MINNEAPOLIS ā A dream summer might have seen Emerson Hyndman on the field this preseason for his new club, AFC Bournemouth, as they toured the United States last month. Or, he could have been starting for the US menās Olympic soccer team in Rio de Janiero. Neither of those things happened, but if the young American midfielder is feeling sorry for himself, he isnāt showing it.
Bournemouth played one match in the US ā a 4-0 win over Minnesota United FC on July 20 ā and Hyndman watched it in street clothes, having suffered a twisted ankle on the first day of Bournemouthās training stint in Chicago. After the Minnesota match, manager Eddie Howe called the injury āunfortunate,ā but didnāt seem too worried about his 20-year-old midfielder missing time: āHeās got plenty of time ahead,ā Howe said.
Hyndmanās move from Fulham to Bournemouth offers him the opportunity to play in the English Premier League, but more importantly it gives him a chance to establish himself in a team with some regularity. At Craven Cottage, Hyndman made 25 appearances in two seasons. The clubās league struggles ā along with the subsequent turnover of managers and the club's constant dog-fight for points ā made it difficult for the then-teenager to earn regular minutes.
But Hyndman insists his excitement over the Bournemouth move isnāt just about getting his big shot. He says his primary motivation was to grow as a player.
āIām going into it with an open mind,ā he says. āI want to learn from my teammates as well as the coaching staff, and to just take everything on board.ā
A chance to play on one of the biggest stages in soccer doesnāt hurt either, though, and Hyndman says heās relishing the idea of playing in the EPL: āPlaying in such a big league with a team that plays really exciting football, itās just a really exciting time for me to join Bournemouth and I want to help the team wherever I can.ā
Indeed, Bournemouth is a particularly exciting team for a player like Hyndman. While the success of the Cherries in the Premiership last season was eclipsed by the remarkable story of Leicester City winning the league, Bournemouthās meteoric rise from the basement of the English football leagues to Premier League survival was no unremarkable feat.
In 2008, Bournemouth clung desperately to the bottom rung of English professional football, beginning the 2008-09 season in League 2 (the fourth division) with a 17-point penalty. Seven years later, the Cherries embarked on the first top-flight campaign in the club's 117-year history, but faced the Herculean task of surviving the full season in the English Premier League.
Bournemouth did more than just survive: they shocked neutral observers. The team ended the season in 16th place, five points clear of relegation. Along the way, the season hit its high point when Bournemouth traveled to London and beat Jose Mourinhoās Chelsea 1-0 on Dec. 5. A week later, they hosted Manchester United at Dean Court and beat the Red Devils 2-1.
With Howe at the helm, Bournemouth has approached the top flight with youthful Ʃlan. Hyndman joined the club in the summer along with 20-year-old Jordan Ibe, who impressed for Liverpool last season.
Howeās embrace of bright prospects will give American observers hope that Hyndman will eventually get a chance to impress for the Cherries.
āMy goal is to try to break through and learn,ā he says. āEverything else ā starts, goals, or USMNT caps ā will follow from that.ā
That isnāt to say Hyndman is satisfied as he deals with frustration and failure. At the mention of the Olympics ā the US failed to qualify for the tournament following a playoff loss to Colombia ā his face washes over with a mix of deep annoyance.
His response is practiced but raw; he says thereās āstill frustrationā at what amounts to a massive missed opportunity, both personally and collectively.
āOver two legs we didnāt do enough against Colombia,ā he says āIāll still watch (the Olympics), but obviously itās tough not to go. I know how everyone felt about it going into it. We all wanted to be there, but it just wasnāt meant to be.ā
Looking ahead, however, Bournemouth begins its new season at home Sunday against Manchester United and its new manager, Mourinho. Hyndman will be perhaps a step behind, having missed most of preseason, but he is determined to play his part.
āObviously, I have to get used to adjusting to the style of play,ā Hyndman says. āThat might take some time, but I just want to take this opportunity with the club.ā