Gordon goals prove real boost for player and Everton
It wasn’t a good day at the office for Everton yesterday, that’s an understatement, but one real positive was the performance and goals of Anthony Gordon.
The young Scouser opened his senior Everton acount against Brighton with two goals and could have had a treasured hat-trick had he managed to take another late chance.
But, although he didn’t get that strike and the match-ball to follow, his overall contribution was the one bright spot in an otherwise depressing afternoon at the Grand Old Lady.
One of the major criticisms that could previously be levelled at the young winger, was that while he exhibited great desire and willingness to work hard since coming into the first-team, he hadn’t shown the same level of attacking qualities that were evident in youth team football.
Well, he did show his finishing ability yesterday and netted twice in the second half to keep the Toffees’ slender hopes alive till late on.
It wasn’t to be of course and the Blues’ went down to defeat, but bar that late miss, Gordon had done pretty much everything he could to help his team get something from the match. He was certainly the home side’s best player.
This performance followed up another man-of-the-match contender effort in the draw at Chelsea in Everton’s last game before Christmas.
I have long been a fan of the 19-year-old and he’s been giving plenty of hints and indications that he could well be a genuinely good Premier League player.
Now, he’s added the first goals he really needed to begin to convince that he can fully contribute at this level of football.
Yes, the usual caveat applies and it’s still very early in his career and we’ve all seen plenty of talented young players break through into the Toffees’ first-team and after some initial promise, ultimately fail to progress. But, let’s hope Gordon won’t be one of them and that he can continue to develop and fulfill his talent to the full.
To do that he needs continued opportunities and while the current manager has been picking him, you suspect that this is the result of injuries piling up and not because he believes in giving young players a chance.
Rafa Benitez has spoken of his hopes for another young forward who has recently just broken into the first team. That player is Lewis Dobbin who has recently had a few moments culminating in a 20 minute or so spell against Chelsea where he looked a lively and pacey player.
Dobbin has a contract offer from the club as he current deal runs out in six months or so. So far he doesn’t appear to have signed it and I guess he is assessing whether he has a real future at Goodison Park before commiting pen to paper.
After the fiasco over Thierry Small who left Everton for Southampton in the summer after refusing a contract offer, the club need to manage young players more effectively. Given the financial constraints and poor results, trying to make the best use of home-grown players makes even more sense.
Obviously, no one can be sure whether these players will make it but the promise shown by Gordon and others like Jarrad Branthwaite, gives something hopeful to build on for the future and that’s certainly something this club and team needs at the moment.