Indeed. The counter argument to this of course is the fact that players are playing in higher age groups etc...
But, it is definitely fair to ask if both the coaching & recruitment has been good enough.
I don't remember that one!
I'm pretty sure interest in Kuka / Alves was real. I (very randomly) remember Souness talking about them both on Meridian Tonight.
Transfers were quite exciting under Souness. He took about 10 players in on trial early on. I'm sure Tore Andre Flo was part of that group.
I remember the Jansen one too. Good times.
Believe it was the Souness link that made it a small possibility. (I've no idea if there was any truth in it).