Academy lauded in The Times

[PeterWithe]

As well as the academy players they are righly lauded for they also pay big tranfer fees and huge wages, £20m on Alves, £40m on Ibrahimovic, , £30m Villa, Mascherano, Milito Abidal etc.

[Somniloquism]

As well as the academy players they are righly lauded for they also pay big tranfer fees and huge wages, ...., £40m on Ibrahimovic, , .......

Does that figure also include swapping Eto'o or is that just the cash part of the deal. They could have easily straight swapped between them (Carew/Baros tyoe deal).

[Dante Lavelli]

Even so, they're filling the Nou Camp every other week and along with Madrid monopolise the Spanish and worldwide TV coverage. 

I'm not suggesting you guys are wrong, it's just that if the Barca model doesn't work then how is any club supposed to be competitive on the pitch whilst being sustainable off it?

[Mac]

Along the corridor bridging the academy with the professionals at Villa’s £13 million training headquarters, Sean Kimberley asked us in for a coffee. The recruitment officer closes deals, after his network of scouts have filtered the young talent — locally first, then nationally, then internationally.

Fancy letting a bloody Wolves fan work at the Villa.  He's good bloke Sean, and was, footballing wise,  head and shoulders above every one at school - even in a very good team.  Just goes to show how good you have to be to make it.