01 Sep 2017 06:56:55
Hi Eds,

This is maybe more for Ed01 or even SquareTomato if around. Seeing as we didn't sign a centre back, I think most fans are hoping Gomez gets a shot at the centre back position alongside Matip at some juncture. I saw a lot of posts calling for a loud, commanding centre back who can properly organise the back four and take control when we are being sloppy, like players like Cahill and Kompany would. I know he's still young, but is that in his personality and game? I saw he's been made England u21 captain so surely has some leadership qualities. i guess it's a hard question, if you could possibly shed some light on how he's viewed on and off the pitch in terms of being a future leader, and having those dominant skills?

{Ed001's Note - from what I was told by former coaches at Charlton, it is possible he could develop that way. They believed he was a future captain, more than one actually said they saw him as a future England captain.}

1.) 01 Sep 2017
01 Sep 2017 08:13:52
He has never embarrassed himself when he has played in the first team, he has the physique and technical ability to be a very good centre half, the question is whether he has the mentality and drive to be a top class centre back. I tend to think that getting through the injury problems that he has had takes serious mental strength and character so it is a good indicator. He seems to be one of those lads who is grounded and everyone has good things to say about, which is good as it means he is focused on his football and not the circus that can follow it.

2.) 01 Sep 2017
01 Sep 2017 08:31:36
Cheers for the reply, good to hear!

3.) 01 Sep 2017
01 Sep 2017 09:01:52
Considering the age when signed and Charlton weren't happy to lose him he must have had something about him and considering club were prepared to take a shot at him out of position at such a young age again suggests something there - although this was the BR era of not caring what position you were signed for you're now the physio selection practice.