Ambitious owner is the key. The rest comes along with that.
Not really. Prowse, Lambert, Shaw, Lallana came through the academy and/or been with them since league one. They've then took chances on young English players like Cork, Clyne and Rodriquez, something we are scared to do. Filled in the blanks with big money foreign signings rather than keep trying to do it on the cheap, that's where the ambition comes in.
Their academy is easily the best in the Country. That hasn't happened by accident and has very little to do with ambition or the current owner.
Should have sold them as soon as they became good tbh.