that's a catch 22 in some ways

in the sense fans often demand instant success, and the cost of failure is so high, that fewer clubs are prepared to gamble on youth over the slightly less risky approach of spending on 'proven' talent. If the club gambled on youth and it didn't work out, there'd be lots of criticism. just as there's criticism for not gambling on youth (particularly if the expensive stars flop).

Ticket prices could come down if clubs weren't so beholden to the need to pay for expensive talent, but it would require supporters to accept a very different level of ambition.

(Which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing IMO. Depends on what you want from your club as a supporter I guess, and whether it's to be successful at the top at all cost, or to just be successful relative to your own means.)

Posted By: CWC, Feb 20, 11:59:50