Is DeAndre Yedlin’s Career Going Downhill?
In the 2014 World Cup, DeAndre Yedlin flew around the field with dazzling pace that made his stock soar all across the world. He parlayed that performance into a high profile transfer to Tottenham Hotspur and his career seemed to be headed towards stardom. Things haven’t turned out that way for the American right back. Instead he finds himself on the outside looking in at the United States Starting XI and sent out on loan to Sunderland. Yedlin’s career seems to have stalled out as quickly as his trademark runs down the right flank.
It’s worth noting that Yedlin is only 22 years old. He still has plenty of time to right the ship and become one of the United States’ biggest stars. Right now, that doesn’t seem very likely. He needs to find some career mometum soon if he has any hope of fulfilling his significant potential.
Yedlin’s biggest challenge at the moment is finding a true positional home. US gaffer Jurgen Klinsmann used Yedlin mostly at right back in the 2014 World Cup, but as of late, has used him more in the right midfield role. Critics of the speedy former Sounder claim that he lacks the defensive instincts to play right back effectively and thus, is better deployed as a winger. The flipside is that his end product isn’t advanced enough to play on the wing at the Premier League level. Either his skill or his positioning must improve for him to find a constant position where he can thrive.
While many US fans were disappointed to see Yedlin loaned to Sunderland, it’s a move that will give him the opportunity to kickstart his career. If he would have remained at Tottenham his only hope of playing time would be as a seldom used Premier League substitute or as a Europa League starter. In contrast, his athleticism is enough to give him a chance at regular Premier League minutes at Sunderland. There he will have a chance to apply his trade in a high level European League which is the best thing that could happen for his development. The added pressure of helping Sunderland fight relegation is an added bonus. Yedlin and his supporters should be thankful that he has a chance to play his way through this awkward stage of his career. It would be far worse if he was buried on Tottenham’s bench or loaned out to a lesser league.
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DeAndre Yedlin’s career is currently stalled, but it isn’t a hopeless situation by any stretch of the imagination. While his World Cup performances sparked his big career move to Tottenham it may have unduly raised the world’s expectations for the young speedster. If he hasn’t made that huge move he’d still be plying his trade in Seattle and making MLS All Star teams. That might be better for his image, but it’d surely be worse for his career development.
Yedlin must take hold of his opportunity at Sunderland to prove that he is a Premier League level player. If he acquits himself well he will find playing time whether it be at Tottenham or somewhere else in the EPL. If he does that, his career will once again be on the upswing we saw in 2014.