The Liverpool Echo journalist Chris Beesley has recently aired some criticism of Everton’s Portuguese midfielder Andre Gomes.
During the Toffees’ recent 2-1 defeat aginst Steve Bruce’s Newcastle United, the 27-year-old middleman started the game but was substituted off for Bernard during the second half (per WhoScored).
Gomes managed to make one key pass during the defeat, however, his passing accuracy was the second-worst of any Everton player on the day as he finished with 76.7%.
Not only did the Portuguese player struggle with his passing, but he also gave away a penalty shortly before his substitution which allowed Callum Wilson to open the scoring (per BBC).
During a recent episode of the Liverpool Echo’s Royal Blue: The Everton FC Podcast, Beesley discussed Gomes and aired some criticism of him.
He said: “Andre Gomes, he’s your deep-lying midfielder and running is not his forte.
“When he is on form – and he hasn’t, unfortunately, been in recent weeks – you want him to pick a pass and open up the defence – take possession from deep and get things moving.
“He’s not that sort of player who’s going to dribble at the opposition. So, yeah, I thought it was strange [to have] almost like five central midfielders on the pitch at one time.”
Beesley later went on to discuss the penalty incident, he said: “It was just a strange and unnecessary challenge. I think he was always leaving himself open to the spot-kick being given.
“No amount of shaking your own leg and crying out [that] you hurt yourself is going to prevent that penalty being given.
“He’s having a bit of a tough time of late, Andre Gomes. After an initial couple of games looking good in this new system with better players around him, he has been struggling, I think, since the derby.”
TIF Thoughts on what Chris Beesley had to say about Andre Gomes…
As can be seen in what the journalist had to say, he believes that Gomes was not only poor in the game against the Toon, but he has also been unimpressive since the Merseyside derby.
Have you been disappointed with Andre Gomes' performances recently?
Yes, not been good enough
No, he's been good enough
Certainly, against Bruce’s side, the midfielder was poor as he delivered a 5.44/10 performance rating which made him the worst performer on the pitch on Sunday (per WhoScored).
Beesley may also have a point in regards to his comment on the player being in poor form as he also delivered a weak 6.09/10 performance rating against Liverpool.
So, hopefully, the player can get back to better performances like the one he delivered against West Bromwich Albion earlier this term where he earned a 6.81/10 rating.