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Whether Newcastle United have been on a good run of form or not this season, one player in right-sided defender DeAndre Yedlin has often come under criticism from his own supporters on Twitter for his performances and actions.
The USA international has made 94 appearances – including 28 in the Premier League throughout the 2018/19campaign – since joining the Tyneside outfit in 2016, but he never really seems to have won over a big chunk of the St James’ Park faithful, as was the case again on Monday night against Arsenal.
While there is no doubt about his lightning-quick speed – a hugely useful tool as either a full-back or a wing-back – he does often flatter to deceive when it comes to the defensive side of his game, as well as making a difference in the final third for his team – surely a modern-day necessity for a player in his position.
The 25-year-old certainly suffered against the Gunners, with his WhoScored rating of 6.01 the worst of any United defender on the pitch, and the lowest of any outfield player that started the game at all aside from Ayoze Perez.
The American struggled against a fearsome Arsenal attack, while the fact that he wasted the one decent crossing opportunity he had at the Emirates Stadium tells you all you need to know about the quality of his attacking play.
Considering Rafa Benitez is generally a defensively-minded manager – something he probably needs to be as manager of Newcastle – it may not be a surprise that he only has one goal and two assists all season, but it is perhaps less understandable given he has largely been featuring as a wing-back in more recent months.
With three centre-backs behind him and cover from central midfielders Yedlin should have a little more freedom to get forward and make a difference, but he just doesn’t appear to possess that quality and shows few signs that he is improving in that respect either.
Those Toon fans that are critical of the former Spurs man may well be on to something, and he will surely be a very unfortunate man if he isn’t replaced by a new signing during the duration of the summer transfer window.
