Jo, it is so good to hear from a "real" supporter and not the plastics.
Missing out on Euro for a few seasons and turning to the academy is the way to go IMHO. With the way the FFP rules, now the Sustainability Rules, are about to operate quite a few teams might have to take the same measure. Just throwing money at foreign players has to end at some time. Sell to buy seems to be the new factor.
Teams who build their academies early will benefit most in the future. It is what Leeds started a few years back and we have already got Gray, Byram and Gelhardt from it. We sold some others who were not quite there and a few are out on loan getting 1st team experience.
We have also looked to buy cheap youngsters from smaller clubs with a view to bringing them on, Jaidon Anthony for example. It is another route for teams to take though maybe easier to do in the championship.
However, Jim is going to have to spend a few bob on Old Scaffold. I saw the videos of the rain the other night when you and Joe got soaked. The Theatre of Streams:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... xez22ll5ro