I stand to be corrected but am I right in saying that over the past three to four years only Joey Barton has developed through the Youth Academy? I hear you clammer what about Shaun Wright-Phillips, but let us not forget he was bought from Nottingham Forest and developed through their Academy.
If Mr Cassell can develop one player in four years and remain in a very prestigious and highly paid position in the club, he is either the luckiest employee in the Premier League or he is not being backed by his boss Mr Kevin Keegan.
Considering we ran away with the Under 19's title last year, have two outstanding Irish internationals, and several England internationals including Lee Croft, I feel it is the latter.
Then again, why play up and coming kids when we can play old England pals like Fowler and McManaman on £60k a week even if they are long past their sell by date, especially the former.