Anthony Gordon. Quite the enigma.
The most productive Newcastle United player this season with goals and assists.
Anthony Gordon has started 29 NUFC matches this season and has contributed 19 direct goal involvements, scoring 14 goals and getting five assists.
However, a lot of debate due to the fact that 12 of the direct goal involvements (scoring 10 and two assists) have come in the Champions League, whilst only five direct goal involvements (scoring three and two assists) in the Premier League, a goal and an assist in the Bournemouth FA Cup match completes the Anthony Gordon picture, so far.
Anthony Gordon made all the headlines this midweek with his goals and performance in Azerbaijan.
However, the former Everton winger is always a major topic of conversation amongst Newcastle United fans.
In my experience, comments I read on social media are so often negative about Anthony Gordon. Wanting to make out he is the villain of the piece, only a matter before he gets a move back to Merseyside, only playing for the reds next time.
Often maligned, it seems to me that there is always a higher bar when it comes to assessing Anthony Gordon’s performances.
Admittedly, his red cards in key matches against Brighton in last season’s FA Cup Fifth Round and in our first home game of the season against Liverpool, did infuriate me.
The reality is though that it was Gordon who was the one to suffer just under a year ago, his three match suspension meaning a rejuvenated Harvey Barnes got the nod to start on Sunday 16 March 2025, and the rest as they say, is history.
The sending off at the start of this season against Liverpool and the penalty miss the season before at Goodison, meant the cranks went into overdrive, Gordon being accused of deliberately conspiring to blot his copy book on those occasions because of the opposition. The fact that he’d previously scored against Liverpool for Newcastle United, not once, but twice, seemingly to count for nothing.
Then there’s Wednesday night in Baku.
Newcastle United 4-0 up, Anthony Gordon, already with three goals to his name placing the ball on the penalty spot after being fouled by the Qarabag keeper.
Kieran Trippier, captaining the team in the absence of Bruno Guimaraes, attempting to prise the ball away from Gordon, in an attempt to seemingly share the joy around the team. Nick Woltemade watching on as Gordon stood his ground to make it 5-0 on the night, scoring his tenth Champions League goal in nine appearances this season.
I commented straight after the match ended, in the ‘instant fan reaction‘ feature on The Mag, that the argument started by Tripper and which continued as the players left the field at half-time, was a rather unedifying spectacle.
I later read with interest (on social media of course), Newcastle United fans claiming that Nick Woltemade isn’t too enamoured with having to play in a deeper role, Anthony Gordon leading the line at Tottenham and in Azerbaijan, even Will Osula being deployed in that role at Villa Park last Saturday.
As it happens, it looks like Eddie Howe has found a role where big Nick looks more effective, without added pressure of having to be the main provider of goals for the team.
What if Anthony Gordon had been persuaded by Kieran Trippier and Nick Woltemade had missed that penalty?
I am 100% of the view that Anthony Gordon was right to stand his ground. And that Kieran Trippier, whilst I understand his motivations were for all the right reasons, was plain wrong, both in suggesting Anthony Gordon deprive himself of the opportunity to score a fourth goal and for the way in which he continued the ‘discussion’ as the players left the pitch at half-time.
Also important though to point out as well of course, that after the final whistle the pair of them (Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier) were interviewed together, laughing and joking about what had gone on in the heat of the moment. Both understanding where the other one had been coming from. No lasting issues, what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch.
Anthony Gordon despatched the spot kick and that was the only really important lasting part of that incident.