Anthony Gordon a fish out of water?

I thought Anthony Gordon looked like a fish out of water hugging the right touchline on Wednesday evening where he was pretty ineffective, albeit having had the misfortune of coming up against Chelsea’s most impressive player, Marc Cucuerlla.

When Anthony switched flanks, he seemed energised, much improved.

So why didn’t he start on the left?

The answer is simple.

Whether it’s Joe Willock and Joelinton reacquainting themselves with one another or Harvey Barnes being accommodated, we have an abundance of talent on that side of the park. Even Alexander Isak can play there if needs be.

Our options down the right flank are more limited, a different matter altogether and frankly a concern.

I’ve recently advocated 4-3-3 isn’t working. The intense press is seemingly gone, the causal factor in our unprecedented injury crisis last season and to my mind, the reason we are no longer employing that formation and set of tactics.

Although I have to admit, it was wonderful to see the high press being deployed to such great effect against Chelsea, even if it was just in the first half.

Personally, I’d replace it with a 4-2-3-1 formation (and no prizes for guessing for who the 2 would be) but to do that you need a number 10 and we haven’t got one.

Things could have been different following Leicester City’s relegation in 2023. At the time, Harvey Barnes and James Maddison were both available. We elected for Barnes, a very good acquisition, a player with a sweet right foot who enjoys hugging the left flank and cutting in, often to devastating effect. Just ask West Ham!

Here’s the rub though, we signed yet another left winger when a number 10 was available and for pretty much the same money.

Love him or loathe him, and I know he’s often typecast as the pantomime villain, but James Maddison is a class act.

Okay, he didn’t make the England squad that came close to winning the Euros in the summer, but I’d put that down to Southgate’s shortsightedness rather than any failing on the part of Maddison.

I am not saying Harvey Barnes wasn’t worth the investment, or that he isn’t a great player. I’m also not saying James Maddison would have come to St James’ Park – I don’t know if we even tried to tempt him. What I am saying is that I think James Maddison would have offered Eddie Howe something different. At the very least, he could also be deployed on the left flank, in the exact same position as Harvey Barnes.

As for imagining a 4-2-3-1 formation, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali would act as the double pivot, supporting the back four with licence to drift.

I’d see Livramento and Hall bombing forward, inverting or otherwise, with Maddison supporting Isak in that number 10 position. Effective? You bet – although we’d still need a better option on the right side of midfield.