The modern model involves scouting and finding good young players, coaching them and developing them to improve them then sell them on for huge profits. This then bank rolls future signings of a similar ilk or the occasional marquee signing, rinse and repeat. Also selling a homegrown player records profits for FFP.
Sunderland have this with their young squad, Coventry have followed this model. Lower down the leagues Peterborough and Lincoln city have adopted this model. We are way off this.
Other than Ndiaye and the shock big money, unexpected sale of Osula what have we had like this, or who do we have? Arblaster? Who may return good or this injury may set him back loads. Peck? An inconsistent headless chicken who gives away the ball time after time but fans over rate him because he thumps the badge at the final whistle. Marsh? He has been the biggest victim of our rebuild as he should have gone out on loan at the start of the season but he was held back and was wasted in the development side and he's gone backwards.
The first season we stayed up Villa sold Grealish and that bankrolled their summer. We didn't even have a player we could sell for £20mil and that was a harsh reality.