Season › 2018-19 › News Gomes enjoyed “comfortable” debut and “impressive” Goodison support Lyndon Lloyd Wednesday, 24 October, 2018 25comments | Jump to most recent 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. Article continues below video content “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) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Liam Reilly 1 Posted 24/10/2018 at 22:52:18 A quality player, he was poorly treated by the supporters at Barca, so I can't see him running back there.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! Derek Knox 2 Posted 24/10/2018 at 23:10:49 As Liam pointed out, a quality player who looked like he'd been with us for a while. There are not many players who create such an impact on their debut.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. James Flynn 3 Posted 24/10/2018 at 23:14:27 Well, his player-speak cliche game is in mid-season form. David Pearl 4 Posted 24/10/2018 at 23:24:32 First proper midfielder we've had in ages. All the others, apart from Schneiderlin, run around chasing the ball but Gomes stays a presence (if you know what I mean). I'd now partner Mina with Keane (as he's ours) for another presence in both boxes. Upfront is anyone's guess. Anton Walsh 5 Posted 24/10/2018 at 23:24:34 I'm very pleased to see Calvert-Lewin and Tosun score but, as Derek says, when given 90 mins, they just haven't convinced. Time to get ruthless and make strikers the top priority. Gomes has done very well considering he is not fully fit and starting with a new team in a new league. Steve Ferns 6 Posted 25/10/2018 at 00:14:45 Calvert-Lewin scored 8 goals last season. 4 of them in the League. Calvert-Lewin has scored 4 goals this season, 2 of them in the League.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? John Pierce 7 Posted 25/10/2018 at 00:55:11 I enjoyed his performance, the full gamut of rusty, and lacking fitness. Yet, at the same time, he was measured, had a really good sense of position, and a great range of passing. 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. Terence Leong 8 Posted 25/10/2018 at 01:19:35 Better link-up play by the attacking players will help Calvert-Lewin and Tosun flourish. While we are exciting going forward, I still don't see that we are maximizing them.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. Clive Mitchell 9 Posted 25/10/2018 at 01:35:20 Gomes seemed to me to play the ball forward more in his debut than Schneiderlin has in his EFC career. Great start. Mark Andersson 10 Posted 25/10/2018 at 08:06:17 I get tired of so-called fans berating our own players instead of getting behind them. I hope every player who pulls on the shirt does well, especially if they're giving it their all.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. Jerome Shields 11 Posted 25/10/2018 at 09:10:18 He looked comfortable and a really good addition to the midfield trio. Gerard Carey 12 Posted 25/10/2018 at 09:26:49 Hopefully a very good player for us. He will take a bit of time to get up to speed, especially in the Premier League. 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. Derek Knox 13 Posted 25/10/2018 at 10:19:27 Gerard @12, good point you make about Calvert-Lewin being played out wide for a large part of his appearances, which may account for his less-than-expected goal tally to date.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! :-) John McFarlane Snr 14 Posted 25/10/2018 at 11:11:07 Hi Mark [10], I endorse your sentiment 100%, I have players I favour over others, but my support is the same for both groups, they are Everton players and I'm an Evertonian. John Wells 15 Posted 25/10/2018 at 13:49:29 I would love to see Keane have Lukaku in his pocket this weekend: don't give him an inch, keep him scoreless, and we leave after winning 2-0. Keane really improving and doing that there would be such a boost and really leave him in a great place. Russ Quinlan 16 Posted 25/10/2018 at 14:18:37 As much as Keane and Zouma have performed well, I'm not sure either of them have the physical attributes of Mina to kick Lukaku off the park at the weekend!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! Andy Williams 17 Posted 25/10/2018 at 14:31:04 Mark #10 and John #14. Couldn't agree more. I see no benefit in some of the criticism that our players get. I think it breeds discontent that can manifest itself in groans or even abuse at matches which cannot do anything but harm players' confidence. I am convinced that Barkley was massively affected by the criticism he received. Harry Hockley 18 Posted 25/10/2018 at 17:37:52 Very nice debut to watch, in-fact I can't remember a debut going so well for us.His got ability that's obvious for all to see with a whiff of Arteta about him. Jim Bennings 19 Posted 25/10/2018 at 17:51:56 HarryHe 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. Harry Hockley 20 Posted 26/10/2018 at 00:33:28 Jim, 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. Alan J Thompson 21 Posted 26/10/2018 at 05:02:45 Steve (#6); Not to mention that Calvert-Lewin seems to have started to fill out this season.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". David Ellis 22 Posted 26/10/2018 at 06:01:49 Jim and Harry #18-20, 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. Chris Lyons 23 Posted 26/10/2018 at 07:22:01 Harry @18,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. Martin Berry 24 Posted 26/10/2018 at 08:43:02 It will be a real test against Man Utd and Pogba to see how Gomes and Gueye, our "G Force", go on. I just hope he stays fit as I wonder how injury-prone he will be with the rigours of the Premier League.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! Peter Mills 25 Posted 26/10/2018 at 09:27:03 There have been quite a few comments about Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a thread ostensibly about André Gomes.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. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. About these ads