Some interesting questions, my thoughts.

Academy
So far this is just bricks and mortars we have yet to bring through a steady stream of young players. Okay it takes time and hopefully in the next 2/3 years we will start to see them but when we are told we should be proud of the Academy I will be when that happens not before.

Major Trophy
We still haven't won a cup, before I die I would like this to happen. In fact in the top 2 divisions we are one of the biggest clubs not to have won a major trophy ever.

Ownership
Apart from SP I have serious doubts over the commitment of our American owners 2 want out and the other sees us as part of some
global organisation which may or may not be good for us.

All of the above is doable so I am not that downhearted but there is a whiff old same old palace.

Edited by Badger11 (12 Jan 2023 10.09pm)

One more point

Touched upon it in another thread however I would say that, despite little to no knowledge. this would be my guess:

Firstly, I don't think you're alone or unjust in feeling this way. Secondly, I would suggest that football is dictated by money these days, the 'top' clubs are always going to be the richest clubs. Newcastle look like the only team to be breaking into that small circle now and not shockingly as they've been bought with the Saudi blood money (controversial statement... or not).

I think beyond major investment, we're probably punching near as best we can at our weight now with top half finishes perhaps slightly above or an improvement. Without the extra money it will be hard to buy top players, acquire a top, top manager and improve the club as a whole (stadium for one thing - always something in the pipeline however little movement). We've seen some rocky times just trying to stay in the Prem and I would again suggest this has halted or hampered our ability to fund continuous improvement.

We had one big spending spree recently and that was out of absolute necessity given the state of the squad. Was more a revamp than an improvement. The thing about that for me was I thought it hailed a new dawn however it would seem to be a one off out of the necessity. If we were to all get our wish, and splash another triple-figure million squid on some full backs, midfielders, a winger and striker, I would question as to just how we would financially justify that and then actually sustain it without immediate success. Could very well be a short lived shot for glory but inevitable catastrophe of a 'boom and bust'.

The proposed model now of investing in young players and an academy I think again is a medium to long term plan for us. As for a cup we certainly have a shout but a lot of luck is needed there.

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

I did think that but he did at least develop for a year or two with us before making the first team so I thought I'd include him.

I think we have reached the Ceiling as a club, unless some billionaire comes along, if we had a 40.000 seat stadium, we wouldn't fill it every week, sustainability is what it is all about, mid table and a cup one day (hopefully) should be our ambitions, trying to play like Man City without the players is ridiculous and will end up with relegation, as for the academy it questionable if it is worth the money is debatable, if you provide one premier league standard a year then yes, if not go down the Brentford route and not have one.

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

[Link]

That is my concern also, Southampton I guess is one club that had a batch of players come through but that seems to have dried up for now.

I think we are being oversold the benefits of an Academy, of course we need one but I suspect we will only produce the odd player. I guess the best we can hope for is like the bigger clubs we produce a steady stream of lower league players who we hopefully get a transfer fee for.

One more point