Following Heurelho Gomes’ blunder against Real Madrid, which handed the Spanish side a 1-0 second leg victory in the Champion’s League quarter-final, many sources are reporting that Tottenham are running out of patience with their error-prone Brazilian keeper. The mistake happened when Madrid’s Cristano Ronaldo tried a shot from distance, which should have been bread and butter for Gomes, but was instead spilt into his own net. Speaking about the moment, Gomes said:
“This was not my first mistake and I know it will not be the last one in my career, but I need to show character like I did before. It was a difficult moment for me but I have to look forward.”
If the papers are to be believed, however, Harry Redknapp has run out of patience with Gomes and his propensity for mistakes. Gomes may well be looking forward to a time where he no longer plies his trade at Tottenham.
At this level, you are often remembered not for the saves you make, but for the mistakes you produce. On this count, Gomes has made one mistake too many.
Despite showing his ability in a number of games, Gomes has shown repeatedly that he’s capable of making high-profile mistakes. If Tottenham are seeking to establish themselves as a top four side, they’ll need a world-class goalkeeper. There’s a comparison to be made, I believe between Gomes and Arsenal’s Manuel Almunia. Both excellent shot-stoppers on their day, but neither is really good enough to merit a place at their prospective clubs.
As the situation stands, Gomes is a weak-link in Tottenham’s chain. I understand that Spurs are weak upfront – something that I’m sure Harry will address over the summer – but for me, the goalkeeping situation is even more pressing.
If he does go, who should Harry Redknapp seek to bring in? The top goalkeepers in the world are those who can keep up concentration levels for the course of an entire match – a quality that Heurelho just doesn’t have. In that respect, I’d love to see Tottenham go after Russian keeper Igor Akinfeev, who will surely be on his way to a top European side this summer.
If competition for Akinfeev is too hot, however, why not make a move for Manchester City’s forgotten man, Shay Given. He’s a top keeper, isn’t mistake-prone and has bucket-loads of Premier League experience. I wouldn’t even be averse to seeing Paul Robinson making a Tottenham return should Given be snapped up by another side.
Whoever Harry Redknapp seeks to bring in, it’s clear that this is a problem position for Spurs and one that must be dealt with over the summer. If Tottenham have genuine ambitions for establishing themselves in the top four, they will need a capable keeper to act as the foundation for doing so.
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You couldn’t be more wrong. It doesn’t matter if you have a keeper who never lets in a goal if you can’t score you’ll never win. Gomes has kept us in more games than he’s lost us. Our strikeforce has been hopeless this season.
Nonsense.
Tottenham’s need for top quality, new strikers is infinitely more urgent than their need for a new keeper.
Sure, Gomes is far from perfect and he has made a few too many gaffes this season. But if Spurs hadn’t squandered as many chances in front of goal as we have this season or if we had a big and mobile striker who could properly hold the ball up and bring others into play, we’d be neck and neck with Utd for the Premier League title.
By contrast, taking into account the mistakes that Gomes has made in the League this season, if we had a different keeper, we’d be no more than a couple of points better off than we are now.
No, we need strikers far more than we need to replace Gomes. Sure he’s made some mistakes but so does every keeper but he has also pulled off some terrific saves. He’s not a top keeper but there are very few really top keepers around and there are even less that are gettable. I guess if we could get a top keeper like Diego Lopez then he would be an upgrade but most gettable keepers are not as good as Gomes
If you look at our striker stats anyone can see where our biggest priorities lie
I have said from day one Gomez was second rate and should be gone
A goalkeepers lot is not a happy one!
All keepers including the great ones make mistakes, even silly ones. Remember Nayim lobbing David Seaman from the halfway line to win the 1995 Cup Winners cup. Seamen was still a great keeper.
Players mispass balls, lose tackles, and generally make far more mistakes than the goalkeeper throughout a game, but it’s the keeper that usually always grabs all the headlines!
Although Michael Carrick may see his name in lights for a few days.
Fans will always remember the mistakes far more than the great saves! made through a season.
But he makes too many high profile mistakes!They say you build from the back- If he is prone to mistakes, then it puts doubts in the minds of the center backs which will in turn make them make mistakes. Look at the AC milan game- Gallas saved his ass then, Chelsea, Real Madrid x 2 Wolves, they all spring into mind. How many times does van der Sar, Cech, Reina, make mistakes- i can allow the odd howler or two because everyone makes mistakes but if we want to be a top team, Gomes needs to be our No2! I know Man United are being linked with him but Manuel Neuer is such a good goalkeeper, hes young, German No1 already and i pray spurs try to buy him!COYS!