Quote Originally Posted by Carpe_diem View Post
Very much so, but whom does that benefit? It's good for the premier league teams, and brings us in a few quid, but is it actually worth the bother?

Unless our academy is working for us, I would argue no. It's not incumbent on us to service the needs of the Premier League and their desire for British players.
We should try to emulate Southampton C_D. A similar club with a great academy, but they seem to use it as a cornerstone for the first team, if not directly by having their own good young players in the squad, then indirectecty by financing quality signings from their sales.

Some would argue that they've also got more financial clout and this enables them to be more bullish with the academy, but if that's the case we should explore every avenue to get similar backing. There can't be many more attactive UK propositions than United right now when the local and world media has been waxing lyrical about our, performances, ground, academy and most of all support.