Anthony Gordon

[Interpolic]

If we ask Hope to delete that section of the interview now then maybe we'll get our money back for him in the summer. 

 

I'm beyond amused that the Daily fucking Mail is behind a paywall now

[Nucasol]

10 hours ago, Interpolic said:

If we ask Hope to delete that section of the interview now then maybe we'll get our money back for him in the summer. 

 

I'm beyond amused that the Daily fucking Mail is behind a paywall now

Gammon Tax. Le Tax du Jambon.

[BoSelecta]

13 hours ago, TBG said:

I'm not Craig Hope, but if I was the article would go something like this.

 

Anthony Gordon won't give up the culprit, but his bloodied ankle sock shows he took a hefty tackle in training earlier. 

Now, it is his turn to do the tackling, and the subject is perception.

We all have an opinion of this lean, bleached haired, nuisance winger from a deprived suburb of Liverpool - it frustrates his manager, Eddie Howe, who believes the general impression to be wildly inaccurate - but the player himself has, so far, accepted those beliefs as, while mistaken, not entirely unfair. Until now.

Sitting here at Newcastle United's training ground, the 23-year-old, a new dad, wants to challenge the perception of him. 

Not with hostility and anger - and this will surprise many - but with a desire underpinned by eloquence, maturity and a gentle wit. He was not supposed to be like this.

 

'I understand the Scouse scally perception but, away from football, I'm not like that at all,' he begins. 

 

'Everyone who meets me says, "I thought you were gonna be a…." I won't say the word, it's not a good one. But if they leave with a better opinion, that makes me happy. To be honest, the lads here hated me before I joined!

 

'But the way I have played, at times, can villainise me. I'm fine with that, because I'm just trying to win. That is why I can't really blame people for having that perception. 

 

'The environment I was in at Everton, that Scouse environment, it's very aggressive. When teams came to Goodison, I felt a responsibility to be the antagonist. 

 

'I have more security in myself now, I have grown into who I want to be. I'm more focused on changing that perception because I feel I'm in a place to do so.'

 

You could also just have brown hair?

 

'Well yeah, that definitely hasn't helped!'

 

As we chat, Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn and Fabian Schar wander by. Following Gordon's £45million arrival from Everton last January, he had to win over his new team-mates before anyone else.

 

'I walked in and thought, "There's no way this lot will like me!". I'd had a scuffle with a few of them up here, including Fabby (Schar). 

'So I made a joke with him when I met the lads and he said, with such a straight face, "You have to earn your protection". I thought he was going to laugh! 

 

'That put me on edge! It was a good icebreaker, though, and he was right, I didn't have a problem with earning their respect.'

Gordon has achieved that, on and off the pitch. This season, he has scored 10 goals, assisted five and played in every game, bar one for suspension. It was not like that last season.

 

'It was naive of me. I thought I'd come in, fit right in and not look back. I got a rude awakening! I couldn't keep up with the intensity in training. 

'In games, I would run forward and the gaffer would be screaming at me to use the same effort all the way back. I just couldn't do it, and it was getting me down.'

 

Things came to a head when he brushed off Howe after being substituted at Brentford in April. At what point did you think, "I wish I hadn't done that"?

 

'Straight away!' says Gordon. 'I won't shy away from this, because I feel it's been a vital part of my journey. My relationship with the manager could not be better now. If you take things like that away, maybe it wouldn't be the same.

 

'We had two days off after and I just remember the anxiety. Nothing could get rid of it. I couldn't really go about my day. I was horrendous company for my family. It was that sick feeling in my stomach. 

 

'I'm passionate, but that was way overstepping the mark.'

 

The last thing you needed was two days off?

 

Gordon squares up to Newcastle defender Fabian Schar during his Everton days

 

'Exactly! Honestly, the days off killed me! Someone text saying, "Are you training with the Under-23s?". I'm thinking, "What? No-one has told me so, but am I?!".

'I spoke to the gaffer as soon as I came back in. I was so surprised at how he handled me. He basically said, "Whether you like it or not, you're going to be a success here". 

 

'I did not expect that conversation. He understood where I was coming from. It was the insecurity of not doing what I thought I would. I regret it, of course, but the way the manager handled it, that helped me so much.'

 

He wants to say more about Howe.

 

'This is fresh in my mind because I was speaking about it yesterday with Matt Ritchie. I say to people, "You don't understand what he (Howe) has done for my life, never mind my football". 

 

'His standards and the way he treats people, how good a person he is, how hard he works and how determined he is to be successful, that is the reason I am doing well at the moment - he has dragged me to that level. 

 

'I was not like that when I first joined. I'm like that outside of football now. I'm so glad I've had him in my life.'

 

He is not just thankful for his manager. Top of the hit parade at St James' - and wherever the Toon Army march - is a song about Gordon. It has been so since last season. 

 

To the tune of ABBA's Voulez-Vous, 'Gordon, running down the wing, Gordon, make the Geordies sing, Gordon, we're all going to Milan'.

 

'I remember hearing it for the first time and I couldn't believe it was for me. I didn't feel like I'd earned it at the time. It would be very easy for the fans to go, "Ah, he's not good enough". 

 

'But they stayed with me, accepted me and allowed me to grow - I'll never forget that in my lifetime. I don't think fans know how much that can mean to players. And the song is so catchy - I'll be walking down the corridor here and one of the lads will be singing it in the dressing-room - we love it!'

 

He should have known the fans would take to him after what he calls a 'crazy' episode on his first day.

 

'Me and my girlfriend had gone to the MetroCentre to get a few things, but we just could not get a taxi back to the hotel. A fan came up and was welcoming us to Newcastle when I said, 'I can't get a taxi'. She said, 'Do you want a lift?'. 

 

'I looked at my missus and was like, 'We don't know these people, but they seem nice, let's go!'.

 

'They were picking up their son from work. He got in the car, dead nonchalant, chatting to his mum, turned around and he sees me - he just went white and didn't speak for the first few seconds! 

 

'But they were lovely, I got a good feeling from that moment.'

 

At home, Gordon has a bedside notebook in which he writes his thoughts and ambitions. His partner, Annie, has holiday brochures. Here go conflicting interests.

'I'm not going to shy away from my aim of going to the Euros,' says Gordon. 'I don't think that I should. My missus has been nagging me , "Can we book a holiday? Places are getting full". I've told her, "Germany is very nice".

 

Germany, in June, is where England will travel as favourites to win their first major tournament since 1966. Gareth Southgate names his squad this Thursday for the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium and Gordon is on the cusp of a maiden call-up. 

 

He was player of the tournament last summer as England won the Under-21 European Championship. He then skipped a holiday to return for pre-season.

So, how does he want to make his case for England inclusion, with polite diplomacy or to tell the world he's good enough to be in there, like team-mate Callum Wilson did - with great success - ahead of last season's World Cup? Gordon laughs.

 

'Good question. I'll give you my honest answer. I absolutely love playing for England. Those words can be said too easily. I've played with players in the youth system and they'll throw on Instagram, 'Always an honour'. I'm thinking, 'You've just hated those two weeks away'. I take so much pride in it. It feels like a going-to-war-type feeling for me.

 

'I wrote in my notebook at the start of the season that the top target was England. I also wrote that I wanted to be Newcastle's most important player, someone the manager could depend on. I wanted something in there that I could hold myself accountable for.

 

'I feel like I've done everything I can to get in the squad. I understand the competition, and the ability in that team is frightening. But I've done my utmost - I've ran every yard I possibly could and I've scored and assisted at a good level. I've still got more to give, but I can be proud and say, 'I've given it everything'. Every time I'm tired, I think, 'Dig in, England could be watching!'.'

 

There is another motivation that trumps England and Newcastle and, until now, Gordon has not spoken publicly about his son, five-month-old Antonello.

'He's the best thing that ever happened to me. The responsibility that comes with it, although hard at times, has changed my life for the better. Footballers, we can live this very easy, laid-back life. Football, home, rest. Now, it's football, home, baby!

 

'On the pitch, it's given me so much more purpose. Having a child changes everything. It's bigger than you now, you have to succeed for more than just yourself. I have a picture of him on my shin pads. 

 

'I look at that before I go out, kiss it and remind myself who I'm doing it for. The 'A-sign' celebration I do is for him. People think it's A for Anthony, no wonder there is a certain perception of me!'

 

That essence of childhood takes us back to Gordon's own, and the terraced houses of Kirkdale. He is the oldest of three brothers.

 

'I come from an environment where you're not really built to succeed, it can beat you very easily, there's a quick path to failure. There is a lot of gang violence, not good stuff. I'm fortunate that I'm quite introverted and stayed away from that, I was just off playing football. 

'It's more the personality traits of friends and people around me. Some of that rubbed off and I've had to slowly take those things out of me.'

 

One trait he has not lost is an addictive personality, and nor does he want to. Gordon attributes that to the extra work he does after training and the 'challenge' he now sets himself in being able to run back as hard as he runs forwards. Annie, however, thinks he has ADHD. Why?

 

'Ah, there's so many reasons! She says it because I'm a bad hobby hopper. If I'm playing snooker for the week, I'm buying the best cue, I'm googling how to hit shots. But within the week, 'Nah, I don't play snooker anymore, I like golf'. She says, 'You're not normal'. 

 

'I think that personality is a positive, I want to be the best at everything. She hates that, we can't even play a game of Connect 4!'

 

What's the latest craze?

 

'I've got a new darts board. Luke Littler has been my inspiration. It's easy. Go home, you play. Snooker, you have to plan your day around it. Also, you realise how hard it is. I honestly think doing a 147 is the hardest sporting achievement. 

 

'Thirty-five was my best break, which isn't bad, but it's a long way from 147! Me and Elliot Anderson were going to Whitley Lodge to play. There's a big Newcastle badge on the wall, so people were a bit shocked when we walked in every day!'

 

How about TV?

 

'This is another reason she thinks I've got ADHD. I like watching the same things over and over, which is quite strange, isn't it? I have four boxsets - I finish one, do the next one and go back.'

 

What are they?

 

'Friends. Big Bang Theory. How I Met Your Mother. Entourage. I like rom-coms, light-hearted.'

Sticking with light-hearted, how about this - I've written down three words that best describe you as a player, what are they?

 

'Passionate. Fast. Determined,' he offers.

 

They were actually hard-working, direct and robust.

 

'Yeah, I like robust,' he says. 'It's a mindset thing. I made it clear when I first joined, the medical staff never see me. I never want them to see me, and they don't. For me, availability is the best ability. There's no point being a good player if you can't play.'

 

OK, I've also written one word that captures you as a person? He pauses. For the first time in an hour together, he is stuck for words.

 

Misunderstood, I tell him.

 

'Yeah, I should have said that,' he says. 'I get that a lot. I just know when people meet me they change their mind.'

 

He is right. As we walk outside to take some pictures, Gordon points to our camera and says: 'I've always fancied photography. Maybe that will be my next thing.'

 

Pictures of the Olympiastadion in Berlin, scene of the Euro 2024 final, would no doubt look very nice on his bedside table.

Because of the introductory line you used I actually thought you were writing a parody Hope article to begin with. I actually laughed out loud at Hope’s own article before realising it was infact his actual work. 
 

edit. He also gets the Gordon song wrong later in the article. What a clown. 

 

 

Edited March 9 by BoSelecta

[Jimburst]

Tony Gordon weighing in on the sporting achievements chat? 147 the hardest sporting achievement...Tony do you read General Chat? 

[Boey_Jarton]

On 09/03/2024 at 08:26, BoSelecta said:

Because of the introductory line you used I actually thought you were writing a parody Hope article to begin with. I actually laughed out loud at Hope’s own article before realising it was infact his actual work. 
 

edit. He also gets the Gordon song wrong later in the article. What a clown. 

 

 

 

Likewise I was in stitches thinking this was a beautifully written piece of satire. 

[timeEd32]

Feel terrible for him. We ran him into the ground.

[Mazzy]

Well there goes this game and perhaps this season if he's injured for more than just the next game or two.

[Sibierski]

Twisted knee, got to be a couple of weeks. More gutted for him if that’s the case as he was a near certainty for an England call up.  

[Sufi]

16 minutes ago, timeEd32 said:

Feel terrible for him. We ran him into the ground.

I agree. I don’t care how many injuries we’ve had…there’s no excuse for him to have played this many minutes. Especially considering the intensity he plays with, all the running and pressing. Not to mention he barely had any time off this summer as he was away with England. Surely Eddie could find a way to rest him for a few weeks. Irresponsible and selfish management. I don’t care if we had to play Almiron out left. Use willock out left last few matches. Play Tino as a winger. There were options to get the kid some kind of rest. 

[Tsunami]

He was clearly feeling something very specific when the physio tried flexing. I’m expecting at least a month.

[Magpie]

That article has cursed him ?

[timeEd32]

The concerning thing is the non-contact part. Really hope it's not an ACL or something that stretches into next season.

[Lush Vlad]

Just now, timeEd32 said:

The concerning thing is the non-contact part. Really hope it's not an ACL or something that stretches into next season.

Was holding the top of his knee and highly doubt it would be an ACL if he managed to walk off like that. They would try and check on the pitch pulling at the back of the kneecap and would stretcher him if they suspected that, I reckon. 
 

He seemed off his game from the get go. Pulled up in the corner and seemed fucked after that. Hoping it was whatever he felt from that and it’s more a strain than proper fucked ligaments or tendons. 

[aussiemag]

I don’t think it’s an ACL normally players grasp behind their knee. 

[gbandit]

Don’t think it looks particularly serious but it’s probably weeks 

[Lush Vlad]

Feel for him for England. As he must have had a chance at making the Euros squad. Even allowing for Southgate being clueless. 

[Guest]

28 minutes ago, timeEd32 said:

Feel terrible for him. We ran him into the ground.

 

Think this was always likely when him and Miggy were having to play continuously for 2-3 months for a long spell. Barnes injured again, Murphy's not played much himself. Don't even have the luxury of putting Wilson up top and moving Isak out there because Wilson's never available either. 

[timeEd32]

Just now, Optimistic Nut said:

 

Think this was always likely when him and Miggy were having to play continuously for 2-3 months for a long spell. Barnes injured again, Murphy's not played much himself. Don't even have the luxury of putting Wilson up top and moving Isak out there because Wilson's never available either. 

 

There was a time we had no choice, but there were chances to rest Gordon in the last few weeks and we didn't.

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, timeEd32 said:

 

There was a time we had no choice, but there were chances to rest Gordon in the last few weeks and we didn't.

 

Murphy and Barnes had barely played any football for 3 and 5 months up until recently. 

[timeEd32]

1 minute ago, Optimistic Nut said:

 

Murphy and Barnes had barely played any football for 3 and 5 months up until recently. 

 

He didn't have to play 300 minutes the last week of Feb.

[Big Geordie]

Eddie said 'he wasn't sure about Gordon' when asked. A 'problem with the knee' apparently.

 

Got to hope it's just a wee knock, but knowing our luck - Gordon's season will be done.

[huss9]

the way he screamed when the physio twisted his knee, it could even be a tear in his meniscus.

[Dr. TC]

Just now, huss9 said:

the way he screamed when the physio twisted his knee, it could even be a tear in his meniscus.

Yeah, this looked extremely worrying. 

[duo]

It didn't look good - I would be gutted for him if it meant his missed getting called up for England.  

[Yorkie]

Think it looked pretty ropey in the way he winced when bending. If it's a meniscus tear or owt like that then the amount of football he's played has nowt to do with it.