Pretty incredible that at the end of the match against Chelsea we had a front three who were all English and had an average age of 19. Hoovered up from other clubs at 14/15 but nonetheless an impressive achievement for our academy. Burnley were probably the only side in the division that fielded a more cheaply assembled front line this weekend.
Yes, it's brilliant that we've got these Academy lads coming through. However, and this is straying away from the topic of this thread a little bit, but I wonder, isn't it now harming us in the transfer market, the fact that every footballer in Europe now knows that we have a "philosophy" based on value, youth and affordability, rather than just buying good players?
Take Depay for instance, he probably looked at us and thought, ah, Liverpool - they only want me cos I'm young and don't want too much in wages. Whereas United, he would have thought - wow, Man United, the team that buys top players like Falcao and Di Maria, they actually want ME!
Edit: Even if United end up paying the same wages, it's the perception of potential targets I'm talking about.
And yes, I know there's lots of other reasons Depay might have chosen United!
I think we have to reconsider the image of frugality and cleverdickness that we're giving out - it's not very attractive to potential (really good) signings.
Edit: So, instead of agents and players all over Europe seeing us as "Liverpool, the club that relentlessly seeks out value for money in the transfer market", surely, "Liverpool, a club which always looks for top, top quality footballers, and will pay what it takes, within its means, to get them" is a more attractive proposition? In fact what we are prepared to pay might not change, but it's the emphasis which could be putting some off, I believe.
