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Player Focus: Federico Chiesa and Joe Gomez SPECIAL
19 Plays1 day ago
Louie Easton and Michael Lake discuss in-depth Federico Chiesa and Joe Gomez in a one-off special on two underdogs who haven't been able to become regulars.
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Transcript
Introduction and Welcome
00:00:07
Michael
Okay.
00:00:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, you are listening to the, oh, it's going again. Right, we're going again, Michael.
00:00:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, now that's enough. That's enough of
Federico Chiesa Spotlight
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
that. That's enough of that. Okay, so you are listening to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network and joining me once again, Mr. Michael Lake. How are you doing, mate?
00:00:38
Michael
I'm doing great. I am doing perfect. I am doing fantastic. We are here. We are going to talk about Frederico Chiesa. So I am a happy man.
00:00:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, well, you've just given away the entire thing that I was about to explain. i but Yes, we will be talking about Federico Chiesa and Michael Lakes. Very excited because essentially what we've got happening today is um we have both chosen a player to just focus on each.
00:01:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're going to split the podcast into two halves. And, you know, since he's already mentioned him, we are going to talk about Federico Chiesa. And Michael, would you like to hear the Federico Chiesa song?
00:01:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's
00:01:19
Michael
I would love to hear the Federico Chiesa song.
00:01:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
listen to the Federico Chiesa song.
00:01:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are a family-friendly podcast and um and I went to extreme lengths to edit that bit out. so ah But it's worth it for Michael Lake. If you could see his face while that song was playing, punching his air in his office, my word, it was like being at Anfield.
00:01:55
Michael
Yes.
00:01:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So why have you chosen Federico Chiesa, Michael?
00:01:58
Michael
ah For the song. Well,
00:01:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
For the song and nothing else. We could just spend 10 minutes talking about that song, if you like.
00:02:02
Michael
no, it's...
00:02:05
Michael
Should we do it again?
00:02:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's do it again.
00:02:07
Michael
Reroll.
00:02:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's do it again.
00:02:08
Michael
Let's do it again.
00:02:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's ah feel like an absolute bug.
00:02:22
Michael
It's a banger.
00:02:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:02:25
Michael
Absolute banger.
00:02:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sam from our... um Sam from our social media team is going to have an absolute field day with those edits that we have just made for him. um
00:02:35
Michael
Yeah, we're just having a bit of fun with Federico Chiesa.
00:02:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, I do love that man, so I can see why you chose him. And alongside Virgil van Dijk, I do think he has got the best song ah out of all the players at Liverpool. Special mention goes to Saturday Night and the and I Like The Way You Move, Divock Origi.
00:02:50
Michael
Hmm.
00:02:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:02:55
Michael
T-Vacarri, oh, missed that man.
00:02:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but he is no longer with Liverpool, so we will not discuss him today.
00:03:00
Michael
Rest in peace.
00:03:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, mate.
Chiesa vs. Liverpool Legends
00:03:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was actually in ah Brooklyn once ah with my family, and we just were walking a lot around back street, and we saw a wall that just said, football is nothing without Origi, written on a wall, a random wall in Brooklyn.
00:03:15
Michael
I mean,
00:03:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:03:18
Michael
and I back that, I back that wall in Brooklyn.
00:03:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:03:23
Michael
And that is why we're currently in a bit of a downpu down patch in the league, um because we do not have Divock Origi.
00:03:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah...
00:03:30
Michael
And that is who I'd like to compare Chiesa to. I'd like to compare him as our Divock Origi of this modern era. He is a player who could be chucked on.
00:03:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was the best segue I've ever heard on GSPM by the way. Sorry, continue.
00:03:43
Michael
You're welcome. So he is a player that gets thrown on last minute and scores important goals. Who does that remind you of?
00:03:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
It reminds me of Divock Origi.
00:03:54
Michael
Divock Origi. That's who he is.
00:03:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's like the next is the next in line ah of these Liverpool clutch goalscorers because you had David Fairclough in the 70s.
00:04:03
Michael
going to take the crown.
00:04:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And
00:04:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Michael has just put a crown off his head and mimed it as if he was putting it onto someone else. the...
00:04:13
Michael
Onto Chiesa's head. So it's...
00:04:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
um said to
00:04:15
Michael
Pretend I'm Origi. I'm taking the crown off my head. Pointing onto Chiesa's head. That's who we like. that's ah us who's taken the taken the goal. Cool.
00:04:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, to be fair, um with Chiesa, was watching that Chelsea match and I was sat next to my dad. We were watching it together in the living room. And he just said, why doesn't Arna Slott just put on Federico Chiesa?
00:04:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because he is so good at these important goals and he does bring a lot of energy onto the pitch.
00:04:43
Michael
Hmm.
00:04:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
He loves sprinting at these defenders.
00:04:47
Michael
Hmm.
00:04:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And ah he hasn't had 90 minutes in the Premier League yet. And I would just absolutely love to see him ah have a go in a Premier League match for 90 minutes.
00:04:52
Michael
yeah
00:04:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
um but Especially since we do need to sort of experiment at the moment. and And um yes, we've we need to ease these new players into our team like Witts, like Isak and Eketike has had enough time now as well to be eased in.
00:05:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Chiesa has not actually been eased into the starting 11 and he joined last summer.
Chiesa's Transfer Speculation
00:05:22
Michael
Yeah, I think the i think the maybe the thing that you could say is that he is ah was at least a little bit injury prone. I think like i mean, he obviously had a knock a few like last week or so or like that kind of put him out of action for a little bit, at least not into the starting XI.
00:05:39
Michael
He had a run of games where you were thinking he's a shoo-in for starting, especially the Crystal Palace game. like You thought he would be first name on the team sheet, but like I think...
00:05:51
Michael
he's got that sort of injury problem, which you could maybe make a case that slot has, or at least the backroom staff, maybe a kind of wrapping him in cotton wool and making sure that he's not kind of overexerting himself.
00:06:03
Michael
But then like also how, how much can you do that in terms of, he just hasn't been given a chance really.
00:06:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's had enough time. He's had enough time.
00:06:10
Michael
Like, yeah,
00:06:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't want to use the injury excuse anymore because that's that's in the past now. And it seems like Chiesa has moved on. And one thing I've always loved about Chiesa is his attitude.
00:06:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because when you see him on the bench, he's always smiling.
00:06:23
Michael
Mm-hmm.
00:06:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's always invested in the match and he genuinely cares about the team. And I absolutely love that for him.
00:06:29
Michael
Mm-hmm.
00:06:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I was really upset at the prospect of leaving losing him in the summer and him going back to Italy. I mean, he was rumored to go to Napoli for quite a while.
00:06:37
Michael
Yeah.
00:06:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But he stick stuck around. And I think that goal, that late goal against Bournemouth was a huge catalyst in him staying. um
00:06:50
Michael
Mm-hmm.
00:06:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And by the way, I absolutely loved the fact that he did absolutely nothing for the rest of the match.
00:06:51
Michael
Mm-hmm.
00:06:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
He just... had a terrible game after he scored that goal because the adrenaline was still pumping and I don't think he could settle down.
00:07:00
Michael
eight He doesn't need to have a good game.
00:07:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
But no.
00:07:02
Michael
He just needs to be himself. I think he's he's one of those players that like he has that atmosphere around him that whenever he try whenever he gets on the ball, he's always wanting to run forward.
00:07:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:13
Michael
Whenever he's like chasing the ball, like he kind of... Whenever I've seen him play, he always has that one... you remember when robertson against City just chased every player and chased it all the way around and got all the way to Edison and like still was pressing him like Geyser seems to do that every single game where he's just always chasing just following the ball getting on them not giving them a chance and I think like players who run like that always kind of endear themselves to Liverpool fans or at least fans in in general because like that is showing like grit and determination for the team and I think like
00:07:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:07:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep. Yep. Yep.
00:07:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:07:46
Michael
you always As you said, you always see him with a smile on his face. like He always looks a little bit, it's harsh to say, but he always looks a little bit gormless. He doesn't know what's happening. He's like, I'm just happy to be here.
00:07:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:57
Michael
Yes, I'm happy to be here. Yeah, yeah.
00:07:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And i love I love the clips of him in the in the inside training as well.
00:07:59
Michael
He's like,
00:08:03
Michael
yes.
00:08:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I absolutely love it. like There's that one where Salah's inviting him round to his house. He's like, I'll cook you pasta.
00:08:10
Michael
like yes
00:08:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
and that And that one, um it was last season's um player ratings. And he just he just comes up behind Sobosla, he sees his pace and just goes, Mamma Mia, and just walks away.
00:08:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
You don't see him again for the rest of the video. says
00:08:26
Michael
What a cool guy. is he's He's one of those players that's just like, he just endears himself to you.
00:08:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I love
00:08:31
Michael
He's a bit like, he's he's like those animals that just are so cute that you just want to be like friends with it. um But like Chiesa, he's just a cute little capybara.
00:08:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's a proper golden retriever, isn't he?
00:08:42
Michael
Yeah, gold retriever is probably a better but a description than a capybara.
00:08:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. we had We had that feeling about Nunez when he first joined Liverpool, but the thing is, Nunez was given every opportunity and he kept on missing and it was a sort of like frustration. is Oh, it's coming! Next match, I'm telling you, I'm telling you.
00:08:55
Michael
a
00:08:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it just never happened. But with Chiesa, it's just like the opposite.
00:08:58
Michael
But like, and but and like yeah, Chiesa's taken his opportunities, to be fair. like Especially this season, like he's been given limited opportunities, and especially against Southampton, which was his but basically, is I think it was his only start, wasn't it?
00:09:12
Michael
come Off the top of my head.
00:09:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think I think so.
00:09:13
Michael
and
00:09:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Yeah, could be more.
00:09:15
Michael
Yeah, so like ah at that Southampton game, Like, he was running the show, basically. He got two assists.
00:09:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was great.
00:09:21
Michael
he was played on every position on the pitch. He played left wing, played right wing, played striker in the end.
00:09:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:28
Michael
And by the end, he was sort of running through treacle.
00:09:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:09:31
Michael
Like, he was struggling to move because he'd run so much. But, like, he...
00:09:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
That touch for the Ekotike goal was unbelievable.
00:09:38
Michael
Yeah, yeah. I mean, he's just... He's a class player. There's a reason why he was getting quoted as a £100 million-plus player. Like, literally, like, two, three, four seasons ago, like it wasn't long ago that he was getting these sort of price tags bounded about ah but ah about him.
00:09:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:54
Michael
So like ah he's one of those players that has the talent and should really be getting a chance, especially with
Chiesa's Playing Style and Potential
00:09:59
Michael
the likes of Gakpo not having that sort of ah source.
00:09:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah so
00:10:02
Michael
Like at the start of the season, he's not really doing it for us. So get a Chiesa on it.
00:10:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
So where would you play him in an ideal world where he could play in any position in the front three?
00:10:16
Michael
I think it like left wing kind of works. I think like, yeah.
00:10:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was thinking the same because I was talking to a friend who supports Juventus and he said he just couldn't get into the Juve team because ah and now he can't get into ah the Liverpool team because his best position is on the right wing.
00:10:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I just think,
00:10:34
Michael
Hmm.
00:10:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, no, because i I think about when it was Euro 2020 and it was Chiesa and Lorenzo Insigne both playing off the left wing and both of them were terrific that tournament.
00:10:46
Michael
Mm-hmm.
00:10:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Chiesa got into the team of the tournament at the end of it on the left wing and... it's It's not hard to see why, because his crosses from the left-hand side into the box are so good. They're phenomenal.
00:10:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he loves cutting inside on the left-hand side and having a look and having a little dribble, maybe a little step over at the right-back. And he just sort of looks a bit uncomfortable on the right-hand side for me.
00:11:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Stryker, well, he can drift across the front, so it doesn't matter. But left wing, I'd say...
00:11:15
Michael
I think, yeah, he's very two-footed. So like he like he can kind of do equally well with each either foot from what I've seen. like He doesn't really lose anything when he does it with his left or whether he does it with his right.
00:11:28
Michael
So I think either wing he can play equally as well. um It's just whether, like he would as you said, he wouldn't get a chance to be in the right wing um because Salah's obviously there.
00:11:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, yeah.
00:11:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh
00:11:38
Michael
But over AFCON, there's definitely a chance.
00:11:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I was going to say over AFCON, I would love to see him on the right-hand side. I mean, he's got the competition there with Frimpong now, because in my opinion, and Frimpong and Kerkhez, neither of them are actually full-backs.
00:11:47
Michael
Mm-hmm.
00:11:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're wing-backs. And um I mean, maybe under Klopp, it would have worked because he loved having those full-backs bomb forward like wing-backs.
00:12:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And um I mean, Kerkhez does do that now, but he doesn't track back well enough. And yes, Rimpong is...
00:12:10
Michael
I think Kerkers is more of a full-back than Frimpong is. I think Frimpong is very much a winger. like He's a winger like that's been kind of shoehorned right back.
00:12:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:20
Michael
Slott did say when they bought him that like he here is an option when Salah goes to AFCON, so they've obviously got that in mind, that he can be.
00:12:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's where he plays for Netherlands as well.
00:12:29
Michael
yeah i he um When he was playing right wing back for Leverkusen, he was basically on the right wing. so I think it was it was always going to be a risk, but I think he's I think him competing with Kiezer will be quite good.
00:12:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll wait until we see it, but um I'll be interested to see if we try and replace Salah when his contract runs out at the end of next season.
00:12:41
Michael
Yeah.
00:12:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is it next season or is it this season? I think it's next season, isn't it?
00:12:52
Michael
Yeah, because it was three years.
00:12:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
um It was a two-year extension and his contract was running out in the summer.
00:12:55
Michael
Two years now. Yeah.
00:12:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, it's a
00:12:58
Michael
Yeah.
00:12:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it will be the end of next season when he'll be 34 and Chiesa will only be, what, 29 to 30. thirty
00:13:04
Michael
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:13:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he'll still have, he'll still be at his best, hopefully, um as long as no major injuries happen to him again. um But I would, I just want to see more Chiesa this season.
Joe Gomez's Role in Liverpool
00:13:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm very pleased that you picked him as your player to talk about.
00:13:17
Michael
yeah
00:13:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're going to go to a quick, would you like to hear the song one more time, Michael?
00:13:24
Michael
Yes, I would like to hit the song one more time.
00:13:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:13:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, we'll go into a short break and then we'll hear the song of my player ah who I've picked to discuss in this episode. But first, it's time to find out where you can get your supplements.
00:14:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh my word, that house beat.
00:14:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, it makes it sound so much better with the house beat. Yes, I want to talk about Joe Gomez with you, Michael. was Is that okay with you?
00:14:50
Michael
That is perfect for me. I mean, he's got an almost as good song, but not quite.
00:14:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, good to hear.
00:14:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah it's it's yeah it's it's a bit short isn't it um yeah gomez is someone that i've always loved at liverpool i mean firstly he's our longest serving player now which is crazy to think considering the fact that he's never actually been a regular in the first team maybe maybe when he first came in and he was playing it left back a little bit in that 2015 think
00:14:56
Michael
Frederico Chiesa.
00:15:15
Michael
Hmm.
00:15:18
Michael
Well, he played as a regular when we won the league or when we won the Champions League, where he was whos that partner.
00:15:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah it was when we won the league, he was a regular there, but it was he was a regular for when we won the league, but I think that's only because Matip was... Was Matip injured? ah
00:15:32
Michael
Yeah, like he was was third choice throughout his time when Matip was there, but like he still kind of cemented that place once Matip got injured.
00:15:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, there was some reason.
00:15:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, and rightfully so. And it's still baffling to me that he's never actually done enough to get into the Liverpool first team, because every time he stepped up and had regular playing time, apart from like a couple of times, like a couple of years ago when he was having a horrible run of games under Klopp,
00:15:49
Michael
Mm-hmm.
00:16:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
He just... He he he always... i mean, even this season, the 12 minutes he played against Arsenal when he came on were phenomenal. He was heading everything away. And Karl referred to him as a bit of a meat and potatoes defender, just doing...
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just doing the basics and no nothing too flashy. And that's always been him.
00:16:23
Michael
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:16:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's always been safe. he's He doesn't like to give the ball away, Canate. um And and i just I don't get why he hasn't been given a regular run of games over Canate when he first came in. I thought Gomez would be pushed forward, um once especially once Matip left.
00:16:46
Michael
e
00:16:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And because he's been at Liverpool long enough and he's a proven defender when we need to rely on him. We won the league with him, for goodness sakes. And we kept 20 clean sheets that season.
00:16:58
Michael
Yeah.
00:16:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
So what more does he have to do? Because he's versatile as well. He can play at fullback very well either side. And even under, even a couple of times over the last couple of years, we've seen him move to that holding midfielder role when he was needed to.
00:17:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And still people were saying, i'll get rid of him if we're not going to use him. Why?
00:17:20
Michael
I think his versatility has probably come to it as a detriment to him because he is able to just kind of fill in those gaps. And like when he fills in the gaps, he's obviously not available to then play centre-back. So like then another player will get a chance to play at centre-back and then maybe they might play well. And then he gets kind of pushed down the pecking order a little bit. And I think...
00:17:41
Michael
Potentially, it could be because the emphasis nowadays in for most teams is to have big like big, strong centre-backs who are also quick and Gomez isn't necessarily the most physically imposing centre-back.
00:17:54
Michael
i think like...
00:17:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is still pretty physically imposing when you see him compared to...
00:17:57
Michael
He is, but compare him to Canarte and Van Dijk, I think like yeah yeah these it's not really the same level.
00:18:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Okay. Yeah.
00:18:04
Michael
like He's obviously got his own skills. I think he's probably better in on the ground rules. He's better on recovery than maybe Canarte is. But in terms of just like being that big, meaty lad, think... like the I mean, obviously Gomez has that great cameo against Arsenal and kind proved that he can, but just on the eye test, I think you'd think Canate would be able to do that better than him.
00:18:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:25
Michael
And that might be what Slott is thinking in terms of why he's choosing him. And obviously, We don't want to give it as an excuse, but Gomez is another player that has had bad injury issues in the past and hasn't been reliable.
00:18:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. True.
00:18:40
Michael
um And I think that's mostly dark like that's mostly the reason why he's not able to kind of make that a claim on the first team, just because... like he's not consistent in in terms of what he's actually being able to output for the team.
00:18:54
Michael
um And I think we've chosen two players that have the potential to be incredibly integral first-team players, but just maybe haven't been consistent enough.
00:18:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:03
Michael
And I think, i mean, Gomez hasn't been injured this season, I don't think, i don't or like at least not.
00:19:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah He was coming back from one from his injury when he was forced off against Plymouth last season, and he was out for the rest of the season from that.
00:19:09
Michael
and
00:19:15
Michael
Fair.
00:19:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he just never got the chance to come back in.
00:19:16
Michael
Fair.
00:19:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought maybe towards the end of last season, if he was fit or like recovering, he could have maybe got a couple of ah matches where um we'd already won the league at that point, and we were just sort of having a victory parade at the end of the season.
00:19:21
Michael
Yeah.
00:19:30
Michael
Yeah.
00:19:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But... No, I don't think he made it back, but over the summer he recovered and he played
Future of Liverpool's Defense
00:19:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
against Arsenal. He made a cameo and he was just phenomenal in that one.
00:19:43
Michael
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:19:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And to be honest with you as well, we subbed off Canate against Chelsea. I was shocked when I didn't see Gomez's name.
00:19:54
Michael
I think that's a slots that go to attacking substitution whereby Gravenberch drops in and then we basically have a midfielder who can step out and be in midfield as well as an extra midfielder.
00:19:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely stunned.
00:20:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I suppose.
00:20:08
Michael
So we kind of overload that middle and kind just rely on Van Dijk to cover that and Gravenberch to help out where possible.
00:20:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:20:15
Michael
um Maybe...
00:20:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
He likes to make those Maisie runs forward from the back line as well. And that's where we loved Matip.
00:20:18
Michael
Yeah.
00:20:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like he loved to make those runs forward and just completely everyone watching on with excitement whenever he did that.
00:20:21
Michael
Yeah.
00:20:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And to be fair, Gomez can't do that. I've never seen him make dribble past anyone. um Well, let alone an entire front line in my life. As far as I can recall.
00:20:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. But i just I just would like to see him more going forward this season ah because Canate has just been horrendous all season for us.
00:20:46
Michael
Mm-hmm.
00:20:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's so frustrating because it's just simple stuff that he's getting wrong. His passing. You're a professional footballer.
00:20:59
Michael
Yeah.
00:21:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're in your mid-20s. You should be able to pass the ball. and not only has he failed to pass the ball, he's done so and injured Allison. And,
00:21:11
Michael
Yeah, literally. So that's a cardinal sin.
00:21:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah um
00:21:14
Michael
I don't think you can get make it past that.
00:21:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, Gomez is pretty safe with his passing and um he does take risks with his passing at times as well. He likes to step out and do a long ball every now and then.
00:21:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
um i mean, that doesn't really work this season when you've got Salah, who's just being marked by three people on the wing and same with Gakpo. um But I just think it's time to experiment with Gomez a bit more and give Canate a few weeks out because I'm sick of seeing Canate waste the ball under no pressure at the back and also be in the wrong position when tracking back as well. I mean, he has made some good tackles as well um and he has done over the years. So I don't want to completely write him off, but I think it might be Gomez's time going forward, Michael.
00:22:07
Michael
Yeah, I mean, I could see, like, ah if... The problem is, I could see if Leone hadn't got that injury, I could see Gomez being fourth choice. Like, after Leone's performance, I could definitely see that Gomez wouldn't have been...
00:22:22
Michael
like as close to the first team and wouldn't be like we'd be saying Leone should be starting as opposed to Gomez starting when we're
00:22:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
He did look very good. He did look very good, Leonie.
00:22:30
Michael
i mean what but if he was still fit and Canati had carried on playing like this. like But I think like the fact that Leone's got injured is an opportunity for him to step up and kind of stake that claim because Leone's going to be out for the rest of the season and it's going to be the only competition he has to be a backup is Rhys Williams, really.
00:22:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I know.
00:22:48
Michael
Unless you count Endo in grab and Gravenberg as centre-backs ahead of him.
00:22:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:53
Michael
But realistically, Gomez's are...
00:22:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I don't want to repeat in that 2020, that season when we had Phillips and Williams.
00:22:59
Michael
Get Nat Phillips back. That's what I'm saying.
00:23:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, ah is he he's yeah
00:23:01
Michael
Get him back. What was it? 3 million. Pay it again. Bring him back.
00:23:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
pay it back. I mean, have you seen anyone do a Cruyff turn on Zlatan Ibrahimovic before? No, Nat Phillips has.
00:23:12
Michael
I haven't. Get big slabbered.
00:23:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:23:14
Michael
pick Big, big, these are slabbered.
00:23:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And by the way, unbelievable heading. Unbelievable.
00:23:20
Michael
Yeah, it's great in the air.
00:23:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I haven't seen anyone.
00:23:21
Michael
There you
00:23:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Only Martin Skirtle is the other person who can rival him in headers.
00:23:27
Michael
Yeah, I mean, he was going to be another one in my all-time 11. I've got to admit Martin's girl. Big time. so was going to be up there, but I decided against him.
00:23:38
Michael
think there's better choices.
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I like Skirtle. I like that he had a band band bandage on his head when he was playing. He'd have a couple of staples in his foreheads and he continued playing.
00:23:45
Michael
Of course.
00:23:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Doesn't care.
00:23:49
Michael
Yeah.
00:23:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Doesn't care.
00:23:50
Michael
Yeah.
00:23:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, we'll end it there.
Final Thoughts and Appreciation
00:23:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
This has been a nice bit of therapy for both of us, just talking about our favourite players. um We'll hear the Gomez song one more time before the outro, but you have been listening to the Daily Liverpool podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network. Michael, it's been a pleasure.
00:24:10
Michael
This beer pleasure is all mine.
00:24:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank