Your
questions answered... | | Joe
Allon answers your questions exclusively online |
Q.
Clearly your understanding of 'the North East' includes
only Tyneside. Mr Allon failed to mention the Boro Academy which has a superb
record of producing first class players. You
might remember that in season 05-06, Boro fielded a Premiership squad of 15 players
away to Fulham. Fourteen of them were from
the Academy (all under 23 years), the other was Colin Cooper, a former Boro YTS
trainee, which meant that every member of that squad was born within 25 miles
of Teesside. The current England team may
be short of Geordies, but it can still put out two Boro' born players Woodgate
and Downing. In short the Boro has got it
right, the Geordies have got it wrong. Oh,
will you please tell Mr Allon that the North East extends from the Tees to the
Tweed.
Alan Bell, Stockton on Tees A.
Apologies for that but if you look, we also fail
to mention Sunderland. This was a 12 minute piece - so we used Newcastle as an
example because of: 1) my links with the club; and 2) my son being at the Academy
since being eight-years-old. Q. Most
commentators would say that Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and
Darlington were North East teams, so why concentrate your report only on one of
them? I would also like to point out
that last week's England game involved two Boro born and current Boro players.
Also Boro I believe have players representing England at every level at the moment
and are generally acknowledged as being a club that is:
a) producing local
talent through its academy and b) giving them a chance at the highest level, e.g
the last game of last season .v. Fulham. Only
this week Boro chairman Steve Gibson was in the media suggesting other clubs need
to do more to further the England's team chances in future, in much the same way
as Trevor Brooking is. As someone who
played for quite a few seasons at Hartlepool I am surprised at your Newcastle
bias - the North East is a region and it does not revolve around one small part
of it that bridges the River Tyne!
Gary Treen A.
See above... It's fantastic also that Middlesbrough have got their youth development
on track - great to see their youngsters coming through, but again, as Newcastle
United's youth team are in the 6th round of the FA Youth Cup, we found it more
consistent to stick with one club. Also bear
in mind Newcastle's team have five players having come through the ranks involved
in the first team squad. Q. Like
many 1,000聮s of Boro fans I am astounded by Joe Allon聮s article on the
大象传媒 Sports website聟 You Newcastle-centric
folks have again failed to realise that Middlesbrough is in the North East...
and do you know what 10 of the 11 Boro players who started the last game of last
season have in common?
Steve Budd, Thailand A.
I think I've answered this one above, Steve. Thanks for your comments. Q.
Hey Joe. Do you think too many foreign players
are killing the English game?
Should we be surprised at the state of the lack of North East talent when most
teams field a team 90% of foreign players?
Barry, Durham A.
Yes, I certainly do think it's a valid point. Also, the England team
must be suffering because English players aren't getting enough first team action
because of foreign players.
Q.
Hi Joe, Thought your piece was excellent and was good to
see you have never lost you're turn of speed. In
Washington at the southern area playing fields there are still no showers or even
enough changing rooms for the amount of pitches, hardly encouraging for young
ones to play on a cold day to have to gan home covered in clarts freezing.
All
the best mate.
Peter Elliott A.
Again, a valid point as it's up to the FA and councils to put facilities in place.
Thanks for your comments, Peter.
 | Don't
forget Boro's stars - Jonathan Woodgate stands out.
Photo - PA Images |
Q.
(You) said there is no Geordies in the England squad. However if you look a bit
further at Middlesbrough, we have had two Teesside born players in the England
squad (Downing and Woodgate) who are still young and we also have one of the best
youth teams in the country. So do you think
Boro has done could be copied by other teams in England?
Jamie Sample,
Middlesbrough A. With the
exception of Michael Carrick, who was born in Wallsend, I do realise that there
are two Boro players in the England squad, but I wouldn't be shouting from the
rooftops about the performance that England gave last Wednesday night against
Spain. But, I do agree that the Boro has one of the best set-ups for youth
and I think are an excellent example to other clubs.
Q.
Areet, Joe. I'm 15 and played for Burradon for
5 years and haven't had a sniff at getting' scouted. It's really hard. I know
I have the potential - can u give me any advice? From a Geordie 2 a Geordie.
Chris
Turnbull A. Keep plugging
away. If you have the talent, I am sure you will not slip through the net. Keep
practising and never stop believing in yourself. My determination to succeed
was that I wanted it more than anyone else. Scouts will be watching - sometimes
you may not be aware that they're there. All the best, Chris. Q.
If one thing could be done to help make the North East into
a hot bed of football talent again, what would you suggest?
Susan, Heaton A.
Certainly the introduction of 11-a-side football rather than five-a-side would
help at an early age. Q. Hiya
Joe, My name's Paul Gaskin and I also used to play on that said piece of grass
in between Donvale Road and the avenues (your little Wembley). In fact I remember
seeing you play on there.
I don't think
grass roots football is dying in the North East - my son plays in the Russel Foster
league under 10's on a Saturday morning down at the Northumbria Centre in Washington.
It seems to be booming down there with all of the pitches full (about 20+ matches)
and some real young talent on show. This wasn't
the case when I was young there was nothing like this as far as I can remember
around the Usworth/Donwell area. Anyway take
care mate and I'll see you in 'Wessy' for a pint.
Paul Gaskin (somewhere
in Norwegian waters) A. Nice
to hear from you Paul - hope you keep your head above the water. Glad that the
game's in good heart for your son - tell him to stick in. Q.
Who are the best North Easterners never to have played for
England in your opinion, Joe?
Mark, Newcastle A.
Brian 'Pop' Robson, the ex-Newcastle and Sunderland player, has got to be the
best player never to have represented the country from this area. I believe
he scored 257 league and cup goals in a career spanning over 25 years. Q.
Do you think the whole academy system makes it
easier or harder for young players to break through into the big-time? Does
this system kill off creativity and real skill by providing a very formula-driven
approach to the game? Surely kids learning
football skills on the streets of Brazil are proof that it's street where the
heart of the game lies - not in some regulated academy?
Gerald, Heaton A.
I can agree with that - I think there's a time for coaching when a youngster is
13 or 14, but they must be allowed to enjoy their football up till then. In
the words of the great Zinedine Zidane who said, 'thank the lord, I wasn't discovered
by a coach till I was 15. I learned my football on the streets and without that,
I wouldn't have become the player I am'. Q.
Who do you think is the all-time best Geordie or North East
player at international level - past or present?
Pauline, Red Row A.
Being consistent I would have to say Peter Beardsley from Newcastle, Dave Watson
from Sunderland, and Jonathan Woodgate from the Boro - to keep all our North East
clubs happy.  | | Rising
star - Geordie Michael Carrick. Photo - Getty Images |
Q.
Joe, I spotted in your biog that you were born in 1966,
the year of England's greatest ever triumph in the World Cup. Do
you think this question of top flight English players is actually a bigger one
- are England - not just the North East - producing the top flight players who
can compete at the highest level? Just look
at England's dismal World Cup performance last year... what is needed to make
the England team great again?
Colin, Spennymoor
A.
Certainly getting a manager that can do the job would be the first thing, and
also clubs up and down the country giving their exceptional youngsters the chance
to play in the first team instead of the many foreign players that are at every
club. I agree that foreign players have a place in the English game, but
I'd like to see a cap on the numbers playing in each team - maybe two or three. As
regards McLaren, he would be better advised to work on his tactics than the false
smile he gives at every English press conference! Q.
Joe - what were the high and low points of your career -
and were you disappointed not to have played for your country?
John, Gateshead A.
High points... certainly scoring in a number nine shirt at St James' cannot be
bettered. Also, winning the North East footballer of the Year in 1991. The
low point was having to retire from injury at the age of 33 - it was like losing
a limb. Fortunately I did represent England at under 19 level, but would
have loved to have represented the full squad. Q.
Does it matter how many Geordies are in the England team?
Isn't the game played out on an international stage today, making local allegiances
less important?
Tony, Gateshead A.
In my opinion, and this is bias, the North East
is the best area in the country so why should we not have as many as possible
in the England set-up? And again, if England
are that good without North East representation, we couldn't do any worse than
the current crop. Q. Do
you think more Lottery money should go to supporting Boys' Clubs and other football
facilities for kids?
Bill, Felling A.
Yes, Trevor Brooking touched on this in his piece. Certainly, his thoughts
were that the FA would be helping in funding local boys' clubs and facilities.
As an example, the fantastic facility at Ashington (which we visited) is
FA funded. Q. Hi Joe. I would like to know
how it is that so few of our academy players are now local lads? Is
developing an academy about bringing through local players or bringing through
players that won聮t cost the first team any money, if they were to eventually
make it that far? There is a difference!! As
a coach of young players, I watch so many talented local lads go on to professional
clubs outside the area 聳 so what do those clubs see that ours doesn聮t?
Steve
Lowes, Newcastle  | | Who
will be the next Alan Shearer? Photo - Getty Images |
A.
It's a shame when players from the area slip through the net, but certainly
after speaking to Glenn Roeder and seeing the scouting system he is putting in
place at Newcastle, he knows how vitally important it is to have local players
in his side. He has proven this by including Harper, Ramage, Taylor, Edgar
and Huntington in the first team. But, as you know Steve, if you get one
or two coming through the Academy, statistics have proven that that is a success.
It may seem low but in the youth team of my day, when we won the FA Youth
Cup, we had nine players that represented the first team from that squad. And
I don't think that many players would be allowed to come through with the pressure
of money and the success rate required nowadays. I don't think a manger
would be allowed to put his hat on a youngster when he's pressurised to go out
and spend 拢10 million on a player that would bring instant success - not
that that is a guarantee that the player would be any better! Q.
It's obvious that coaching at grassroots level is not what it was. My big concern
is the attitude of coaches and the suppression of individual flair.
I believe
all kids at a junior level should express themselves on the ball and develop skills
using both feet. Coaches should also create
an environment where all kids have a role to play. They must remember "it's
about the kids, not the coaches".
Alan Mitchell A.
Totally agree with you, Alan, that there is a role for youngsters to
be coached at a certain age - say, 13 or 14 - as players develop at different
times. As an example, Paul Gascoigne never showed at 14 what he did at
17 - and went on to be world class. Kids mature mentally and physically
at different ages so we shouldn't write them off. As another example, Chris
Waddle was 19 before he was discovered at Newcastle and Peter Beardsley never
signed for Newcastle until he was 21. Both went on to play over 50 times
for England. Q.
Hello Joe. Do you agree that a system should be put in place to ensure local clubs
get first chance to develop local talent, then nurture them into England players?
Local players these days at youth level seem to be identified by clubs from
other parts of the country before our own teams, leading to players like Alan
Nesbitt being snapped up to develop in London while being a Geordie through and
through.
Look forward to your views on this Joe.
Nez (Usworth Club) A.
Bearing in mind you have to face Ian Bogie in a forthcoming match, I've got one
thing to say to you Nez - all the best. You'll need it!!
Q.
Hi Joe. First off I'm a Brentford fan and I would like to say thanks for the time
you gave us in the 90's - especially the Anglo-Italian cup when you seemed to
excel. It was fun to come and watch you, just
a shame we didn't give you the support at club level Do
you think that one of the problems is that when a kid hears that generally a club
like Newcastle will produce only one player a season from the Academy, they will
then think "what's the point"? Are they just not hungry enough? Is
there a problem at Newcastle being too "ambitious" and wanting success
now, by paying big money for certain players they are ignoring the 'local talent'.
This policy has to date not worked and so why don't the Geordies make
it known that they are to change the policy and invest in youth - it seems to
be paying off at teams like Middlesbrough and West Ham. Unfortunately
do you not think this is a national problem, money breeds success so buy now worry
later?
Gary Curant
A.
Thanks for this Gary - I enjoyed playing for Brentford even though they did play
in red and white. Knowing my allegiance to the Geordies, I hope you find that
funny! I think I might have answered your question earlier when I said that
Glenn Roeder is bringing on young players coming through the ranks up to first
team level - and this is a good thing for the club. In terms of Newcastle
being too ambitious, we have set our standards over the last few years, finishing
4th, 5th and 6th under Sir Bobby in the Premiership. And that is the standard
we must aim for. If a player is good enough, he is good enough, wherever
he is from.
| 
听听Inside
Out - North East: Monday February 9, 2007
