White needs to play for sake of his career
YEP 29/10/13
Former United coach Greg Abbott says Aidy White has Still to establish his best playing position. Leon Wobschall reports.
Aidan white may have only turned 22 earlier this month, but he has already been stationed at the footballing equivalent of a crossroads several times in his Leeds United career already.
He is currently positioned at another one, ahead of an impending short move south to League One outfit Sheffield United, who have agreed a loan deal to sign him until January.
After a hit-and-miss 2012-13 campaign fresh from signing a new three-year contract in the summer of 2012, White hasn’t been afforded a renaissance this season, featuring in one Championship game so far.
It’s a far cry from what he will have envisaged when he penned a new deal just over 15 months ago after his old contract had expired.
One man who knows White and his family well is former United academy coach and Carlisle United manager Greg Abbott, who first coached White when he was 12.
While Leeds may mean the world to Horsforth lad White, needs must with the left-sided player’s requirement to kick-start his career of paramount importance, according to Abbott.
Abbott, who had nine years with Leeds academy and who helped bring through the likes of White, Jonny Howson and Fabian Delph – with the latter recommended to him by ex-Bradford City team-mate Paul Jewell – said: “Aidy is a player I have followed because I know his family and Aidy really well.
“As people, they are fantastic.
“But at this moment in time, the thing to aid his development is playing first-team football. He’s got to put the fact that he’s Leeds through and through and Leeds daft and his family being Leeds daft to one side.
“You are talking about a player’s job now and development. He will realise now that he needs to play.
“I have actually spoken to Chris (White’s father) a few times and we (Carlisle) harboured ambitions of taking him on loan a few years ago, but he went to Oldham instead as it was a bit closer and more practical.
“Now he’s got to go out and play and show people what he can do somewhere else, otherwise you get forgotten about.
“As a manager in League One, we helped loads of players get their careers back on track (at Carlisle), such as the likes of James Chester, Ben Marshall and Adam Clayton through loan periods.
“If Aidy rips it up at Sheffield United and proves he is better than that level, he goes back into the Championship and is back on board.
“If he just does okay, then maybe League One is his level. He’s got to go out and re-find himself. Because if he doesn’t, he gets forgotten about and the game becomes harder.”
He added: “The sentiment about ‘your’ club can’t stay with you forever. I was a Coventry kid through and through and got released by Coventry City and it broke my heart.
“But in the end, it was the best thing that ever happened to me and I went and had 500-odd games in the Football League. Aidy can’t stick around Leeds and have his career cut short because you can stay at a club too long.”
In the shape of Leeds manager Brian McDermott, who has worked in a host of differing positions at a football club, from chief scout and youth coach to first-team manager, White has the perfect individual who will look after his best interests, in the view of Abbott.
White may have been used pretty sparingly by McDermott this season, but the former Reading chief will be acutely aware of his position, development and needs, both in the short, medium and long-term term.
Abbott said: “Brian is an absolutely terrific man and terrific manager to have around for young players because he understands the game. With his background, he has been involved in recruitment and knows when players should stay and go and when players need to come in.
“He will be trying to get Aidy some games for Aidy’s best interests, not just the football club. That’s how Brian is and why I like him and why he has been successful. He does things for the right reasons, without a doubt.
“And without a doubt, going out for Aidy is the right thing to do.
“Aidy has got to go out, play some games and then re-assess where he is after 10 games and he goes from there.
“He needs to show people he is still around and has still got ability and is kicking and still has that pace, attitude and work ethic. He needs to push his career forwards, wherever that may be.”
Back in early September, White rebuffed previous interest from Championship outfit Barnsley, who were keen to bring him in on loan.
The Reds’ South Yorkshire rivals Blades are set to succeed where they failed, with White no doubt mindful of the fact that former Derby chief Nigel Clough – who was interested in acquiring his services a couple of summers ago before he committed to Leeds in the long-term – is now in situ at Bramall Lane.
It’s fair to say Clough clearly rates White, with a big factor for the 22-year-old now being to nail down one position in the coming weeks and months ahead after playing in several roles in the past few years. Abbott added: “The one thing you can’t fail to like about Aidy is his infectiousness and appetite for the game.
“He’s one of those who is good on the eye; he’s got a terrific left foot and a nice bit of pace and he handles the ball pretty well.
“What he has got to do now is pin down his best position, whether that be down the left side of midfield or left-back or in an attacking position behind the number nine. He’s got to find that.
“One of Aidy’s problems might be that he has played in a few positions and no-one has said: ‘Well, that’s your best position, Aidy’.”
Former United coach Greg Abbott says Aidy White has Still to establish his best playing position. Leon Wobschall reports.
Aidan white may have only turned 22 earlier this month, but he has already been stationed at the footballing equivalent of a crossroads several times in his Leeds United career already.
He is currently positioned at another one, ahead of an impending short move south to League One outfit Sheffield United, who have agreed a loan deal to sign him until January.
After a hit-and-miss 2012-13 campaign fresh from signing a new three-year contract in the summer of 2012, White hasn’t been afforded a renaissance this season, featuring in one Championship game so far.
It’s a far cry from what he will have envisaged when he penned a new deal just over 15 months ago after his old contract had expired.
One man who knows White and his family well is former United academy coach and Carlisle United manager Greg Abbott, who first coached White when he was 12.
While Leeds may mean the world to Horsforth lad White, needs must with the left-sided player’s requirement to kick-start his career of paramount importance, according to Abbott.
Abbott, who had nine years with Leeds academy and who helped bring through the likes of White, Jonny Howson and Fabian Delph – with the latter recommended to him by ex-Bradford City team-mate Paul Jewell – said: “Aidy is a player I have followed because I know his family and Aidy really well.
“As people, they are fantastic.
“But at this moment in time, the thing to aid his development is playing first-team football. He’s got to put the fact that he’s Leeds through and through and Leeds daft and his family being Leeds daft to one side.
“You are talking about a player’s job now and development. He will realise now that he needs to play.
“I have actually spoken to Chris (White’s father) a few times and we (Carlisle) harboured ambitions of taking him on loan a few years ago, but he went to Oldham instead as it was a bit closer and more practical.
“Now he’s got to go out and play and show people what he can do somewhere else, otherwise you get forgotten about.
“As a manager in League One, we helped loads of players get their careers back on track (at Carlisle), such as the likes of James Chester, Ben Marshall and Adam Clayton through loan periods.
“If Aidy rips it up at Sheffield United and proves he is better than that level, he goes back into the Championship and is back on board.
“If he just does okay, then maybe League One is his level. He’s got to go out and re-find himself. Because if he doesn’t, he gets forgotten about and the game becomes harder.”
He added: “The sentiment about ‘your’ club can’t stay with you forever. I was a Coventry kid through and through and got released by Coventry City and it broke my heart.
“But in the end, it was the best thing that ever happened to me and I went and had 500-odd games in the Football League. Aidy can’t stick around Leeds and have his career cut short because you can stay at a club too long.”
In the shape of Leeds manager Brian McDermott, who has worked in a host of differing positions at a football club, from chief scout and youth coach to first-team manager, White has the perfect individual who will look after his best interests, in the view of Abbott.
White may have been used pretty sparingly by McDermott this season, but the former Reading chief will be acutely aware of his position, development and needs, both in the short, medium and long-term term.
Abbott said: “Brian is an absolutely terrific man and terrific manager to have around for young players because he understands the game. With his background, he has been involved in recruitment and knows when players should stay and go and when players need to come in.
“He will be trying to get Aidy some games for Aidy’s best interests, not just the football club. That’s how Brian is and why I like him and why he has been successful. He does things for the right reasons, without a doubt.
“And without a doubt, going out for Aidy is the right thing to do.
“Aidy has got to go out, play some games and then re-assess where he is after 10 games and he goes from there.
“He needs to show people he is still around and has still got ability and is kicking and still has that pace, attitude and work ethic. He needs to push his career forwards, wherever that may be.”
Back in early September, White rebuffed previous interest from Championship outfit Barnsley, who were keen to bring him in on loan.
The Reds’ South Yorkshire rivals Blades are set to succeed where they failed, with White no doubt mindful of the fact that former Derby chief Nigel Clough – who was interested in acquiring his services a couple of summers ago before he committed to Leeds in the long-term – is now in situ at Bramall Lane.
It’s fair to say Clough clearly rates White, with a big factor for the 22-year-old now being to nail down one position in the coming weeks and months ahead after playing in several roles in the past few years. Abbott added: “The one thing you can’t fail to like about Aidy is his infectiousness and appetite for the game.
“He’s one of those who is good on the eye; he’s got a terrific left foot and a nice bit of pace and he handles the ball pretty well.
“What he has got to do now is pin down his best position, whether that be down the left side of midfield or left-back or in an attacking position behind the number nine. He’s got to find that.
“One of Aidy’s problems might be that he has played in a few positions and no-one has said: ‘Well, that’s your best position, Aidy’.”