I kind of have a theory that clubs/countries wont get a real good crop of youngsters (about 5-6) say every 10-15 years. Its jsut natural for clubs youth development to have highs and lows, but aslong as they have a stead stream of players (2-3) coming thru with each cycle things should be ok. Also what happened to Livepool, back in the 90's they had Mcmanaman (no bad tackle) Fowler, Owen, Gerrard, Carragher add in Redknapp also who they bought when he was 16 from Bournemouth. Now they have to buy the players like a Sterling, The German kid etc etc outside of Wisdom and Kelly there isnt really much else. The FB's they had playin a few years ago are no where to be seen. Thomas Ince was allowed to leave now they want to buy him back for £8+m and I dont think hes played a single min of PL football (dont know if hes played sub mins but you get the point)
True , Spain is having a good cycle now and maybe its good because they have started to win.I also think they have multiple generations playing together, i remember Iniesta, Xavi, and Puyol playing in those Rivaldo led Barca teams with Pep too. Clubs might also need 3-4 players of every generation to come through and become the spine of the teams. The German NT also had the same progression from Bastian/Podolski in 06 to the youth teams that won that UEFA thing with Ozil/Hummels/Neuer and now to Reus/Gotze.
Liverpool's transfer policy tended to mirror whoever the manager was in charge, during Houllier's era they had a boatload for French players( the new Zidane Bruno Cheyrou) and then Benitez with his Spanish contingent.