082514_hyndmanemerson_isi_bpi_jt_ipswichtown_fulham_01456 Joe Toth/isiphotos.com
On the Record

Here's What They're Saying About Emerson Hyndman

Dallas native Emerson Hyndman, the youngest player in the ASN 100, made a positive impression in his first two starts for Fulham. And then he was benched. And now? Here is Laura Greene's report.
BY Laura Greene Posted
August 25, 2014
2:47 PM
IT LOOKS LIKE Emerson Hyndman may be one of few positives to come out of Fulham’s season, as the club struggles to adapt to life in the Championship.

The team from SW6 have had a tumultuous 12 months, in which it has played under three different managers, been relegated from the Premier League, and is finding points—any points—difficult to come by.

It’s not going to be an easy task for Felix Magath’s side to prosper this term. The Cottagers currently sit rock bottom after four games, its worst start to a league campaign since 1956. And there isn’t much to smile about at Craven Cottage.

Unless, that is, you look at the club's recent academy graduates—one of whom is the teenager from Dallas, whose exciting emergence may offer some respite for the struggling club’s support.

On the Friendsoffulham.com forum in November 2012, fans were already discussing Hyndman’s future. As Jamie88 commented, “I'm confident he's going to be a useful little player but I do worry about how small he is! He's going to need to beef up a bit I feel if he is to make it big! Unless he becomes Messi-esque.”

The five-foot-five Hyndman has trialed with Liverpool, Everton, and Newcastle United and spent a period with Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon, as well as Spanish clubs Real Mallorca and Villarreal. Celtic and Manchester United fans have also sung his praises, yet it was Fulham who managed to snag the attacking midfielder in summer 2011.

“I had quite a few trials, and got a feel for how a lot of different clubs worked. For me, Fulham had everything that I wanted. There’s a great focus on bringing young players through and the chance is there for them,” Hyndman reflected on the club’s official website in April 2013.

A month earlier he made a return to the United States to take part in the Dallas Cup in March 2013. Speaking to The Dallas Morning News during the tournament, Fulham academy director Huw Jennings spoke highly of Hyndman.

“People will look at his diminutive stature and think, ‘How can this guy play in England?’ For me, he represents the embodiment of what we see as a talented midfield player of the future. Emerson has a fantastic passing range as a center midfield player, his passing stats are normally the highest [on the squad], and tellingly, he’s got one of the best percentages of passes completed in the final third. It tells you a lot about his game.”

Jennings, formerly of Southampton, where he helped to nurture the talents of Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Adam Lallana, should know future talent when he sees it.

After being handed his first professional contract at Fulham in April 2013, the highly rated teenager won the 2012-13 Under-18 Premier League title, the side’s third consecutive win. Hyndman also made it as far as the FA Youth Cup Final last term, where in the first leg against Chelsea, he scored his side’s second goal in a 3-2 victory. Fulham lost out to the Blues with an eventual 7-6 aggregate defeat.

On October 4, 2013 Pluto wrote on Friendsoffulham.com: “High hopes for this guy—two quick feet, good work rate, can pass and looks to have an excellent football brain. Has looked good whenever I've seen him. Hopefully the physical side of his game will come with age, and it's good to hear he's already improving in that respect.”

Hyndman was promoted to the Fulham first team ahead of the current 2014-15 season. Magath’s focus on bringing academy players into the senior set-up—coupled with the summer exit of a raft of experienced players—means that the German manager’s squad now features 16 players aged 21 or under.

“It’s a big season for me, it could be the one where I make my breakthrough and I’ll work as hard as I can to make it happen," Hyndman said when asked what he hoped to achieve in his inaugural first-team campaign. "I know that the opportunity is there, so it’s up to me to impress and show that I’m capable. I don’t see why the team can’t have a successful season.”

The attacking midfielder featured in a full 90 minutes for Fulham’s first two fixtures of the season. The opener—the side’s first game in the second tier of English football since May 2001—was a 2-1 defeat to Ipswich at Portman Road, where Hyndman played on the left side of Magath’s diamond formation—a game in which eight debutants were fielded in his starting XI.

Despite the disappointing result, Hyndman made a strong impression. As Dan wrote on Fulham fan site Hammyend.com:

“It was still a surprise when his name was part of a youthful line-up for Fulham’s Championship opener at Ipswich, and Hyndman belied his tender years with [an] accomplished display of real maturity. It wasn’t the kind of debut that had the Sky pundits purring—there wasn’t a showy pass or a key tackle but, for me, it was more impressive because of that.”

In game two, Fulham suffered a 1-0 home defeat against visitors Millwall on August 16, this time Hyndman playing 90 minutes in a central role in a 4-3-3. Over the two games, Hyndman recorded a pass success rate of 91 percent, according to Squawka, yet he hasn’t played since.

Magath has been moved to defend his decision to go with youth this term.

Following the Millwall defeat, he told Skysports.com, “I decided to take young players into the squad this season and I'm very happy with them and how they worked. I hope they go on working and will not be too disappointed, losing confidence. I'm sure we will develop with this team and make our point.”

Hyndman echoed his boss’ sentiments when speaking with London’s Evening Standard: “It is still early days and we’re still getting used to each other as a new group. It is great to be playing alongside these younger guys in the first team as I have been playing with them for the last two years. When you look at the way we have been playing—OK not the results but it is good for the future.”

On the Friendsoffulham.com forum on August 17, Max Headroom typed: “I know there is all the fuss about Pat Roberts, and quite a bit about George Williams, but maybe the best of the lot is going to be Emerson Hyndman. I have been so impressed with him. For someone so young, he just oozes confidence on the ball. I am surprised how good he has been, but boy have we got a player on our hands....”

Arthur responded, “I can't remember the last time I saw a young player look as accomplished as Hyndman has done in his first two matches. Considering his build, he is remarkably good at withstanding a challenge. Unable to depend upon strength, he uses his athleticism and agility to resist.”

“We are not panicking yet,” Hyndman added in his Evening Standard interview. “We are a strong group, we realize we have been unlucky but at the same time we need to work on things. We have put that behind us now and are concentrated on Wolves.”

In Fulham’s third tie of the Championship season, a 1-0 home loss against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Hyndman did not make the matchday squad, or even the bench.

On August 23, Fulham suffered its worst defeat of the season yet—a 5-1 away defeat against Derby County, this time Hyndman watched from the sidelines but was an unused substitute.

The pressure will now be on Magath more than ever. And, following his side’s capitulation against Derby, the six-time Bundesliga winner has agreed that changes need to be made. He was quoted in The Guardian on August 23, as saying:

“That was the worst performance but the good thing is that it is clear we have to change something. The result was very bad and so now is the time to change. A few minutes after the game is not the time to talk about what we will change but for sure there will be new players in.”

At a club known in recent times for an itchy trigger finger when it comes to dismissing managers, it remains to be seen whether Magath will remain in charge for the rest of the season. Either way, it’s going to be an uphill battle and some fans are already losing their patience.

“As each match has gone by so far, I am getting more and more convinced that Felix puts a blindfold on and picks names out of a hat,” said Matthew Arter on Fulham’s Facebook page.

Elsewhere Burt wrote on Friendsoffulham.com on August 18, “I can't remember the last time I was so excited by the amount of young talent we have in the squad. When these guys start to gel and mature a bit, we have the makings of a formidable team. Keep the patience... This won't happen overnight.”

Perhaps Hyndman could have an explosive impact for the Cottagers this term, or maybe he’ll continue to be filed under “one for the future” as the season progresses. Whatever the case, it will be interesting to see how the American develops at a club that, despite its precarious position, retains such a strong emphasis on youth.

We will be revisiting Emerson Hyndman in On the Record as the 2014-15 campaign plays out—to see how he evolves, and is perceived, at the club.

Have you seen Hyndman play? Do you think he is destined for big things? Let us know your thoughts below.

Laura Greene is a frequent ASN contributor. Follow her on Twitter

Post a comment

AmericanSoccerNow.