2019/20 Anthony Gordon

[mill]

Didn’t realise he had just turned 19. I thought he was 22 or something and just looked young.

That’s encouraging. Whist his overall impact has been fairly limited, he has shown some good decision making and maturity on the ball. Once the physical side of things starts to develop more and he gets more game time under his belt he’ll be a decent player.

 

[Eggs]

....he’s a good size and moves well with the ball and he has quality in the top third of the pitch when he has possession.

Thus far, his opportunities have been more to do with doing a job whilst the opposition has possession, he needs to get himself into the top third where he is more effective.

 

[Terrarian]

A few run outs at the end of a dead season will do him good. You need to play in the mens game to get used to it,a bit obvious but you know what I mean.

 

[little elfin]

TBH I expected him to gave away a penalty for silly foul on that winger in dying minutes.
But he is mature than I think lol

 

[billyblue80]

So want this lad to do well

 

[Cels]

He really needs regular football so we fans can start to destroy what confidence he has and run him out of the club. Seriously though, I would love to see the lad do the business for us and become 'someone' at Everton.

 

[catcherintherye]

....he’s a good size and moves well with the ball and he has quality in the top third of the pitch when he has possession.

Thus far, his opportunities have been more to do with doing a job whilst the opposition has possession, he needs to get himself into the top third where he is more effective.

You often talk about that stand out moment where you think a player has a chance. Against Norwich when he carried the ball up the pitch, got his head up and picked a pass was that for me. He's very slight but he's clearly quick and diminutive. Against Liverpool there was a similar shimmy (before he lost the ball ironically) but moved his hips and took a couple of players out of the game.

I watched Dowell a reasonable amount, but he didn't have that turn of pace at all. I think it makes a lot of difference. Football is not the most physical game anymore and if you have speed/agility to get away from players you will always have a chance.

I think if Gordon starts to run at players he will cause them a whole manner of problems as he changes direction and speed in a dynamic way.

 

[Eggs]

You often talk about that stand out moment where you think a player has a chance. Against Norwich when he carried the ball up the pitch, got his head up and picked a pass was that for me. He's very slight but he's clearly quick and diminutive. Against Liverpool there was a similar shimmy (before he lost the ball ironically) but moved his hips and took a couple of players out of the game.

I watched Dowell a reasonable amount, but he didn't have that turn of pace at all. I think it makes a lot of difference. Football is not the most physical game anymore and if you have speed/agility to get away from players you will always have a chance.

I think if Gordon starts to run at players he will cause them a whole manner of problems as he changes direction and speed in a dynamic way.

...agree, definitely a better mover than Dowell. I think Brands particularly likes players who can make ground when in possession and I recall the run you highlight. Gordon has a lot going for him and they obviously like what they see.

 

[Kever10]

You often talk about that stand out moment where you think a player has a chance. Against Norwich when he carried the ball up the pitch, got his head up and picked a pass was that for me. He's very slight but he's clearly quick and diminutive. Against Liverpool there was a similar shimmy (before he lost the ball ironically) but moved his hips and took a couple of players out of the game.

I watched Dowell a reasonable amount, but he didn't have that turn of pace at all. I think it makes a lot of difference. Football is not the most physical game anymore and if you have speed/agility to get away from players you will always have a chance.

I think if Gordon starts to run at players he will cause them a whole manner of problems as he changes direction and speed in a dynamic way.

Dowell didn't have the turn of pace but always appeared stronger to me, something he was never given enough credit for. If he had had similar opportunities in the 1st team as Gordon has had, things might have been different, but he was unfortunate to time his run under Koeman/Allardyce/Silva who had zero interest.

I would love for Ancelotti to maybe have a look at him in the summer and work with him for a while. If he turns out good, he could save us millions. If he doesn't, we pay him a basic wage and fill the squad out with another homegrown player for 12 months. The way Ancelotti talks about Gordon, I think he'd be a good manager for Dowell to work under.

 

[catcherintherye]

...agree, definitely a better mover than Dowell. I think Brands particularly likes players who can make ground when in possession and I recall the run you highlight. Gordon has a lot going for him and they obviously like what they see.

As always this is a wild comparison, and I am talking in style not levels but to me he moves quite similarly to a young Mcmanaman, who was built like a twig but could carry the ball and sway either way. From people who watch him more he can finish too and has good technique and a good strike, so a fair bit of it is about him starting to really believe in himself (Mcmanaman was a very confident player).

Also worth noting that he notes the work he's done with Ancelotti as critical. I know a lot of people, even after the derby were keen to send him out on loan. He wouldn't get to work with Ancelotti regularly if that were the case.

I mean Kean is probably a good comparison to him. There are certainly things Kean does that are better (he's more powerful, and seems to have a good sense of goal and instinct) but Gordon is far more graceful and comfortable carrying the ball.

 

[catcherintherye]

Dowell didn't have the turn of pace but always appeared stronger to me, something he was never given enough credit for. If he had had similar opportunities in the 1st team as Gordon has had, things might have been different, but he was unfortunate to time his run under Koeman/Allardyce/Silva who had zero interest.

I would love for Ancelotti to maybe have a look at him in the summer and work with him for a while. If he turns out good, he could save us millions. If he doesn't, we pay him a basic wage and fill the squad out with another homegrown player for 12 months. The way Ancelotti talks about Gordon, I think he'd be a good manager for Dowell to work under.

I think there's a fair bit of truth in that. I have written something in the youth thread essentially saying the instability did that generation of young players no favours, and Dowell probably more than most. Had an Ancelotti got hold of him at 18 and really drilled him you never know what may have happened. It's one of the big regrets of the last 4 years for me, that we've essentially stood still, spent a load of money on ordinary players and chased a lot of potentially talented young players who would care about the club in the process.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Dowell didn't have the turn of pace but always appeared stronger to me, something he was never given enough credit for. If he had had similar opportunities in the 1st team as Gordon has had, things might have been different, but he was unfortunate to time his run under Koeman/Allardyce/Silva who had zero interest.

I would love for Ancelotti to maybe have a look at him in the summer and work with him for a while. If he turns out good, he could save us millions. If he doesn't, we pay him a basic wage and fill the squad out with another homegrown player for 12 months. The way Ancelotti talks about Gordon, I think he'd be a good manager for Dowell to work under.

I think Dowell was miscast a bit. The only exceptional thing he had was his passing and long range shooting. That's the beginning of a CM skillset. He'd have needed to develop the defensive side a good deal, but maybe he could have.

 

[mightymoyes]

I think Dowell was miscast a bit. The only exceptional thing he had was his passing and long range shooting. That's the beginning of a CM skillset. He'd have needed to develop the defensive side a good deal, but maybe he could have.

hes played a few times there for England and done alright, the defensive side of his game is obviously what needs worked on

 

[Eggs]

As always this is a wild comparison, and I am talking in style not levels but to me he moves quite similarly to a young Mcmanaman, who was built like a twig but could carry the ball and sway either way. From people who watch him more he can finish too and has good technique and a good strike, so a fair bit of it is about him starting to really believe in himself (Mcmanaman was a very confident player).

Also worth noting that he notes the work he's done with Ancelotti as critical. I know a lot of people, even after the derby were keen to send him out on loan. He wouldn't get to work with Ancelotti regularly if that were the case.

I mean Kean is probably a good comparison to him. There are certainly things Kean does that are better (he's more powerful, and seems to have a good sense of goal and instinct) but Gordon is far more graceful and comfortable carrying the ball.

....good post. I like categorising a players ‘type’ by comparing them to one who is well known and McManaman is that type. As you know, I also believe the most talented don’t go on loan and are better off training with the first team coaches.

Gordon has a stock move (very similar to Coutinho) where he cuts in from the left and curls the ball into the top right hand corner. As a defender you know he’s going to do it but can’t stop it. I’m convinced he’ll produce one of those.

 

[catcherintherye]

....good post. I like categorising a players ‘type’ by comparing them to one who is well known and McManaman is that type. As you know, I also believe the most talented don’t go on loan and are better off training with the first team coaches.

Gordon has a stock move (very similar to Coutinho) where he cuts in from the left and curls the ball into the top right hand corner. As a defender you know he’s going to do it but can’t stop it. I’m convinced he’ll produce one of those.

I watched the 94 game back against Liverpool and in all honesty I was blown away by Mcmanaman, he was slightly before my time in 94, I watched but couldn't really appreciate, he was brilliant that night, the best player on the pitch by some distance. His slight build and the way he swayed reminded be a little of Gordon.

I have seen the stock move like Coutinho, but he's a more languid and powerful runner than him.