How Tony Parks turned Gomes' season around

[CmonyouSpurs]

Tottenham Hotspur Coach Reveals Paternal Touch Aided Heurelho Gomes Turnaround

A goalkeeping coach from White Hart Lane has spoken out on how Heurelho Gomes has turned around his season.

13 May 2009 10:14:03


Tottenham Hotspur's goalkeeping coach, Tony Parks, a former journeyed glovesman who spent eight years at the Lilywhite north London club, has spoken out over Heurelho Gomes' change in individual form this season.
The Brazilian attracted the prefixing moniker 'bumbling' at the season's genesis due to his continuous collection of high-profile howlers, but Parks, and indeed new boss Harry Redknapp, have worked closely with the former Eredivisie ace. Parks has claimed that Gomes is the sort of player who benefits from a paternal touch.

"He's been on form for quite a while and has proved beyond all doubt what everyone at the club knows and that is he's a terrific goalkeeper," Parks explained to the Daily Mail.

"I have to build a trust between myself and all the keepers. I know it is easy to be the villain. There is a fine line between making a save that will win a game and being the bozo.

"He's the type of guy who needs an arm round his shoulder to tell him how well he's doing rather than the kick up the backside when things are not going well. I never did that because it would have had such a negative effect.

"Gomes had a lot going on in his head. Now he plays as if his mind is free of all that clutter. He has no worries and he is certainly happy with his family life and his football life. First and foremost I want him to do well because he's such a gentleman.

"He is not what most people's perceptions of a Premier League footballer is.

"Our fans are seeing the best of Gomes but in fairness they gave him terrific support, which helped his confidence. When he walks out and people are applauding him, he responds to that."

Tottenham boss Redknapp has a background in changing perceptions of goalkeepers perceived to drop clangers. His work with David James at Portsmouth is commendable in this respect, too.

Alan Dawson, Goal.com

[Pitseleh]

i think its a little derisive to say harrys work with goalkeepers is to be commended. lets gives parkes some credit - he is obviously a top goalkeeping coach and we're lucky to have him, james' form has dropped radically since tonys exit.

[paul turner]

parks has done a great job with gomes he has give him so much confidents well done tony

[Gareth]

Gomes is looking like the player he was at Eindenhoven.

[P UNIT 1980]

Simple.......... We keep clapping and he gets better and better!!!

[Enfield_spurs]

I read ( Think it was in the Daily Mail ) that when Parks first came to us Gomes was spending 8-10 hours a day with him aswell as training with the team. Thats dedication, although he is on awesome form not as good as he looked preseason = p. Gotta stop watching these friendly games they make us look like world beaters xD. Yids 5-1 AS Roma last year then we got 2 draws and 6 losses in opening 8 EPL games.

[WhitthreadYid]

Tony Parks What a goalkeeping legend