Leeds United CEO Angus Kinnear's decision to name the club's burgeoning young players in his pre-match programme notes last weekend was a novel idea for a Premier League director.
Often, executives are so far removed from the footballing development side of the clubs they run that U23 players are simply not on their radar.
But, in recent weeks, each and every Leeds United spectator has been made aware of the youngsters bidding to lodge themselves permanently within the first-team.
Leo Hjelde and Lewis Bate were given debuts from the start against West Ham United in the FA Cup, before somewhat unexpectedly earning their Premier League bows the following week in the same fixture.
Joe Gelhardt's rise to prominence over the past few months was epitomised by Leeds supporters' response to his introduction at Elland Road on January 2, versus Burnley.
Kinnear's decision to name those players who have been generating interest and excitement within the fanbase, following an improbable victory over the Hammers, ahead of a clash with Newcastle United in which the Whites were favourites, must have seemed like a good idea.
"Our analysis indicates that many January options, requiring an eight-figure investment, would not be a material improvement on the current performances of emerging players such as Bate, Hjelde and Joe Gelhardt," he said.
“Moreover, signing other options would block such youngsters’ development and would offer nowhere near the long-term potential.”
Sentiment among supporters is still very much geared towards incomings at senior level. While received fondly by those looking at the Leeds United big picture, the same comments were not so well-received by those concerned with the short-term.
This was compounded by an undeserved defeat at the hands of relegation-embattled Newcastle, and a subsequent 4-0 loss for the U23 side, which included Hjelde and Bate in the line-up on Monday evening.
In addition, the club's perceived inaction in the transfer market during this month's winter window has only exacerbated the feeling among some supporters that Leeds are being unnecessarily frugal.
The public pursuit of Brenden Aaronson appears one which will trundle on until the deadline, and perhaps into the summer, but many feel Leeds should do whatever it takes to sign the USMNT international this week.
Kinnear's comments on the youngsters, while sincere and complimentary of the work being done at U23 level, can also be read as an insurance policy of sorts.
If Leeds fail to secure any winter additions for the first-team, and the young players continue on their current trajectory, Kinnear's words will appear particularly prescient further down the line.
Instead, with two defeats in three days for the senior side and U23s, some supporters feel they now highlight the need for reinforcements in the final week of the transfer window.
The response to Kinnear's programme column is perhaps a microcosm of the short-termist attitude towards squad building and the dopamine-hit synonymous with revealing a new signing.
Quick-fixes are attractive because results are immediate, but often unsuccessful, whereas player development is a patience-trying waiting game where benefits do not manifest for several years - take Pascal Struijk for example.
In truth, there is merit to both approaches: signing first-team ready players, as well as facilitating a pathway for high-potential youngsters.
Kinnear is correct to highlight the work that has been done in identifying and developing the likes of Gelhardt, Hjelde and Bate, but the club's pursuit of Aaronson proves their approach is not mutually exclusive.
January is a notoriously difficult window to find value in, and while arguably more could be done to bolster the first-team setup this month, Kinnear's comments should not be overblown, especially not in the immediate term.
Above all, the timing of those particular programme notes has turned out to be unfortunate.
Had Leeds secured the addition of a first-team player this month, defeated Newcastle and then saw off the challenge of Blackburn U23s, a Chief Executive championing the club's youth setup would likely be viewed through a very different lens.
