Greg O’Keeffe has been left in awe over Anthony Gordon’s performances this season while speaking on the All Together Now podcast.
The 20-year old was handed consistent starts and minutes in the first team under former boss Rafael Benitez, which may be one of the better things he did for the football club, as Gordon has become a regular this season, starting more games than the likes of Alex Iwobi and Andre Gomes, who are much more experienced.
Will Lampard bring success to Everton?
Yes!
No!
Gordon has continued to impress under Frank Lampard, registering an assist and a goal since the Englishman’s arrival at Goodison Park, while managing to restrict the number of minutes players such as Iwobi, Anwar El Ghazi and Dele Alli have been handed, although the latter two have only arrived recently.
O’Keeffe has been very impressed by Gordon’s performances this season.
“One of the, let’s call it a success story if you like, one of the positives definitely of an otherwise bleak era with Benitez was the fact that he gave Anthony Gordon a lot of minutes, and Anthony Gordon got himself playing really well.
“He’s gone on to another level, beyond the initial potential we saw. I think physically, he’s stronger. He looks more like a man out there now in terms of how he can win the ball back. His attitude is Everton, that’s what you want to see. That’s Everton, isn’t it? You know, a working-class lad who has got the ability, but he’s also got the effort, the passion.
“He has still got room to grow as well. Physically, I don’t think he’s fully there yet. Say, if you compare him to like Ross Barkley at his age, or even Wayne Rooney, I think Gordon will develop a bit more, but his ability – just fantastic.
TIF Thoughts on Anthony Gordon…
Having come through Everton’s academy, it will be a lot easier for Gordon to become a fan favourite, but even if he was not from the local area, it’s more than likely Evertonians would be loving him given his attacking output of three goals and two assists this season, while also being inside the top four when it comes to shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (FBRef).
Gordon spent the second half of last season on loan at Preston North End, but despite only starting five times, he’s taken Goodison Park by storm this year, and the club will be hoping that their ambitious plans of moving to a new stadium and having a ‘tactical genius‘ – as Gordon labelled Lampard – in charge can convince him to stay with Everton for the long term.
In other news: ‘That’s unusual’ – Greg O’Keeffe blown away by 24 y/o’s ‘best performance’ for Everton