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DeAndre Yedlin

It frustrates me that many people simply see American and Asian players as marketing tools.

I've not seen anyone here say anything remotely like that though. I certainly didn't. I said I hoped he'd be a great player for us and that's obviously the ideal scenario. But also pointed out that raising the club's profile even a little bit in America will probably pay for his wages while he's with us, even if he doesn't make it as a first-teamer. If you can find anyone here who has recommended signing an Asian or American player "simply as a marketing tool" I'll be very very surprised. What you'll find is plenty of people acknowledging the reality that players from certain countries have an added bonus when it comes to marketing the club. I don't like the commercialisation of sport, but to deny it's happening seems a bit odd.
 
Judging by his interviews, he seems quite intelligent and at ease with explaining himself to interviewers. Must be the university education. :p

Bring him in, and let's see if Naughton can up his game sufficiently by January to stay our rotation RB: if so, loan Yedlin out, but if not, then bring him into the 25 and sell Naughton. We can't really lose with this transfer. If Naughton wants to leave right away, then promote Fredericks and then keep him around until January. If that's too risky, just play Kaboul there again. Really, the RB position seems sorted.
 
I've not seen anyone here say anything remotely like that though. I certainly didn't. I said I hoped he'd be a great player for us and that's obviously the ideal scenario. But also pointed out that raising the club's profile even a little bit in America will probably pay for his wages while he's with us, even if he doesn't make it as a first-teamer. If you can find anyone here who has recommended signing an Asian or American player "simply as a marketing tool" I'll be very very surprised. What you'll find is plenty of people acknowledging the reality that players from certain countries have an added bonus when it comes to marketing the club. I don't like the commercialisation of sport, but to deny it's happening seems a bit odd.

It wasn't directed at anyone in particular. More so based on comments I've seen across this forum, Twitter and Facebook. There are indeed lots who think it's just - or even primarily - a marketing tool, completely disregarding any ability the player might have.
 
It wasn't directed at anyone in particular. More so based on comments I've seen across this forum, Twitter and Facebook. There are indeed lots who think it's just - or even primarily - a marketing tool, completely disregarding any ability the player might have.

But are - and this is my memory of the best American/Asian players -

Park Ji Sung
Clint Dempsey
Lee Young Pyo
Shinzi Kagawa
Brad McBride

so good that no domestic/European alternative could be found? I don't think so. After his leadership in the World Cup team Im gutted we no longer have Dempsey, growing support will bring money in from different routes.

The players who the US really do flourish in producing are goalkeepers - Tim Howard, Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan. But keepers don't sell shirts.
 
But are - and this is my memory of the best American/Asian players -

Park Ji Sung
Clint Dempsey
Lee Young Pyo
Shinzi Kagawa
Brad McBride

so good that no domestic/European alternative could be found? I don't think so. After his leadership in the World Cup team Im gutted we no longer have Dempsey, growing support will bring money in from different routes.

The players who the US really do flourish in producing are goalkeepers - Tim Howard, Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan. But keepers don't sell shirts.

Afte his heroics at the World Cup, I wouldn't be surprised if a high number of Tim Howard shirts are sold.
 
Afte his heroics at the World Cup, I wouldn't be surprised if a high number of Tim Howard shirts are sold.

They did have fans there with the Howard beard!!!!

For what it's with I think it's great having a tie into American players. Their typically very professional, athletic and not expensive. In the future it will become a real force with the infrastructure their putting in.... More so than any African nation IMO

And if it sells more shirts then great

It's something that makes me laugh when people talk about the Asian market. In my experience it's all about fake shirts and therefore no value to the club. In the US that doesn't happen and the commercial side is significantly untapped and potentially huge
 
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yedlin.jpg
 
But are - and this is my memory of the best American/Asian players -

Park Ji Sung
Clint Dempsey
Lee Young Pyo
Shinzi Kagawa
Brad McBride

so good that no domestic/European alternative could be found? I don't think so. After his leadership in the World Cup team Im gutted we no longer have Dempsey, growing support will bring money in from different routes.

The players who the US really do flourish in producing are goalkeepers - Tim Howard, Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan. But keepers don't sell shirts.

I'm not sure - but you'd have to say the same about every nation. It's also relative to the team who is signing that player as well. Of course there is a striker better than Brian McBride, but could Everton have attracted him at that point? That's also insinuating that Brian McBridge is a marketable name. I don't really think he would be one to sell loads of Everton shirts.

Shinji Kagawa was rated as one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe when Man Utd signed him. Clint Dempsey was an opportunistic signing at the end of a transfer window. I'm not sure they're great examples of marketing tools. Don't make it out that I'm saying something I'm not - Kagawa WILL sell loads of kit, but he was bought because he is a very good footballer.

DeAndre Yedlin is not going to sell bucket loads of kits with his name on the back. Yes, he has the potential to do that, but to say it's purely a marketing tool right now is rubbish.

Again, I haven't specifically read it on this forum this time, but it's something I see a lot around the internet when Asian and American players are mentioned.
 
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I'm not sure - but you'd have to say the same about every nation. It's also relative to the team who is signing that player as well. Of course there is a striker better than Brian McBride, but could Everton have attracted him at that point? That's also insinuating that Brian McBridge is a marketable name. I don't really think he would be one to sell loads of Everton shirts.

Shinji Kagawa was rated as one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe when Man Utd signed him. Clint Dempsey was an opportunistic signing at the end of a transfer window. I'm not sure they're great examples of marketing tools. Don't make it out that I'm saying something I'm not - Kagawa WILL sell loads of kit, but he was bought because he is a very good footballer.

DeAndre Yedlin is not going to sell bucket loads of kits with his name on the back. Yes, he has the potential to do that, but to say it's purely a marketing tool right now is rubbish.

Again, I haven't specifically read it on this forum this time, but it's something I see a lot around the internet when Asian and American players are mentioned.

I haven't seen anyone on here say that he's purely a marketing tool.

Just that the potential marketing impact is a positive for the club (and him) if we sign him and that it means that he's essentially cheaper than any transfer fee/wage combo would indicate.

No different to what Real Madrid were saying when signing Beckham or Bale, although at a different scale.
 
I am happy to be proved wrong but I cannot see this guy is going to do anything other than make up the numbers. I think Naughton is a liability but think this bloke might be a similar level. We shall see. Hopefully I'm wrong. As others have said, the American league hasn't exactly spawned dozens of greats
 
I reached out to a friend who is a huge Seattle Sounders fan and watches nearly all of their games and the National Team's. I really haven't seen him besides the World Cup cameos, and this is what he said. Some interesting stuff in there. Sounds like he has the raw tools, but might be lacking in positional sense (been down this road before).

He also mentioned the idea of him growing into a winger, a la Gareth Bale, and from seeing him play, that seems possible too.

"He's got elite, blistering speed and can play some decent crosses with both feet. He's got a willingness to take on players and can break down defenses no his own. There was a reason he came in at RM instead of RB until Jurgen's hand was forced. I think he could end up at either position.

That being said, as our right back, his positioning has actually gotten worse this year. He's been at fault on a lot of cheap goals because he is either too far forward in the attack or not picking the right times. Sometimes he doesn't track back, sometimes he sets his feet wrong, and sometimes he's just completely in the wrong spot defensively. I think all that can be improved, but to be totally cynical about it, it hasn't noticeably gotten better in the last year.

Then again, Sigi Schmid has no idea how to utilize or develop talent.

He has all the tools be a really good RB. He really needs playing time though. Hope it's a sign and loan type deal (hopefully back to Seattle)
 
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