With so much money having been spent on Anthony Gordon, you’d imagine that Eddie Howe has a solid plan about how he fits into this team.
We’ve seen lately that Howe has his preferred eleven, however, that will have to change following the three-game suspension picked up by Bruno Guimaraes for his red card against Southampton in the Carabao Cup semi-final.
While many believe that Allan Saint-Maximin will be brought into the fold to play on the left with Joelinton dropping back into the middle of the park, it leaves the question of “How does Anthony Gordon fit into this team?”
It’s a good question, especially given the form of Miguel Almiron this season. Had Gordon come in during the summer transfer window as originally planned, I’d have said he goes down the right ahead of Almiron, no question, but now, even though his goalscoring form has dropped off, he’s still an integral figure, so you can’t really drop Almiron.
ASM has a point to prove and I believe Howe will give him that chance over the next few games, especially as Gordon is so new to the side. Maybe had he had more time to bed in, we might have seen Gordon starting over Saint-Maximin.
These are just short-term issues, however. Long term, we need to find a place for Gordon and, of course, Alexander Isak. That’s over £100m of talent we have to accommodate, but our team is doing so well, there just doesn’t seem to be a space for them right now. Although many will argue Isak should be starting ahead of Wilson who’s suffering a goal drought, and it’s hard to argue with that logic.
Gordon, however, is going to have to show something special in training to displace Almiron, Joelinton or Allan Saint-Maximin.
What a problem to have, though. Not that long ago, the team picked itself and even then we weren’t that strong, now we can’t find a spot for our two biggest signings. How times have changed.