One To Watch: Jordi Gomez

Blackburn are the opponents tomorrow night as Birmingham City look to extend their good form and have a push to the play-offs. Blackburn are a very inconsistent team. I have seen them score a lot of goals and create a lot of chances in fixtures but then I have seen them shoot very waywardly such as against their last opponents, Burnley.

In January, they have made some very important signings in terms of strengthening their attack. Tony Watt has been a menace in a number of leagues in particular for Celtic and he has the ability to score goals. His partnership with Danny Graham will need work but that could come good in no time. However, the player I have identified is Jordi Gomez.

He has played 7 games so far and scored 3 goals. This is a brilliant return from a player who would have been expected to have a settling in period but he has started off like a bull in a china shop which is reaping its rewards for Blackburn. Gomez is a very elegant type of forward not too dissimilar to Berbatov. He has the skill and touch to keep the ball and finish with minimal effort. This could be very handy for the opposition come tomorrow’s game.

However, his downfall is his work rate. Donaldson, I must say, is very good at pressing the defenders. This makes sure that the long ball is not putting pressure on the back four of your own team and it is a very good tactic. We used it well in our last victory against a very good Hull City side. But Gomez doesn’t do this. Therefore, we can pick our passes from the defence and really start the attacks from very deep. This could benefit us as long balls are really effective to allow Donaldson to flick on and Toral to run in behind.

Jordi Gomez is also very effective out wide. If he happens to drift out there, then Grounds or Caddis will have to be able to get tight. He isn’t particularly fast so this isn’t a problem but he has quick feet and is more than capable of delivering a cross to one of the other danger men. We will have to be aware of this come the game.