2018/19 Andre Gomes

[McBain]

Good luck to the lad. Can’t see it working out here but I hope it does. Seems like he was in a bad place and if taking him on is a favour to Barca then fair enough.

 

[Darth Toffeeman]

We’re not the most forgiving of fans, so it will be interesting how he holds up if things don’t go right for him. Like every player who signs for us though, I hope he’s given a chance because there looks like there is a player in there, and he does come across as a nice guy.

As long as a player gives 100% we are a fair fan base.

Naismith, Niasse, Straq are good examples of players who give their all but are not top talents. Carsley and Kilbane are 2 examples of less fancied players who built a fantastic career here.

If he works hard and adapts he could reach the levels of Pienaar / Arteta. They both found a home here and the fans loved them.

I wish him every success here.

 

[Flynnthistle]

We don't really know Andre Gomes.

We've seen him sat in a Barcelona office, reclined in a chair, speaking to the club at the end of a hectic deadline day.

We've seen his interaction with supporters on social media and watched his videos as he begins to discover a new city.

And this week, we've also seen images of Gomes training with the rest of the Everton squad for the first time since he joined from Barca.

But we don't know him, do we?

We don't really know where he'll play, exactly when he'll be fit to play and only those Evertonians with a love for Spanish and Portuguese football will truly know how he plays.

All we've got to go on now is the broad smile, a few official pics from Finch Farm, an impressive-looking CV but questions as to why it hasn't worked out at the Nou Camp.

Ultimately, that won't matter if his loan goes as planned here but in getting to know Gomes, and trying to learn more about who he is, what makes him tick and, specifically in this case, what he's been through, his time with Barcelona is an important starting point.

Fresh from winning Euro 2016 with Portugal, Gomes was at the centre of an old fashioned transfer tug of war between two of the biggest clubs in the world.

After looking certain to join Real Madrid, the midfielder decided to sign for Barcelona for an initial £29.3m with the deal including the possibility of the selling club, Valencia, pocketing another £16.7m.

He joined Barca in the same summer as Lucas Digne.

In two seasons Gomes made 78 appearances in all competitions but, as you're about to read, it became an increasingly unhappy, and troubling, experience being at the Nou Camp.


Gomes gave an interview to Spanish magazine Panenka in March of this year and said the following:

"I don't feel good on the pitch.

"I am not enjoying what I am doing.

"The first six months [at Barca] were pretty good but then things changed.

"Maybe it's not the right word to use, but it has turned into a kind of hell, because I have started to feel more pressure.

"With pressure, I feel fine, but with the pressure [I put] on myself, I don't. The feeling that I have during games is bad."

He went onto add:

"On more than one occasion, I didn't want to leave my house because [of the way] people look at you.

"You have fear of going on the street out of shame.

"I close myself off.

"I don't allow myself to get rid of the frustration I have. I don't talk to anybody. It's like I feel ashamed. Thinking too much has hurt me. I think about the bad things and what I have to do.

"My team-mates help me a lot but things don't work out the way they want them to work out.

"In training, I am generally relaxed although there can be days when I feel a little low on confidence and it's noticeable.

"Maybe I played the day before and I still have the image of the game in my head and that doesn't let me move forward."

This wasn't simply a player voicing his frustrations about being left out of the team or being out of form, Gomes was bearing his soul, making public some of his most private feelings and opening up about the mental issues he was having to deal with.

Nearly six months on, it remains powerful reading.

Gomes' situation at Barcelona had left him fearful of leaving his house because of shame, he was putting a crippling amount of pressure upon himself and had been unable to break free of a dark place.

Yet, despite all of those challenges, he eventually summoned the courage to tell the world about it.


We don't really Gomes but can say, with certainty, that he's incredibly brave.

And perhaps now, when we reflect on what he said in an interview with the club in that Barcelona office with temporary club branding behind him, we do know more about him than we thought.

"I want to thank him (Silva) and the club for having the confidence in me," he said.

Before adding: "It was important for me to feel confidence about my game."

Standard words in any new signing's interview, you could say, but they carry added significance where Gomes is concerned.

We look forward to getting to know what the 25-year-old is all about at Everton but after he was courageous enough to share his toughest moment, we actually do know a little bit about him already.

This is a reason to like him more in my opinion. Very open lad, like his statements re his joy of joining up with Everton, he's not a stranger to emotions.

His time with Valencia suggests he has much to offer with a supportive management behind him.

Barca is a harsh environment, if anyone has read Robert enke's biography, the German keeper who killed himself whilst at Barca, in part due to the pressure, then you can relate to it. Barca destroyed enke, who admittedly had problems unrelated to football but that massive pressure of being at one of the world's biggest club must be and is overwhelming to some.

He was a great player at Valencia, no reason why he can't be here. Given the support and love of the fans.

I've a feeling he'll be great for us.

 

[kithnou]

Good luck to the lad. Can’t see it working out here but I hope it does. Seems like he was in a bad place and if taking him on is a favour to Barca then fair enough.

Why so mate? Seems a few feel this way.
I actually think he may flourish. Has the physical attributes to dominate a midfield, and I think our Manager will be great for him.
Who knows though?

 

[Zezti]

We don't really know Andre Gomes.

We've seen him sat in a Barcelona office, reclined in a chair, speaking to the club at the end of a hectic deadline day.

We've seen his interaction with supporters on social media and watched his videos as he begins to discover a new city.

And this week, we've also seen images of Gomes training with the rest of the Everton squad for the first time since he joined from Barca.

But we don't know him, do we?

We don't really know where he'll play, exactly when he'll be fit to play and only those Evertonians with a love for Spanish and Portuguese football will truly know how he plays.

All we've got to go on now is the broad smile, a few official pics from Finch Farm, an impressive-looking CV but questions as to why it hasn't worked out at the Nou Camp.

Ultimately, that won't matter if his loan goes as planned here but in getting to know Gomes, and trying to learn more about who he is, what makes him tick and, specifically in this case, what he's been through, his time with Barcelona is an important starting point.

Fresh from winning Euro 2016 with Portugal, Gomes was at the centre of an old fashioned transfer tug of war between two of the biggest clubs in the world.

After looking certain to join Real Madrid, the midfielder decided to sign for Barcelona for an initial £29.3m with the deal including the possibility of the selling club, Valencia, pocketing another £16.7m.

He joined Barca in the same summer as Lucas Digne.

In two seasons Gomes made 78 appearances in all competitions but, as you're about to read, it became an increasingly unhappy, and troubling, experience being at the Nou Camp.


Gomes gave an interview to Spanish magazine Panenka in March of this year and said the following:

"I don't feel good on the pitch.

"I am not enjoying what I am doing.

"The first six months [at Barca] were pretty good but then things changed.

"Maybe it's not the right word to use, but it has turned into a kind of hell, because I have started to feel more pressure.

"With pressure, I feel fine, but with the pressure [I put] on myself, I don't. The feeling that I have during games is bad."

He went onto add:

"On more than one occasion, I didn't want to leave my house because [of the way] people look at you.

"You have fear of going on the street out of shame.

"I close myself off.

"I don't allow myself to get rid of the frustration I have. I don't talk to anybody. It's like I feel ashamed. Thinking too much has hurt me. I think about the bad things and what I have to do.

"My team-mates help me a lot but things don't work out the way they want them to work out.

"In training, I am generally relaxed although there can be days when I feel a little low on confidence and it's noticeable.

"Maybe I played the day before and I still have the image of the game in my head and that doesn't let me move forward."

This wasn't simply a player voicing his frustrations about being left out of the team or being out of form, Gomes was bearing his soul, making public some of his most private feelings and opening up about the mental issues he was having to deal with.

Nearly six months on, it remains powerful reading.

Gomes' situation at Barcelona had left him fearful of leaving his house because of shame, he was putting a crippling amount of pressure upon himself and had been unable to break free of a dark place.

Yet, despite all of those challenges, he eventually summoned the courage to tell the world about it.


We don't really Gomes but can say, with certainty, that he's incredibly brave.

And perhaps now, when we reflect on what he said in an interview with the club in that Barcelona office with temporary club branding behind him, we do know more about him than we thought.

"I want to thank him (Silva) and the club for having the confidence in me," he said.

Before adding: "It was important for me to feel confidence about my game."

Standard words in any new signing's interview, you could say, but they carry added significance where Gomes is concerned.

We look forward to getting to know what the 25-year-old is all about at Everton but after he was courageous enough to share his toughest moment, we actually do know a little bit about him already.

I hope his first game for us is at Goodison and he's greeted by a huge roar and applause. We're still a big club by I can only try to imagine the pressure in playing for Barca. Perhaps the move came before he was ready for it. He seems excited to be given the opportunity to play here and if he plays well, I'm sure our fans will recognise that.

 

[McBain]

Why so mate? Seems a few feel this way.
I actually think he may flourish. Has the physical attributes to dominate a midfield, and I think our Manager will be great for him.
Who knows though?

Let it be said that Ive only watched some highlights so Im really not qualified to judge, but theres just something Sandro about his play.

I hope he gets the chance to show me up and absolutely Silva seems a natural fit to get his confidence back.

 

[kithnou]

Let it be said that Ive only watched some highlights so Im really not qualified to judge, but theres just something Sandro about his play.

I hope he gets the chance to show me up and absolutely Silva seems a natural fit to get his confidence back.

"Some" more than me

 

[Goat]

Let it be said that Ive only watched some highlights so Im really not qualified to judge, but theres just something Sandro about his play.

I hope he gets the chance to show me up and absolutely Silva seems a natural fit to get his confidence back.

Aint nothing Sandro about this boy.



Football player.

 

[Westend Blue]

I think our fans are pretty fair put in a shift and emerse yourself into the fabric of the club and fans will treat you very well be boss on top and you get icon like status like arteta, super Kev, peinaar, Cahill ect did

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

Aint nothing Sandro about this boy.



Football player.

Definitely got some skills, but I think I counted 7 shots by Gomes and not 1 went in. And that’s his highlight reel...

 

[ilikecheese]

Aint nothing Sandro about this boy.



Football player.

That dubstep shiz is so f'in annoying.

 

[Eggs]

Let it be said that Ive only watched some highlights so Im really not qualified to judge, but theres just something Sandro about his play.

I hope he gets the chance to show me up and absolutely Silva seems a natural fit to get his confidence back.

...really Sandro? This fella has sublime touch, control, elegance and balance, I couldn’t think of anybody who is in such stark contrast to Sandro.

 

[Prevenger17]

Naismith, Niasse, Straq are good examples of players who give their all but are not top talents.

I will destroy you and your pyramid of lies

 

[McBain]

...really Sandro? This fella has sublime touch, control, elegance and balance, I couldn’t think of anybody who is in such stark contrast to Sandro.

I dunno let me watch that clip coz thats the impression I got.

 

[Kinky Koeman]

Relative to Barça, Everton isn’t the same machine. There’s pressure here but there’s an allowance for off days, simply put we are not expected to win every game, he’s evidently moved for himself and his well being and may struggle at times but he will find it easier to perform here in my opinion. Can only help that he’s got Mina and Digne here to help him adapt away from the pitch.

I expect he will be involved heavily with the good work Everton in the community does as will provide him a platform to help others who struggle in similar ways to him.

I’ve watched the YouTube clips and feel he’s more than capable of helping us this season and my big hope is that he finds himself here and makes the move permanent.

Good luck André you big man hunk. x