Gomes' problem is that he tends to drop his clangers all in a row which makes him look like a clown in the media whereas if you do space it out (like Reina used to) then the media don't get on your back.
Most importantly though I think Gomes lost the trust of his defence. After playing with him for two years they simply didn't know what he was going to do and although Friedel may not be the better keeper when they are both at their best, he is definitely the most consistent and I think that will help the defenders.
I'd love Gomes to get back to his best but the fact is he was costing us more than he was gaining us last season and he had to be dropped. Friedel gives him competition and hopefully an impetus to improve his concentration.
In the meantime I hope we're looking for a long term solution.
Well we have a line-stopper now rather than a shot stopper
I am assuming he is refusing to sit on the bench if he is not first choice
This is a problem with Friedel, that freekick yesterday they somehow didnt bundle into the net being an obvious example.
This is a problem with Friedel, that freekick yesterday they somehow didnt bundle into the net being an obvious example.
This is key. What the defense need is a steady Eddie behind them so there is an understanding across our back line.
I'm well happy with Friedel so far.
He's probably injured or dropped for this game with him being one of the senior players to take part in the POAK match. Friedel has usurped him as he stated he would when he came in. Sad though as Friedel hasn't done that much better than him in the games so far.
-Ran
I think Friedel has come in and done very well. Made a fantastic save yesterday and i cant think of any of the goals he has conceded that were his fault tbh
I can see the logic in this. The only real complaint anyone can have over Friedel ability/style-wise is his reticence to leave his line. However, if he always commits to, err, not commiting, then that is easier for the defence to deal with. The problem becomes when they drop and go deeper than usual (City game was the deepest I have seen us defend at WHL for more than a decade) to cover for him staying on his line. We'll get ripped apart if it continues, hence he'll have to make more saves. I hope we find a way of countering this and it'll be interesting to watch how many shots we allow as the season progresses. I seem to think we actually allowed quite a lot even with Gomes playing, so let's hope it doesn't get worse.
@GOMESNUMBER1 HEURELHO GOMES
hello I'm fine thanks, I will stay I love this FC club and I love l all the fans as well. Take care all the best.
Friedel is just a better version of Robinson, and those saying he doesn't make mistakes are ...erm....mistaken. If you watch any keeper they will make big mistakes. VDS, Cech, all of them.
And those saying he hasn't made a mistake yet could also be wrong. Gomes always came for crosses. We've conceded 5 goals from crosses already, who's to say that Gomes wouldn't have dealt proactively with a few of those.
I have always liked Friedel, he's a very safe pair of hands but the fact that we went from a team with one of the worst set piece defending records to one of the best is almost entirely down to Gomes's pro-activity in this department and I have more confidence in what he does at set pieces than most of our defenders.
And the rest of the time Gomes was excellent. The best shot stopping keeper I have seen in a spurs shirt.
What I don't get is why Redknapp was so patient and supportive of David James - a very similar keeper to Gomes - when at Pompey but would sacrifice Gomes for a keeper with no long term future at our club.
I thought it really noticeable that yesterday Redknapp singled out Friedel for praise for one save he made, but I can't really remember his ever doing the same for Gomes unless it was an exceptional moment like Arse two years ago and then he was prompted by the interviewer.
Justifying his boy ?