Very. I feel like Van Gaal and Mourinho set us back hugely in that regard.
But the club shouldn't just take the players from academy. If there are great young players in other clubs who the club could buy, then do it...
I don't know just how effective our scouting network is. Seems like Madrid and Barcelona always get the best young talents before the english clubs.
Barca had an insane crop of players but after that can you name youngsters that made it at barca? Ter Stegen, Lenglet, Jordi Alba, Arthur, De Jong, Griezmann and Suarez were all bought from other clubs. Only Messi, Pique, Busquets and Sergi Roberto are homegrown and the first three had their debuts more than 10 years ago while Sergi Roberto seems the weakest link of the team.
From its starting XI Madrid doesnt have any homegrown talent maybe you can count Marcelo since he was bought at a very young age from Brazil, but still he was debuted more than 10 years ago.
I think those teams produce talent and players but generally end up playing for other teams. I woulnt say they always get the best talents for sure, actually theyre pretty poor at the moment in that regard.
About the managers I think we can say that about Mourinho who only debuted 6 players in 2+ seasons.
Joel Pereira, Tuanzabe, McTomminay, Demetri Michell, Josh Harrop, Angel Gomes. Out of those only McTomminay was given proper chances and is now fully established.
On the other hand Van Gal debuted 15 academy players: Rashford, Lingard, Pereira, Varela, TFM, Paddy McNair, Saidy Janko, Tom Thorpe, Reece James, Tyler Blackett, Donald Love, Reegan Pole, CBJ, James Weir, Joe Riley.
He even gave chance to players who clearly werent going to make it.
I think we romantice Ole, to be fair he has give regular oportunities to Greenwood and Williams, none of them is a regular stater, if Ole didnt had the history he has with us I dont know if we would praise that kind of details.
Im not saying he doesnt give youth chances, but I think he does it as much as other managers who dont get praised for it.