The model isn't either/or though, Baz. The aim should be to invest in players that have resale value and marry that with a policy of bringing in players who can 'do a job' for you. If we treated every position as though it was 'the mode' we would 1. have a very inexperienced XI going out to play every game and 2. lose pretty much everyone in January or the summer. For every sellable prospect like Luke McNally, we need a James Henry - a solid pro whose resale value is minimal. I think we strike a pretty good balance at times with this.
It's a myth that we have to 'start over again' when we sell players. We may lose one, two or even three players between the summers, but what this model has done is proven we can find replacements often before we sell the key asset. Farewell Ledson in July 2018, hello Cameron Brannagan to step into his shoes who arrived in January 2018. Off goes Rob Dickie in September 2020 but his replacement Rob Atkinson was in the house already having joined in January 2020. It works and Oisin Smyth could well be the replacement for Cam Bran should we not get promoted this season.
Look, the years 2001-2015 at the Kassam Stadium barely saw the footballing world look to Oxford United for players to sign. From memory the only players who commanded any kind of fee of interest were Dexter Blackstock and Dean Whitehead (Chris Hackett and Craig Davies left for minimal fees too), two youth team prospects before FK put a few nails in that coffin. Since 2015, we've sold players for fees totalling (from the top of my head) over £14.5m. Yes, we've invested heavily in future prospects and not all will work out, however that return must be making a profit for us. We're sat fifth in League 1 so we know it works.
Peterborough do it, Brentford to it and we do it. Long may it continue, I say.
