The transfer collapse of Marc Guehi allowed for Joe Gomez to stay at Liverpool for at least one more season – here’s why I’m delighted…
IT WAS NEARLY the perfect transfer window for Liverpool apparently. Nearly, but not quite.
Crystal Palace’s eleventh hour volte-face which scuppered the potential move for their captain Marc Guehi slightly soiled the copybook for both the Champions and the English international, who was apparently furious that it didn’t go through.
I don’t see it that way. I’m elated he’s not here. Elated. I don’t care.
There are various rainbow armband reasons for this as I’m long past the age where I can justify a player’s action just because he’s ‘our lad’. But more than anything it means that Joe Gomez isn’t in Milan. I much prefer that.
Ain’t nobody like Joe Gomez.
This isn’t borne of a purely romantic standpoint and it’s fair to say that the decision to keep him around comes with added pressure. With Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Giovanni Leoni he makes up a foursome of centre-backs who will and must be used before the New Year. All will get games given the punishing schedule to come.
It’s been a strange few years for Joe. On the opening day of last season he was left out of the squad for the Ipswich game and there were rumours of a move to Aston Villa. Then came Milan. It’s long looked like his days were numbered, yet here he remains.
His biggest issue has been injuries. Since signing in 2015 he’s missed over 260 games for club and country. A combination of knee, calf, Achilles, cruciate injuries and two ankle surgeries. He doesn’t believe in minor knocks.
But if he stays fit …
And it’s a big if.
His most consistent season was 2019/20 when he partnered Virgil for 28 league games as Liverpool roared to the title. He was imperious then. Then fate kicked in again with the Season of No Centre-Backs and he was back to fighting a war with his own body.
This might be a moot point come next summer if the club are serious about Guehi. By then Gomez will be entering the last year of his current deal by which time he’ll be 29. A new deal seems unlikely.
So hopefully this will be his last chance to shine; be it at centre-back or right back. A third Premier League title and second Champions League medal would be a worthy swansong.
I hope so. I hate it when heroes leave without ceremony, particularly if they’re the longest serving player at the club. I must admit, it would irk me in the extreme to see him replaced by a man who flouts Jurgen’s ‘sound lads only’ policy. Just let people of all genders and sexualities enjoy the game, eh? We don’t need additional commentary.
Anyway, that’s to come. In the meantime we have at least one more season of Virgil’s best mate (that too is important. Anything that keeps the skipper happy can only be a good thing.) Deadline day felt like a win and it’s great that I can adore all of our lads without caveats.
More than anything though is the fact that we have a player in Joe Gomez. A safe pair of hands. Someone who won’t give us kittens when he comes on. Not first-choice but someone who can come on and shore things up if needed.
There ain’t nobody like Joe Gomez.
