Season › 2018-19 › News
Gomes enjoyed “comfortable” debut and “impressive” Goodison support
Andre Gomes says he felt “very comfortable” on his full Everton debut during which he featured for 80-plus minutes after recovering from a hamstring injury.
The Portuguese made his long-awaited first start in Sunday's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace and now he is eyeing more minutes as the Blues prepare for their trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United next Sunday.
Gomes arrived on a season-long loan from Barcelona in August but the muscle tear that he sustained in pre-season, together with the relapse he suffered in his recovery last month, kept him sidelined until last weekend.
An accomplished performance against Palace has got Blues fans purring over what he will be able to bring the team when he is fully fit while also giving manager Marco Silva another option in central midfield.
“It was good feeling to make my debut,” Gomes told evertontv. “I was waiting for this moment for a long time.
“It was a good game. It was good for me to feel comfortable and confident. I want to keep improving day by day.
“I am really happy to win, I think that is the most important thing. I enjoyed it a lot. It was my first minutes and I want to keep improving, getting better and getting fitter.
“I think the Premier League is more intense [than La Liga]. That is the biggest difference and I am really happy to be here.
“I felt very comfortable — the supporters were with me all the time and with the team, so I am really grateful to be here. It was impressive how the fans support us here. It felt really good.
“I am working to help the team. I will try to have more minutes, to feel better — and to keep winning!”
Marco Silva said that he expects his compatriot to only get better as he regains full fitness and further adjusts to life in England.
“I know he will improve," the manager said. "He has to improve his physical condition and get to know his team-mates better.
“It is a case now of looking forward with him and the other players in that position. We have to improve our build-up and play a little bit faster and Andre will help us with that.”
Reader Comments (25)
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2 Posted 24/10/2018 at 23:10:49
It looks like we are slowly getting there, and there is no doubting we are a lot more attractive to watch, with flowing football, although we still seem a bit light up front no matter who plays.
The jury is still definitely out on Calvert-Lewin and Tosun as being the permanent leaders of the attack; both seem to have prospered recently in the sub's role, yet – when playing for the full 90 minutes – both are largely ineffective and anonymous.
Let's hope André Gomes carries on where he left off at Old Trafford on Sunday.
3 Posted 24/10/2018 at 23:14:27
4 Posted 24/10/2018 at 23:24:32
I'd now partner Mina with Keane (as he's ours) for another presence in both boxes. Upfront is anyone's guess.
5 Posted 24/10/2018 at 23:24:34
Gomes has done very well considering he is not fully fit and starting with a new team in a new league.
6 Posted 25/10/2018 at 00:14:45
It's only October. Calvert-Lewin is showing marked signs of improvement. He also missed pre-season with a back injury. He's had to fight his way back into the side, he had a couple of games and was dumped. He had a midfield that had a lot less creativity than one with Gomes, Bernard, and Sigurdsson in it. Let him have them behind him.
This lad's goals are coming. If he adds goals, then the kid has everything in his locker to be a top player. Man, that header against Palace... Who's a better header of the ball than him right now? I'd honestly say he's in the top 5 strikers in the air already.
He can get better. He's also very fast. I'd love to watch a footrace between him and Walcott. I doubt there'd be much in it. The lad has speed, power, is good in the air, has nice flicks and tricks, holds the ball up well, draws fouls and so wins penalties, and now could he finally be adding goals?
7 Posted 25/10/2018 at 00:55:11
His passes frequently found players between the lines, the hard direct ball to Sigurdsson which created the chance for Walcott being the pick.
Accurate and a very decent first touch gave him extra seconds on the ball our other midfield options don't possess.
Calvert-Lewin has had the burden removed from him. The amount of donkey work the lad had to plough through last season was insane. He may just make the impact he was bought for: goals. Now a youngster in a senior team rather than the workhorse in a shackled side, he has a chance to flourish. His pace and aerial ability being his best attributes for me.
8 Posted 25/10/2018 at 01:19:35
Richarlison seems to want to go for it all alone often, and likewise Walcott. On the one hand, it's good that the wingmen have that confidence or goalscoring ability. On the other hand, the final ball to be released is often still lacking, after the searing pace and trickery up to the box.
So, unless we continue to improve that, we will not be able to leverage on what Calvert-Lewin and Tosun can bring in attack. However, I think both can benefit from the more traditional wing play and crosses for them to attack the ball, or through-balls into the box for them to latch onto.
9 Posted 25/10/2018 at 01:35:20
10 Posted 25/10/2018 at 08:06:17
Anyway, it seems most of us are a bit happier after 3 wins in a row. Beat Man Utd and get behind the team... that's your job as supporters.
11 Posted 25/10/2018 at 09:10:18
12 Posted 25/10/2018 at 09:26:49
An aside, is Calvert-Lewin our top goalscorer over the last 12 months!? And probably being played on the wing for part of that. So, maybe in the striker's position, he could come good, especially with the wingers we have now.
13 Posted 25/10/2018 at 10:19:27
However, one thing I have noticed about him, whether playing out wide or in the striking role, is that his ball control needs vastly improving, especially if a ball is played to him from a distance.
His first touch in those instances could and should be a lot better; he has got age on his side, but I am not sure whether those skills can be improved upon or taught.
Clive @9, the Toffee Lady has passed the ball forward more times than Schneiderlin! :-)
14 Posted 25/10/2018 at 11:11:07
15 Posted 25/10/2018 at 13:49:29
16 Posted 25/10/2018 at 14:18:37
I'd love to see him having a hissy fit when he doesn't get his own way – and Mina does look like someone who can bully!
17 Posted 25/10/2018 at 14:31:04
18 Posted 25/10/2018 at 17:37:52
His got ability that's obvious for all to see with a whiff of Arteta about him.
19 Posted 25/10/2018 at 17:51:56
He looks a class player Gomes but I'm not sure where the Arteta comparisons really come from and I've heard quite a few compare Gomes with Arteta so far.
To me they are very different players.
Arteta was small and intricate with good skills but Gomes looks bigger in terms of physique and probably not nimble of feet but does possess a good array of passes.
I think Gomes can be a good player here but he's different to Arteta.
20 Posted 26/10/2018 at 00:33:28
I'm aware they were different in terms of physique, Arteta was more agile and skillful maybe but it's been a while since we had a midfelder with a bit of vision and Gomes seems very composed on the ball.
That's where I was going with the comparisons but that's my opinion.
21 Posted 26/10/2018 at 05:02:45
As for Keane putting Lukaku in his pocket, the first thing he should do is ask where he'll be playing next year in his pursuit of "honours".
22 Posted 26/10/2018 at 06:01:49
I see the similarity with Arteta in his composure on the ball and the ability to pick forward passes, and the tight control necessary to get out of a tight spot if suddenly pressed. Pre-injury Arteta also had the acceleration that could get him past players – not sure if Gomes has this, but we'll see in due course.
Paul Bracewell ('85 vintage... again pre-injury) is another he reminds me of, although perhaps Gomes lacks the tackling ferocity of Bracewell.
23 Posted 26/10/2018 at 07:22:01
Tony Cottee's hat-trick debut was not too bad for us.
However, I agree and thought Gomes was clearly MotM but I think Pickford got it.
24 Posted 26/10/2018 at 08:43:02
As for Calvert-Lewin, I just do not understand some of the negative posts, the lad is just 21 and is going to have a great future –just give the lad some time!
25 Posted 26/10/2018 at 09:27:03
Gomes looks to have the ability to be a key player for us, moving the ball rapidly to our speedy front players. I am hopeful that Calvert-Lewin can become equally important for us as a recipient of such passes; he is quick, strong and has a good touch.
He took an awful amount of stick on here after the Arsenal game, yet he did a number of good things in that match, with some very intelligent running off the ball which created space for Richarlison to cut in from the left to have shots at goal.
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1 Posted 24/10/2018 at 22:52:18
Let's hope he can be the catalyst for some positive moves up the table this season and maybe a run in the FA Cup; because we definitely have a team that's capable on its day!