With most of it mate. I think he has been woefully let down and on a hiding to nothing, hes been isolated and hes needed support, an expectation was created that he could be the creative outlet the innitiitive taker - but the whole front unit bar him isnt competent. id agree at 21 that is unfair, when he should be incrementally working his way into the game, i also think its unfair on the likes of Onana and Garner incidentally - but they are viewed and judged that bit differently - the reasons why i think are valuable areas of reflection.
Id actually accept hes been off form, or that he has been impacted by environmental factors, his isolation in the front unit, the expectation, perhaps his own frustration the reaction toward him - which has been partly venomous this thread is illusive, the scenes after Southampton were disgusting. Hes 21. He basically wasnt sold as anything never mind the hope - that was an assumption made by the fans, would that have happened if there wasnt interest from Chelsea - i think thats an unfair point you lay at the lads door and part of the problem.
Maybe Chelsea turned his head, it would be stupid for it to not, but i absolutely do not see a lack of commitment - he chased shadows in games i was looking - Wolves and he was one of our busiest players, he gave the free away at Southampton on the edge of his own box - as a wide forward, its a myth and convenient to support a point of view. Onana at times has puts in less effort - again judged differently.
I agree he has talent and is a way of putting it all together so you get flashes and bursts - but again i look at Onana, we can all see the talent, but know he need support and nurturing incrementally in his development to be there player he could be. Yet we are tolerant of Onana in that or even James Garner but not Gordon despite having similar background profiles and experience of senior football - that is a reflection point as to why.
Its immensely sad is what it is, the treatment of the lad has really given me pause of thought as to what we have become holistically. Weve let him down. The likes of Newcastle can see it and want to take advantage of it, they smell value and they arent wrong.
Its an absolute trend how we fail young players, time and time again, season in, season out - we wonder how other clubs can produce these players and get amazing value - because they support them both in terms of development and environment - we dont and we set them up to fail - we are the worst at it in the PL. Which leads us to a place where we fight relegation every season and look for Danny Ings to get us out of trouble, by selling of players who could give us a decade of service - for nothing and grow and develop - James Ward Prowse destroyed us two weeks ago and no one would have took him here at 21 - in fact i think i suggested it. Its part of the problem and we are just repeating the same mistake with young flash/Gordon.
We are building nothing and if you think we are you are fooling yourself, expect more of the same...
