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Could Tottenham’s DeAndre Yedlin Switch Positions?

By Alexander Balano

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 29: DeAndre Yedlin of Tottenham Hotspur controls the ball during 2016 International Champions Cup Australia match between Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico de Madrid at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 29, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 29: DeAndre Yedlin of Tottenham Hotspur controls the ball during 2016 International Champions Cup Australia match between Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico de Madrid at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 29, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images) /
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Having a player play in a new position isn’t new for Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino. Look no further than Eric Dier, but will this move help DeAndre Yedlin out? Chances are that it might actually work, yes.

It’s being argued after the recently concluded pre-season tour in Australia that DeAndre Yedlin has looked better than Kieran Trippier. To the point that if the season were to start today, or tomorrow, that Yedlin would be Kyle Walker’s backup.

must read: Tottenham: Could David Moyes Help Yedlin on Loan?

Now this isn’t to say that the 22-year-old doesn’t have a shot at overtaking Trippier to be Mauricio Pochettino’s second-choice right-back right now, but it seems that the Argentine manager likes the former Burnley defender more at the moment.

A good example would be Pochettino’s starting XI against Atlético Madrid yesterday.

DeAndre Yedlin was given just one hour to show how far he’s come after a year-long loan spell with Sunderland under the current England boss, Sam Allardyce, in a new position — left-back. Whereas Kieran Trippier remained at right-back.

For the most part, Yedlin held his own. He looked good despite playing out of position.

As a natural right-back for his entire playing career (he could also play as a right midfielder/winger when needed), should left-back be another position that the U.S. international learns this season so that he could be another versatile player that Mauricio Pochettino can use?

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 28: Vincent Janssen of Tottenham Hotspur is pressured by DeAndre Yedlin during a Tottenham Hotspur training session at AAMI Park on July 28, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 28: Vincent Janssen of Tottenham Hotspur is pressured by DeAndre Yedlin during a Tottenham Hotspur training session at AAMI Park on July 28, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images) /

Over the past two seasons, one thing that Pochettino covets is having players who can play in multiple positions.

This gives him flexibility to select the strongest starting XI possible on match days.

Two perfect examples of players who can operate in different roles is Eric Dier and Son Heung-Min. The former was brought in as a center-back two summers ago.

With Kyle Walker being injured and Vlad Chiricheș an odd choice as cover after selling Kyle Naughton in January 2015, Eric Dier would get some opportunities to play at right-back.

Overall, the experiment didn’t last that long as he was more of a central defender, though he didn’t look that bad at times. It just wasn’t a good fit regardless.

Then, last season with Nabil Bentaleb and Tottenham unable to quickly agree on a contract extension, Mauricio Pochettino decided to try Eric Dier as a defensive midfielder.

He’s had some games in a holding midfield role with Sporting Lisbon before signing with Tottenham so it wasn’t exactly new to him.

But the transition wasn’t going to be easy — or so we all thought. Dier is now Pochettino’s starting defensive midfielder after a breakthrough season.

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Let’s now take a look at Son Heung-Min.

The South Korean international joined Tottenham last summer to give Pochettino another goal scoring threat at the forward and midfield positions after compiling 49 goals and 14 assists in 165 Bundesliga games split between Hamburger SV and Bayer Leverkusen.

Obviously eight goals and five assists last year with Tottenham isn’t something to scoff at, but he didn’t exactly produce like everyone had expected after Spurs spent £22 million on him.

A foot injury didn’t help matters, along with the 24-year-old adapting to the more physical nature of the Premier League, but at times he showed why he was a proven goal scorer in Germany.

Son’s goals against Qarabağ FK in the Europa League, Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Watford in the Premiership as well as Leicester City in the FA Cup are just a sliver of what he could provide in Mauricio Pochettino’s offense. That being, another threat.

Being able to play across all three attacking midfield positions from left to right and striker too, gives Pochettino a lot of leeway in who to sub out when someone is tired — or worse, injured — while still keeping the likes of a Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli, Érik Lamela or Harry Kane still on the pitch.

So what does this all have to do with DeAndre Yedlin in the end?

Next: Tottenham Won't Be Looking for Centre-back Cover

If Yedlin is now being tried out at left-back, it’s obvious that he won’t be able to win the starting job over Danny Rose any time soon.

But going against Ben Davies however, this is something that is actually doable. The only problem of course is having a right-footed defender trying to send in crosses with his non-dominant left foot. It’ll be awkward and most importantly not effective.

Though with Yedlin’s pace and improving defense, he could be a much better upgrade over the Welshman if Mauricio Pochettino continues experimenting with ways to get the American defender on the pitch.

All in all, with Champions League football coming up this season, Tottenham needs extra bodies to rotate so perhaps this is why the 22-year-old has been getting some playing time recently. And so far, he has used it to his advantage and has looked good.

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