I thought the problems with the academy were down to people not liking Hunter. If there's a few 'reasons' (people) that are disrupting things it doesn't bode that well.
Players like Forren, Taider, Mayuka, Gaston, Osvaldo, Clasie, Martina, I assumed to be Cortese/the manager's signings rather than the black box. The track record for those signings is a lot worse than those sought via the black box.
You can add Pelle to that list. Although he was a success but still pretty clear he was Koeman's man.
No system (that involves human beings) can be perfect, but Saints have tipped the balance in our favour in finding players that suit us.