Are we building on a Slur Alex model?

[Delinquent]

[quote author=LFD link=topic=45659.msg1345724#msg1345724 date=1307546022]
I think all clubs would love their youth system to produce Beckham, Butt, Scholes, Giggs, Neville, Neville... but it isn't easy to do and rarely happens.

West Ham had a purple patch with Ferdinand, Johnson, Carrick, Lampard, Defoe...

We have a chance of having something similar with Coady, Sterling, Morgan, Ngoo, Wisdom, Suso, Kelly, Flanagan etc etc. Who knows who will make it, but they all have a very good chance.

However I do think we might be building on the Slur Alex model in buying the best British talent. Young players who can play for the club for 10+ years. They did it with Ferdinand, Carrick, Rooney, Smalling - now Jones ... players that cost big, but have had or will have important roles for a long time.

Carroll and Henderson will hopefully play for us for 10 years and at the end of that time, we'll be thanking their contributions for us winning us trophies rather than how much they cost us.
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I'd be surprised if either is still here in two years, and if they are representative of the calibre of player we intend to fill the squad with then we should be preparing ourselves for another barren spell as far as trophies are concerned.

 

[Delinquent]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=45659.msg1483271#msg1483271 date=1329350148]
I don't think the comparison works and I'm not quite sure as to what the "Man Utd model" is in the context of this thread as people seem to be talking about different things.

I think we've looked at the new home grown rules (as have Utd with the purchases of Smalling, Jones and Young) and figured we need to establish an English core to the side whilst acknowledging that our youth system can't be trusted with that responsibility.
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Yup. And so far, it's been pretty disastrous.