Adams late run: Hometown boy Lallana blossoms in time for World Cup When you are an advanced midfielder there is nothing wrong with making a late run. Ask Paul Scholes or Frank Lampard - it is all about timing, and Adam Lallana’s seems to be impeccable. Having broken into the England squad in a World Cup year, the Southampton captain celebrated with a slalom solo goal in front of Roy Hodgson. Nice timing. It drew comparisons to Paul Gascoigne from Saints legend Matt Le Tissier and prompted Hodgson to lean forward across the seats of the directors’ box for a word with Nicola Cortese. Perhaps the England boss was asking the Saints chairman for a permanent parking pass at St Mary’s to witness the development of some of England’s most promising young footballers. Lallana, 25, is not the only one, but he has thrived under Mauricio Pochettino, who dares his players to pass and perform without fear, to the delight of those who have watched him patiently recover from setbacks since he joined the club at the age of 12. When the youth-team players were sent for heart scans, Lallana was told he had an irregular heartbeat which required surgery and warned he might not be able to enjoy a career as a professional sportsman. ‘When anyone talks about your heart the panic button starts ringing a bit,’ said Lallana, in an interview last year. ‘I had some hard times, but I had good people around me.’ Like Tottenham’s Andros Townsend, Lallana is another reminder that talent can be nurtured on these shores, but that it sometimes needs a little extra love and attention and may not be ready at the age of 17. ‘He caught my eye when he made his debut in the Championship,’ said Le Tissier. ‘It was his natural body movement, ability on the ball and the way he glided past players without looking like he was trying very hard or without using pace. ‘When he dribbles the ball, he reminds me of Gazza, with really good close control. ‘He has been the shining light through all the bad times, through relegation and the player who made it worth going to watch.’ Lallana has Spanish heritage, hence the name. He was born in St Albans, raised in Bournemouth and schooled at St Peter’s Catholic Comprehensive, where PE teacher Mike Spackman, who still works at the school, played a large part in his development as a player. Lallana played youth football for Redhill Rangers and Littledown Juniors before he was snapped up from Bournemouth by Saints when he was 12. His parents drove him to matches all over the country and the whole family still go and watch him at most games. ‘Even at a young age he was known through the club for his touch, vision and great feet,’ said Craig Richards, who was part of the same successful youth team. It was so natural for him. ‘When I saw the way he moved the ball around for that goal against Hull, I thought it was something I had seen in training even at a young age.’ George Burley gave Lallana his debut in a Carling Cup tie against Yeovil in August 2006 at the age of 18 and his league debut, three days later. But it would be another two years before he established himself. There was a brief spell on loan at Bournemouth but the coaching staff kept their faith as he was left behind by the accelerated progress of Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale. John Gorman, chief scout at the time, describes Lallana as ‘poetry in motion’ with a ‘beautiful swerve’ and Burley said: ‘Adam was always a little bit behind Gareth and Theo but it was always going to take longer. Theo always had the pace and Gareth was a tremendous athlete, even at 17. ‘Adam had a different type of ability. They all have different personalities and attributes. ‘Wilfried Zaha has great ability to take people on but he’s not as clever as Adam; he has a great football brain to play with other people. ‘Maybe he lacked half a yard of pace but he’s got stronger and quicker and it’s about finding your position.’ Lallana was part of the acclaimed side which reached the FA Youth Cup final in 2005 and lost to Ipswich, although he was on the bench with Bale. Walcott started, as did Swansea winger Nathan Dyer, Ipswich’s David McGoldrick, Barnsley’s Martin Cranie and Blackburn striker Leon Best. Richards was the captain but would suffer a serious injury a couple of years later and these days plays semi-pro in the Ryman League with Peacehaven and Telscombe. ‘Adam is home-grown, down-to-earth, and a really nice guy,’ said Richards. ‘He was hard-working and it’s all paid off. Now he’s the captain of his boyhood team and he’s been called up to the England squad.’ Andy McNeil, goalkeeper of the team, believes the mentality and desire of that generation inspired each other. ‘Everyone had a fantastic attitude and desire and worked their socks off every day,’ said McNeil, who has recently moved to New Zealand to play for WaiBOP United after playing for six clubs in his native Scotland. ‘It was like a family. We all got on really well to the point where we could be honest with each other. ‘If you don’t like each other that would create a fight but arguing gets stuff done. Adam had quality but it took him a bit longer to get going.’ As Saints slid down the tiers and the club cashed in on its many academy graduates, Lallana stayed. ‘We never really got an offer,’ said then chairman Rupert Lowe. ‘Nobody actually came in for him but he was a gifted and talented player. We got him from Bournemouth at a time when Malcolm Elias and Huw Jennings and their scouts were scouring the area for the best local talent. ‘I think we ended up paying about £25,000 in compensation for him. We paid £2,000 to Swindon for Theo Walcott.’ Excellent value both. Southampton have risen from those depths to the upper echelons of the Premier League, and while he talks of a likeness to Gazza, Lallana’s loyalty and footwork have rekindled fond memories of Le Tissier himself. ‘I can see similarities, especially with the loyalty he’s shown,’ said Le Tissier. ‘But I’m sure he works a bit harder than I did.’
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:10:36 +0000
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