I've had enough of his lazy defense, 30 yard bombs into the cheap seats, giving up penalties, midfield turnovers, etc. We simply need someone who can do more. I'd like to see guti, when he gets healthy, come back to a defensive MF position in the 3-5-2 next to zavagnin, and let one of them move it up field, while the other covers. Guti has no spot on the 3-man back line, quill is establishing himself well on the left wing, so dmf is the only spot left for him, and I think there's no doubt that he's a better player than gomez. In the meantime, that's where I'd like to see arnaud get some PT. This is not a scapegoat thread. Gomez is not the reason we lost to LA, but we're going to need better production from our midfield if we have any title shot. I am convinced if he stays a key contributor, we will have no shot this year.
Am I the only fan that really hasnt had more than one problem with Gomez this year? This is the way I see Gomez's situation... He was born and raised an attacking midfielder. Its not his fault that A) Gansler obviously likes him (see Chris Brown) and wants him on the field and B) that he has to try and play defense. The Gomez is Preki experiement didnt work in 2001, but he has the vision and passing ability to really cause problems for the other team (see LA game). But obviously he doesnt have the defensive skills yet to be a dmid. If he'd stop shooting the long balls (who knows, hes been doing it a while, you'd think if they wanted him to stop they'd sit him or MAKE him stop) I think he'd be just fine.
I'm not here to defend the guy, but he's easily one of the best long passers in MLS. I like watching his 50 yard bombs right to somebody's foot. His shots were a bit astray on Saturday though.
I guess I'll defend Gomez. As has been mentioned, his picking out of Klein in week 2, his picking out of Quill @ Dallas were both world class passes, both in vision & execution. Wait til he and Wolff get on the same page. As for the long shots, he needs to keep taking them. Remember a couple of weeks ago against New England? He was drilling those well on target, and probably only Adin Brown & Howard would have stopped them. He was unlucky not to score. MLS needs players who have the "balls" to take those shots. Even if they fail alot. I've watched alot of EPL this year, and Steven Gerrard, one of the best long shooters in England, still has alot of shots go astray like Gomez's did. It's frustrating when they go to the cheap seats, but we must have players willing to take them. It happens to the best of the best. Gomez is only like 23 or somewhere in there. He needs to improve his defense, and get better fitness, but he also needs to be on the field. Needless to say, he didnt even touch Cobi on the PK. He also was covering for Quill, who should have been marking Jones but was instead protesting with the ref while the throw was taken. James
Where do I start? Keep taking shots! Are you crazy? I have watched him since he started and not one time did I think one of those things would score. I agree people need to shoot outside but not if they suck at it. Please don’t compare him to Gerrard. I thought he fouled Cobi and so did the ref (although that dude was an idiot). Even if you don't agree with me you have to think he put himself in the position to get a PK called on him, while at the same time he was in no position to defend Cobi. Your kind of right on the passing, he has had some nice long passes. You didn't address the numerous turnovers in the midfield that the Galaxy gobbled up for quality counters. His D is as bad as his shot. Just because he is 23 doesn't mean he should be put on the field over players that deserve more time then him. Tell me why you think he is better than Guti, Aurnad, or Armstrong.
He did have his worst game against LA. No doubt about that. I have to ask, did you see the KC v NE game, the infamous "Chris Brown sucks" game? Gomez's cannon was on that game. He was also fairly accurate in another game, I think it was DC. As for comparing him to Gerrard, I'm only saying that I've seen Gerrard miss similar shots just as badly, many times. Perhaps KopiteinKC can vouch for that. As for shooting. You have to "dare to be brilliant", to ever be brilliant. I guess we just disagree on whether or not he sucks at it. As for comparing Gomez to Armstrong, Guti, or Arnaud. Guti - I think should be on the field. Armstrong - should be on the field instead of Brown, not Gomez Arnaud - don't know enough about him. Other than his great goal against NY. I'd like to see more of him from what I've seen so far. James
Not that Quill would have been much help... Defensively speaking, Quill was quite possibly the worst player on the field. (Watch Ezra turn him inside-out 3 times in ~5 seconds early in the game...)
All I would say is, yes, Gerrard does miss his long shots at times. But he gets a high percentage on target and has scored some real beauties. Gomez has had a couple on target as James mentioned. I think the comparison ends there. The frustration with Gomez stems from the fact that he has the skills to make a telling, defence splitting pass, but he doesn't have other qualities a midfield player should have. If he is a defensive midfield player he needs to be able to win the ball or break up the other team's possession. He doesn't do much of that. Compare to KZ who does that so well. If he is an attacking midfield player he needs to be the creative outlet constantly creating chances. We have seen that experiment and it failed. Compare to Preki. No comment necessary. He has improved at defensive midfield this season, and though I am not a fan of Gomez, I would argue he was having his best season for the Wizards. (That might not be saying much) The match against LA was his worst of the season along with a few others, I'd say give him another shot. I don't think Diego G. is ready to go yet anyway. I believe he is still injured.
Other than the LA game, I think Gomez has been having an outstanding year. Everyone has a bad game. I have trouble understanding how the same guy can make pinpoint 50 yard passes to a moving target, yet miss a static one (the goal) by a mile from half that distance. Maybe somebody should tell him to "pass" the ball to the back of the net.
I don't want him off the team, just out of the starting lineup. can the gomez defenders really picture him in the lineup in the title game in november? I seriously can't. List our best players 1-20, and there's no way you put gomez in the top 11. that's my point. he has had some nice passes, but he's not as good as preki at omf, not as good as zavagnin at dmf and not as good as quill or klein on the wings. if you want to say quill doesn't play any defense, fair enough, but that's not what's expected of him. we need someone to cover for him, and gomez isn't doing that. KC has given up the most goals in MLS, and there's a reason for that. I don't think it's meola or the back 3. I think it's the midfield. That's where changes must be made.
I think these three paragraphs sum up why Gomez is on the field. Zavagnin does not have the attacking ability that Gomez has. Gomez does not have the defensive ability that Zavagnin has. Therefore Gansler puts them both on the field essentially having one "attacking" d-mid and "defensive" d-mid. If that makes any sense.... And the comparisons to other players..... Gutierrez could, and maybe should, play dmid with Zavagnin if healthy. But Gansler doesnt seem to want to put him there. Now, with Talley down, if Diego is healthy he'll play left back and Garcia will move back to the center. Arnaud just isnt a d-mid. Thats comparing apples to organes. Armstrong has played everywhere in his career, but Gansler seems to use him as an attacking sub. That would go against using him as a d-mid starter. I often agree Van Buren that you want your best 11 on the field, but it just doesnt work that way. For Gansler, in the 3-5-2, it works this way: Best Keeper Three best PURE defenders Two best d-mids Two best wingers Preki Two best strikers So if 4 of your "best" players are considered strikers in Ganslers mind, someone is going to sit.
I think we need to give Gomez just a little bit more time to improve and mature. He's only 24, and I don't think he was mentally ready to take over for Preki, much less physically ready. If he can figure out that passing is his asset, not shooting, I think he could be a very good midfielder for the Wizards. However, if by the end of this season he hasn't improved (or maybe even sooner) I think he should be gone.
I agree that shots should be taken from the outside. It only keeps the defense honest and Gomez has shown before that he can hit those. He just needs to learn when is the right time and when isn't. Other than that I believe Gomez is improving as a player and with time he will be good at that position. As Ben said, he was brought up an attacking player-most attacking players don't know how to play defense or take a while to learn. Just give it a little more time, folks and I think he'll catch on!
We could probably start a whole new thread on this one. I think Meola is having his worst year in the MLS. Preki has also turned the ball over badly in the defensive 3rd that have been been punished by goals 3 times that I can remember this season. 1 vs NY, 1 vs NE, and & can't remember the 3rd team, Chicago I think. James
When was that? I hate to be a stickler but I'm calling you out. Give me a game, date, year, or foe... KCKicerk-How many more years do I need to give him? I have watched him for what seems to be at least 25 years. If your right that he is 24 then I could be wrong...
As I've mentioned, the KC v New England game this year he did it two or three times. He's done the same on few other occasions. James
Gomez is not an attacking midfielder. He's not a defensive midfielder. He's just a midfielder, and that's where he's playing.
Where the guy is playing on the field in beside the point that he can't keep the flippin' ball below the crossbar and people are going around him every game.
My whole point with this thread is exactly that: Gomez is just a midfielder. He doesn't do anything very well, which is why I don't think he should start. what in his game suggests he's going to improve? it's not like he's making plays where you say "If only he could harness that, he'd be a star." I've never once thought this on gomez. I have thought it with quill, guti, armstrong, brown (all those sitters?), burciaga, maybe even arnaud. I could cut him a break if he was an grinder, like zavagnin or conrad, who you never really worry about making a critical error. But he's not spectacular or reliable. A championship team has to have a proper mix of these players.
You lost me right there. I thought you were making a valid point then you threw Arnaud out there. He's started one game and hit a nice goal. He didnt do a whole lot the rest of the game. He subbed in a couple times last year, looked promising but gave no results. You say Gomez has nothing to give, yet theres proof in this thread that he does. His passing abilities are probably around third on the team. He's be behind Preki and Igor, right around the same as Klein. Yes, he gets beat on defense, but as stated he's been raised an offensive player. It takes time to learn how to stop Cobi Jones from running by you. The only really bad thing are the shots. Either they have to start hitting the nets or they need to stop.
Cisco has never lived up to the hype and hope of the fans becoming the next Preki that is for sure. I am happy with him dropping balls over the top or through the defense. We don't have anyone else that can really do that, it just brings another angle of attack so to speak. Sure his shot selection has been crap but not many players shoot from outside the box on this team. Like said before it keeps the other team on their toes. I have seen him put the shots on frame before. You must have the Soccertom complex of not watching enough games. JP- you can say the same thing about Brown as well. Who says he will ever become a consistant goalscorer? Hell he can't even get shots on frame from 8 yards out and that is what is suppose to do. Keep playing the long balls and be smarter when thinking about trying to launch a 30 yard bomb. In the end, KZ has got your back on the defensive side of the ball.
Funny stuff! Great point. Since Brown cant get it on frame from 6-10 yards should we all be calling for him to stop shooting from there? I dont know about this one. Zavagnin is great, but he cant cover the whole field. Gomez and Quill have been turned around quite a few times this season on defense.
Well I thought we were talking about scoring goals. Wow he can put a few of those things on goal! What a talent. I didn't know we were talking about Brown, but if we are I agree. Just cause Brown stinks doesn't mean Gomez doesn't.