Journalist Beesley questions what Andre Gomes offers Everton
Liverpool Echo journalist Chris Beesley has questioned what Everton midfielder Andre Gomes offers following the club’s loss to Aston Villa last weekend.
The Portugal international started for the Toffees in their recent clash at Goodison Park, where goals from Ollie Watkins and Anwar El Ghazi saw the Villans claim a 2-1 victory.
Gomes played 70 minutes before being withdrawn in place of Fabian Delph, while in-form Tom Davies remained on the bench after being bizarrely dropped the week prior.
Talking on the Liverpool Echo’s Royal Blue podcast, Beesley called into question what Gomes brings the table for the Blues, with the former Barca man often struggling to impress.
Beesley said: “Andre Gomes, without picking on him or singling him out, what is he contributing?
“Without the ball he’s not giving you a lot defensively, and dare I say he’s quite a liability without the ball. You hear Carlo on the sidelines shouting ‘no foul, no foul’ all the time because he doesn’t want him to give away silly free-kicks in dangerous areas.
“For a player who was so popular when he initially came to Everton, obviously he had that awful injury and he did well to come back from that, but there just isn’t anything in the final third from him.
“Is it one or two assists a season? What is he doing if he’s not defensive? He’s not like Allan in that he gives you that shield in front of the back four, so what tangibly is he actually creating there?
“So there is an issue there with the balance and the makeup of that midfield.”
Must do better
Gomes was an instant hit after he signed for Everton on loan from Barcelona in 2018, with Gary Neville labelling him “brilliant” in his first spell on Merseyside. However after signing permanently his influence has clearly waned.
Since he suffered that horrific injury against Tottenham he just hasn’t been the same player, which must be frustrating for both him and the club, especially considering just how important he had become before his injury lay-off.
If Everton have all of their options fit and available to play, simply put, Gomes no longer deserves to start. Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure automatically start, while either Tom Davies or Gylfi Sigurdsson should play over Gomes.
Davies, though not a favourite of Ancelotti’s it seems, has mightily impressed in a more defensive role this season, despite being left out of the starting line-up in the last two games. Sigurdsson has been fairly inconsistent this season, but while he occasionally underperforms he at least contributes with goal involvement, having scored six and assisted four in the Premier League this season.
Gomes still has a future at Everton but he needs to actively contribute to the cause. Ancelotti needs to turn a tune from the former Barca man, or else he could find his time on Merseyside soon come to an end.
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