Newcastle United have been linked with Crystal Palace right back Nathaniel Clyne in recent weeks, but it is another Palace player who might be headed to the north-east in the summer that I want to concentrate on here. Wilfried Zaha is one of the hottest prospects in the Championship. The 19-year-old Ivorian-born winger has been putting in performances that have had Premier League scouts flocking to see him up close, but one of his current teammates and former Newcastle United midfielder, has advised Zaha to keep his feet on the ground and stay in south London.
Darren Ambrose joined Newcastle in 2003 from Ipswich Town as a teenager. The then England U21 international made the step up after impressing for the Tractor Boys and Sir Bobby Robson snapped Ambrose up for £1 million. Darren showed glimpses of what he was capable of for Newcastle, with one stunning strike against Bolton sticking in my mind, but on the whole he never really settled at St James’ Park. He wasn’t a permanent fixture in the Newcastle United starting eleven and just over two years later was on his way again, this time to Charlton.
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Ambrose is warning Zaha not to make the same mistake that he did nine years ago. Darren has said: “Wilfried is a fantastic prospect. Every day in training he does something special which you don’t see many players do. He has a fantastic future ahead of him but I hope he’s not in the Premier League too soon. It happened to me when I left Ipswich for Newcastle and it’s difficult to turn down when top clubs come calling. However, it wouldn’t do him any harm to develop his game more at Palace.” It’s hardly a surprise that Darren wants Palace to keep hold of their prized asset, but is there actually a case for Zaha staying where he is?
In my eyes, Zaha and Newcastle would be a perfect fit. While Ambrose had to deal with Graeme Souness at Newcastle, Zaha would be managed by Alan Pardew, a manager who has already shown that he’ll give youth a go as Sammy Ameobi has found his way into the first team this season. From what I’ve seen Zaha is good enough as well, he could play on the opposite wing to Jonas Gutierrez and the Argentina international would be the perfect player from which Wilfried could learn the defensive attributes needed by modern-day wingers.
Wilfried Zaha is only be in his second season at Crystal Palace, but he’s already shown more than enough to merit a move to a Premier League club. Ambrose may not have been a success at Newcastle but Zaha has the talent to wow the St James’ Park faithful. Moving to a top seven club is a risk, but one that I hope Zaha doesn’t pass up.
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Although moving youngsters up form the championship has proved detrimental in the past for many players, I think it needs to be pointed out that Newcastle this season have been pillars of example when it comes to nurturing the next generation of players. Mike Ashley has just invested an estimated 15 million pounds into the NUFC youth development program and based on the findings of Mr Carr these past seasons, one can’t be anything but impressed by who he has brought in. Players such as Ferguson, Sammy Ameobi and Harris Vuckic have all made first team appearances and are slowly being bled and groomed for the premiership. And their performances have been promising to say the least. The article merely points out that old management in premiership let players like Ambrose be neglected and rushed in the process but that does not seem the case under Alan Pardew and Mike Ashley.
Very true Rich, and I think Zaha would get games at SJP
Darren Ambrose Trippled his wages to go to Newcastle and set himself up for life from that move so who is he to tell another to give it a swerve…Cock!
I guess money isn’t everything?
buy him and loan him back for a season?