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Howe can axe Gordon by unleashing 18yr old Newcastle gem who’s “similar to Mbappe”

Newcastle United’s new season has not started the way anyone at St. James’ Park had hoped. After the high of winning a trophy last year, the expectation was for the team to push on and establish themselves as a consistent force.

Instead, the opening weeks of the campaign have been defined by a single, frustrating problem: the team simply cannot score goals.

The exciting, fluid attack that fans became accustomed to has seemingly vanished, replaced by a hesitant and often predictable unit that is struggling to break down opponents.

The statistics tell a very clear and worrying story. After the first six matches of the Premier League season, Newcastle has one of the lowest Expected Goals (xG) totals in the entire division.

This metric, which measures the quality of scoring chances a team creates, shows that the Magpies are generating very few genuine opportunities.

They are in the company of teams that are expected to fight relegation, not compete for European spots. The table below illustrates just how severe the attacking struggle has been for Eddie Howe’s side.

Premier League TeamExpected Goals (xG)
Burnley4.5
Aston Villa5.0
West Ham United5.0
Newcastle United5.2
Wolverhampton Wanderers5.6

This sharp decline can be traced to a few different issues. The team’s recruitment over the summer was cautious, and on the pitch, the manager’s tactical experiments have not quite worked.

A shift towards using a back three at times has often left the team looking unbalanced, blunting their attacking edge and making them appear reactive rather than proactive.

In this difficult environment, almost every attacking player has seen their form dip, but one player in particular has come to symbolize the team’s collective struggles: Anthony Gordon.

Last season, Gordon was a vital source of energy and direct running on the left wing. He ended the campaign with a respectable tally of goals and assists, becoming a key part of the team’s identity. This year, however, that player has been missing.

He has yet to register a single goal or assist in the league. His only goal so far was a late consolation in a Champions League match. A red card and subsequent suspension disrupted his rhythm, and since returning, he has looked like a shadow of his former self.

The confidence and fearlessness that defined his game have been replaced by hesitation. He is predictable in one-on-one situations and seems to lack the conviction to make the difference in tight games.

For the fans watching, it is a painful transformation, and it has led many to wonder if a change is needed.

When a team is struggling for a spark, sometimes the best solution is to look to the future. For Newcastle, that future might already be at the club in the form of an 18-year-old South Korean winger named Park Seung-Soo.

Signed just this past summer, the teenager has already generated a real buzz. Before his move, he was making history in his home country, becoming the youngest player ever to feature in the K League.

He arrives with a reputation as a dynamic, right-footed left-winger who thrives on taking defenders on in one-on-one situations.

His style of play is so exciting that one leading Asian football expert, John Duerden, made a comparison that would make any fan take notice, suggesting his playing style “is similar to Mbappé.”

While that is incredibly high praise for such a young player, it highlights the raw potential and explosive attributes he possesses.

Since arriving in England, Seung-Soo has done everything right. His performances in pre-season were impressive enough to earn him a spot on the bench for the opening league game.

In the youth teams, he has continued to stand out, showcasing the direct running, pace, and unpredictability that the first team is currently lacking. Of course, he is still a raw talent.

Throwing an 18-year-old into a struggling Premier League attack is a risk, but it is also a potential masterstroke. With other attacking signings still finding their feet or out injured, and with Gordon so badly out of form, the situation seems to be calling for a bold move.

Unleashing Park Seung-Soo would be a clear signal of intent. It would show that the club is not afraid to trust its young talent and that it is seeking a new energy to lift the entire squad.

For supporters growing weary of watching the same ineffective patterns of play, the sight of a fearless teenager running at defenders could be the exact spark needed to reignite the season.

Gordon may well rediscover his best form in time, but the team needs a solution now. Taking a chance on Seung-Soo is not just about replacing an out-of-form player; it is about injecting a dose of belief, excitement, and pure, unrefined talent into a team that has forgotten how to attack.

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