Everton got off to a bright start in the Premier League this season with wins over Tottenham Hotspur (September 13), West Bromwich Albion (September 19), Crystal Palace (September 26) and Brighton & Hove Albion (October 3), but we’re struggling of late, drawing with Liverpool (October 17) and losing to Southampton (October 25), Newcastle United (November 1) and Manchester United (November 7).
We’ve scored only two goals in our last three games, and Bernard (1 goal), Richarlison (1) and Alex Iwobi (0) have only scored two goals between them, so is it time to give Anthony Gordon a chance? The 19-year-old has managed only 256 minutes of football this season and was reduced to playing for the U23s recently as he’s not getting many opportunities under Carlo Ancelotti.
What’s gone wrong for Gordon?
The talented winger rose through the youth ranks to our first-team in 2019 and has gone on to make 16 appearances in all competitions, notching four assists.
Gordon boasted 16 goals and five assists in 31 outings for the U18s while scoring eight goals and making four assists in 28 games for the U23s, so big things were expected of him.
He was outstanding in the reserves last season (nine appearances, six goals, two assists) and earned his call-up to the senior squad on merit. Gordon featured in 12 games across the board, but he hasn’t managed to pick up where he left off.
This campaign, he’s made only three appearances in all competitions, the last of which came nearly three weeks ago. Gordon has bagged three assists, but he’s not getting much of a look-in under Ancelotti.
The 19-year-old was left out of the matchday in our 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur (September 13), played in our EFL Cup win over Salford City (September 16), was left out of our 5-2 win over West Bromwich Albion (September 19), played in our EFL Cup win over Fleetwood Town (September 23) and was left out of our 2-1 win over Crystal Palace (September 26).
Gordon was then an unused substitute in our 4-2 win over Brighton & Hove Albion (October 3) but was out of the matchday squad in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool (October 17).
He made his first Premier League appearance of the season in our 2-0 defeat to Southampton (October 25) and was an unused substitute in the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United (November 1).
Gordon missed our 3-1 defeat to Manchester United (November 7) as he was with the U23s, but I think it’s time to bring him back. He assisted a goal for the reserves over the weekend after a blistering run down the wing, so why isn’t Ancelotti looking at him?
What has David Unsworth said?
Our reserve team manager has been full of praise for Gordon after his impressive performance for the U23s, telling the Liverpool Echo: “Crucial (getting 90 minutes), but also his application and the way he adapted (was great). The way he went about his work and his quality on the ball was outstanding. He could have had a couple of goals.
“He did a great job for the team, and that’s all you can ask when the first team players step down. They put a real shift in, because you know the quality’s there. I thought the three of them were outstanding.”
“We’ve got really good young players, and sometimes you have to be a bit patient. I know we’re all in a rush these days to put our stamp and our mark on things, but the time will come.
“When the time comes, they’ve got to stay in the team, that’s the big thing. They’ve got to perform and stay in the team. They’re young lads in terms of elite players, international players. So young and there’s so much time.
“Their time will come.”
In other news, this is why Shani Tarashaj terminated his Everton contract