Having only just started his journey, it remains to be seen how Tom Cleverley will fare as a football manager over the coming years. While it is too soon to discuss his managerial prowess, we can talk about how he was as a player now that he has hung up his boots. There is plenty of playing action to judge Cleverley on too as he made nearly 400 appearances across competitions for club and country.
Underappreciated Player
We are not going to sit here and tell you that Tom Cleverley was ever, even in his peak years, close to being one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. Most would agree he was only ever a solid but largely unspectacular midfielder even at his best. It can be hard to judge a player in his role though because you cannot measure it solely by stats. A total of 35 goals in 379 appearances is respectable but not as prolific as a more attack-minded midfielder, while Cleverley did not excel either when looking at defensive stats, e.g. number of tackles, interceptions etc.
However, he was often better at the more intangible elements of the game, playing it safe when he needed to but trying a more adventurous ball when the time was right; or being in the right position to cut out a pass, or showing for the ball when a teammate was under pressure. Stats in football can be very useful but they have limitations and it is why players like Cleverley rarely get 9/10 scores or man-of-the-match awards.
Solid All-Rounder
Despite not being flashy, Cleverley was a solid all-rounder, a jack of all trades if you will, and he always had the most professional attitude. The reason he is a bit underrated by some football fans is because they judge him based on his time at Manchester United, where he was playing alongside some very strong players. By comparison, Cleverley was not a great option but there is little shame in not being quite good enough for one of the biggest, and at the time best, clubs in the world. Fans can judge these types of fringe players too harshly but when they move to a team further down the table and enjoy regular minutes, they are often more appreciated.
13 Caps for England
We would also mention the fact that Cleverley secured 13 caps for England across 2012 and 2013 under Roy Hodgson (and was called up to the squad by Fabio Capello). You do not get this number of appearances for a nation bursting full of footballing talent if you are not a useful player. He even got himself into the England record books during one clash, a 5-0 win over San Marino. During this match, Cleverley touched the ball 165 times, the highest number ever recorded by an England player. The previous record had been set by David Beckham in a win over Andorra and that says a lot about the sort of player Cleverly was at his best – a midfield controller.
Best Moment
Tom Cleverley’s first #PL goal for @WatfordFC sealed a dramatic late win against Arsenal at Vicarage Road#WATARS pic.twitter.com/6tI73fGck0
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 15, 2017
For Cleverley himself, making his international debut against Italy would probably top his list of footballing moments. Cleverley had made the squad more than once before this so it will have felt like a long time coming to wear the Three Lions shirt. For Watford fans though, most would agree that for them, the player’s best moment was the late winner against Arsenal in October 2017. Toppling a big club at Vicarage Road is always memorable but especially when you bag the decisive goal in the 92nd minute.
Early Decline
It is not unusual to see players continuing to put in a solid shift as they approach their mid-30s. In the case of Cleverley though, he suffered a decline earlier than most. For the 2021/22 season, with the midfielder aged 32, Cleverley only played the full ninety minutes of five league matches and was an unused substitute on six occasions. Sometimes he would not even appear in the squad despite there being no reported injury problems.
Admittedly, Watford by this stage were back in the Premier League, so the level of competition was higher, but Cleverley could once compete at this level whereas he started to look a little behind the pace. Although we do not put too much weight on player ratings, it is interesting that WhoScored’s system have the Englishman at an average season rating of 6.31, the 23rd highest in the Watford squad. Compared to a more prime season like 2017/18, which was also spent in the Premier League, he averaged a rating of 6.66 , the 13th highest among the Watford squad.
Prior to their Premier League return, Cleverley still had plenty to offer Watford and he was one of their better performers in the promotion-winning 2020/21 season. He did suffer an injury towards the end of that campaign though which saw him miss seven matches across March and April. Although not the lengthiest of issues, the sustained ligament damage may have been one injury too many, as Cleverley dealt with several serious problems over his career.
Injury Woes
Players can often recover from injuries looking completely like their old selves but this does not mean there is no long-lasting damage. Repeated major issues take their toll on the body, making it more fragile and recovery times slower. Look at players who have managed to play to a high level into their late 30s and you’ll most likely find they have a decent injury record.
So, part of the reason for Cleverley’s early decline is likely to be the number of serious injuries he sustained. We mentioned the six-week ligament damage problem he suffered in 2021 but this was quite mild compared to some other issues. Looking solely at his Watford career, here are some of the ways he ended up spending extended time in the treatment room.
| Injury | Days Missed | Games Missed |
|---|---|---|
| Achilles tendon | 175 | 29 |
| Heel | 115 | 18 |
| Calf | 40 | 6 |
| Achilles tendon | 151 | 19 |
| Hamstring | 121 | 14 |
For someone playing in such a demanding position like central midfield, physicality is so important so it is no wonder that injuries would have impacted Cleverley’s ability. It is a shame that he did suffer this decline towards the end of his Watford stay as it negatively impacts how some fans view his time there.
Remembered Fondly by Watford Fans
ℹ️ Watford FC is delighted to confirm the permanent appointment of Tom Cleverley as the Hornets’ Head Coach.
Congrats, Tom!
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) April 24, 2024
The former England international may not have been a world-beater but he was a perfectly serviceable Premier League-level midfielder for most of his career and deserving of his England call-ups. While he did suffer a decline earlier than most players, Watford fans should still remember him fondly as there were many solid appearances in the 181 he made for the Hornets. Forever the professional on and off the pitch, there is much to be said about players that give 100% week in week out, even if they rarely feature in the highlight reels.
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