Tom Cairney, the experienced defensive midfielder for Fulham, shows a predilection for a pragmatic and defensive style of play. Still in his prime, he aptly toggles between the roles of a central midfielder and an attacking midfielder. Cairney's strongest attributes lie in his defensive contributions. He exhibits skill in one-on-one defending and penalty area defending, likely making him a proactive force against the opposition's attacking advances. His exceptional performance in aerial duels and general duels indicates a physically strong player adept at winning possession.
Moreover, his ball retention is laudable, with him rarely being dispossessed. This trait, coupled with his frequent touches, demonstrate Cairney's capacity to effectively control the game's tempo and offer consistent participation in his team's build-up play. Furthermore, his skill set extends to progressive carrying and passing, adding an offensive element to his primarily defensive role.
The aspect that somewhat dampens Cairney's performance lies in his goal threat and efficiency, which are on the lower side. Despite being successful with his progressive carrying and passing, Cairney's shots and expected goal (xG) percentile rankings do not match up to these standards. This could mean that he might need to work on his finishing skills or that his positioning during attacking scenarios requires adjustment. Still, his assist rate is impressive, which along with a good expected assist (xA) percentile ranking, underscores his creative potential in the final third of the pitch.
Tom Cairney Key stats
Tom Cairney Career Trend
Tom Cairney Shot Maps
Tom Cairney Shot Summary
In the 2023-2024 season, Tom Cairney took 17 shots, scoring 1 goals. This output came from an Expected Goals (xG) of 1.08, averaging 0.06 xG per shot.
Right Foot: 0 goals from 1 shots. A 0.0% conversion rate. 0.06 xG per shot.
Left Foot: 1 goals from 15 shots. A 6.67% conversion rate. 0.07 xG per shot.
Headers: 0 goals from 1 headed attempts. A 0.0% conversion rate. 0.02 xG per shot.
