My trainee was a random draftee, I got him in the first season, I checked starting skills at buzzer-manager. Looks like he had 49 skills
5/6
3/7
6/2
6/2
6/6
If he had 60, he would be at 116 skills already, with 4-5 training seasons left. And more, had a used a level 4-5 coaches.
Basically, what I'm saying is, that starting skills are way underrated. It's much more profitable to buy a better skilled trainee, than to buy a cheaper trainee, and then pay outrageous money for 10 seasons of trainers, to make up for the difference.
My other trainee was also a random draftee(no scouting), a year younger, also allstar pot, has 98 skills curently
11/9
12/11
11/9
10/12
5/8
Basically zero investment, and I never bothered about missing minutes or injuries.