"and what have we got since? less than one million in sales over 5 years? and a team struggling in L1 and L2" (Mike S
As so often, you've completely disregarded what I outlined during the thread, earlier: not £1m, but £4m approx in that time.
It's irrelevant what Dario managed in the past; everything was different, for every club. Crewe still have their 'niche' and it's still working at the moment. The foreign players being drafted in at even below Premiership level, has changed the game. I would think, also, that more and more Academy products from within Premiership clubs are finding game time at that level, bit by bit. EEEP is not a failed experiment - yet anyway, even if the levels of compensation don't favour the likes of Crewe. And your old chestnut, Jimmy Greaves - you're not going to tell me he take on board advice about making runs, dovetailing with team-mates, being aware of team shape, like any other successful player.