With Chalobah and Reed as defensive enforcers

[Jim©]

Cairney is great in possession, but does lose the ball, unless he's 100% on his game. 

I'd say he's the player in our team that loses the ball the least, his ability to keep possession is superb. Bettered only by dembel mk1 in last 20 ish years imo.

[rebel]

Cairney is great in possession, but does lose the ball, unless he's 100% on his game. 

I'd say he's the player in our team that loses the ball the least, his ability to keep possession is superb. Bettered only by dembel mk1 in last 20 ish years imo.

You say that, but it's not great when that loss results directly in a goal, happened at times last season. In the Premiership you get punished a lot more because of the 'quality'. 

[filham]

Silva is going to bring a different 'mindset'. I don't think it's going to be about just 'survival'. He has a 'huge' point to prove.

Then the midfield has to be full of quality with pace, power and skill and TK will need to empty his pockets.

[Sting of the North]

Cairney is great in possession, but does lose the ball, unless he's 100% on his game. 

I'd say he's the player in our team that loses the ball the least, his ability to keep possession is superb. Bettered only by dembel mk1 in last 20 ish years imo.

You say that, but it's not great when that loss results directly in a goal, happened at times last season. In the Premiership you get punished a lot more because of the 'quality'.

But doesn't other players losing the ball also result in goals against? Losing the ball less is surely a good thing? I agree with the previous poster that we are far less likely to lose the ball if we give it to TC. He may not be a great tackler, or heavily involved defensively, but he helps us not having to defend as much, and he helps us breathe by keeping the ball even under pressure. Those are also qualities that helps out defensively.

[rebel]

Cairney is great in possession, but does lose the ball, unless he's 100% on his game. 

I'd say he's the player in our team that loses the ball the least, his ability to keep possession is superb. Bettered only by dembel mk1 in last 20 ish years imo.

You say that, but it's not great when that loss results directly in a goal, happened at times last season. In the Premiership you get punished a lot more because of the 'quality'.

But doesn't other players losing the ball also result in goals against? Losing the ball less is surely a good thing? I agree with the previous poster that we are far less likely to lose the ball if we give it to TC. He may not be a great tackler, or heavily involved defensively, but he helps us not having to defend as much, and he helps us breathe by keeping the ball even under pressure. Those are also qualities that helps out defensively.

Cairney is great in possession, but does lose the ball, unless he's 100% on his game. 

I'd say he's the player in our team that loses the ball the least, his ability to keep possession is superb. Bettered only by dembel mk1 in last 20 ish years imo.

You say that, but it's not great when that loss results directly in a goal, happened at times last season. In the Premiership you get punished a lot more because of the 'quality'.

But doesn't other players losing the ball also result in goals against? Losing the ball less is surely a good thing? I agree with the previous poster that we are far less likely to lose the ball if we give it to TC. He may not be a great tackler, or heavily involved defensively, but he helps us not having to defend as much, and he helps us breathe by keeping the ball even under pressure. Those are also qualities that helps out defensively.

Previously under Slav he doesn't lose the ball. His performances has been'chalk and cheese'. I know people go on about injuries etc.
I think passes the ball back towards our goal then he has ever done, so we aren't seeing as many penetrative forward passes.   

[Luka]

If Tom could use both feet he would be on a different level. Trouble is that in the top level it's a prerequisite and unfortunately he can't.

[Sting of the North]

I think stats wouldn't back you up rebel. Neither does the eye test, in my opinion.

[Twig]

Cairney is great in possession, but does lose the ball, unless he's 100% on his game. 

I'd say he's the player in our team that loses the ball the least, his ability to keep possession is superb. Bettered only by dembel mk1 in last 20 ish years imo.

You say that, but it's not great when that loss results directly in a goal, happened at times last season. In the Premiership you get punished a lot more because of the 'quality'.

But doesn't other players losing the ball also result in goals against? Losing the ball less is surely a good thing? I agree with the previous poster that we are far less likely to lose the ball if we give it to TC. He may not be a great tackler, or heavily involved defensively, but he helps us not having to defend as much, and he helps us breathe by keeping the ball even under pressure. Those are also qualities that helps out defensively.

100% agreed