Anthony Gordon

[LiquidAK]

He's another who is clearly fantastic for the way we play and will be even better if he's not having to play every minute of every game. Barnes & Murphy back and we'll see even more from him than we're getting already (which is a lot).

[Jagten]

3 minutes ago, gbandit said:

He’s decent? He’s got lethal pace, he’s desperate to succeed, he’s got excellent ability at cutting inside and leaving a man for dead with his close control. He’s got excellent movement and spots a run. He’s also great at our press and putting in the defensive effort. He’s added more goals to his game. The next step is to provide more consistent chances for his teammates. He’s fairly faultless, sure he could have better tricks and technique and beat his man down the line but his overall game is outstanding 

I agree his out-of-possession game is his best attribute, along with his attitude. He cuts inside because he isn’t a great progressive carrier and he isn’t good at take-ons. I’m not saying he’s bad, and he’s probably better than I thought he could be, but I don't see elite talent, is all. 

[midds]

At this point in time I think it's only fair that I hold my hands up and admit I got it completely wrong about Gordon. 12 months ago when he signed I was a bit bewildered and pissed off as I'd seen nothing to warrant spending so much cash on him, he looked like a petulant, edgy and immature little cunt tbh in an Everton shirt and thought the money could and should have been spent far more wisely at the time. 

 

Fast forward to now and it's clear why Howe et al went for him. He's bright and full of energy, has fantastic pace and an eye for goal or a killer pass. He's become invaluable to us now. I never saw it at all at Everton but I'm seeing it each week now. He's fucking brilliant

 

Always good to hold your hands up when you've got it wrong

[Astroblack]

19 minutes ago, Jagten said:

I agree his out-of-possession game is his best attribute, along with his attitude. He cuts inside because he isn’t a great progressive carrier and he isn’t good at take-ons. I’m not saying he’s bad, and he’s probably better than I thought he could be, but I don't see elite talent, is all. 

Progressive ball carrier? What about in the Milan game first half where he carried the ball about forty yards with three players on his back giving us time to regain our shape? 

 

 

Edited December 16, 2023 by Astroblack

[Jagten]

4 minutes ago, Astroblack said:

Progressive ball carrier? What about in the Milan game first half where he carried the ball about forty yards with three players on his back giving us time to maintain our shape? 

I said he isn’t great at it (my point being about developing elite skills) and one sample of an open-space carry does’t offer a low variance counter. His take-on stats are low (he doesn’t do it often and isn’t very successful), and he doesn’t generate a huge amount of downstream expected goals from this. Not that this is essential (Salah is also not fantastic at this).

[Astroblack]

Just now, Jagten said:

I said he isn’t great at it (my point being about developing elite skills) and one sample of an open-space carry does’t offer a low variance counter. His take-on stats are low (he doesn’t do it often and isn’t very successful), and he doesn’t generate a huge amount of downstream expected goals from this. Not that this is essential (Salah is also not fantastic at this).

He’s 22 and has been in the league for like three season? What are you expecting? 

[Jagten]

3 minutes ago, Astroblack said:

He’s 22 and has been in the league for like three season? What are you expecting? 

Of course he can and will improve. This is just my opinion of his ceiling, which I hope is proven wrong.

[Checko]

8 minutes ago, Jagten said:

I said he isn’t great at it (my point being about developing elite skills) and one sample of an open-space carry does’t offer a low variance counter. His take-on stats are low (he doesn’t do it often and isn’t very successful), and he doesn’t generate a huge amount of downstream expected goals from this. Not that this is essential (Salah is also not fantastic at this).

His torso deception is top notch though tbf, buys him a lot of space.

[jackflap]

He's shown great progression this season to the extent that he's one of our most consistent and important players. Still very much a work in progress. I like how he receives the ball on the half turn inside and his first touch is usually very good and allows him to use his pace to get away from the opposition. When you watch him often he is a bit predictable when he receives the ball but his pace and tenacity means he's still very effective. I think he still has room for improvement with his final ball and finishing when coming inside. The chances against Everton are an example of that. He also needs to develop a trick to exploit defenders that overplay him cutting inside. Look at the mileage Son has gotten off a simple stepover for example.

 

For me he exemplifies the way Howe has improved the team and the players individually, he focuses on players innate strengths and how to maximize them first and foremost. Half the team last season were historically bad the year before yet lost only a handful of games all season.

 

 

[Smal]

Kind of agree with Jagten to a large extent. His off the ball movement and pressing is very good and his finishing seems to have come on a lot but he needs to improve with the ball and especially his 1v1 ability. He does still struggle to beat a man in the final third.

 

 

Bottom 10% in the league this season for successful take-on % is pretty poor and an area he needs to improve on massively. It's fine to admit this.  

[Checko]

Without seeing the game and overall performance, the little bit of play he does for the second goal is absolute class, can see it at 1.35 here:

 

https://www.nufc.co.uk/nufc-tv/highlights/fulham-h-brief-highlights-23-24/

 

Receives it infield, gives it quickly to longstaff under pressure, makes a quick run round, collects an awkward delected pass effortlessly, cuts inside and rides a challenge and a lovely slipped ball through. Real quality incisive play: speed, touch, movement. Love it.

 

 

Edited December 16, 2023 by Checko
punctuation fam

[toon25]

Been our most threatening attacking player this season by a mile. Works his absolute bollocks off every single game too.

[Gallowgate Toon]

Think take-on stats can be a bit iffy, tbh. Criteria for a dribble or being dribbled past is weird too, iirc. There was a stat somewhere that Doku had taken on TAA 7 times or something - watched the clips and I'd say he only beat him twice 

 

From the eye test, I think he goes past players well but his natural inclination is almost like a playmaker who likes to combine.

[ExiledGeordie]

19 minutes ago, toon25 said:

Been our most threatening attacking player this season by a mile. Works his absolute bollocks off every single game too.

Hes been colossal particularly as there’s been no option to rotate. 

[PauloGeordio]

 

[The College Dropout]

2 hours ago, Smal said:

Kind of agree with Jagten to a large extent. His off the ball movement and pressing is very good and his finishing seems to have come on a lot but he needs to improve with the ball and especially his 1v1 ability. He does still struggle to beat a man in the final third.

 

 

Bottom 10% in the league this season for successful take-on % is pretty poor and an area he needs to improve on massively. It's fine to admit this.  

To me.. in a 442 he’s a striker not a winger. He’s got a strikers instinct and movement in the box and off the ball. He’s also a good finisher off both feet. He can pull wide and deliver off both feet too.  And obviously he does his defensive work diligently too.  
 

he’s not a creative or progressive passer and he’s not great at dribbling. However, he does carry the ball forward and retains possession. He’s also fantastic at buying fouls. 
 

I think of him like our second striker offensively. aye he’s got his limitations but he works around them well. He’s a big reason why I think we need a creative RW because Gordon is basically a forward/striker. His Xg is strong because he gets into good positions. He’s a pretty composed finisher too off both feet. Good first touch in the main. He’ll continue to score and be in dangerous positions. 
 

My only real gripe is that nearly all of his gold and assists have been at home. Could offer more away from home. Overall he’s turned me into a fan. 
 

He’s also done well to play all of these games. Only him and Bruno have played right through everything iirc?

[Kanj]

I think he’s worth double we paid for him and his off the ball work in terms of pressing and movement are top. He’s got brilliant box instincts and has goals and direct assists versus someone who’s more creative etc. I love Gordon’s direct style. 

 

@The College Dropout if he wasn’t playing 90+ every single match and getting bartered he’d be a fucking nightmare away from home. Hopefully we’ll get to see that side of him soon 

[The Butcher]

Cardly hardly run at the end of the first half, yet he stayed on.

 

Some baffling decisions made over the last month.

[Vinny Green Balls]

Just now, The Butcher said:

Cardly hardly run at the end of the first half, yet he stayed on.

 

Some baffling decisions made over the last month.

We’ve been suffering your baffling posts for years.

[Guest reefatoon]

Poor lad is desperate for a rest, he’s been going hell for leather since the summer tournament for the under 21’s

[mouldy_uk]

Just now, The Butcher said:

Cardly hardly run at the end of the first half, yet he stayed on.

 

Some baffling decisions made over the last month.

Love Eddie, but I’d agree that his handling of game time / injuries / rotation has been a weakness (and probably as a consequence of him not having that experience of playing in so many competitions at the same time). Really hope Gordon isn’t out for long. 

[Sufi]

I'm not sure about this users post history over the past few years because I'm fairly new here, but I kind of agree with them. I think it's fair to criticize Eddie for how hard hes been riding these players. Plenty of chances to rotate the squad, but even if not, I don't think Gordon should have been out there to start the second half. Definitely room to improve for our manager when it comes to managing fitness levels. 

[The Prophet]

I can only think Gordon thought he could run it off. Hasn't he said before he's usually player/physio led?

[The Butcher]

3 minutes ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

We’ve been suffering your baffling posts for years.

Not really sure what's wrong with that post? 

[Aiston]

1 minute ago, The Prophet said:

I can only think Gordon thought he could run it off. Hasn't he said before he's usually player/physio led?

 

Seems like a fucking terrible idea in Newcastle's case right now