Graeme Souness says Barcelona will be having second thoughts about their £70m signing of Anthony Gordon after underwhelming World Cup displays against Croatia and Ghana.
Graeme Souness has questioned whether Anthony Gordon is ready for life at Barcelona, warning that the winger’s conservative performances at the World Cup won’t cut it at Camp Nou, The Telegraph reports.
“It is absolutely fair to say they will have watched their new £70m winger Anthony Gordon in England’s opening group games and wondered what they have bought,” Souness wrote.
The former Liverpool captain compared Gordon unfavourably to Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, saying: “If Yamal is doing that, what is Gordon doing?” He added that England’s 0-0 draw with Ghana was “as disappointing as it was uninspiring,” with Gordon struggling alongside Noni Madueke.
Souness suggested Marcus Rashford — the man Gordon effectively replaced at Barcelona — should start against Panama instead, noting Rashford “has looked lively” off the bench, though he questioned why the player needs added incentive to perform.
He also took aim at Thomas Tuchel’s tactics, criticising the use of two holding midfielders and saying “everything from back to front was safe,” with no creative spark from Elliott Anderson or Declan Rice.
Souness warned that England’s passive approach could be punished by sides like Morocco, Norway and Japan, even as the Three Lions look set to win Group L.
The column closed with a tribute to the late football coach Alan Murray, whom Souness called “a loyal, loyal friend.”
NEWS NOW:
