we should sign some good english talent

Quote: Paul Youane "Couple of things
I agree with you but the point about loyalty needs to be backed up by the ability to win trophies. Leeds have kept a very good squad together and stay under the salary cap by paying "stars" lower than they would get as the big fish at another club, but the basic unit of lads who have been playing together with their mates for a long time winning trophies, holds together (the odd one slips the net, eg Calderwood). I think this is much easier to achieve when you have a group of players who come through together rather than one shining talent who thinks he can do better elsewhere.

Like you say if you can renew contracts well in advance of their expiry you can save money, this obviously can only happen with your own players as when you are targeting players from other clubs they are 'on the market' and by definition looking for the highest bidder.

Jon Amaechi's from Stockport, he went to my school but was a few years above me, everybody knew him as Big Jon because he was 6ft 11, he played second row for the union team. First British player in the NBA, he used to come back to our school doing talks and basketball sessions. Very principled and intelligent bloke, got a PhD in Psychology, openly gay and left wing politically, he became a controversial personality in the States by being highly critical of US foreign policy, the Yanks didn't like a gay black man talking politics and he got death threats, had all the "if you don't like us, f off home" stuff. In the end he came back and set up a basketball Academy in Moss Side and works with kids in deprived areas. Fantastic guy.