Quote: KaeruJim "There are two components to Academy success - one is the stuff you can control, the facilities, the coaches, infrastructure, the wages you will pay to younger lads etc. The other is the stuff you can't control, which is the outright supply of talent - and that comes in waves more often than not, partly because our player pool is relatively shallow.
We seemed to stuff up on both for a while because the pipe was dry. I think our failure was pretty complete and systemic to be honest - poor recruitment decisions made over a number of years, and a deep dark hole to climb out of.'"
On a wider point it is fascinating that you see this sort of pattern across all kinds of high achieving business and sports organisations. It's generally at the point of the peak of success that the focus on the things that have made you great slips. Often takes a few years to make itself apparent, but by then the damage is done.