The sacking of Ron Smith from the Perth Glory job this week and the ensuing comments by new coach David Mitchell begs one question; which comes first, development or results?
If you're Ron Smith the belief is development will get results. If you're Dave Mitchell it is results will breed development.
I've seen Ron work and it is without reservation I say he, along with Ernie Merrick, is one of the leaders in the field of development in this country.
He's played major roles in the development of stars such as Mark Viduka, Craig Moore and Lucas Neil. He studies the game to the point of obsession. He was part of the team that got the Socceroos to the World Cup. Sent on spying missions to South America he kept Guus Hiddink up to date with all the information needed to plan Uruguay's downfall.
Last week he had players wearing GPS monitors against Wellington Phoenix. Alright many of you will joke that it was probably because they were wearing them that they couldn't play well enough to win, but if there was a stone to be turned in search of getting Glory a result he was going to turn it.
Questions like who, where, when, why, what and how might have unlocked that elusive three points. After all, it worked with the Socceroos.
So did Ron spend too much time improving the players' technical and tactical knowledge through patience or should he have listened to Mitchell.
"We (Ron and I) do have different philosophies. My professional background is very much hard nosed," Mitchell said this week.
"And I think that is a little bit of what we missed. I put the players on notice this morning that there are careers at stake as well as my own. Desire and commitment has been lacking in some aspects, and certainly that is something I want to bring."
Oh damn, that was it, they weren't trying!
Simon Colosimo backed it up by first blaming himself for the poor start to the season.
"Mitch is no-nonsense kind of bloke - if you don't perform, even it is 10 minutes into a game, you are out and you are off," the Glory skipper said.
Fuel's just been added to this fire now that Mitchell will also have the use of an alliance with English Premier League club Manchester City, which could lead to loans of players City coach Sven Goran Eriksson cannot find room for.
Oh joy, now we've got a situation where if you don't play well you not only get dropped, you could also get sent off to Siberia.
Glory goalkeeper Tando Velaphi could find himself needing a passport when replaced by out of favor Manchester City keeper Kasper Schmeichel, who's on loan at Cardiff City.
It would be great to have someone that well credentialled in Oz, but will it be the start of the problem not the solution. Will we end up like England, unable to deliver teams good enough to compete on the world stage because our kids can't get a start at home?
The last thing we need is to be seen as the league Manchester City's reserves play in.
I'm not denying we need both development and results, I'm asking the bigger question; which comes first, development or results?
Stay tuned.