NEWCASTLE. Anthony Gordon may not have intended to spark debate when he spoke to the BBC ahead of England’s tepid goalless draw with Ghana on Tuesday evening, but his words have left many a Newcastle supporter raising an eyebrow.
The former Magpies winger, who completed a £70 million move to Barcelona this summer, was simply outlining why he and his England colleagues are thriving under Thomas Tuchel, championing a more direct, high intensity approach that had fans on the edge of their seats in the World Cup opener against Croatia.
Yet one particular comment stood out.
“We want to play [an] athletic style of football. We want to play a Premier League style of football which I think suits me and my strengths,” Gordon said on the television broadcast ahead of kick off.
The question is straightforward: if a Premier League style of football plays to your strengths, why have you just walked away from it?
The dream move
There are numerous reasons why a switch to Barcelona might prove impossible to turn down. Gordon himself described joining the Catalan giants as a “dream”, while the appeal of Spanish sunshine and a reported doubling of his wages would be enough to tempt virtually any footballer.
But those 18 words linger. At St James’ Park, Gordon proved the ideal match for Eddie Howe’s high intensity approach, consistently encouraged to press with aggression, exploit space and utilise his explosive speed to unsettle opposition back lines. Newcastle’s set up seemed custom built for his attributes, and it is hardly surprising that his finest performances arrived under Howe’s guidance.
Barcelona, in stark contrast, present an altogether different proposition. While they have developed under Hansi Flick, their approach remains considerably more possession oriented and measured than the counter attacking game Gordon has candidly acknowledged suits him most effectively.
Ghana performance raises questions
Anyone questioning how the England international might adjust to a more technical brand of football need only look back at Tuesday’s goalless draw with Ghana. Gordon found it difficult to impose himself against Auxerre full back Marvin Senaya, seldom posed a threat in advanced areas and was ultimately withdrawn just past the hour mark as a furious Tuchel hunted for a winner.
Gordon could still flourish at Barcelona and silence every doubter. But when the winger himself concedes that a Premier League approach suits him best, it is difficult not to question whether he has just departed the ideal setting for him to excel.
Reporting by Azuka; Editing by Betandsured team.
