It’s been a while since we’ve seen Gordon on the scoresheet in the Premier League, 19 games to be exact, and his performance in the 3-1 defeat to struggling West Ham was his latest no-show for Newcastle.
Eddie Howe’s side now find themselves down in 13th from their opening ten Premier League games, a far cry from their impressive form last season, and questions are starting to be asked about whether the man they spent £45 million to sign from Everton belongs in the starting eleven.
So, is it time for Howe to drop the 24-year-old?
Was West Ham the final straw for Eddie Howe?
Gordon was hooked off at half-time following two quick-fire West Ham goals that have Nuno Espirito Santo’s side a 2-1 lead at the London Stadium, alongside striker Nick Woltemade and defender Emil Krafth.
Again, the England international was almost entirely ineffective, failing to create a single chance, completing just 14 passes, and having a 0% cross accuracy rate. Gordon did have a shot on target though, so it wasn’t all bad.
Speaking after the game, Howe downplayed the significance of bringing Gordon off, insisting he could have substituted anyone, but it feels like a moment in which the manager is starting to become a little frustrated.
“I could have taken anyone off,” he said at his post-match press conference.
“That is a reflection of where we were at that stage of the game.
“It is very rare for me to feel that way. I don’t think I have since I have been Newcastle manager. I felt that the team needed shaking up at half-time, that’s why I did what I did.”
Howe is right in suggesting that now Newcastle player had a good game against West Ham, but for Gordon, it’s the latest in a long line, in the Premier League, at least. Not only is he yet to score, but he hasn’t provided a single assist so far this season.
The underlying numbers aren’t any better. His passing has been off, completing 103 across all ten games at a success rate of 80.5%, he’s only managed to create seven chances, and completed two crosses, which is poor considering he has a 6’6” target to aim for in the penalty area.
A different man in the Champions League
What makes Gordon’s Premier League form all the weirder is that he has been unbelievable in the Champions League. With four goals and one assist, including a 90th minute strike vs Barcelona, he’s like a man possessed.
His goal and an assist in Newcastle’s 3-0 win over Jose Mourinho’s Benfica was by far the left winger’s best performance in that famous black and white shirt over the past 12 months, with the brace he scored in the 4-0 win over Union St.Gilloise a close second.
It’s hard to say why Gordon has been some much better on the continent that domestically, perhaps it’s because he has the extra second to make a decision before opposition defenders pounce that he doesn’t have in the Premier League.
Interestingly, Gordon has impressed in his time with the England camp too this season. Thomas Tuchel is clearly a big fan, starting him in four of England’s last six games, with Gordon scoring in the recent 5-0 win over Latvia.
Who could replace Anthony Gordon?
The obvious answer is Harvey Barnes, who has also impressed in the Champions League with three goals in his three games. In the Premier League, he’s yet to score or assist, like Gordon, but since he’s only featured for 390 minutes across his ten games, three of which have been starts, that’s not quite as egregious.
Barnes is more direct that Gordon, so it would take a slight tactical shift from Howe if he were to give him a good run of games, have his side drop deeper and allow opposition to have the ball more in order to release Barnes on the counter.
Howe’s other option is Anthony Elanga. Although the Sweden international prefers to play on the right, he did play on the left several times when he was at Forest, and he’s two-footed enough to make it work.
Like the other two, Elanga has no Premier League goal contributions to his name. The former Man United winger would be a bit of a hail Mary from Howe, but at this point, it really can’t get much worse.
Verdict
Gordon will likely retain his place in Newcastle starting XI for their Champions League game against Athletic Club on Wednesday, and he’s earned that due to his form in Europe’s elite club competition.
The trip to Bournemouth on the weekend is a different story. Gordon needs some time off the pitch and Howe needs to mix it up. We all know the definition of insanity after all.