The Shape of Things to Come

[steelydon]

Yesterday, the big five of the premiership did not field a single player from their own academies. John Terry was plucked from QPR. Man Utd pay £37 million for an untested ****ager. Everyone agrees the days of £6 million transfers from League 1 are long gone. The likely effects? Fewer talented youngsters released by the big clubs as their academies wither. Crewe built our structure on the back of huge transfer fees, which of course includes the main stand. How could a club of our size or similar start o that journey now?
This all means we are in a fantastic position going forward, selling players to lower prem clubs (Ash) and to Championship sides. (Loads) Our future lies ever more in the academy. We must play and develop our youngsters and not those of other teams. It was stated on this site that Crewe staying in League 1 was the be all and end all. No! It's selling a 500k youngster each and every year.

[somersetcrewe]

I'm not sure I understand this post .....?!!
Are you having a pop or defending the club's policy?
Are you saying that the only thing that matters to the club is "selling a 500k youngster each and every year"??
I think you'll find League One survival is equally high on that list of priorities. You just don't have to sack a manager every 5 minutes to show it. Whilst I agree we don't appear to hear as much from John Bowler these days as we like, you can bet your bottom dollar he wouldn't be saying "ok, looks like we are going down ............but at least we've made some money!"
Both will be a priority. It's just a case of balancing both targets.

[Blue Cap Dog]

How about a third target of entertaining the paying customers - us!

[supercrewe]

The football has been entertaining this year...never confuse your inability to accept defeat as a measure of whether you were entertained or not !

[Crewe99]

The football may have been more entertaining so far than the last two seasons but the results are just as bad. Last I knew, we don't get any points towards staying in League One for being entertaining. If the desire is to stay in this league, results must come first then entertain afterwards.