I was so excited when Cardiff signed Lee Tomlin. Neil Warnock and Tomlin seemed like the perfect marriage. A father figure for the wayward genius, and I do believe he is a genius. Some of the things Tomlin produces in games, most players wouldn’t even think about, let alone execute.
The experiment was an epic failure and barely lasted until the following Christmas. Tomlin played consecutive games only once and was shipped off to Nottingham Forest. This season, Tomlin is an outcast. Having failed to secure a move elsewhere, he was not given a squad number and is an outcast until January. In limbo and unable to play first-team football.
It’s hard to know who to blame. Cardiff for signing him (what did they expect?!) or Tomlin for not knuckling down and making the most of the opportunity. Neither party emerges with any credit really and it’s a mess that may yet drag on the final couple of years of his contract. An expensive burden lurking in the background.
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I have to admit though, there is rarely a game where I don’t wish that he was on the bench as an option.
Huddersfield away when they went down to 10 men with half an hour remaining, throw Tomlin on. Scoreless at home against Newcastle as the game starts to stretch, throw him in the mix. Arsenal and Burnley at home, Tottenham away, I would have been tempted.
Cardiff are crying out for more creativity and they’ve got this guy on the payroll, playing golf with Anthony Pilkington, who has also been ostracised.
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I know the counter argument to this. It’s ridiculous in this day and age that Cardiff have a player that can’t manage 90 minutes and Kenneth Zohore has already demonstrated that Cardiff can’t afford any passengers at the highest level, but it makes it no less frustrating.
Tomlin did a drag back against Norwich last season that was so audacious that I stood up and applauded. It was remarkable and took two players completely out of the equation. That’s what he’s capable of and no one else at the club have that in their locker.
I don’t doubt that there’s more to this than meets the eye and I’m sure that Warnock could tell us some Tomlin tales that would make us all wince, but still, but still…
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In a world of identikit footballers, that all look and feel the same, there will also be a fascination with more old school throwbacks like Tomlin. Especially for fans of a certain age. There’s nothing more exciting than potential and nothing more tragic than unfulfilled potential.
Tomlin looks set for a career of wowing in small measures, before the inevitable, crushing disappointment eventually kicks in. That’s a real shame, but you reap what you sow.
Having said all that, I would still have Tomlin on the bench for Fulham were he available, like some sort of comfort blanket!