There were a lot of dismissive sneers in the direction of Chelsea during the opening months of the 2019/20 campaign when a group of academy players broke through into the first team.
The accusation towards Frank Lampard, who had been appointed in July of 2019, was that young players were only being given a chance because of the transfer ban FIFA had handed the club. The assumption was that once that ban passed, any Cobham influence in the first team would instantly evaporate.
Three years later, it is tough to argue that the club has reverted to type, or that academy talent has faded into the loan cycle.
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Money has been invested in new players and there have been moments of frustration or questionable calls. The 2021 exodus of academy talent felt like a step backwards.
But in spite of that consistent demand for investment, the homegrown talent has risen to the challenge, sometimes outpacing those of an older age coming in for expensive fees and high expectations. That in itself reflects a telling message, one that Todd Boehly and Clearlake have hopefully taken on board.
There is little point denying that the transfer ban was a turning point in the club's history, a twist of fate that enabled Lampard a shot at an elite position despite limited coaching experience, and the need to look internally for solutions for once rather than having the luxury of spending vast amounts on international talent.
But that crop of talent that did emerge in 2019 have generally proven their quality in the years since even if not all still remain with the club.
Graham Potter named four academy graduates in his starting lineup against Wolves on Saturday: Trevoh Chalobah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher. A fifth would come on in Armando Broja, netting his first for the club in impressive fashion to complete a convincing 3-0 victory.
"They're vital." Potter notes when pressed on how important it is to integrate academy talent into the first-team squad following the win. "They bring an understanding of the club, of the culture of the club, its demands and what is required in terms of the environment. They've come through a fantastic education in the academy. They are good people and good footballers. Our job is to help them maximise their potential, which is really exciting."
Against AC Milan in the Champions League that academy influence was as notable with Reece James becoming the youngest player in the club's history to score and assist in the same Champions League game at the age of 22. These minutes are not token gestures to appease outsiders, it is telling that a number of Chelsea's current best performers, and ones in recent years, are those developed at Cobham.
Mount put in a starring display against Wolves, setting up two of the three goals and demonstrating the creative influence and intelligent movement that has made him a favourite of three Chelsea head coaches in succession now. The new trio of Broja, Gallagher and Chalobah feel like the next generation of talent hoping to emulate the path left by Mount and James. All three have enjoyed successful loans away from the club, but Chalobah proved last season that he could make the jump up to the senior level.
Broja and Gallagher have had to wait for their chances to impress, but the past week under Potter feels notable for their own development. Last weekend at Selhurst Park it was Gallagher coming off the bench and netting a late winner in stunning fashion. This weekend it was Broja scoring, with Gallagher getting a start.
Potter is a coach who has a good track record of developing young players and is already showing a willingness to place faith in those with less experience but clear potential. He will need that to get buy-in over what the new ownership hopes, is a longer-term process.
What it also represents is that the transfer ban remains one of the best things to have happened to Chelsea in the past decade. It forced the club to look internally, and although there have been a few bumps in the road since, there is little point looking back.
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