There is a group of supporters who feel Gomez deserves his place in the Wigan Athletic team and that he offers a genuine attacking threat to our play, particularly given the Martinez passing style.
This is certainly the case when we play teams like Norwich, or Queens Park Rangers, at the DW Stadium. Games where we are looking to pass the ball, waiting for the opportunity to play the killer pass. Gomez is certainly capable of that.
He is also equally capable from dead ball situations. He free-kicks and corners add an excellent dimension to our attacking play that haven’t been seen from a player in a Wigan shirt since Ryan Taylor left for Newcastle.
Unfortunately Saturday’s performance firmly planted me in the camp that dislikes Gomez. Whilst I can fully appreciate the many talents that Gomez possesses, I cannot for the life of me tolerate a player who refuses to defend and work for his team mates. That is not the Wigan Athletic way.
Without Gomez the second half was a different story. The players on the pitch may not have had the skill or craft of Gomez, but there was plenty of heart, desire, and passion to play for Wigan Athletic.
All eleven players functioned as a team, both with the ball and without, and it was little surprise to see Momo Diame find the net after just five second half minutes minus Mr Gomez.
In my many years of watching Wigan Athletic I have learned to develop the ability to tolerate players who give their all, but just cannot cut the mustard. What I cannot stand to see from a player in the blue and white of our team is a player who possesses all the talent but none of the desire.
Players such as James McArthur, David Jones, and Ronnie Stam are all fighting hard for a place in the team and had any one of that trio started the game instead of Jordi Gomez, the first half would have been a different story, and who knows we may have sneaked something.
There are situations when Gomez’s talents can prove useful, Saturday was not one of those situations. Roberto Martinez should have known this before kick off and opted for Stam on the right flank.
