With the news that 18-year-old Charlton defender Joe Gomez is set to undergo a medical for Liverpool this week, I set out to find out more about the England youth international by talking to Addicks fan Matt Riggs.
How good is Gomez technically? Is he the kind of defender to play from the back?
Joe is clearly a gifted footballer, though maybe I think that because I’ve seen him alongside Andre Bikey too often.
He’s certainly a player who is always likely to get his head up and look for the pass rather than hoof it down the field.
At the level of football I watch, it’s always encouraging to notice that about a player. But, what’s also good to see is that isn’t one of these ‘new breed’, shall we say, that are really midfielders converted into ball-playing centre-halves.
He loves a tackle and they’re usually well-timed.
What stands out as his best attributes?
Gomez is a pretty big lad, so I’d naturally imagine he’s good in the air. Though for Charlton, he’s spent a lot of time at right-back so hasn’t been tested in the air as much as he might at centre-half more regularly.
But, to able to be a centre-back able to play at full-back is good, as it naturally means he has a bit of pace. He’s no Hector Bellerin, but not too many wingers would get past him on every occasion.
As I said, his well-timed tackles have been notable in the times I’ve watched him.
Can he be compared to anyone? He mentioned Rio Ferdinand is one of his idols.
I hadn’t heard the Rio comparison, but it’s a good shout. To me, he seems a natural centre-half, not a full-back. But that’s not to say he is out of place there.
His cross for a Yoni Buyens goal at the Valley against Reading in a 3-2 win proves that.
From a Charlton point-of-view, he is not dissimilar from a Richard Rufus mould (the greatest English defender to never be capped), but the Ferdinand similarities are certainly there.
He is, for me, a future centre-back, though, there’s no doubt about that.
Do you think he’s ready to be part of the first team squad at Liverpool or do you think he should go out on loan?
Having only played 24 times for Charlton last season, I’d find it very unlikely if he made any starts or even played at all for Liverpool next season.
He has looked good for us, but hasn’t set the league alight. A defender rarely does though, it has to be said.
I’d love it if he returned to the Valley on loan should he complete the move, but that’s not even to say he’d play every game for us.
With a half-crooked but ever brilliant Chris Solly at right-back, we need a deputy for Tuesday matches as Solly tends to only play once a week, and then Gomez can be available for selection in the middle on a Saturday.
I certainly think he needs first-team football to continue his development, there’s no doubt about that.
Diego Poyet left us for West Ham last summer and has played next to no senior football – that can only be a hindrance to his development. Gomez could do with a loan if he joins.
How good is Gomez now and how good can he go on to be? Does he deserve the hype?
Gomez, for now, is a solid Championship player but I think it’s so hard to compare the two divisions.
The Premier League is slower and players are allowed to play out from the back, and for that reason, I think he’s suited to the top division.
Down here, he’s rushed by pressuring forwards but has shown he’s good enough to deal with that. That’s testament to his ability and honestly think he could go on to be a future Premier League regular.
Then, if you achieve that at a young age, England will undoubtedly come calling; they’re not in the position not to!
He will be a good player, providing his development is conducted in the right manner (by returning to the Valley!).
