Sport
Why has Gordon been a complete different player in the Champions League?
Anthony Gordon filled his boots and then some by scoring four against Qarabag last week. Two of the 24-year-old’s haul were from the spot, but the Newcastle United winger was rampant as the Magpies all but confirmed their place in the last 16 of this season’s Champions League.
Qarabag visit the North East this week for the last 32 second leg, but the Azerbaijan champions only have pride to play for. Eddie Howe could feasibly rest Gordon such is his importance to Newcastle’s chances of making an even deeper run in the Champions League knockout rounds.
Gordon’s continental form is in stark contrast to his domestic struggles this season. While Gordon has 10 goals and two assists in just nine Champions League appearances, he has registered just five goal contributions in 21 Premier League games. He’s been a different player in Europe.
As a whole, Newcastle have been a different team in Europe too. Howe’s side are sitting slumped in the bottom half of the Premier League table following Saturday’s defeat to Manchester City while the Magpies have more than held their own against Europe’s best in the Champions League.
It’s been a similar story for Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. While Premier League opponents have been able and willing to sit deep and frustrate clubs with bigger budgets and better players, Champions League sides are more inclined to play their own game. That has suited Gordon and Newcastle.
Howe deployed Gordon through the middle against Qarabag to give Newcastle greater threat in quick transition. This is a ploy the Magpies manager has used many times over the course of the season so far as Newcastle continue to shuffle the pack in the final third of the pitch from game-to-game.
“Anthony has some really good qualities in that position [centre-forward],” said Howe when asked about Gordon’s role in the Newcastle United forward line and his duties in the team. “His pressing intensity but also his tactical understanding of when to do it and how to do it is of the very highest level.”
After a fast start to life on Tyneside, Nick Woltemade has struggled for consistent output in recent matches. The German initially made an impact as an attacking focal point, getting on the end of crosses into the box and causing general mayhem, but looks increasingly isolated in his performances for Newcastle.
Injury meant summer signing Yoane Wissa had to wait for his Newcastle debut and has shown good finishing instincts at times, netting three goals in a black and white shirt. Howe, however, is struggling to find the right attacking formula with Harvey Barnes and Gordon also part of the rotation.
Having spent £45m to sign Gordon from Everton three years ago, Newcastle placed a lot of faith in the England international and his development. They signed Gordon in the belief he would grow into one of the most dangerous wide players in the Premier League. Domestically, though, he has regressed this season.
Newcastle’s season could be defined by how much further they can go in the Champions League. They have a round of 16 tie to look forward to and have already demonstrated their capacity for upsetting the best teams in Europe – see how Paris Saint-Germain were dismantled by the Magpies two seasons ago.
If Gordon keeps up his continental form, Newcastle could do something special. The space afforded to him by Champions League defences is unlike the challenge he frequently faces in the Premier League, when opponents are more likely to sit deep and stay compact. Gordon could add to his tally before his Champions League campaign is over.
