Twelve years ago, Alan Hansen famously remarked after Manchester United had lost their opening Premiership fixture with Aston Villa "You'll never win anything with kids".

Those words have haunted him ever since, as a United side including a young David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers went on to do the double.

Hansen was, of course, unfortunate to pick on a quite exceptional group of prospects. In general terms, his statement is as true today as it was then.

As a fluctuating season of flattering expectation for Albion stumbled towards a depressing conclusion, the signs were that Dean Wilkins is grasping the Hansen doctrine.

After a miserable home campaign ended in another defeat, by Oldham, Wilkins talked about his players being bullied and needing to grow up and toughen up.

In doing so he indirectly acknowledged that a tad too much faith has been placed in the kids he nurtured when he was in charge of the youth team.

Of the 11 that were taken on a year ago, only Joel Lynch and Dean Cox have been entirely convincing in making the giant leap into the senior ranks.

Of the others who came through the system before them, only Dean Hammond has really emerged as a key figure.

The squad that finished three places and six points above the League One relegation zone is too big and far too inexperienced.

The vast majority of the established campaigners are no longer considered good enough to command a regular place in the side and there is a huge void in the squad between them and the rookies in need of help.

To turn things around next season Wilkins has to reduce the quantity and raise the quality on the tightest of budgets, which will be no mean feat.

It is easy to forget he is learning the job too. All his experience as a player and first team coach could not prepare him for the more exacting world of first team management after the briefest of promotions to the senior coaching staff.

Wilkins can blame chairman Dick Knight for that. He was chucked in at the deep end without a pre-season and time to plan.

Having backed Mark McGhee against calls for his head from major shareholder Tony Bloom following Albion's predictable relegation from the Championship, Knight then abandoned the man who had guided three different clubs to promotion from League One with the season still in its infancy.

Interestingly, two of the hat-trick of defeats which ultimately cost McGhee his job were by single-goal margins away to two of the teams who went on to finish in the top three, Bristol City and Nottingham Forest.

As subsequent events have proved, it was a major blunder to get rid of him and Wilkins was left to pick up the pieces.

Inevitably, with so many youngsters given their head, it was a season of highs and lows, peaks and troughs.

The shortcomings are self-evident, the most obvious the one which has dogged Albion since the departures of Bobby Zamora, Leon Knight and Adam Virgo.

Billy Sharp spearheaded unfashionable Scunthorpe's surprise title triumph with 30 League goals, the Seagulls' strikers managed 28 between them. Enough said.

A meagre tally of 49 goals in 46 games left Albion joint 20th in the scoring stakes, above only Northampton and three of the relegated sides, Chesterfield, Bradford and Brentford.

By contrast, the goals against tally of 58 put them 13th, a record comparable to those of play-off challengers like Swansea, Carlisle and Tranmere.

Even in defence, though, an incredible statistic is unearthed. While midfielders contributed a healthy 18 goals, defenders managed just one between them, a 25-yard strike by Adam El-Abd against Leyton Orient in September.

It emphasises that the forwards cannot alone be held responsible for the paucity of goals. The supply was frequently bordering on the non-existent, especially during the latter stages of a dreadful Withdean campaign.

How many times can you recall an Albion player beating an opposing full-back and delivering a threatening cross?

This brings me on to the tactical tinkering. Wilkins is a sophisticated, modern-thinking coach intent on producing technically gifted and adaptable players.

The formation has sometimes changed from match to match, often several times during matches.

Yes, the midfield diamond had the desired effect for an important spell, especially away from home, in February and March, but too much can be made about systems and their impact. In the end it all comes down to having good players.

Ex-Seagull Mike Robinson tells a nice story about when he was signed by Liverpool. Worried about whether he would fit in, he wanted to know what system they were going to play.

Bob Paisley replied: "Listen, son, football is a simple game. The guy in goal tries to stop the ball going in the net.

"The defenders try and stop them having a shot. The guys in the middle get the ball and pass it up to you.

"When you have the ball, you try and put in the net, if you can't, you give it to the other fella, who will try and score."

Call me a dinosaur if you like but I would like to see Albion basically operating a 4-4-2 again next season, particularly at Withdean, hopefully with effective wingers, a more muscular strike force and a recognised goalscorer.

Combine that with a sturdy defence and a competitive partnership in the middle of midfield and that, as McGhee proved and Micky Adams/Peter Taylor before him, is how to get out of League One.

Wilkins' summer dealings will be crucial, together with a fast start to capitalise on the feelgood factor of the hoped-for Yes' to Falmer.

If, on the other hand, the pattern of poor performances and results at Withdean continues into the first few weeks next season, recent history tells us he might be reaching for his coat.

Have Albion put too much faith in their youngsters? Leave your comments below.