Gooch has said the reason why he has been kept on at Wearside is thanks to his versatility, which in the past year has had him play right back, left back, right wing, left wing and even as a central number ten.
ADAPTABLE
“Ultimately I think that’s why I’m still at the football club. I’m able to adapt and play different positions. Last season under Alex Neil I took to the role that he wanted me to do and that helped me stay at the club.”
DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
“I’m just trying to play in those positions at full-back as best I can to help the team. I think you have to be adaptable as a footballer. I think I’m a man who can take things onboard and adapt and do things for the best of the team. Ultimately I think that’s helped me be a Sunderland player”
MUCH BETTER CLUB NOW
“It is crazy. I’m 27 and feel like I’m 37 with all the young lads. It is a bit crazy but I’m enjoying it. I’ve played a lot of football so it’s nice to be an experienced player. It’s a much healthier place to come and play football for these lads compared to when I was younger. It was a lot more difficult and things were going on behind the scenes, we’ve had three different ownerships so that kind of says it all.”
HAVE TO LEARN QUICK
“It’s been topsy-turvy a lot of the time and these lads have come into a really good environment where they can just focus on their football. We have a really young side, lads are learning a lot at the minute, but you have to learn quickly especially the size of this club. Ultimately the club is going to expect to compete at the top level. That’s what the club wants and as a senior player that’s what I want as well. You want to compete at the top and try and get back to the Premier League.”
FINISH STRONG
“Overall it’s been a brilliant season and young players have done really, really well so we just need to keep going and finish strong. I think you do that when you get older and help the players around you. We have a really young side and there is a lot of expectation at the football club so it’s not always easy. I’ve been through that myself over the years. It’s good to help the younger players in that respect.”
