Excellent article from VOF but

this goes way beyond the issues we'd face if we finally get promoted.

For as long as I remember, and I've been a supporter since 1967, Leeds United has had a youth production line of varying success. We've gone through periods where older heads were preferred but in my opinion blending good experienced professionals with youngsters reaps significant rewards.

We've been a selling club for quite a few years now. Whether others appreciate it or not it was a legitimate way to balance the books rather than flirt with financial meltdown. I certainly don't want to see another post Ridsdale era at ER ever again.

Keeping Phillips was a significant step in the right direction. Bielsa transformed a mediocre Academy product into one of the most wanted players in the Championship. A good example of player development.

Phillips has had the benefit of first team experience before Bielsa took up his bucket.

Selling Clarke was a good piece of business in my opinion. Taking him back on loan less so but before his collapse he was a real game changer, perhaps Bielsa thought he might replicate that form in the new season.

I do believe that the days of selling players like Milner and Lennon are behind us. We no longer have the face selling good prospects just to survive.

Our Academy production line continues to serve the club well. However, not all will secure permanent berths in the first team squad. If the manager/ head coach doesn't feel that they are going to make the grade they will be farmed out on loan or permanently. A small squad doesn't lend itself to those younger players who are outgrowing the development teams but not quite good enough for the first team. You can't keep disenchanted players without seeing disruption. BPF was a good example of that.

Buying experienced players is great. At one end of the spectrum they cost huge fees and command high salaries. Huge financial gamble.

At the other end, they are average at best and probably have a season or two left in them. Financially affordable but a huge gamble when it comes to improving the team in the short term.

Criticise as much as you wish but AR has steadied the ship. Orta might have a shotgun approach to recruitment but there have been some notable successes in amongst the less than useful recruits. You never know until you know......

That's why the youth system is so important, you essentially have a better idea of what you are getting. The pressure of playing at ER is perhaps the least known quantity.

I saw a post recently saying that last season was something of a car crash. Our best season for quite a while and that was a car crash! Really? Mid table obscurity to just missing out on promotion with largely the same group of players. Excellent achievement.

I don't agree with Bielsa's small squad mentality. In many ways you'd need a squad of Paul Madeley's to mak it really work. However, it does in some ways accelerate the opportunities for the youngsters to get involved. Sitting on a bench is a great way to experience the atmosphere and take on board the mentality to survive.

I'd like a bigger squad and yes I'd like to see more youngsters get game time. However, we're in one of the tightest divisions in English football. Margins between success and failure are fine, imagine the uproar if Bielsa dropped an experienced head for a raw youngster and the result went against us?

I don't think that there is a practical workable solution for what we want. Costa and Bamford are two of our most expensive acquisitions in recent times. Two players attracting significant criticism of late. Spending money does not equate to immediate success. Aston Villa has spent hugely in the Summer but are struggling in the Premier League. Manchester City spend money like its going out of fashion but they aren't steam rollering their way at the moment.

Promotion is not guaranteed whatever you spend. The legacy of financial waste, however, takes time to turn around. I don't think AR will spend big in the January window, new investment or otherwise. The rules and regulations we have to adhere to wouldn't support such an obvious gamble.

I suspect AR will bow out once we hit the Premier League. He'll make his profit and pass the club to a more affluent custodian to take the club to the next level. With the revenue levels greatly enhanced the potential to spend big is more appealing.

However, I still think we need to bring those youngsters through. Otherwise, why join Leeds United as a kid? No point at all and then the Academy starts to go into decline.

We need that blend for a successful future on and off the pitch. I suspect injuries will continue to have a detrimental effect on our season but I'm sure, after the last campaign, Bielsa will have learnt something and be better prepared this time around.

Rant over.