2022/23 Anthony Gordon

[Dixie1sixty]

To be fair what he's saying there doesn't really depend on a comparison to other players at the same age. He's talking about Gordon's level of performance last season relative to this season, not his level of performance relative to anybody else of the same age.

For reference Mane at 21 scored 23 and got 18 assists playing for RB Salzburg, and Salah got 12 goals and 8 assists, moving from Basel to Chelsea halfway through the season. He also had 17 international goals at the point he turned 22. Not as easy to find the info about Kanchelskis.

I don't think his performances thus far this season are wildly different to last either. The expectations have been raised beyond what is reasonable due to this summer's transfer shenanigans.

You've been quite selective with regards to M and S. Mané had a less than stellar 2 goals in 22 at Metz when he was 20-21, then improved at different teams afterwards. Salah scored 9 in 47 between the ages of 21-23 in a terrible league at Basle.

 

[Alexkrycek]

Why do you hate to see Everton players do this type of behaviour? What other Everton players do this type of behaviour.

Strong words from you considering your a Brighton supporter.

Because I like Everton and it’s players, history and ethos. He is a very frustrating player to watch, because he constantly falls over and begs off to the referee. I really dislike footballers who do this, including our own. I hated Mitoma waving the imaginary red card at the weekend.

Gordon is the ur-example of it currently in the Premier League. It would be a lot better for Everton, England and football in general if he would crack on with focusing on his game and not the “dark arts”.

 

[Lanolin]

I don't think his performances thus far this season are wildly different to last either. The expectations have been raised beyond what is reasonable due to this summer's transfer shenanigans.

You've been quite selective with regards to M and S. Mané had a less than stellar 2 goals in 22 at Metz when he was 20-21, then improved at different teams afterwards. Salah scored 9 in 47 between the ages of 21-23 in a terrible league at Basle.

I wasn't selective at all. I just spent about 2 minutes looking at the figures for when they were 21. I'm not sure if maths is your strong point though? Mane played his last game for Metz in August 2012, when he was 20. Salah left Basel in January 2014, when he was 21.

 

[MikeH72]

I don't think his performances thus far this season are wildly different to last either. The expectations have been raised beyond what is reasonable due to this summer's transfer shenanigans.

You've been quite selective with regards to M and S. Mané had a less than stellar 2 goals in 22 at Metz when he was 20-21, then improved at different teams afterwards. Salah scored 9 in 47 between the ages of 21-23 in a terrible league at Basle.

Gordon at the age of 20 couldn’t get a game for Preston, what’s your point again? He’s 22 in a few months time, @Lanolin is comparing players of that age, not 20.

 

[Lanolin]

Gordon at the age of 20 couldn’t get a game for Preston, what’s your point again? He’s 22 in a few months time, @Lanolin is comparing players of that age, not 20.

Not to mention the fact that lads who join African club academies in their mid teens may reasonably be expected to develop a bit later than those who've been in PL academies since primary school.

 

[Goat]

I don't think his performances thus far this season are wildly different to last either. The expectations have been raised beyond what is reasonable due to this summer's transfer shenanigans.

You've been quite selective with regards to M and S. Mané had a less than stellar 2 goals in 22 at Metz when he was 20-21, then improved at different teams afterwards. Salah scored 9 in 47 between the ages of 21-23 in a terrible league at Basle.

His performances this season are massively different.

Last season he was energetic, aggressive in the right places, this season hes lazy and is acting like a petulant child.

 

[Colonel Getafe]

Because I like Everton and it’s players, history and ethos. He is a very frustrating player to watch, because he constantly falls over and begs off to the referee. I really dislike footballers who do this, including our own. I hated Mitoma waving the imaginary red card at the weekend.

Gordon is the ur-example of it currently in the Premier League. It would be a lot better for Everton, England and football in general if he would crack on with focusing on his game and not the “dark arts”.

"dark arts"-?!? Jesus, you make it sound like he's trying to summon Beetlejuice in a blood ritual not win a free kick twenty yards inside the opponents half that will lead to absolutely nothing... ?‍

 

[catcherintherye]

I just think that’s part of being a footballer isn’t it. None of that is anything like what he’d have to deal with if he was an England international playing for one of the top 6. It’s pressure of course, but pretty small fry in terms of being an elite footballer.

I’ve never met the lad and so can’t comment on his attitude, but it’s not hard to see why people are saying he has a bad one. Lots of little things added up make it an understandable concern I think.

Of course it is. And at present he is not handling it well enough.

Re his attitude. I'm not so sure. It seems a playbook we play out a lot with most of our young players. I remember similar with Ball, Jeffers, Rooney, Rodwell, Barkley, Davies and now Gordon.

Maybe Gordon is the exception.

I personally think expectations have just risen to high, and he is not going to hit them.

 

[Dixie1sixty]

I wasn't selective at all. I just spent about 2 minutes looking at the figures for when they were 21. I'm not sure if maths is your strong point though? Mane played his last game for Metz in August 2012, when he was 20. Salah left Basel in January 2014, when he was 21.

It's crazy how difficult it is to have a friendly exchange on here these days.

In their early 20s Salah and Mané weren't pulling up any trees, and neither were many other decent players. That was my only point. I'm not taking responsibility for you not understanding such a simple point. Have a lovely evening.

 

[catcherintherye]

I’d take that return. Potentially 8 goal involvements in a maximum of 23 games would be fine in that regard. The issue is general performances need to improve. And 4 assists in 23 games looks a long way away when you’ve got 0 in your last 29.

The thing for me with Gordon, is exactly that really. I remember it was something Lampard as a player said, which was it's not about what you do on your best game, which is 1 in 10. It's what you do in your worst game, which is going to be most games you play.

Currently Gordon is a bit of a liability when hes not at his best. I get the feeling with him, if you start well against him, his head goes down and he is likely to start diving into tackles wildly.

You're not going to score goals every game for a club like us, but you can still contribute. McNeil doesnt hit his heights, but hes not a liability in the same way.

I get the same sense with Gordon that I did with Stones the season before he left. The big bid really went to his head, and he started trying to play like a 40m player, rather than doing the basics that got him to that point. Consistency ultimately triumphs brilliance, and theres no need not to be doing the right things each week at the very least.

 

[Lanolin]

It's crazy how difficult it is to have a friendly exchange on here these days.

In their early 20s Salah and Mané weren't pulling up any trees, and neither were many other decent players. That was my only point. I'm not taking responsibility for you not understanding such a simple point. Have a lovely evening.

Mate, there's genuinely nothing unfriendly in what I said. You said I was being selective and doubted the figures I'd given. I've just pointed out that the figures were right and it might have been an idea to check that before you came back claiming they weren't. Stuff doesn't always come across the way you want in writing so apologies for any unintended offence but I don't think it really needs you to take your bat home.

 

[Lanolin]

Of course it is. And at present he is not handling it well enough.

Re his attitude. I'm not so sure. It seems a playbook we play out a lot with most of our young players. I remember similar with Ball, Jeffers, Rooney, Rodwell, Barkley, Davies and now Gordon.

Maybe Gordon is the exception.

I personally think expectations have just risen to high, and he is not going to hit them.

As I said, I wouldn't really want to comment on his attitude because I have no idea, but I can see why the questions are there. The (on field) disciplinary issues, the clear drop in work rate, the ear cupping celebration etc are all things that raise questions. I said a while back I wasn't really happy with his comments when with the under 21s - the opportunity was there to say 'I just want to get my head down and play well for Everton' but he chose to say 'I really want to go to the World Cup' instead. It's not a big thing but those little things will affect the way you're perceived.

 

[Brett Angell Delight]

Wasn't great compared to who though? I'd love to see stats and forum posts about other wingers who developed well from when they were 21. What was Mané doing at 21? And Salah? And Kanchelskis? Etc etc. Perhaps he has put too much pressure on himself but my point being that players develop at different stages.

There are very few players who consistently deliver at such a tender age in a very difficult league and the ones that do are snapped up for huge fees early on.

He barely delivered at all, though. Consistently or inconsistently.

Got a few goals earlier in the season when more attacking burden was on him, which is great, but has he got any assists at all? I don’t think so, but could be wrong.

I get players develop at different stages, but at the present time he’s going backwards if anything.

Made up to be proved wrong but I can’t see him spending much more of his career at top flight level.

 

[MikeH72]

Of course it is. And at present he is not handling it well enough.

Re his attitude. I'm not so sure. It seems a playbook we play out a lot with most of our young players. I remember similar with Ball, Jeffers, Rooney, Rodwell, Barkley, Davies and now Gordon.

Maybe Gordon is the exception.

I personally think expectations have just risen to high, and he is not going to hit them.

You were saying he was one of the top talents in Europe the other week? So is he or is he not? Because if he is then I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect him to perform at a very very basic level in the Premier League (no one is demanding he scores 18 and assists 20)

 

[Zigzigsputnik]

I am amazed at his inability to cross a ball, surely they practice this day in day out.When the ball leaves his foot you would have absolutely no idea where it going to end up..