Flippin' brilliant Kazenga is new Gazza!

[Scottish Mag 3]

Kenny Wharton admits he was scared stiff by the star of Newcastle's last FA Youth Cup-winning side.

 

But he is far from fearful for the future of the lads he has helped steer to the brink of this year's final, 22 years later.

 

And one in particular reminds him of the wayward genius who guaranteed United's kids of `85 were more than all right.

 

When Paul Gascoigne made his full first-team debut on the left side of the Magpies' midfield at Southampton in August that year, Wharton was the left-back who had to cover for the teenager's wandering instinct.

 

"He frightened the life out of me because he kept on going all over to get the ball and run with it," recalls Wharton, then 24, and a homegrown hero himself.

 

"But that was just the way it was with Gazza, because he was so, so special on the ball. Special full stop."

 

That was beyond dispute at St James's Park even before Gascoigne had led Newcastle to their Youth Cup triumph three months earlier.

 

During his subsequent years as a player and a youth coaching career - at Middlesbrough as well as Newcastle - spanning well over a decade, Wharton has seen a few would-be "new Gazzas" emerge.

 

But few have made the grade.

 

And, as explained by Gascoigne's fellow star graduate of the class of `85 - striker Joe Allon - in a BBC documentary last week, the once deep well of North East talent has recently run dry, or drained elsewhere.

 

Yet Wharton believes that, from the roots laid down at their Academy, United have produced a crop of youngsters to compare with their best ever.

 

And one youngster in particular to compare with Gazza.

 

"Kazenga LuaLua is our Gazza", says Wharton. "He's a very special talent, but crackers as well."

 

Quite a tribute to a boy who only turned 16 in December, and is therefore yet to commit his long-term future to Newcastle.

 

But Wharton adds: "I've no problem talking about Kazenga, because he wants to play in our first team, he sees a chance for himself here and he's already been involved with the senior squad.

 

"He plays anywhere. A bit like Gazza, he's such a talent that if you tell him `this is your position, you've got to stay there', you won't get the best out of him."

 

LuaLua is the cousin of United old boy Lomana, and enjoys matching his relative's somersaulting goal celebrations.

 

"He's a lively lad," adds Wharton. "When he went up into the first team I imagine he was quite quiet, but with us, he is our dressing room."

 

But LuaLua is a veteran next to 15-year-old striker Ryan Donaldson in a side whose youth is perhaps its greatest asset.

 

"We've always given lads a chance in the Under-18s at a younger age," says Wharton. "I think it's vital for their progression.

 

"Ryan was involved even last year, when he hadn't long been 15, even though it's a massive jump for a schoolboy to play with full-timers who are doing weights and strength work."

 

Not as great a jump, however, as that between youth team and first team.

 

And it's that chasm which instils caution in Wharton's otherwise upbeat message.

 

"The 1985 boys were the strongest crop of players the club has had in the time I've been here, and I think they almost all went on to play league football.

 

"We just hope that we can get some of these lads through, but the standards they have to reach are higher now.

 

"And it's always difficult to talk about percentage targets because lads who are really good youth players can often freeze on the big stage.

 

"It's a psychological as well as a physical challenge that these lads face.

 

"But Kazenga is mentally strong, as is Andy Carroll. I'm confident they can move on and make it.

 

"And there are others - our defenders, for example, have got to take a lot of credit for what's been going on this season - who I'm also very hopeful about."

 

A club reliant for too long on big-money signings will trust that Wharton's instincts are correct.

 

 

---------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Kenny on the kids of '07. . .

 

 

Kazenga LuaLua

 

"To an extent, we allow him to roam and do what he wants really.

"He does do his defending though, he's not a luxury player - not a Laurent Robert type that will go forward but not come back for you."

 

Andy Carrol

 

"A big player for us in every sense, he gives us something different to what a lot of other teams at this level have.

"Oustanding in the air but good on the ground, works really hard and is a fantastic character in the dressing room."

 

Johnny Godsmark

 

"In Godsmark, LuaLua, Frank Danquah, Glenn Reay and James Marwood, what we have this year over past years is a lot of players who can run with the ball and take people on.

"Jonny's small, but he's the quickest player we've got."

 

Ryan Donaldson

 

"A kid with great pace and a real eye for goal - he'll score plenty for us.

"And even at 15, he can match anyone physically.

"Him and Andy Carroll up front together are a real handful.

 

 

While Sir Alex Ferguson loudly lambasts English football's "failing" academies, Joe Joyce has reason to be quietly proud.

 

But even the head of Newcastle's thriving youth set-up admits our game needs a change of emphasis to unearth more stars of tomorrow.

 

Fergie blames "countless flaws" in the eight-year-old academy system for England's underachievement on the international stage.

 

Restrictions like the "traveling time" rule - which allows clubs to train only youngsters living within a 90-minute drive of them - are forcing Premiership managers to import foreign kids, argues Ferguson.

 

But Joyce, who has seen Newcastle reach the FA Youth Cup semi-final only seven months after he became their academy director last summer, insists the system is working.

 

It's just that it could be working better, admits the Consett-born former Barnsley and Carlisle full-back.

 

"What people forget to look at are the good things the academy structure has and what young players themselves have," says Joyce. "We now have facilities around the country that would have been unheard of 20 years ago.

 

"So there's a structure in place to start producing and developing the best talent. What we now need to assess are the frameworks within that structure.

 

"We have to ask whether they are set up to allow us to get the best players - and to get the best out of players. And I think we do need to readjust certain things."

 

Chief among them, the increasing imbalance between homegrown and overseas talent in the Premiership.

 

An imbalance which exists even at youth level at several clubs. Newcastle not included.

 

And although Joyce argues that the problem is being addressed, he believes its roots can be traced back to before the academies were even built.

 

"I know there are discussions among groups at the moment looking at how to make the system more efficient and more productive in terms of producing young British players," adds Joyce.

 

"People talk about the French academy system being better than ours, but there has been a difference here. Much more money suddenly came into the English game in the 90s to enable clubs to go out and buy the best foreign players.

 

"But the league in France is not as financially strong, so the onus there has been on developing French players who then get the opportunity to play first-team football.

 

"We have to try to develop a balance in which we don't dismiss good young players in this country so easily in favour of buying players from abroad.

 

"Whether that's by having a more developed reserve team structure or whether it's by getting more young players to go out on loan to Football League clubs to get competitive experience, we'll have to see.

 

"The introduction of more foreign players to this country has raised standards greatly, but it has also put something of a blockage on our players coming through into first-team football.

 

"The pressure on clubs to stay in the Premiership means it can be very difficult for them to feel they can risk giving young lads time in their first teams."

 

But none of that dilutes his pride at seeing Kenny Wharton and his Under-18 side move within sight of Newcastle's first FA Youth Cup triumph in 22 years.

 

"It's due to an awful lot of people at the club, but most of all testament to the hard work done over several years by the players themselves," Joyce added.

 

"I'm just fortunate enough to be overseeing that now, and trying to help them reach the next stage.

 

"The nucleus of the side was there last year, but we've had new lads come into the ranks, and to see their spirit and character develop from July onwards has been good to watch.

 

"Lads who came in as schoolboys are starting to mature into young men. Lads who were first years last year have become great role models and given themselves the chance to become professionals - at this club or elsewhere."

 

And therein lies perhaps Joyce's biggest task.

 

"There is a big moral responsibility upon us as academy staff," he says.

 

"Yes, players are here first and foremost for their football, but to achieve anything in life, they need to learn to be disciplined young men.

 

"Whether they make it into the first team here, enjoy success at another football club or do something else entirely, I would like to think they will look back and think that being here benefited them."

[gram 0]

"Yes, players are here first and foremost for their football, but to achieve anything in life, they need to learn to be disciplined young men.

Not sure LM would agree with that Joe! He's been to more games than you aswell....

[Sima 0]

Will he be in the Dunston Ex this afternoon then?

[newcastlebroon 0]

kneejerk to that blokes comments last week about north east talent drying up

[Tooj 17]

Ah well no need to put pressure on the lad by comparing him to the most talented player this country has seen for decades.

[Guest Patrokles]

Ah well no need to put pressure on the lad by comparing him to the most talented player this country has seen for decades.

 

If he's that good, he'll be confident/arrogant enough to know/think that himself, or at least not be phased by it.

[luckyluke 2]

Patrokles in defending club at all costs shocker.

[Guest Patrokles]

Patrokles in defending club at all costs shocker.

 

Luke in dull bandwagon jumping not-quite-getting-the-point post controversy.

[Baggio 0]

At least we haven't got a shit board like we had before 1992 who would sell our best young players...

[Geordie Boyo 24]

Chopra the new Shearer, Jenas the new Viera, etc...I wish they wouldn't over hype youngsters at that age...

[luckyluke 2]

Patrokles in defending club at all costs shocker.

 

Luke in dull bandwagon jumping not-quite-getting-the-point post controversy.

 

Patrokles in 'the meanies are out to get me again' confession.

[Guest alex]

"But LuaLua is a veteran next to 15-year-old striker Ryan Donaldson in a side whose youth is perhaps its greatest asset."

 

I'd have thought it was a prerequisite.

[wellsy 0]

Will Kazenga get a bit of a run this year or just a handful worth of games? He was getting onto the subs bench late into last season. Thoughts?

[Besty 4]

Will Kazenga get a bit of a run this year or just a handful worth of games? He was getting onto the subs bench late into last season. Thoughts?

 

That's just 'cause we were short on numbers I think. Doubt he'll get much of a chance, give it a couple more years and he might then.

[The Fish 10857]

Big Sam did seem to give kids a chance at Bolton, I'd hope he'd keep that up here.

(Nicky Hunt and Vaz Te spring to mind)

[Jimbo 175]

On the bench for tonight.

[MattM4 0]

Was wondering about him... he isn't on the list of squad numbers.

[Guest Patrokles]

Big Sam did seem to give kids a chance at Bolton, I'd hope he'd keep that up here.

(Nicky Hunt and Vaz Te spring to mind)

 

Shame Vaz Te is shite.