With Ireland struggling to qualify for Euro 2016 by the front or back door, the issue of youth development is rearing its head again - especially with question marks about whether there are any promising players on the horizon to boost future squads.
Looking back, while this island has produced some great individual players, only twice can we say that we have had a generation of evident talent coming through at the same time.
The fear is the production line has ground to a halt - if it hasn't already - but tonight on Off The Ball, we'll be looking at whether we will only be left with the memories of the generations mentioned below until a long-term solution can be found.
The baby-boomers
Many of the heroes of the Jack Charlton era may have been born in Britain, but it is fair to say that a generation of Irish-born players made a huge impact in that time.
The fact that Liam Brady, Paul McGrath, David O'Leary (born in London but raised in Dublin), Frank Stapleton, Kevin Moran, Packie Bonner, Ronnie Whelan were all born between 1955 and 1961 means the oft-used word 'golden generation' is not misplaced given their talents and achievements.
All made the well-worn journey to English and Scottish football, representing the best clubs in the division and in the cases of Brady (Serie A), Moran (Sporting Gijon) and Stapleton (Ajax and Anderlecht), they also took the chance to play for clubs on the continent.
Unfortunately Brady did not get to display his talents at a major tournament, but the others were all vital cogs at one point on the great adventures of Euro 88, Italia 90 and USA 94.
Major tournaments: Euro 88, Italia 90, USA 94.
Close calls: Finished one point behind England in Euro 92 qualifying.
Keane and Duff at World Cup 2002 ©INPHO/Tom Honan
Generation X
Born in the 1975 to 1981 era, the likes of Robbie Keane, Damien Duff and co showed great promise in international youth tournaments in the mid-to-late 90s under the watchful eye of Brian Kerr.
Although they only had World Cup 2002 (with the aid of an older cast) and Euro 2012 qualification to show for it, there is no doubting the fact that the aforementioned duo as well as Shay Given, Richard Dunne, John O'Shea and Ian Harte were great servants in the green jersey over the past decade and a half.
They are also the last generation of Irish players to regularly play for Champions League-standard clubs and are also ones who made a significant impact in the Premier League at their peak, whether it be Duff at Chelsea, Keane at Spurs and O'Shea at United.
Major tournaments: World Cup 2002, Euro 2012.
Close calls: World Cup 2010 qualifying for well-publicised reasons.
At youth level: 1998 UEFA U19 European Champions, 1998 UEFA U16 European Champions, 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship bronze medalists.
