Player Focus: Watford the Beneficiaries From Gomes' Fine Top-flight Form
There was a period where Heurelho Gomes effectively disappeared from the thoughts of football fans. Having signed for Tottenham Hotspur in 2008 - then nicknamed ‘The Octopus’ as a result of his highly impressive shot stopping ability - the Brazilian played a key role in Spurs’ qualification for the Champions League in 2010. However, that was the peak of Gomes’ career at White Hart Lane. In the following season, his form dipped, with his performance in the club’s 1-1 draw at home to Blackpool effectively summing up his inconsistency between the sticks.
Gomes saved a Charlie Adam spotkick, yet from the subsequent corner, the goalkeeper conceded Spurs' second penalty in quick succession. Adam made no mistake from 12 yards the second time around, burying past Gomes in what was indeed a Jekyll and Hyde minute from the former PSV star. From that point out, the 34-year-old's Spurs career trajectory was down. A loan spell with Bundesliga side Hoffenheim was cut short having suffered a broken hand in 2013 in what was promising to be a successful stint with the German outfit.
In 2014, it came as little shock that Spurs announced Gomes would leave the club once his contract expired. An unhappy ending after so much promise certainly would have been enough to convince the goalkeeper to return to his homeland. Instead, though, the shotstopper dropped down a division, signing for Watford on a free. The rest, as they say, is history. The experienced Gomes was crucial to the Hornets’ promotion to the Premier League and has since excelled upon their return to England’s top tier.
As things stand, Gomes (7.48) is the highest rated goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues, earning a place in the current team of the season. While the likes of Joe Hart, Keylor Navas and Manuel Neuer have earned the plaudits for a series of fine display in goal for their respective teams, Gomes is outshining the trio. The Watford star has played a vital role in their effective start to the season, which sees the Hornets sitting in a respectable 12th place, six points above the relegation zone after eight league games.
No team has conceded fewer goals than Watford (7) in the Premier League this campaign, further accentuating just how prominent a role Gomes has played so far. While derided in the past for his, at times, questionable approach to goalkeeping, Gomes has batted away his doubters to become the in-form ‘keeper in England’s top tier at present.
One of the major critiques of Gomes’ game in the past was often his unreliability when dealing with crosses. Opposition sides often exploited this weakness, which hindered the player as he aimed to establish himself in the Premier League. However, this was clearly an area he identified as one that needed improving and his efforts to resolve the problem have been rewarded thus far. Still not entirely comfortable with claiming crosses, Gomes has punched the ball to safety more times (14) than any other goalkeeper in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season, reinforcing his statistically calculated WhoScored style of play of ‘likes to punch the ball’.
Nevertheless, only a handful of goalkeepers have successfully claimed more crosses than Gomes (17), while no shotstopper has made more cross claims in a single league match in Europe than the Watford star (7 vs Newcastle) this season. Upon Watford’s return to the top-flight of English football, a solid last line of defence was required. In Gomes, the Hornets have just that.
When called into action, the Hornets shotstopper is a more than capable performer. A 77.4% save success rate is one of the better returns in the Premier League this season and has certainly helped Watford. His impressive shotstopping ability means Gomes is one of only two goalkeepers to win at least two WhoScored man of the match awards in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season. Yet, it is not just his ability to deny opposition attacks that has won him numerous plaudits.
In the past, one of Gomes’ strengths was his distribution from the back. His throwing ability in particular meant his team was able to start swift attacks from the back by launching the ball upfield with consummate ease. Now, Gomes instead relies on his impressive kicking accuracy to help instigate offensive moves. The Watford number one has played the most accurate long balls (87) in the Premier League this season, while only Maarten Stekelenburg (50.8%) and Simon Mignolet (45.6%) boast a better long ball accuracy than Gomes (44.2%) of goalkeepers to attempt 25 or more in England’s top tier this term.
Either way, the Brazilian has rightly drawn praise from all quarters of the game having shone in the Watford goal under Quique Flores. His previous mistakes look to have been eradicated and he seems to have rediscovered the form that rendered Gomes one of the most sought after goalkeepers during his time with PSV.
How high will Watford finish in the Premier League this season with Gomes in such fine form? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
