What an enigma this guy is. Is he worth keeping track of -or- is he just on an out-of-this-world hot streak? Why is he performing so well in Mexico while he never really had an impact in MLS? Is anybody watching him play over there? He is looking impressive. I know it's only based on a small sample of games and it's pretty late for this cycle to give someone else a chance, but the Mexican league is a decent caliber league, and we're currently in forward hell talking bout Jeff Cunningham and Conor Casey. I'll take a guy scoring goals in the Mexican League over those turds any day of the week.
He had an impact in MLS. He was key in the Galaxy's late push for the playoffs and subsequent MLS Cup victory. Think the larger issue is he wasn't used correctly after Sampson got fired---often getting shunted to midfield with his other teams.
I know one thing, if he ends up getting called up for any of the upcoming send off games...the Adu thread will explode with rage.
Many have argued that quality is pretty much the same. However, some of the top teams that Freddy will play, like Olympiakos and Panathinaikos, are probably better than all the teams in Mexico.
Because he was played out of position at KC as a wing midfielder in a 4-4-2 with significant defensive responsibilities--when he played. At Puebla, he's the winger in what most of the time is a 4-3-3. When he played forward for the Galaxy, he was also quite successful. MLS has a habit of squashing young, talented forwards into the midfield (Pontius, Rolfe, etc.) and expecting Johnny Hustle defense out of them. Herc was no different.
Although I think Pontius and Rolfe would be wide midfielders for the USMNT, no? It's not just MLS coaches, either. Rolfe, by all accounts, will be used as a right midfielder with Aalborg. We called up Gomez to the 2007 Copa America, and he was woeful. I'd have no problem with him getting another chance, after all we gave Cunningham another chance. But it really is too late, as far as this WC cycle goes.
So even though when Gomez got his shot in 2007 and failed, you can't understand why Arena hadn't called him up 2 years prior . . . ???
It's not like we have any other forwards scoring goals in quality leagues. Gomez is an archetype of the skill player who doesn't really fit in to the American game, but can obviously do a job in another scenario. As bad as some people claim the defending in Mexico is, the reigning MLS champs gave up 6 goals to a Mexican team last year, so....something about glass houses.
just an FYI, not every american is an MLS fan. saying that, yes, MLS have their days of autrocious defending screw-ups, however I might be missing it, but when did RSL give up 6 goals to a mexican side??
I was talking about the Crew getting worked by Cruz Azul, though upon further inspection, it was only 5 goals they gave up.
and are the 2008 MLS cup champs, though now that i post this, im assuming it occurred when they were currently the reigning champs... either way, thats a lot of goals
Before Germany 2006, Bruce Arena never used him, especially Gomez had great understanding with Donovan. Gomez send Colorado to rot and I don't remember Gomez being cap in 2007.
We also shouldn't freak out whenever an American forward has a good day in a foreign league. Herculez Gomez has never looked like a USMNT-quality forward to me............ever. I wouldn't be opposed to calling him up, because our forward pool is so thin............but this is a real reach.
I wish I had a clear opinion on this, but I'm just not sure. If I had a gun to my head I'd say the greek league edges out the mexican league slightly overall but who really knows.
As always, these general "which league is better?" arguments are pointless. But since it's been brought up..... The conventional wisdom I sense is that the Mexican league is now considered the highest-quality league in the Americas. To that point, the Primera Division is full of established, quality teams. Almost every team in the league can make a claim to being a "big" club (Cruz Azul, America, Pumas, Pachuca, Toluca, Santos....the list goes on). Look at Greece, and you have Olympiakos, AEK, Panathinakos, and Aris but below that is a bunch of small provincal clubs with mostly domestic players (and the Greek national team can't hold a candle to Mexico).
only brought it up b/c it was brought up that the adu fanatics would go ape sh*t if gomez was given a look over adu
Somewhat I agree with you, Athenas clubs have biggers budgets than mexican teams, while smaller Greek clubs have way way behind, mexican teams are more a bit more balance.