bongo
Cap tip to TC for helping team see this game out. Had more of a 'calming' effect, settled things down and saw the game out. I was nervously expecting the equalizer to drop in during the last 10-20 minutes or so, was nice to see the lads finish the game with 3 points intact. TC helped in that regard.
Quote from: perry geyton on December 23, 2025, 03:37:06 PMQuote from: blingo on December 23, 2025, 03:34:47 PMQuote from: perry geyton on December 23, 2025, 03:28:02 PMNo sign of Bongo or Ex Pat on this thread huh ?
Must of gone away on a cheap package holiday together
I'm here Piri. Remember he has more bad games than good nowadays. One swallow doesn't make a summer. Every dog has it's day.
Oh your back
Welcome home Bongo
Have a ::merryXmas:: Great Christmas Piri
He will always have that calming presence on the ball, and against a team that doesn't have a lot of quality in CM to take advantage of his defensive shortcomings he will be able to dictate those sorts of games with ease. He made a huge impact in shifting momentum last night and Silva deserves credit for that sub, as he's been getting them wrong more than right in the last few games.
Our bigger issue is finding a successor for TC in all honesty given this will realistically be his last season with us and we don't have anyone of his skillset in the squad. A Wharton-esque signing like Palace managed coming out of the championship would be superb, the only other championship player that fits the TC archetype is Hayden Hackney, but he's not really an unknown to a lot of teams at this point.
Nearly switched my TV off here in Fort Lauderdale when he came on..
Flying to London in a couple of hours for Christmas, see you at the West Ham game..
::merryXmas::
Quote from: ex-Pat on December 23, 2025, 07:04:16 PMNearly switched my TV off here in Fort Lauderdale when he came on..
Flying to London in a couple of hours for Christmas, see you at the West Ham game..
::merryXmas::
But you kept it on and have to admit just how good TC was?
You know he will come on again not do so well, and out will come the voices telling us he is not good enough.
When I watch some Fulham games on internet and Tony Gale is co-commentating, he often praises Tom Cairney saying he should be played more. Gale has Fulham's interests at heart and wants us to do well, so when he states Cairney should be played more maybe we should listen to him.
Quote from: Nick Bateman on December 24, 2025, 01:01:31 AMWhen I watch some Fulham games on internet and Tony Gale is co-commentating, he often praises Tom Cairney saying he should be played more. Gale has Fulham's interests at heart and wants us to do well, so when he states Cairney should be played more maybe we should listen to him.
Let's see how much Gale wants us to win when we play West Ham next...
Quote from: Deeping_white on December 23, 2025, 05:27:52 PMHe will always have that calming presence on the ball, and against a team that doesn't have a lot of quality in CM to take advantage of his defensive shortcomings he will be able to dictate those sorts of games with ease. He made a huge impact in shifting momentum last night and Silva deserves credit for that sub, as he's been getting them wrong more than right in the last few games.
Our bigger issue is finding a successor for TC in all honesty given this will realistically be his last season with us and we don't have anyone of his skillset in the squad. A Wharton-esque signing like Palace managed coming out of the championship would be superb, the only other championship player that fits the TC archetype is Hayden Hackney, but he's not really an unknown to a lot of teams at this point.
Forest have plenty of quality in midfield with Elliot Andersen, Douglas Luiz, MGW. I will agree that we need to think about the successor to Tom. Not an easy task.
Quote from: ex-Pat on December 23, 2025, 07:04:16 PMNearly switched my TV off here in Fort Lauderdale when he came on..
Flying to London in a couple of hours for Christmas, see you at the West Ham game..
::merryXmas::
"Fort Lauderdale" we'll that explains everything then
A much needed reminder of TC's qualities.
Felt like we'd got to the tipping point this season where Marco wasn't trusting TC to make a contribution - his minutes and appearances are definitely down on recent years despite us glaringly needing new ideas at CM often.
Hope this means a second half of the season renaissance as he STILL after all these years offers something no one else in our squad can.