Newcastle United’s season continues to feel like a puzzle that almost makes sense but never quite fits together. One week there is hope, belief, and genuine excitement. The next, frustration creeps back in and familiar questions return.
That feeling followed the Magpies to Old Trafford, where another uneven performance left supporters searching for answers once again. From the Sky Sports studio, Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher did not hesitate in pointing to one issue that has become impossible to ignore, and at the heart of it sits Anthony Gordon.
Before a ball was even kicked, both pundits were aligned in their thinking. Newcastle were coming off a hugely positive display against Chelsea, especially in the first half where they looked sharp, aggressive, and full of confidence. Gordon was central to that performance.
He was electric down the left, full of running, purpose, and belief. He played a role in both of Nick Woltemade’s goals and completely unsettled Malo Gusto with his movement and direct play. It was the kind of performance that reminded everyone why Gordon is so highly rated and why Newcastle invested so heavily in him.
That display, however, also summed up the wider problem. Gordon has shown flashes of genuine top-level quality all season, but those moments have been too rare in the Premier League. In Europe, he has thrived.
Five Champions League goals tell their own story, and after the win over Benfica, Jose Mourinho singled him out for praise, calling him one of the best wingers in Europe. Those are not words handed out lightly, especially by a manager who has worked with some of the best attacking players of his generation.
Yet domestically, Gordon’s output has not matched his talent. There was a long stretch where he went more than 20 league games without a goal or an assist. His influence faded, confidence dipped, and Eddie Howe eventually turned elsewhere, handing opportunities to Harvey Barnes.
For a player once tipped to become Newcastle’s main attacking threat, that period was a setback, both personally and for the team.
In recent weeks, Gordon has shown signs of finding his rhythm again. His energy is back, his movement sharper, and his intent clearer. That resurgence could not have come at a better time, especially with a World Cup on the horizon.
Thomas Tuchel has kept faith in him, and Gordon remains a regular presence in the England setup. On talent alone, he looks likely to be on the plane next summer. But talent is only part of the equation.
To become a genuine starter for England, and to be the player Newcastle need him to be, Gordon must deliver more consistently. That was the core of the message from both Carragher and Keane, and it is hard to argue with their logic.
Carragher summed it up bluntly. He reminded viewers that around 18 months ago, Gordon looked as good as any left winger in the Premier League. At that point, it felt like a matter of time before he pushed on, became Newcastle’s standout player, and maybe even one of the league’s elite wide men. That leap has not happened.
There were rumours of a move to Liverpool when Newcastle faced financial pressure, and Carragher wondered whether that period unsettled him. Gordon’s ties to Liverpool are well known, and even though he came through Everton’s academy, such speculation can affect a player’s focus.
Carragher was clear, though, that the ability is there. He sees a special player, someone capable of causing serious damage at the highest level. But without consistency, potential means very little. Football rewards those who perform week after week, not those who shine once every few games.
Roy Keane echoed that sentiment. His view was simple and unforgiving, as always. At a big club, inconsistency is not acceptable. Turning up occasionally is not enough. The best players deliver regardless of the opponent, the venue, or the pressure.
Keane admitted he likes Gordon as a player and appreciates what he brings when he is confident and aggressive. But he also highlighted how frustrating it must be for managers, teammates, and supporters when a player of such ability does not impose himself regularly.
Gary Neville added to the critique during commentary, suggesting Gordon was playing too wide and too deep, almost taking himself out of the game. From a defender’s point of view, Neville felt Gordon was not enough of a threat in key areas.
It was a harsh assessment, and in some ways, it did feel slightly unfair. Gordon was trying. He dropped deep, drifted inside, and looked eager to make something happen. His work rate and desire were obvious, and Eddie Howe defended him after the match.
But effort alone does not win games. And this is where the analysis from Keane and Carragher truly hits home. Gordon had chances at Old Trafford. He could have scored. He could have changed the game.
Those moments passed, just as they have too often this season. For a winger with his speed, technique, and intelligence, goals and assists should come more naturally.
In many ways, Gordon’s form reflects Newcastle’s wider struggles. The team as a whole has lacked rhythm and consistency. Performances swing from impressive to underwhelming, sometimes within the same match.
The ambition is clear. David Hopkinson has spoken openly about wanting Newcastle to be among Europe’s elite by 2030. That vision demands players who can perform at a high level, every single week.
Newcastle already have someone with the tools to become world class. Gordon has the pace, the work ethic, the bravery, and the personality. What he lacks right now is reliability. Until that arrives, Newcastle will continue to flatter and frustrate in equal measure.
Keane and Carragher may have been brutal, but they were also honest. Their message was not that Gordon is failing, but that he is falling short of what he could be. For Newcastle, and for Gordon himself, that is the most worrying part of all.
