Joe Gomez

[Norbs]

I think his pace gets him out of trouble on times which obviously is an amazing asset to have but imo his positional sense is not the best. Personally i didn't think he played great yesterday even if those stats look good, he looks so uncomfortable in possession compared to the other lads.

Maybe he just needs time and games as he did look excellent before the injury.

Yeah, he's still getting back in to a rhythm and made a few errors yesterday, most obviously the one that his misjudged a header for. He's needed so hope he continues to improve

[Fuzzy]

The club world cup is a perfect opportunity to get him into a regular playing rhythm. If he does well, I wouldn't mind seeing him in the starting line-up until the end of the season. Only problem is that we can't seem to offer VVD any sort of rest, ever.

[Norbs]

The club world cup is a perfect opportunity to get him into a regular playing rhythm. If he does well, I wouldn't mind seeing him in the starting line-up until the end of the season. Only problem is that we can't seem to offer VVD any sort of rest, ever.

If we continue on this trajectory he could possibly get April and May off

Jokes aside, I don't think he expands a massive amount of energy when he plays.

[baitman]

With his poor injury record you have to wonder if he feels strong and confident enough and he went in for a crunching 50/50 challenge in the box to prevent an almost certain goal.

[DeeTheDog]

Deeney targeted him early and won a few aerial duels but as the game progressed Joe came out top in that battle which is quite an achievement as Deeney can bully a lot of defenders. Further, as the game progressed and he became more comfortable, his passing became more progressive and he pinged a number of passes forward to the strikers and carried the ball further forward.

I made the point in the Lovren thread that Van Dijk elevates the performance of his partner. Therefore there is no concern, as all three of Matip, Lovren and Gomez have been excellent alongside him. However, out of the three, I feel that Gomez's pace best works as foil for Van Dijk and was one of the contributing factors to our excellent clean sheet record up until he was injured. Interesting to see if we can be as miserly with him returning to the starting 11.

[Rich]

Looked much better on Saturday. Having his pace at the back is a real asset for us.

[Fredo]

He's superb and should be the no 1 partner to Virgil, but he needs more games to build his fitness and adaptation to the team after been out for so long. He will make a few mistakes here and there but that's fine, he'll get better and better.

Hope he can sustain successive appearances now.

[labourRed]

Deeney targeted him early and won a few aerial duels but as the game progressed Joe came out top in that battle which is quite an achievement as Deeney can bully a lot of defenders. Further, as the game progressed and he became more comfortable, his passing became more progressive and he pinged a number of passes forward to the strikers and carried the ball further forward.

I made the point in the Lovren thread that Van Dijk elevates the performance of his partner. Therefore there is no concern, as all three of Matip, Lovren and Gomez have been excellent alongside him. However, out of the three, I feel that Gomez's pace best works as foil for Van Dijk and was one of the contributing factors to our excellent clean sheet record up until he was injured. Interesting to see if we can be as miserly with him returning to the starting 11.

You do know van Dijk is one of the fastest players in football, don't you?

[DeeTheDog]

You do know van Dijk is one of the fastest players in football, don't you?

Yeah, that's why our high line works better with two fast players.

[Exiled_red]

For me it's up to Gomez to make the spot his own, he did well last season, but Matip got his chance and took it keeping Gomez on the sidelines. Gomez now needs to show he can do the same.

[labourRed]

Yeah, that's why our high line works better with two fast players.

Ah.

[danperkins]

For me it's up to Gomez to make the spot his own, he did well last season, but Matip got his chance and took it keeping Gomez on the sidelines. Gomez now needs to show he can do the same.

Gomez has been really unlucky with injuries for one so young and serious injuries at all. He'll get a little run in the side now and hopefully that confidence returns, it's amazing to have two fast CB's and hope Joe can stay injury free and improve his game.

[Angryred]

Fast players are more susceptible to injuries so a big ask for them to continue week in week out

[Lecter]

I think his pace gets him out of trouble on times which obviously is an amazing asset to have but imo his positional sense is not the best. Personally i didn't think he played great yesterday even if those stats look good, he looks so uncomfortable in possession compared to the other lads.

Maybe he just needs time and games as he did look excellent before the injury.

I think this happens with a lot of quick centrehalves. They dont have to be as concentrated on position or runners because they can turn on the after burners and get themselves out of trouble

I even thought Rio Ferdinand was guilty of this quite a lot

One of exceptions to this appears to be Van Dijk who is positionally brilliant as well as being exceptionally quick

Gomez to me has looked shakey since coming back from injury last season. Pre-injury he had really surprised me as he was starting to look a top class centrehalf. I thought he still looked a bit off that level Saturday but he made some great blocks and last ditch tackles

[danperkins]

I think this happens with a lot of quick centrehalves. They dont have to be as concentrated on position or runners because they can turn on the after burners and get themselves out of trouble

I even thought Rio Ferdinand was guilty of this quite a lot

One of exceptions to this appears to be Van Dijk who is positionally brilliant as well as being exceptionally quick

Gomez to me has looked shakey since coming back from injury last season. Pre-injury he had really surprised me as he was starting to look a top class centrehalf. I thought he still looked a bit off that level Saturday but he made some great blocks and last ditch tackles