Nothing to disagree with as I do not suggest that producing home talent is not desirable. It makes financial sense when we look at what a club will pay for one decent player which is often enough to finance a youth system for god knows how long. But I do suggest that it would be only part of the answer, Building them and keeping them are different things. It is worth remembering that of the 3 home talents you named, one has left and another has had a series of doubts about moving on.
It is probably true that most teams youth schemes could be improved, but they do already exist and the point I was making is that the wastage rate is very high. and even if we produce them we may not keep them and we need far more players for our squad of 25-30 than we can dent with our own products,
It follows that the cheque book will continue to rule. There is past evidence for this, Just look at the top sides from the period when foreign signings were rare. Paradoxicaly, it was Chelsea who had one of the finest youth set-ups when I first watched football. I don't think Venables, Allan, Greaves, Wilkins and a bunch of others stayed there very long. They were snapped up by other more successful clubs in the division, Spurs, Man U,,,etc,and that was without the promise of mbuttive wages.
I agree with most of all you say, although I don't think the UEFA will pursue their idea with any vigour. I cannot see them getting past the 'intention' of the EU laws on freedom to employ and be employed ,no matter how they try to hide the restrictions under rules of 'eligibility, Let them call it what they wish, it is still a restrictive practice.
regards,
LC
