Thanks. Sounds like I need to realise this isn't The FA as such, but numerous footballing bodies that are pulling in one direction. Having no direct knowledge of any of it (sounds like you do) I'll take what you say as positive steps in the right direction.
Actually it largely is the FA, but different levels of the organisation pulling together. Previously, the youth setup and senior set ups were very much independent silos, now there's more of a coherent pathway through the age groups and recognition of the importance of the age groups. Which is what the England DNA stuff (underneath all the blather) is all about. I think perhaps where the change in thinking is needed is you're perhaps thinking of the FA as the "blazers" of media fame, they're still there and they do need getting rid of, whereas the stuff I'm talking about is what the staff and the executive are doing.
As a cynical fucker though, part of me just can't shake the feeling that this hasn't been caused by the pathway development thing, but is purely one of those perfect storm random moments where shit is just slotting nicely together, along with a good coach and a decent balance of players that aren't the sponsor's favourites.
There's always an element of luck in any of these things obviously and it will be cyclical to some extent as Reg says but the FA are doing a better job now of ensuring they "create their own luck" by doing more sensible things to develop young players earlier and that they are better placed to make good use of that good fortune (in the form of decent young players) when it occurs
I sound like a massive FA fanboy but I probably share much of the reservations you have about their overall governance of the game, the shambles they made of Wembley, World Cup bids etc. But I do think this is genuinely one area where they are starting to get more things right.