With American right-back DeAndre Yedlin possibly on his way to East Anglia for a loan deal, Norwich manager Alex Neil would have two right-backs at his dispense. While deep squads that can grind their way through a rigorous 46 game campaign are a requirement in the Championship, the Premier League is the opposite. A side needs a consistent group of players that can develop a routine week-in and week-out. The Championship has lots of random Tuesday night away games all over the country. The Premier League is mostly just on weekends, and it is easier to develop into a rhythm. So will Whittaker end up in the starting line-up or could Yedlin come swooping in and take the first team spot?
The Case For Whittaker: Although watching Steven Whittaker defend could be a horror show at times last year, he really made some big strides under Alex Neil. He went from a liability at the back to a vital part of our defense during the key games down the stretch. Given where he was when Alex Neil took over, it’s astounding that he started all three of our playoff games. He seems to have a very good chemistry with Alex Neil and works well in his system. He also has an overwhelming advantage in the experience category, having made 29 Premier League appearances with Norwich in his first two years with the club.
Despite the fact that he has grown greatly and has good experiences, plenty of negatives arise. His form was for one half of a Championship season was poor. Will he be able to keep that up in the Premier League? His pace is also a slither of that of Yedlin. I just cringe thinking of a 31-year-old Whittaker being ran at by players like Eden Hazard, David Silva, Raheem Sterling, etc. Even beyond his pace, sometimes his defending last season just wasn’t good enough. He was often the weak link at the back in the first half of the season. In a campaign in which we will need every point we can get to survive, that’s not good enough.
The Case For Yedlin: His pace alone is enough to help both our attack and our defense. By getting forward, he can help set up goals, and helps out the attack just in numbers. He also plays in a decent cross, setting up numerous goals during his time with MLS-side Seattle Sounders. He even set up the second USA goal in their 2-2 draw vs. Portugal at the World Cup last year. By being able to commit forward, opposing attacks are scared to come forward due to his pace on the counter attack. This is not to say that teams wouldn’t come forward, but they would certainly have to be cautious of his pace, even while attacking.
His accomplished crossing and ridiculous speed suggest he would be a better option, but there are some drawbacks. He has made just one appearance for Tottenham, and it will be interesting to see how he copes with a full Premier League season. He does have a little bit of experiences in big matches, as he came on as a substitute in three matches at the World Cup for the USA.
But Yedlin has never consistently played in a league like this. His attacking prowess suggests that he would be very helpful, but what about defending? He did it for some periods of time at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and it looked good. But can he match up with some of the best players in the world for a full 90 minutes? Back in America he had a lot more freedom to go forward, simply because there wasn’t as much quality up against him. An MLS winger might not capitalize on it, but most Premier League left midfielders will be able to make Yedlin pay if he is ever out of position attacking. He has not faced anything in the MLS like what he would see in England, and that scares me a little bit.
The Verdict: Despite him lacking experience, and sometimes tending to help out in that attack too much, the answer for me is DeAndre Yedlin. I am not saying that he is ready to start every match, but he would be a significant improvement if we could get him. Different games call for different situations. However, while grinders are needed in the Championship, we need game-changers in the top flight. We need people that can change the entire complexion of the match just by being on the pitch. At the end of the day, Yedlin and his pace provide just that.
I have nothing against Steven Whittaker, and I still think there is a place for him in this squad. While he might not be used to running at teams and helping get off to a quick start, he could be a very useful substitution. If we are protecting a 1-0 lead on a freezing night at Stoke, I would bring on Whittaker to help slam the door shut. Alex Neil will want to keep him involved after his brilliant performances towards the end of last season, but the young American is the better choice.
I certainly hope we can get him.
Do you agree with Alan? Leave a comment below about which right-back you would start, and how (or if) you would get the other one involved.
