Pundit praises Reds defender with bizarre backhanded compliment

Stan Collymore has been discussing England’s issues at centre-back and says Joe Gomez is the man to turn to with Harry Maguire alongside him, ahead of Manchester City’s John Stones.

That much, we agree with, although the former Reds man did give Gomez a rather backhanded compliment in many ways while explaining his reasoning.

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Collymore said, via the Daily Mirror: “Gomez perhaps isn’t the footballing centre-half that Stones is, but you know he’s not going to be trying Cruyff turns in his own box. 

“He’s a good, solid, mobile, footballing defender who would work quite well alongside Maguire.”

There is no doubt that Gomez should be playing for England – it’s easy to forget just how good he was alongside Virgil van Dijk for the Reds before the injury against Burnley – but to suggest he isn’t brilliantly adept at playing out from the back is a slightly bizarre comment.

The 21-year-old is more than capable of playing out at the top level. Just because he doesn’t dally on the ball and lose it in dangerous areas like Stones does, doesn’t mean he isn’t good with the ball at his feet – quite the opposite.

Gomez is every bit as good as Stones on the ball – if not better.