It's clear that we had problems picking, developing, utilising and retaining talent in our early years. Is that still the case? I think not.
There's always going to be problems managing and developing players - it's tough at the edge. However, the old days are gone and it's fully unrealistic to be quoting those early failures ad infinitum as some kind of proof of an ongoing malaise. You've got to ask if you are engaging in realism or just having a psychologically satisfying whinge.
I have a lot of respect for De Boer but to equate delisting him with eg losing Clement or Bell in the early days is pure BS. The way the club works and the timing in the players career is obviously different.
