2023/24 Season Report Card - Joe Gomez

The ultimate team player who produced a great bounce back season after struggling in 2022/23. He’s taken over from James Milner as the man who will sacrifice himself for whatever the team needs.

He wants to play centre back and when Joel Matip went down with a season ending injury he probably thought he’d get plenty of opportunities, especially as Konate can’t play twice a week. He thought wrong. He played a handful of games in the middle in cup games but never got a run there despite playing a lot of games.

The problem for Joe we that we had injury problems in both full back spots and he was needed to fill ion there, while Jarrell Quansah came from nowhere to leapfrog him in the centre back pecking order. Many players would have sulked or given up, but Gomez knuckled down and produced a series of impressive displays in both full back spots, even filling the “inverted” role from left back to allow Bradley to stay wide and get forward.

He had 51 appearances in total, with 25 games at right back, 19 at left back and five at centre half. He even played as a number six a couple times too and did a solid job. Every squad needs selfless, reliable players like Gomez and we’re lucky to have him. Enough with the long range shots though (I blame the crowd shouting “Shhoooooooottttt” all the time for that). The goal will come but not by trying to force it. Just let it happen organically, Joe. 

He can be proud of his efforts this season, especially after struggling last year. He's had to re-invent himself as a Mr Dependable Utility Man and he's embraced that, to the point that even when he didn't start games he usually finished them. Everyone gets a clean slate now though and it's going to be interesting to see what Slot makes of Gomez's skillset and where he sees him playing.

Previous Season Ratings:

2022/23:  5/10

2021/22:   7/10

2020/21:   Season doesn’t count

2019/20:   8/10

2018/19:   9/10

2017/18:    7/10 

This Season’s Rating: 8/10

I think this is about right, but if I'd gone half a point higher it wouldn't have been outrageous. 

Best Moment: 

Acrobatic goal-line clearance against Spurs when we were really hanging on.

Worst Moment:

Atalanta at home wasn't good, but everyone was shite that night. So for worst moment, well take your pick from some of the horrific long range shots.

The Future?

Interesting one this. I have no idea what will happen because we don't know what Slot is looking for in his defenders. He might like the pace and ability on the ball Joe has and could use him at full back in the way Geertruida was used at Feyenoord. Or maybe he'll force his way back in at centre back. I doubt that, and it's hard to see anything other than another season of him doing a utility job.