This romantic notion that we'll keep churning out amazing players and live happily ever after is great. And our transfer strategy is fine at this moment in time. But let's take you all on a virtual tour of our team, and maybe this beautiful Utopian dream can make way for a bit of realism.
Left back: As far as actual left backs go, we have 1. His name is Partice Evra. Where is his potential replacement in a year or twos time? Where is this young future legend, this bright young prospect lad who's ready to step in? I don't see him, and Asamoah is not the answer. Not for a back 4, not unless you want to turn a very good midfielder into a mediocre full back.
CB: Our best defender is 33 and increasingly injury prone, our 2nd best defender is not far behind in both regards. Do we have one of these ready made replacements waiting for his chance? Do we? No.
We're pinning all of our hopes on Rugani, who is absolutely an unknown quantity at this point in time. He may be ready in 4-5 years time IF he turns out like we all want him to.
Pirlo. The sole creative spark on our team. Needless to say we have absolutely no solution when he's finished. Our already worryingly small source of creativity will be gone and what do we do? Rely on Marchisio to unlock opposition defences on a consistent bases? Yeah... no.
So we can all live in the 90's again, or we can wake up and understand that unless we invest properly (No, NOBODY is suggesting we pull a City/Madrid/united) but we must invest properly to just MAINTAIN our current level in the next few years when our defence, and the heart of our midfield is finished. These 10M net spending windows are fine right now. But you can bet everything you own on the fact we are not going to strike it lucky several times in one Summer replacing the core of our team. If we can not afford top class youngsters at the very least, then I hope you all make peace with Bonucci and Ogbonna starting all of our games 2 years from now. And I do not want to hear a single complaint from ANYBODY who is suggesting we have no real need for a 'top' player when some of our own TOP players are 2-3 years away from being finished at this level.
Back in the day we or any other sensible club for that matter could find some amazing deals. Talented youngsters would come for a reasonable fee, and all was well. Nowadays unless you strike it lucky with contract issues/general unhappiness any useless young scrub who's had a half decent season playing in an obscure league will end up costing an arm & a leg. Wake up people, enough of this 'tradition' talk when we all know damn well that if you don't get with the times you fall behind.