Summer Silly Season Transfer Thread 2025

[RAY Rock]

Why would he want to uproot his family and move to Wales. He should retire he is good on the punditry. He will get destroyed in the championship his legs have gone

[jayffc]

Why would he want to uproot his family and move to Wales. He should retire he is good on the punditry. He will get destroyed in the championship his legs have gone

He seems to like the idea of pundetry and being a TV personality, the show offers a worldwide audience and flirting with the Hollywood circle, he gets to be a part of a cool story, imagine he manages to help them get promoted to the prem and it's all documented on netflix. 

He'd probably only move there for 2 years max and could keep his current house to return to after.

Not saying it's a no brainer for him but ya never know. I can see why it might be an interesting project if he's not to retire at Fulham as he'd hoped

[Hugh Janus]

Little interest in Tom being in the squad for next season. Time for him to move on.

[Chutney]

He has been great coming off the bench in games where we need to chase something, still one of our best players at progressing the ball forwards.

Tom Cairney is often brought on for lukic to either be more creative or to keep hold of possession, he is much better than lukic at both of these, there is a clear role for him as a substitute to change how we play. Marco has uses him well and he's still good enough to impact games, the numbers don't lie.

[RAY Rock]

Numbers mean nothing I have watched him with my own eyes and he has regressed massively from last season he can't tackle he has concrete in his boots and thanks for everything go be a pundit

[jayffc]

He deserves to be spoken about with far more respect than some are showing him regardless of if we feel his time is coming to an end here.

He's been an unbelievably good player and grown into a great role model in his time here. Fulham forever for sure, a part of some incredible memories at this club and a man who deserves not be spoken about like something to just be discarded like he hasn't done wonders for Fulham for a very long time.

A rare player who deserves to retire here if that's what the club decides even if I too feel it wouldn't be inappropriate to bring a close to the TC era. By all means call that performances haven't perhaps been as high as previous years but personally think this is a man who deserves to be spoken about by Fulham fans with the grace and respect his Fulham career has earned, and that he's shown us in return for a decade.

Ain't nobody...

[Craven Mad]

Completely agree Jay. Well said.

[Twig]

Numbers mean nothing I have watched him with my own eyes and he has regressed massively from last season he can't tackle he has concrete in his boots and thanks for everything go be a pundit

Of course numbers mean something. You may sometimes disagree with some numbers but I'm sure you don't really mean "numbers mean nothing".

[Twig]

He deserves to be spoken about with far more respect than some are showing him regardless of if we feel his time is coming to an end here.

He's been an unbelievably good player and grown into a great role model in his time here. Fulham forever for sure, a part of some incredible memories at this club and a man who deserves not be spoken about like something to just be discarded like he hasn't done wonders for Fulham for a very long time.

A rare player who deserves to retire here if that's what the club decides even if I too feel it wouldn't be inappropriate to bring a close to the TC era. By all means call that performances haven't perhaps been as high as previous years but personally think this is a man who deserves to be spoken about by Fulham fans with the grace and respect his Fulham career has earned, and that he's shown us in return for a decade.

Ain't nobody...

I absolutely agree. Frankly I am shocked at the offhand way some people on here just can't wait to get rid of him like an old worn out pair of shoes.

Tom has been one of our top players and as you say, has given us some wonderful memories. If the club wants him to stay for another year as a coach, role model, back up cover etc we should get behind that decision. If they mutually decide it's time for him to move on then he should leave with all our thanks and very best wishes. Personally I think it's the right time for the latter but let's wait and see.

At least show a bit more class than some Liverpool supporters and give him some respect!

[SerbianLad]

If Cairney wants to go and get more game time, he deserves it, he's been a great servant to the club.

If, however, he's fine with being 5th or 6th in the midfield pecking order next season, I'd love nothing more than for us to keep him. He's still a good option to have off the bench, especially against certain opponents.

[Carborundum]

Thinking about the summer window, I'm reminded of the Allardyce view that in any window it's wise to rebuild only one of defence, midfield or attack and leave the other two  as stable as possible.  For all his idiosyncrasies, that man knows a fair bit.

It's clear to me we need to rebuild midfield.  We have to be in a position three months into next season where it's not a slam dunk that Berge and Lukic are our engine room.  Because they won't necessarily be fit / in-form and Lukic will be racking up yellows as per usual.  He's turning into Steffjo incarnate without the goal involvements or charisma.  Which is quite a big without.

Cairney has been great, but he's not likely to bloom again for us.  Similar sentiments apply to Reed.  We need players who will bloom at this level, not still-do-a-jobbers.

As this season has gone on, we've lost the battle of midfield too frequently.  I'm tired of seeing us second to the ball, outnumbered, sliced through.  That's what I want to see us do to opponents. Win midfield and the defence has an easier time, the attack has time and space.

Personnel will be half the battle, the gaffer will need to be flexible too.  Villa have our number because Emery knows exactly what we will do in midfield and how to respond to it.  That needs to change. 

[Twig]

Thinking about the summer window, I'm reminded of the Allardyce view that in any window it's wise to rebuild only one of defence, midfield or attack and leave the other two  as stable as possible.  For all his idiosyncrasies, that man knows a fair bit.

It's clear to me we need to rebuild midfield.  We have to be in a position three months into next season where it's not a slam dunk that Berge and Lukic are our engine room.  Because they won't necessarily be fit / in-form and Lukic will be racking up yellows as per usual.  He's turning into Steffjo incarnate without the goal involvements or charisma.  Which is quite a big without.

Cairney has been great, but he's not likely to bloom again for us.  Similar sentiments apply to Reed.  We need players who will bloom at this level, not still-do-a-jobbers.

As this season has gone on, we've lost the battle of midfield too frequently.  I'm tired of seeing us second to the ball, outnumbered, sliced through.  That's what I want to see us do to opponents. Win midfield and the defence has an easier time, the attack has time and space.

Personnel will be half the battle, the gaffer will need to be flexible too.  Villa have our number because Emery knows exactly what we will do in midfield and how to respond to it.  That needs to change. 

Fair points and I think you're right that we need more options and quality from midfield. We don't get nearly enough goals from our midfield players and neither is our midfield competitive enough. I'm going to include AP in that group and frankly he should be moved on along with Reed and probably TC. That would free up space to really try to address that area of weakness.

As long as we can keep Tete I think we can leave the defence largely unchanged.

As to the forward line; let Vini and Willian go, make more use of King and Godo and sign one winger and one striker.

[Somerset Fulham]

He deserves to be spoken about with far more respect than some are showing him regardless of if we feel his time is coming to an end here.

He's been an unbelievably good player and grown into a great role model in his time here. Fulham forever for sure, a part of some incredible memories at this club and a man who deserves not be spoken about like something to just be discarded like he hasn't done wonders for Fulham for a very long time.

A rare player who deserves to retire here if that's what the club decides even if I too feel it wouldn't be inappropriate to bring a close to the TC era. By all means call that performances haven't perhaps been as high as previous years but personally think this is a man who deserves to be spoken about by Fulham fans with the grace and respect his Fulham career has earned, and that he's shown us in return for a decade.

Ain't nobody...

Well said pal.

I was posting from my phone earlier and because I can't see, I tend to keep those posts short and sweet. I meant no disrespect to an undoubted Fulham legend that deserves to do absolutely whatever he wants to do with the remainder of his career.

If that is a mental payday at Wrexham with huge coverage across the US then fair play to him, if it is with us for another couple of years whilst looking at coaching then even better.  He is part of this club's DNA whatever.

[C Block]

Rather tellingly (maybe) there isn't one single photo of Cairney in the 25/26 season ticket brochure,
Captain and former Fulham poster boy and yet not a single picture in the brochure, struck me as a little odd.

[MickTheBeard]

At the wages present day players get we can't be kind to players who have overstayed their welcome it is a buisness not an old people's home for fans favourites.

[iansthailand]

Completely agree Jay. Well said.

+1. A wonderful player for us over 10 years or so but, all good things must come to an end and if he gets a couple of years at a Wrexham good luck to him. People who disrespect him should go and support Fenway Sports Group and their like.

[hovewhite]

If he wants to go then let him,and respect his wishes and his 10 years of service and love of our club.

[Count Flapula]

At the wages present day players get we can't be kind to players who have overstayed their welcome it is a buisness not an old people's home for fans favourites.

That's not the point though is it.

Consensus seems to be it's a good opportunity for him to move on, the main point is the dismissive and disrespectful tone of some (including you) about a guy who's given 10 years to the club, including as club captain and as a key player in some wonderful promotion seasons.

People can see it may be time for him to move onto other things, but why not wish him well and thank him for his service rather than talk about him like you would used toilet roll? He's earned more respect on his way out than the dismissive and disrespectful comments from some on here.

What has he ever done to warrant such levels of disrespect/diminishment of his achievements and service for the club?

It says far more about the calibre of the commenters than it does TC.

[SuffolkWhite]

At the wages present day players get we can't be kind to players who have overstayed their welcome it is a buisness not an old people's home for fans favourites.

That's not the point though is it.

Consensus seems to be it's a good opportunity for him to move on, the main point is the dismissive and disrespectful tone of some (including you) about a guy who's given 10 years to the club, including as club captain and as a key player in some wonderful promotion seasons.

People can see it may be time for him to move onto other things, but why not wish him well and thank him for his service rather than talk about him like you would used toilet roll? He's earned more respect on his way out than the dismissive and disrespectful comments from some on here.

What has he ever done to warrant such levels of disrespect/diminishment of his achievements and service for the club?

It says far more about the calibre of the commenters than it does TC.

Excellent post, not seeing Tom moving on as an issue or if stayed for thst matter. I understand the argument around wages for a super sub, but respect to Tom all the same after 10 years!!!@

[bencher]

This is nuts. Tom Cairney is a club legend whatever he does next. I don't wish for him to leave but if he does go, he goes with our blessing and gratitude. He could have moved away at many points over the past decade, both when his stock was very high after excelling in the Championship, and when he was struggling for regular starts. He has fought back from major injury and proved he can cut it at this level. He has been a role model, loyal to the club, and an example to young players.