Mantra to success: big signings or home grown stars?

Manchester United has been the cream of English football for the past two decades. They have made marquee signings, but they have never neglected their youth system.

“As you sow, so shall you reap?” They planned for the future way back in the early 90′s and have reaped the rewards. The most successful team in English football with 20 top flight titles. It was the likes of the Nevilles, the Beckhams, the Scholes, the Giggs which lead the club to glory in the last two decades. Now, its time for the new bunch of players to lead the club in this decade, with the likes of the Welbecks and the Cleverlys.

Even with Arsenal, Arsene Wenger has always developed young talent with home grown stars. He has always brought unknown players on a small budget and developed them into Champions.

Robin van Persie was bought for £2.75 million, nurtured , developed into one of the most lethal strikers in Europe and sold for £24 million. Wenger has ensured Champions League qualification for the club in every season he was in charge of. He was the manager of the ‘Invincibles’, who finished the League unbeaten in 2003-04, with majority of the players, being developed or nurtured by him. All this happened because he was given time by the club to put his dreams in place. Currently, they have Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and Alex Chamberlain to lead the way for them in the future.

With the Kop, it was Stevie G, Micheal Owen and Jamie Carragher, who led the way for Liverpool. All were youth academy graduates of Liverpool Football Club, and have always played their hearts out for the team. It was the flair of their inspirational captain Gerrard, which scripted one of the greatest comebacks in the Champions League final of 2005.

In France, PSG’s Qatari investment won them the league this season. Similarly, AS Monaco is breaking the banks for every player in Europe with the likes of Falcao, Rodriguez and Moutinho, already on their way to France.

It is the Era in football where money is on a high. The love of a player for the club, and the support of the fans who stood behind them during their miseries and success, are traded for greener pastures. El Nino swapped the red of Merseyside for the blue of London in the transfer window deadline.

As the saying goes, “Rome was not built in a day”, every owner must realize that success never comes overnight. It has to be envisioned, it has to be dreamed of, it has to be put in place by a series of event. Above all, time and patience is of utmost importance.

Only time will tell, whether the new managers will lead the Citys, the Chelseas, the PSGs , the Madrids to success, or will it be just another day at the office for them.