It’s completely pointless trying to make up one’s mind about a 18-20 year old.
There is probably way too much useless fuss over wether Gomes is playing games or not at this moment. I’m guilty of it too, and I think it stems not only from the hype, but also from both seeing hims as a sixteen year old and thinking ‘that boy is ready for premier league minutes right now.’ And then, two years later, watching preseason games and thinking: ‘of all our talented kids, he looks the most exciting, and the one most ready to make an impact bar MG’. Since then, he seems to have been distanced by Greenwood, and passed by Williams, Laird, Garner and Chong, despite his strongest position being our possibly weakest position. A case of simple disappointment.
As with most talent, I have no idea of all the factors coming into play. Growth curve. Strength. Stamina. Mentality. Maturity. Decision making. Imposing on games. Confidence. The needs of the team. The balance of youngsters in the team, and need in other positions. The possible need for trying out/playing into form other players in the no 10 position precisely because it is our weakest position, and a key one at that. So many factors come in.
One thing is certain, if he has the next level in his locker, and a determination to make it at Man United, then Ole being here is a godsend to him. At no other club in England would he have a better chance. Maybe he is a bit like Martin Ødegaard - at 15 a world talent, at 19 not quite good enough for a leading role in mid table Eredivisie, at 20 he is currently one of the best playmakers in La Liga. Who knows if it will last, but there’s no doubt that Ødegaard today would be good enough to play for United ahead of Pereira, whereas six months ago we couldn’t afford playing him ahead of Mata if he was here.
Gomes may come in bounds, or remain one of those who never made the level, or one that wanted to go other places. Not really worth fussing about, I’ll just have to balance the excitement I felt seeing what he could do and the way he could play at such a young age. That’s my ‘problem’, not his or Solskjær’s.