The ultimate Anthony Gordon truth since Liverpool interest amid Newcastle United ‘body language’ concern
A look at whether Anthony Gordon deserves criticism for his Newcastle United performances this season
Anthony Gordon should have been roaring into this season with a point to prove. Shunned by Gareth Southgate in the summer, Newcastle United supporters were screaming for their Player of the Year to impact games at Euro 2024.
Just four minutes in the final group game frustrated Gordon, whose uber confidence in press conferences - and comical bike accident - reportedly put off the former Three Lions boss. With Lee Carsley, his former mentor at under-21 level, being appointed England manager on an interim basis, Gordon had extra fuel to take 2024-25 by storm.
However, that has far from transpired. Now repping a different haircut, Toon fans have been screaming for Gordon to bite the bullet and ditch the mullet after five Premier League games.
The 23-year-old, at least via the old-fashioned eye test, has looked a shadow of his usual self. Interest from Liverpool in the summer emerged as Newcastle were scrambling to get over the FFP/PSR deadline and sceptics have questioned whether his loyalties lie elsewhere.
Just the one goal and no assists from five fixtures is a stark contrast to the exuberant, effective wideman who tortured top-flight full-backs last season. But when delving deeper into the stats, has Gordon been as bad as made out?
He is averaging, give or take, the same amount of touches (45.2) per 90 minutes as 2023.24 (44.4). On the flip side, his productivity in possession has tumbled. Gordon is being dispossessed 1.52 times per 90 minutes this season, compared to 1.25.
Small margins, but they can shade the difference between a successful attack and a poor one. There is also nothing more frustrating for supporters than seeing a winger lose the ball cheaply.
His 3.91 shot-creating actions falls short of the 4.45 he managed a year ago. Carries per 90 minutes has dropped from 4.3 to 3.48, with pass completion tumbling to 71.8 per cent - a 4.3 per cent decrease.
Interestingly, Gordon is now intercepting the ball 0.44 times per 90 minutes, an increase from 0.22. This slightly discredits the notion that his defensive output is non-existent, with fans questioning the winger’s body language.
That statistic is, however, offset by him making 0.62 fewer tackles than he was last season. In a game becoming dominated by data and analysis, stripping a debate back to the basics provides the best solution.
Only a fool would suggest Gordon has looked himself this season. And yes, his body language has given off superior vibes - the anathema of Eddie Howe’s philosophy.
Harvey Barnes is threatening Gordon’s spot in the team given they both prefer that left-wing spot. Eyebrows were raised when Barnes signed given Newcastle forked out £40million to Everton just months earlier.
The 26-year-old’s injury-ravaged campaign kicked the selection dilemma down the road for 12 months - with Gordon taking centre stage. But this is now giving Howe his biggest headache, not least because Alexander Isak is also stuttering in an unusually rigid frontline.
Gordon’s stats are underwhelming but there are some seeds of optimism. Should he click into gear, best believe Newcastle’s form will likely follow suit.