Where is Gomes?

[jonathanhotspur]

One thing of which we can be pretty sure is that Harry has never been totally sold on Gomes. It's already been pointed out that this is rather odd considering he was a big fan of the similarly erratic James, but do we expect consistency from managers?

Gomes' form last autumn was OK; it fell off markedly over the second half of the season.

It's pretty obvious that Harry brought Friedel in not only because he was unhappy with Gomes, but because he didn't think Cudicini was good enough to take over the No. 1 spot either. From that point on, everything's got to be surmise. We know, insofar as we know anything, that Harry lays a great deal of emphasis on what players have shown in training. If Friedel's shown more, he's going to get the nod. Has Gomes thrown a wobbly? Quite possibly, if Parks thought his head wasn't right.

One thing that Harry won't like (and a lot of SC members don't like) is Gomes' hamming it up over minor injuries. It won't go down too well if he's chucked his rattle out of the pram over being dropped instead of knuckling down in training. No matter how high your stock with Harry, if you fall out of favour for whatever reason it's liable to be Goodnight Vienna, just as it is with Ferguson. See Keane after the "Sure, lads, Harry'll never suspect a thing" 'Golfing Weekend'.

I agree with most of that, especially the notion that Harry has never really fancied Gomes.

I just looked at our results from last season and, in my opinion, it started to go tits up for the big man around the time of the 4-3 defeat in the San Siro last October. Ten days later, he lost his marbles up at Old Trafford. November brought mistakes in a 4-2 defeat at the Reebok and a 4-2 home win against Blackburn, as well as a big clanger against Le Shite. He followed it up with a balls-up against the Chavs early in December.

Then I think he kept a relatively low profile until the first game against Real Madrid and followed it up with 4-5 weeks of utter mayhem.

I had completely forgotten about the theatrics over injuries, funnily enough. Between that, his lack of resilience, his shitty kicking and his clusterfucks, I wanted him upgraded-just not with a geriatric who won't leave his line.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

You and your Daily Mail subscription are really busting my balls lately.

I use Google. It's just coincidental that I end up sourcing a lot of this stuff courtesy of the Daily Mail. I read everything going, really. I only subscribe to The Times/Sunday Times (and the NOTW before it went belly up-I really miss it, to tell you the truth).

 

[SpurSince57]

I agree with most of that, especially the notion that Harry has never really fancied Gomes.

I just looked at our results from last season and, in my opinion, it started to go tits up for the big man around the time of the 4-3 defeat in the San Siro last October. Ten days later, he lost his marbles up at Old Trafford. November brought mistakes in a 4-2 defeat at the Reebok and a 4-2 home win against Blackburn, as well as a big clanger against Le Shite. He followed it up with a balls-up against the Chavs early in December.

Then I think he kept a relatively low profile until the first game against Real Madrid and followed it up with 4-5 weeks of utter mayhem.

I had completely forgotten about the theatrics over injuries, funnily enough. Between that, his lack of resilience, his shitty kicking and his clusterfucks, I wanted him upgraded-just not with a geriatric who won't leave his line.

Mid-season his shot-to-save in the league was 77%. End of season it was 70.%. That's a slide from very good to OK.

I'm still happy to defend Gomes, but it would be idle to pretend he isn't a completely exasperating fucker. You will see the best and worst of him in the same game. In addition to the double-penalty fiasco against Blackpool last season, I give you the Fulham game in November '08, when he chucked a Woody back-header into his own net (OK, Woody was also at fault, but really…) and then pulling off an absolutely sensational save from a Bullard free-kick.

A bit daft describing Friedel as a 'geriatric'. He's as capable now as he's ever been. He's a short-term fix. We'll get a season, maybe two, out of him.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

Mid-season his shot-to-save in the league was 77%. End of season it was 70.%. That's a slide from very good to OK.

I'm still happy to defend Gomes, but it would be idle to pretend he isn't a completely exasperating fucker. You will see the best and worst of him in the same game. In addition to the double-penalty fiasco against Blackpool last season, I give you the Fulham game in November '08, when he chucked a Woody back-header into his own net (OK, Woody was also at fault, but really…) and then pulling off an absolutely sensational save from a Bullard free-kick.

A bit daft describing Friedel as a 'geriatric'. He's as capable now as he's ever been. He's a short-term fix. We'll get a season, maybe two, out of him.

Don't get the hump over the "geriatric" bit. I don't use the same criteria when it comes to normal human beings like yourself.

 

[hybridsoldier]

I like Gomes a lot and happy to keep him as number 1. But if Friedel is getting the nod I see no reason to keep Gomes as a number 2. What Harry and Parks have said is spot on, Gomes is a confidence keeper, having him as a sub is a liability if Friedel gets injured. Cudicini comes on and always does a really solid job, not many better no.2 around really.

I have to say I was sceptical too but Friedel has already proved Harry has got this bang on. The way he commands the back line, his shot stopping and presence...outstanding. I think his age is not a factor if he continues like this. Europa is not a priority so Cudicini or Gomes can play.

Really happy we have Friedel, if you watch the City and United game goals Friedel was given no back line protection and most keepers would have struggled with a lot of those goals.

Probably not a popular opinion but I believe Friedel could prove to be our best summer signing

 

[ackie]

Asmir Begovic could be a good replacement. He's 24.
We are trying to resolve an issue with Pompey.

 

[ackie]

Looks like the interest in Gomes has started:

http://www.express.co.uk/football/view/271196/Corinthians-eye-up-Spurs-Heurelho-Gomes

 

[mattdefoe]

should of got james january window 2009 imo. he would still be number 1 now

 

[pistolP]

should of got james january window 2009 imo. he would still be number 1 now

I agree.

 

[pistolP]

should of got james january window 2009 imo. he would still be number 1 now

I agree .

 

[scat1620]

Asmir Begovic could be a good replacement. He's 24.
We are trying to resolve an issue with Pompey.

Not having a go Ackie, but what would we have to resolve with Pompey if we were interested in Begovic? He went to Stoke on a permanent deal, so why would Portsmouth still have any interest/say in the matter?

 

[jimbo]

Gomes has all the physical and technical attributes to be a world class keeper - however he doesnt have the mentality as he has proven many times. He is a goalkeeper version of Titus Bramble. I am much happier with Friedel in goal - he is proving those who ridiculed his signing wrong although he is clearly not a long term option.

He is? After 3 games? Having conceded 8 goals? Wow, desperate to say 'I told you so' much? Let's give it a season before we evaluate the wisdom of signing a 40 year old 'keeper as our first choice eh.

 

[tobi]

Not having a go Ackie, but what would we have to resolve with Pompey if we were interested in Begovic? He went to Stoke on a permanent deal, so why would Portsmouth still have any interest/say in the matter?

IIRC its something about us agreeing a deal with Pompey but they went back on their word and now owe us money as a result.

It was when Begovic was linked with us and Chelski.

 

[jimbo]

I guess some people like hairless, I prefer a Brazilian.

For the record, I was asking questions like 'do we need a new goalkeeper' at the end of last season with everyone else. The problem as I see it is that our team will now have to get used to three different 'keepers in as many years (unless we think Friedel can play on past 42) and if we wanted a new number one a younger one would have meant less disruption over time, and that dread-word 'transition'.

 

[worcestersauce]

I guess some people like hairless, I prefer a Brazilian.

Even one that flaps about

 

[Spurger King]

Even one that flaps about

And constantly spilling?

 

[beals]

Not having a go Ackie, but what would we have to resolve with Pompey if we were interested in Begovic? He went to Stoke on a permanent deal, so why would Portsmouth still have any interest/say in the matter?

We agreed a deal to sign both Begovic & Kaboul, we paid the fee up front. Kaboul joined Begovic didn't so THFC want the £1m back that was included in the payment for Begovic. Portmouth said recently that its going to court and should be sorted before christmas.

 

[scat1620]

IIRC its something about us agreeing a deal with Pompey but they went back on their word and now owe us money as a result.

It was when Begovic was linked with us and Chelski.

We agreed a deal to sign both Begovic & Kaboul, we paid the fee up front. Kaboul joined Begovic didn't so THFC want the £1m back that was included in the payment for Begovic. Portmouth said recently that its going to court and should be sorted before christmas.

Cheers chaps, remember that happening at the time. What I was wondering though, was that Ackie's post seemed to be implying that we might be back in for Begovic - if so, what would our ongoing dealings with Portsmouth have to do with that as Begovic is now a Stoke player: we'd be negotiating with Stoke, not Pompey, surely?

Might have just not got the gist of Ackie's post and we're not back in for Begovic.

 

[Riandor]

Gomes is the best keeper I've seen at Spurs by a comfortable distance, and one of the best goalkeepers in the Premiership, unfortunately people don't seem to realise this. Friedel is an exceptionally safe pair of hands, but as well as being at the back end of his career, I don't think he's in the same league as the octopus. Friedel will rarely drop a bollock as big as some of Gomes, but is nowhere near as proactive as him in dealing with crosses into the box, Gomes will come and clear everything in his path before a situation develops, Friedel is less aggressive than this, preferring to stand his ground on his line. This is not a bad thing as such, but when someone plants a header into the top corner no one looks at the keeper, but often Gomes has been out and punched the ball 40 yards up the pitch. It's playing it safe goalkeeping, rather than Gomes' brave and proactive goalkeeping, which is what I think makes a top goalkeeper.

I'm not going to shit myself if Friedel is in goal, but I still would prefer to see Gomes as our No1.

The trouble is too many people will judge Gomes on 3/4 gaffes a season (and boy when he makes one they are special) and not the rest of the time when he is utterly superb. It's the same as those who judged Palacios on a few memorably horrendous passes and concluded he couldn't pass, the same people who judge Huddlestone on a couple of raking 70 yard passes a game and believe him to be Glenn Hoddle the second.

Apologies but I disagree... the issue is he tries to clear everything, but often comes off his line and clears precisely nothing.

His punching has been pretty poor and I have lost count of the open net opportunities that the opposition have had as a result of a Gomes lying on the floor after jumping into a gaggle of players.

Gomes can be excellent, but he is too erratic and I have always said so. Keeping is about consistency and breeding confidence in your defence so that they know what they are doing (because they know what you are going to do).

Plus Gomes is always picking up little niggles, whether genuine or exagerated... Friedal has played a record number of consecutive games! Stability!!!

Friedal is a short term sensible option until either Gomes steps up or we sign someone else.

Good luck to Gomes, I hope he comes good either for us or elsewhere.

R.

 

[mattdefoe]

I agree .

I think James was at his peak and wouldnt of sank down to the championship. He would be in goal now and would be solid.

Harry redknapp is shrewd at times he gets slated on here a bit but i feel, Gallas,Adebayor Loan,Parker the way he is dealing with livermore and selling o hara for good money has been superb business.

Add to this some of the other players we have nearly got , james would of added to this.