http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/albionnews/4695917.Albion_have__another_Gareth_Barry_/
Albion have 'another Gareth Barry'
10:40am Thursday 22nd October 2009
Comments (3) Have your say »
By Andy Naylor »
Les Rogers reckons Albion have another Gareth Barry on their hands.
The former long-serving youth coach believes Jake Caskey could develop into a carbon copy of Barry.
The Manchester City midfielder is an England regular after beginning his career with the Seagulls as a schoolboy before he was controversially snared by Aston Villa.
Caskey, stepson of Albion striker Nicky Forster, has already had trials with Villa and Arsenal and made his debut for the England under-16s last week.
Rogers, an Albion youth coach for a quarter of a century, first came across Caskey in his final year at the club.
He was in charge of the under- 14s when director of football Martin Hinshelwood told Rogers he had a trialist for him.
Trials normally last for up to six weeks but Rogers and Hinshelwood spotted Caskey’s potential in his first training session.
Rogers said: “We started our warm-ups and then, after about quarter-of-an-hour, went into some ballwork. I think if I’d had a pen and paper I would have signed him there and then.
“You could just tell he had that ability on the ball, that something certain players have, even as a 13-year-old.
“Martin watched some of the session and agreed with me. After the session I called Jake’s mum and told her we wanted to sign him.
“I know one player doesn’t make a team but during that season he gave the squad stability, because he is comfortable on the ball.
“I don’t like to keep using Gareth Barry but he has got that ability where he wants the ball, gets the ball and is looking to pass it.
“Then, when he has passed it, he is looking to support the player with the ball.
“He is a terrific lad as well. The rest of the squad all took to him and players around him responded and got better and better.”
Rogers played a key role in Barry’s early development with Albion. He watched his performance for England against Belarus last week and Caskey’s debut for the under-16s against Wales at Yeovil the following night. The similarities were uncanny.
“I know they are both left-footers but they just do things easily and simply,” said Rogers.
“Occasionally, they will look to pick out somebody with a long range pass but generally it is just pass and move and, when you think that Gareth is now one of the top three midfielders in England, it shows how much he has come on.
“In the first half the under-16s played a 4-3-3 and Jake looked a little bit out of it on the left.
“Maybe he hasn’t played that role so much but playing in the middle of midfield in a 4-4-2 he looked extremely comfortable.”
Rogers fears that Caskey, son of former Spurs playmaker Darren, could soon move on to a bigger club, just like Barry.
Firmer regulations are now in place, ensuring Albion would be properly rewarded and not involved in the kind of bitter compensation wrangle they had with Villa over Barry.
Rogers is hoping it does not come to that and that Forster's presence could persuade Caskey to stay.
“It’s a very similar scenario to Gareth,” Rogers said. “Fozzy has already said he would possibly like to take on a coaching role.
“I saw him in the first team the other day against Southend and I still think he is a terrific player.
“He has still got a lot to offer Brighton. If he was in a coaching role and Jake continued to develop then who knows?
“On the other side of it, sides like Arsenal and Aston Villa are already on the scent. He’s now played for England under-16s and is on centre stage.
“I think he has got other trials coming up as well and if he continues to develop he is going to be in a bit of a predicament about what to do but, with the new stadium coming, in two years time, I would like to see Jake and Nicky at Falmer in the Championship.”
Caskey’s immediate priority is helping England under-16s claim a ninth straight Victory Shield title after the 1-0 win over Wales clinched by a late header by substitute Zak Ansah, the son of former Albion striker Andy Ansah.
The under-16s, coached by former Aston Villa defender Kenny Swain, host Northern Ireland next on November 5 at a venue to be confirmed and finish their campaign away to Scotland at Tynecastle three weeks later.
Albion have 'another Gareth Barry'
10:40am Thursday 22nd October 2009
Comments (3) Have your say »
By Andy Naylor »
Les Rogers reckons Albion have another Gareth Barry on their hands.
The former long-serving youth coach believes Jake Caskey could develop into a carbon copy of Barry.
The Manchester City midfielder is an England regular after beginning his career with the Seagulls as a schoolboy before he was controversially snared by Aston Villa.
Caskey, stepson of Albion striker Nicky Forster, has already had trials with Villa and Arsenal and made his debut for the England under-16s last week.
Rogers, an Albion youth coach for a quarter of a century, first came across Caskey in his final year at the club.
He was in charge of the under- 14s when director of football Martin Hinshelwood told Rogers he had a trialist for him.
Trials normally last for up to six weeks but Rogers and Hinshelwood spotted Caskey’s potential in his first training session.
Rogers said: “We started our warm-ups and then, after about quarter-of-an-hour, went into some ballwork. I think if I’d had a pen and paper I would have signed him there and then.
“You could just tell he had that ability on the ball, that something certain players have, even as a 13-year-old.
“Martin watched some of the session and agreed with me. After the session I called Jake’s mum and told her we wanted to sign him.
“I know one player doesn’t make a team but during that season he gave the squad stability, because he is comfortable on the ball.
“I don’t like to keep using Gareth Barry but he has got that ability where he wants the ball, gets the ball and is looking to pass it.
“Then, when he has passed it, he is looking to support the player with the ball.
“He is a terrific lad as well. The rest of the squad all took to him and players around him responded and got better and better.”
Rogers played a key role in Barry’s early development with Albion. He watched his performance for England against Belarus last week and Caskey’s debut for the under-16s against Wales at Yeovil the following night. The similarities were uncanny.
“I know they are both left-footers but they just do things easily and simply,” said Rogers.
“Occasionally, they will look to pick out somebody with a long range pass but generally it is just pass and move and, when you think that Gareth is now one of the top three midfielders in England, it shows how much he has come on.
“In the first half the under-16s played a 4-3-3 and Jake looked a little bit out of it on the left.
“Maybe he hasn’t played that role so much but playing in the middle of midfield in a 4-4-2 he looked extremely comfortable.”
Rogers fears that Caskey, son of former Spurs playmaker Darren, could soon move on to a bigger club, just like Barry.
Firmer regulations are now in place, ensuring Albion would be properly rewarded and not involved in the kind of bitter compensation wrangle they had with Villa over Barry.
Rogers is hoping it does not come to that and that Forster's presence could persuade Caskey to stay.
“It’s a very similar scenario to Gareth,” Rogers said. “Fozzy has already said he would possibly like to take on a coaching role.
“I saw him in the first team the other day against Southend and I still think he is a terrific player.
“He has still got a lot to offer Brighton. If he was in a coaching role and Jake continued to develop then who knows?
“On the other side of it, sides like Arsenal and Aston Villa are already on the scent. He’s now played for England under-16s and is on centre stage.
“I think he has got other trials coming up as well and if he continues to develop he is going to be in a bit of a predicament about what to do but, with the new stadium coming, in two years time, I would like to see Jake and Nicky at Falmer in the Championship.”
Caskey’s immediate priority is helping England under-16s claim a ninth straight Victory Shield title after the 1-0 win over Wales clinched by a late header by substitute Zak Ansah, the son of former Albion striker Andy Ansah.
The under-16s, coached by former Aston Villa defender Kenny Swain, host Northern Ireland next on November 5 at a venue to be confirmed and finish their campaign away to Scotland at Tynecastle three weeks later.
