I've said it before, and I still stand by it...I just don't see it with Tom. Whenever he's discussed the phrases or words "workrate / did a job / didn't do anything wrong / kept it moving / neat & tidy" always seem to crop up, from a variety of people I might be speaking with. Not exactly stellar praise. Not criticism either.
I've paid relatively close attention to him since Martinez joined us as it seemed inevitable he would be an EFC player soon enough. For me, he's a CM, not a left mid who wanders inside or whatever you might want to call him. And as a CM, he doesn't have much other than workrate and quick passing.
His tackling is nowhere near strong enough, and his accuracy is not good enough...I know he's made two very good long balls in the last few games, but his shorter (more frequent) passing is often a yard or two off which can make a huge difference...see Besic and Barry playing and receiving the ball into spaces last night allowing more fluid moves.
He can have a few good games - I think it was Palace and Norwich when he put in two noticeable performances back to back, but I've never seen him play above that level which people seem to think he will inevitably reach for us, when to me, that is his peak and the likes of last nights performance is his norm - "did a job".
I like that when he does play well (in CM) he can set a good tempo for us, and that he does play the ball quicker than most of our squad, but he is nowhere near an automatic XI spot for me, in either position.
And before his fanboys jump on my back and as I've said before, I really do hope he proves me wrong.