Potter and Welsh were obviously not good enough, but there's good arguments to be made for the rest being overlooked for inferior foriegn players. There's a list of names, past and present, who have replaced those lads and were quickly moved on at great expense. None of them are world beaters but they would have made more than competent squad players if allowed to develop. This scattergun approach of buying numerous foreign kids at the expense of good, competent local lads, in the hope that one turns out to be special is not for me, and no doubt the parents of many talented kids who are turning their attentions elsewhere because they know they don't stand a chance here. I understand the competition is fierce and we need to find the best possible players available but it's also important that we never lose that local pride and identity.