After scoring goal after goal as a substitute, Herculez Gomez was given a chance to show what he could do in the Estudiantes Tecos starting lineup on Saturday.
He responded by scoring even more goals.
The American forward scored his sixth and seventh goals of the Mexican League season to help Tecos defeat Santos Laguna, 5-2, on Saturday. As impressive as that goal total is, he could see that total go up to eight goals if he has a goal re-instated that was ruled an own goal just last week.
Here are highlights of Gomez's goals (the first two scored by Estudiantes on Saturday):
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnbkuJ5Qm-4]
——–
What do you think of Gomez's incredible goal-scoring form? Think there's any way Jurgen Klinsmann doesn't call him up in November?
Share your thoughts below.
Absolutely true 🙂 You still need someone to put the ball in the back of the net. My point is that most teams can’t afford to have a player whose only contribution is to finish chances. You have to have a way of exploiting/creating spaces/weaknesses in the opponents’ lineup in order to actually create those chances. The pure finisher presents no way of doing any of thse things, and therefore doesn’t present a way of creating chances. This is a problem when we face teams with better players because the gap in quality isn’t in favor of us. We beat better teams by exploiting certain spaces or weaknesses in their lineup/formation. The pace of a guy like Charlie Davies can make defenses sit deeper so that they don’t have space to run into, widening the space between the lines of defense and midfield, which is where guys like Donovan and Dempsey love to work. Brian Ching is great at using his body to hold the ball up under pressure, and this is a problem for defense that might sit deep because their deeper positioning brings him closer to goal, and when he lays off the ball for oncoming runners after he has created space by drawing in defenders, that runner is right near the goal for a shot.
Agreed, the Belgium press is giving him props.
I don’t remember being particularly impressed with Gomez in the past, but i’m not against giving the guy another shot. Someone earlier got it right when they said Gomez is the same type of player as Wondo; neither are forwards that can really help the Nats out in too many ways. I’d rather see Gomez over another Buddle callup but I don’t want either of them starting.
Klestan is playing great for the best team in Belgium a very solid league, and also getting European Experience. Please dont rule him out, to do so is stupid
It’s an old debate and the “death of the poacher” has been announced many times.
The fact remains all the tactics and build up and “possession” are completely worthless if there is no one to put it into the net.
It doesn’t have to be one guy. The year after RVN took his 26 goals or whatever in all competitions to Real Madrid from Man U, Man U scored even more goals by everyone else chipping in with a few more goals.
If Gomez can maintain that form consistently for the US (doubtful) the historically anemic USMNT has to have him available. And Gomez is a pretty useful player in terms of others things he does besides actually scoring goals.
I was being sarcastic. Thanks buddy ole pal
EJ? Why don’t we call Cooper & Sasha while we are at too?! 🙂 ….. EJ, Cooper, Casey, Wondo, and Sasha should never evah evah evah wear the a U.S jersey! Those clowns give me diabities.
Give me a break! What’s the good of having an offensive build up if you have no one who is “great in and around the box”? That’s exactly the talent the MNT has been missing. This sort of reasoning would have left Pippo Inzaghi on the bench in Milan and off the Italian team.
Wondolowski sucked at the Gold Cup. Makes more sense to call in EJ
The best strike we have is Altidore. 2nd is Gomez. Everyone after that is playing in MLS or in 2nd division European leagues. Gomez deserves a call-up
Exactly. Guys like Wondolowski and Gomez are prime examples of players who are in the wrong generation. If the team isn’t built around your technical quality shining through, then you have to offer something in the way of tactics. Again, an article by ZonalMarking sums this up perfectly – http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/02/21/how-the-2000s-changed-tactics-6-the-death-of-the-poacher/
“…It’s simply not enough to be a goalscorer any more, you have to contribute to the team’s overall game…”
In a nutshell.
I think you’re confused….this is an article about Herculez Gomez, not Jozy Altidore. Whomp, whomp. Herculez creates chances, squeezes in when no one is looking, and has the speed to create great breakaways, perfect for service from LD or Shea. I think he’d be a great fit for the current USMNT’s tempo instead of the current lackluster, uncreative play that is up top now….
Agree Agree – need goals
I’ll stand by reservations about Gomez until he plays well for the US. To a slightly less controversial parallel, I don’t think that Wondo will ever be a good forward for the US no matter how many goals he scores in MLS, and I have the same doubts about Gomez.
The USMNT has played surprisingly good defense under Klinsmann — considering the experiments with the back lines — and has maintained good control of possession but has had trouble finishing. Gomez can finish. Sounds like a no-brainer he should get a look from Klinsmann.
Dude. Did you not read the article? He started and rewarded the coach with two early goals. He deserves a call up. Period.
I couldn’t argue with that option.
But people calling him for a call-up is mainly for his ability to score off the bench. Off the bench meaning anything under 45mins. We need someone who is able to score in 10mins or so especially late in a game to lock up a win.
My hesitation in calling up Gomez is that he seems to be a pure poacher (from my limited viewing of him). That is, he is great in and around the box, but has limited ability to contribute to the offensive build-up. Perhaps a stronger side could carry this sort of player, but I think the US needs more of an all-around game from their forwards. I might be wrong, but that is my impression from watching Gomez’s several appearances with the US.
Surely he’s earned another look. The bottom line is he always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Far too often to be plain luck. If he doesn’t get a call up then I’m starting to fear the old sentiment of “careful what you wish for” is coming into play with Klinsmann..Of course, it’s still way to early to say that but ffs, call the man in already.
Mexican league is like the 10th best league in the world. Comparable with Holland and Russia. Pretty damn impressive. The WC is in 2.5years. There is a chance Gomez could be on that roster. You never know. All depends on the likes of Bunbury and Agudelo.
His call up is already in the mail. Any small chance Gomez could get a Portuguese or Spanish club interested in him?
Just when you think he is done…