We should build our youth grooming system after the world renown Ajax Youth Academy. Even West Ham's youth academy is slightly better than ours (in spite of the gross mismangement in their 1st team football)
Graduates of West Ham youth academy:
1. Lampard
2. Joe Cole (would be 1st choice at any other club other than Chelsea)
3. Michael Carrick (largely annoymous now)
4. Jermain Defoe (actually more of a Charlton youth product)
5. Glen Johnson (would be 1st choice at any other club other than Chelsea)
And I agree totally that it is time for Zak Whitbread and David Raven to play more prominent roles. Hyppia is past his prime at CB. At RB we can ship off the disastrous Josemi and let Raven be the backup to Steve Finnan.