The three days I spent at the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland were thoroughly enjoyable. A fine line up of teams playing some very entertaining football.
Yet, more seasoned Milk Cup observers were disappointed. Where were Manchester United? This group of teams are not as exciting as previous years. Worst Milk Cup. Ever.
What would the best Milk Cup look like? Which teams from around the world could be invited to get the best mixture of cosmopolitan quality?
Based on the 2015 Junior section we have 24 spots available. Six of those spots go to the local county sides.
County Down
County Londonderry
County Antrim
County Fermanagh
County Tyrone
County Armagh
The tournament needs a sprinkling of English sides. Selecting those sides is not easy. The Academies at Chelsea and Manchester City are beginning to dominate national youth competitions but the doubt remains about how many of these players will actually play first team football? The traditional production levels of Everton and West Ham almost got them in to the dream line up.
Southampton
Currently the most respected youth set up in England. They have fed players into the first team for a number of years and the fees commanded by those who leave are often eye watering.
Manchester United
Manchester United have had one of the best set ups in England for some time. Historically players have consistently made it from youth to first team. Even those that do not make it at United have had good careers elsewhere.
Liverpool
At present the Liverpool academy is filled with exciting attacking prospects. One graduate has just been sold for over £40 million. Many believe that there are more of that caliber on the way through. Plus, a Manchester United vs Liverpool encounter in Belfast should spice things up.
Crewe
The Crewe system keeps the club alive. The system has been working and producing players for over 30 years. Sustaining the first team and bringing money into the club. It would be fascinating to see them against the super elite.
Spanish football has been the envy of the world. The depth of quality players astonishing. Real Madrid have an excellent academy but most of their graduates enjoy success away from the club. Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Real Sociedad, all have delivered top class players. However, there is one club that leads the way.
Barcelona
La Masia. The farmhouse. How can you not invite the academy that has given the world Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Fabregas, Busquets, Pique, Puyol, Pedro, the list goes on and on.
Athletic Bilbao
No club relies on it’s youth system as much as Blibao. Their Basque only policy means that they have to have academy products come through. They may not create the mega stars of Barcelona but the players have been good enough to keep them in the upper regions of the Spanish top division.
In France they have been developing wonderful talents. Numerous clubs have delivered their players. The French league is a huge exporter of talent. It is not necessary to narrow it down to one or two clubs as the French Football Federation have done this for us.
Clairefontaine XI
The academy originally overseen by Gerard Houllier brings in the best French football has to offer. Though the stream of players is not as rich as the mid to late 90s there are still more than enough players coming through.
The current world champions have a huge talent pool. The work done to improve German football has been astonishingly successful. The German FA, Bundesliga and clubs worked together, with a clear policy. Every club is committed to home grown talent.
FC Bayern
Another obvious choice. The Bayern Munich academy is so good that their third choice players form the core of the USA national team. Emre Can was moved on as he was seen as a lesser prospect than others at the club. As was Mats Hummels.
Schalke
Right now Schalke have the hottest production line in Germany. Julian Draxler, Max Meyer and Leon Goretzka are the most recent successes but the names Manuel Neuer, Mezut Ozil and Benedikt Howedes will also be familiar to you.
The most copied methods of youth development belong to the low countries. For almost 40 years Dutch football has been able to make the most of the talents at it’s disposal. Top teams around Europe have been occupied by Dutch players. Now Belgian football has made great ground, their players seemingly to be the must have item in the Premier League.
Ajax
The Ajax academy is the academy. As great as La Masia has been, the Ajax academy have been producing players for a very long time. A few years ago they had a dip, but the return of Cruyff put the club back on track.
Feyenoord
Ajax academy is the academy. Feyenoord won the award for best Academy in the Netherlands five years in a row. It would be great to see how that translates on the pitch.
Anderlecht
Belgian football is experiencing a “golden generation”. Anderlecht have delivered Lukaku, Kompany and Januzaj. More are on the way.
South American clubs have exported player upon player. There are over 600 Brazilian players in Europe. Over 200 Argentinians. The top European clubs have been able to generate technically excellent players but even the best turn to South America when it comes to creativity, imagination and goal scoring.
Santos
Robinho. Neymar. Gabigol. A lineage of forward talent. With Pele standing atop of them all. South American flair and a trace of Futsal would be most welcome at the tournament.
River Plate
River are the Ajax of Argentina. Their academy providing players for the first team. River have a strong record when it comes to strikers, Falcao and Higuain being graduates.
O’Higgins
The Chilean team were extremely impressive at this years Milk Cup. Their Bielsa inspired style was fantastic to watch and ties in with the philosophies of a number of the other invitees.
The outliers. These clubs have shown excellence in youth development and play exciting attacking football.
Sporting Lisbon
Although Sporting have been less successful in recent times than Benfica and Porto they have produced more players for the national team. Their rivals have relied on importing South American players at an early age. Sporting have delivered Ronaldo.
Right To Dream
The Ghanian team have impressed at a variety of tournaments. They destroyed Southampton in the finals this year. How would they match up against the best that Germany and Spain have to offer?
Club America
The Mexican outfit were very exciting at this years Milk Cup. Their attacking dynamic play would be a great addition to the tournament.
The final list.
1 – County Down
2 – County Londonderry
3- County Antrim
4 – County Fermanagh
5 – County Tyrone
6 – County Armagh
7 – Southampton
8 – Manchester United
9 – Liverpool
10 – Crewe
11 – Barcelona
12 – Athletic Bilbao
13 – Clairefontaine XI
14 – FC Bayern
15 – Schalke
16 – Ajax
17 – Feyenoord
18 – Anderlecht
19 – Santos
20 – River Plate
21 – O’Higgins
22 – Sporting Lisbon
23 – Right To Dream
24 – Club America
It should be a tournament high on quality and high on excitement.