16 Aug 2016 12:14:24
Hey all,

Just a quick thought, not a new thought. Roughly this time last season many of us were enjoying Danny Ings' tenacious attitude and his desire to work for the team from the front, almost reminding us a little bit of Suarez for tenacity or even the legend Ian Rush in trying to be the first defender by his constant tracking back and trying to win the ball.

Many of were also surprisingly enjoying the displays of a very young player who was filling in at left back and turning out highly impressive displays. I'm typing about Joe Gomez of course.

Now, obviously they both were injured soon into Klopps tenure (first or second training session i believe) . Now i'm not sure how convinced many of us are, but Joe Gomez could be the forgotten man as it were for our left back slot?!

Klopp letting Brad Smith leave and loaning Jon Flanagan out when both could play there was a head scratch moment, as not many if any of us are confident about Moreno being the most experienced left back with James Milner playing in a position he's not totally comfortable doing, although Milner being the consummate professional will play in goal if he's asked, i'm sure.

So, whilst it's great for a manager to have a James Milner who will do a job in any position and give it his best effort without moaning and throwing his toys out of the pram about it. Surely Klopp will be aware that Joe Gomez played 7 games for us there at the beginning of last season and looked like one of the highlights for us.

I remember how refreshing it was to have a left back who actually put defending as his priority and attacking as a secondary to defensive positioning. Maybe we have the perfect balance?! I'd rather Gomez be considered when fit and match ready (hopefully sooner rather than later) and hopefully he can push on where he left off.

1.) 16 Aug 2016
16 Aug 2016 12:31:52
He has started to struggle at the time of his injury. Couldn't use his left foot at all so kept slicing the ball out for goal kicks, also had in inexperience exposed in a few matches too.

2.) 16 Aug 2016
16 Aug 2016 13:39:08
Spot on, agician. Gomez is not a LB. He may be able to cover there for a few games BUT he is no LB. He`s a CB with all the tools and attributes of a CB, none of which are suited to play the LB position log term. He`s too tall and not quick enough on the turn, to play the LB position as he isn`t suited for that. He was already getting found out and the Utd game where we lost 3-1 and where he dived in recklessly on Herrera to give the penalty was when his limitations as a LB started to show, way before his injury.

3.) 16 Aug 2016
16 Aug 2016 13:24:41
Whilst I don't 100% disagree with your comment, I do maybe need to clarify that I didn't type that Joe Gomez was the finished article, personally I expect an 18 year old (at the time) moving up to the Premier League to be given a bit of a hard time here and there (that is called a learning curve) . Also, obviously as a team we were not pulling up any trees and had an overall lacklustre start to the season and the club sacked Rodgers and Klopp came in as his replacement, managers don't usually get sacked when teams are playing well, I'm sure most would agree.

Let's not forget Gomez is a CB, who was used on the left and did really well. He received a fair few rave reviews in his short time playing for us, but then on the flip to that and for fairness, so did Jose Enrique during his first few months with us. So consistency is what we as fans are after, but with someone so young i think as fair minded and thinking fans we must allow these young players some leeway to make mistakes, fail, learn and make the rebound to round their game.


But i also think, like i mentioned (and it's only my opinion after all) that it is worth remembering that we have someone with huge promise and potential who could go on and be a vital team player for years to come, if given the opportunity, game time and quality coaching but obviously he has a big part to play as well. Every time we buy players we are stopping that from happening.

I mentioned yesterday that i'd even be tempted to include Can as a right back and Clyne on the left side of defence to sure up the defence as Moreno is a worry with his non positioning, Germany seem happy to let Can play as a right back here and there.

4.) 16 Aug 2016
16 Aug 2016 15:26:37
Klavan could fill in too at lb.

5.) 16 Aug 2016
16 Aug 2016 15:38:30
Ollie, we already tried playing Can at LB and at CB under BR for the disaster we all know about so no need to revisit that as those who don`t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

6.) 16 Aug 2016
16 Aug 2016 18:01:52
No need to put square pegs in round holes, just go out and find the right left back in the transfer market, there's more than enough time left.

7.) 16 Aug 2016
16 Aug 2016 18:03:10
Cincyred a lot of things under BR were doomed, lovern and firminho looked terrible, under your arguing they both shouldn't be in the team. I'm not advocating playing him there just pointing out that just because it failed under BR doesn't mean a lot as most things did.

8.) 16 Aug 2016
16 Aug 2016 18:05:32
Agreed Cincy and just to clarify, my point is that Gomez is not the right fit at left back for us not that he isn't good enough for us. He has a big future at centre back for us.