I know I could have posted this on one of the existing threads but thought as i'm new I might aswell start a new thread and seek some attention like one or two other posters (no names eh Percy). Having watched the game last night, i'm not quite as convinced by Tom as a number of posters on here seem to be. The lad looks great on the ball and has bags of ability, very rarely wasting a pass. What concerns me about him as that he looked just as good last pre-season in half paced games with very few physical challenges and plenty of space, however once the season began and the speed and physical nature of the championship kicked in he disappeared, I saw nothing last night that made me think he's more ready for a physical battle in the middle of the park than last season so what is it that has people excited by him again? Personally I can't see him being in the team ahead of McKenna or Evans, in the championship games are won or lost through the battle of attrition in the middle of midfield and both of these players offer far more in that respect than Tom appears capable of.
Not sure what is new in that comment that warrants further attention? Heard it all before in the many threads you have not chosen to post in.
People are excited that he finally seems to have gained an end product. Teams do not win promotion by playing two similar minded players. I highly rate Evans and Mckenna but i would never play both of them together. Cairney always seemed to before play the pretty across balls, but now he has the ability to go forwards and unlock defences. Its like saying playing Ash and Mckenna together it would never work. Teams can play well with two tough midfielders, but very rarely and you would need complete midfielders to do that.
It's a question not a comment, I'm interested to know what people think has changed in Cairney for them to be expecting big things from him, to the best of my knowledge that question hasn't been posed before but if you can point me to a thread where it has that would be great.
He feels more profesionell during the interviews, I can tell you that much..... Have only seen him play against Liverpool this season though, so hard to tell how he has changed on the pitch
I don't see McKenna and Evans as been similar though, I think McKenna will sit deep and Evans will go box to box. I fully expect Koren to play on the right and i'm not sure we'd get away with Koren and Cairney in the same midfield especially against the more physical teams.
What has changed is the feeble opposition, or the stand off nature of a team like LFC who didn't want to get injured. Give him space and room and he excels (as noted before - e.g. against some of the better BPL teams). Stick him up against hoofball thugs and he is less effective (as posted numerous times before). So - nothing has changed really other than we have seen a pre season. Make the comments after some Championship games, and then it will be really new.
You see the question really wasn't aimed at you, you seem to think along similar lines to me re Cairney, ie looks good now won't in a couple of weeks time, my question was really to those that think he's going to have a big season, but thanks for your input.
His confidence has been boosted and hes in form, which is an attribute that should never be underestimated. Also there was less sideways passing, there was a lovely ball to get Fryatt through last night if my memory serves me right (although Fryatt didnt just manage to latch onto it).
As OLm has said Bradford were a physical side and TC strode through it. Dont you think he has put i would say a stone of muscle on. He is filling out now. He was tiny at 16 and then had a growth spurt, making him quite weak. He is now bulking up. Plus he has got players like Brady and Dudgeon around him, like minded players with a great touch.
He's definitely bulked up and his use of the ball last night and against Liverpool was excellent, he just looks too windy for your typical Championship game, he avoided any physical challenge wherever possible last night and was caught in posession a couple of times due to his very casual style, I hope he has a great season and if he can add that physical aspect to his game I believe he'll be a top player, i'm just not sure he has it in him.
You must have watched a different game to me. He definitely did not back out of any challenges and wasnt caught in possession.
Clearly I must have, he jumped out of a challenge in the centre circle and gave the ball away in our own half to the pacy little black lad in their team (can't remember his name).
I didn't notice Cairney stepping out of challenges last night, in fact he did a very good of playing through them. Based on the pre-seasons, I think Cairney and Evans look our best central midfield pairing, whether they'd look that good in a Championship league game remains to be seen, but McKenna looks a bit too slow and one dimensional for me, particularly when you have the option of using a skilful player like Cairney. As far as I can see, Koren, Brady, Evans and Cairney can play one touch football that most teams in this league won't be able to cope with, as Liverpool found out to their cost on Saturday.
Don't get me wrong OLM i'd love to see that midfield and agree the one touch passing so far this pre-season has been a joy to watch, i'm just not convinced it would work in the Championship once the pace and intensity is cranked up that slick one touch game becomes a lot more difficult.
Very fair assessment imo. They all have so much energy and for sure TC is feeding of the ex.Man Utd kids desire. It helps when you have liked minded souls around you on the positive side. Brady on the left, Koren on the right with Evans & Cairney in the middle would be just about right. There will be games when the like of Mckenna and Harper will be needed, but for sure those 4 will drive Hull City onwards and upwards. IMO
