Gordon is at the very least an OK squad player. They're taking a chance on him improving and being significantly more than that, because they can afford to do so. It's exactly what all the top clubs do, sometimes they get it right and sometimes they get it wrong. Time will tell how it goes with Gordon, him being wanted by Newcastle isn't proof of him being a world beater just like him having less Premier League assists in the last 12 months than Dango Outtara (who is younger than him and has been in the country for 6 days) isn't proof that he's rubbish.
I go along with all of that.
He hasnt really kicked on at all this season. I think there are a few reasons for that, some of that undoubtedly the player himself, and also in no small part the manager.
As I stated in the summer, for the prices mentioned (top line 40-50m) I am a seller. In general I am happy to take the hedge against potential, and specifically in our case that is doubly so (as players dont seem to kick on as much). With the exception of Rooney, we have probably got the best of most such hedges, and I'm happy to continue that.
Ashworth is a bright man and a good judge of talent. He may see things we dont, or sees how he can work in a system. I'm not convinced hes shown he can be clinical enough in the final third, but maybe with coaching it can come.
There are 3 broad generalisations I've made there, and they can all be true simultaneously. I'm sure people will want to die on different hills, but for me, all of it can be true at the same time.