Championship’s Best Attacking Midfielder: Tom Cairney

Creative Cairney

It seems surprising that at 26, Tom Cairney has played only 11 Premier League games. The issue is clearly not technical ability, of which he has shown once again this season to have plenty.

What the creative midfielder needed to show it was tactical freedom in a system which suited him. In the top flight, clubs outside the elite like players with defensive discipline, with a willingness to move the ball forward quickly. Cairney has never been the best tackler and his game is largely about retaining the ball in good areas, before picking the killer pass.

At Fulham, he has found a team that plays to his strengths. Stefan Johansen offers tenacity out of possession while Kevin McDonald provides a reliable base. No Championship player has played more key passes per game than Cairney (2.6 WhoScored), who also has the league’s best pass completion ratio. In most cases, the players with the best ball retention statistics are not the most creative, because they do not have the audacity to play a defence-splitting pass when the moment arises.

Not only does Cairney keep the ball, he also uses it to help Fulham become one of the most creative sides in the division.