Journalist Greg O’Keeffe has claimed on the All Together Now podcast that Anthony Gordon doesn’t deserve to be starting for Everton due to his poor form.
The Everton academy product was the subject of intense transfer speculation over the summer with multiple Premier League clubs keen on landing the young winger, although the Toffees rebuffed their approaches and kept Gordon.
Indeed, the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur were all thought to be in the running for the 21-year-old.
However, they may well be ruing that decision as Gordon has failed to put in good performances for Everton since the interest emerged – specifically from Chelsea, who were reportedly willing to pay £60m.
O’Keeffe has now taken aim at Gordon following another poor display against Manchester United and believes he should now be dropped by Frank Lampard.
He said: “I think Dwight McNeil was hard done by with Anthony Gordon coming in, and I don’t think Anthony Gordon delivered from the get-go, really.
Should Gordon be dropped?
Yes!
No!
“I thought Gray had a go – there were bits I liked about Gray’s game – but Gordon struggled, for me, and I would suggest doesn’t deserve to be back in the team on Sunday against a team that [tried to] sign him.”
TIF Thoughts on Gordon’s situation at Everton…
There has been quite a drastic turnaround in form from Gordon over the last few weeks, with the 21-year-old having not registered a goal involvement since 30th August – just days before the window closed – when he netted against Leeds United.
At the time, Everton turning down approaches for Gordon looked to be a solid sign of them looking to build for the future and pinning their hopes on a bright academy star, but he now looks to have fallen away from the expectations many may have had of him at the start of the season.
Considering Frank Lampard decided to bring in Dwight McNeil over the summer for £20m, it likely won’t take much for him to be handed a start given the money it cost to sign him, and with Gordon’s form far from impressive, he may now be replaced by the summer signing if this run continues for much longer.