The Generation adidas Cup is a U17 tournament run by MLS here in the Metroplex at the same time as - and with some assistance from - the Dallas Cup. The GA Cup consists of two tiers of teams - the Champions Division and the Premier Division - made up of MLS U17 Academy sides and invited foreign clubs. In North Texas, the GA Cup perhaps takes a back seat to the Dallas Cup in fame and awareness, but the GA Cup is a big deal for the league and its clubs.

Each year, Major League Soccer has enlarged the GA Cup and tried to create a greater emphasis on its own tournament. As part of raising the profile of the GA Cup, MLS in 2013-14 started inviting foreign clubs to the competition.

While the Dallas Cup is often considered a bigger tournament, FC Dallas has already won the Dallas Cup U19 Super Group, in 2017. A feat only accomplished by one other US team, Dallas Texans, in 2006.

The GA Cup, on the other hand, is a completely different story.

Since the 2013-14 expansion of the GA Cup, no MLS Academy side has won it. Stoke City won the first expanded version in 2014, River Plate took the title three straight times, and last year Flamengo took home the prize.

It would be a fantastic achievement and earn tons of MLS caché and publicity if FC Dallas could be the first MLS side to win the league's own expanded tournament.

Make no mistake, the current FC Dallas U17 side is an absolute monster. They are just loaded with talent. A 17-1-1 record for first place in the Frontier Division and the best record in the U17 Developmental Academy. An astounding 63 goals for and 11 goals against. That's a +52 goal difference.

And that's why I think FC Dallas should load up the U17s and make a run at the GA Cup. FCD should use any professionally contracted players that fit the age requirements - 2002 and 2003 birth years - and put them in the U17 side.

North Texas SC has a game the opening day of the GA Cup with a week off afterward. But I think Ricardo Pepi - who has 19 goals in just 8 DA games - and David Rodriguez - 10 goals in 13 DA games - should be pulled out of the USL-1 game and play instead with the U17s in the GA Cup. Ronaldo Damus can start in Pepi's place for North Texas and D-Rod is on the bench behind his brother Arturo anyway.

On top of that, FCD Homegrown Dante Sealy - who is on loan to North Texas SC - should also join the U17s. Sealy had been playing with the Academy U19s this DA season where he has 10 goals in 12 U19 games. But in this scenario, I'm stacking the 17s so he can join them too.

Beni Redzic on the ball for FC Dallas against AS Monaco in the 2018 Generation adidas Cup opening match. (3-23-18) (Carter Baum / FC Dallas)

And I think FCD U19 Beni Redzic, who is one of the Academy players that might see USL-1 time as an amateur - he's been training with NTXSC- should also go back down to the U17s. He's been playing up an age bracket just like Sealy and has 8 goals in 18 DA games for the 19s.

And look at these other talented players still with the U17s, many of whom will be pros...

Diego Letayf - The 17s smooth, game controlling holding mid. He's been in three straight Mexico U17 camps and perhaps has made their U17 World Cup squad.

Cesar Garcia - The more linking style mid in the 4-3-3. He was part of the January camp with the US U17s.

Nicolas Carrera (right) playing for the FC Dallas U17s against Toronto FC in the Sub Internacional Liga MX in August (2018). (Liga MX / Liga MC)

Nico Carrera - A pro-caliber center back prospect who's working on his citizenship and should be in some US teams after he gets it. 6'2" already.

Seth Wilson - 6'3" 17-year-old keeper. I think he's the next potential professional keeper still in the FCD Academy system. Although that's several years down the line as keepers mature later.

Jonathan Gomez - Left back. He's the younger brother of U18 striker Johan Gomez. Jonathan's been training with North Texas SC some already and he's also a frequent US U17 call up.

Justin Che - Listed as forward but I've been told he's been playing as a center back alongside Carrera a fair bit, as does Camilo Estrada who has 5 goals in 9 starts (16 games). Che's started 17 of 18 his games this year for the U17s with 3 goals. He got a U16 US call-up last year.

Michael Sosa, who is normally a starter at forward, he would come off the bench when I send down all this talent, he has 8 goals in 17 games.

A suggested stacked FCD U17 XI for the GA Cup

This lineup is just flat out flat-out ridiculous...

A stacked hypothetical FC Dallas U17 lineup for the GA Cup using MLS Homegrowns and North Texas SC signed players in addition to the players still with the Academy U17 side. (3rd Degree / Buzz Carrick)

FC Dallas is in a really tough GA Cup Group A with West Ham United, New York Red Bulls, and Club America. But with this loaded-up lineup, FCD should have an outstanding shot at taking the entire tournament.

How about the U19s in Dallas Cup?

In this year's 40th Anniversary edition of the Dallas Cup, the FCD U19s - who are pretty good too, by the way, 15-3-1 and 1st place in their DA division - will play some fantastic opponents in Group C play: Villarreal, Queretaro, and Red Bull Brasil. The FCD U19s have a shot to advance and potentially contend for the title.

So let's not sell the U19s short either. While perhaps not overloading them like the 17s there is still some pro talent that can be used in the Dallas Cup as anyone with FCD born in 2000 or 2001 (or younger) is eligible to play.

Bryan Reynolds (left) and Thomas Roberts (right) take on Arsenal in the 2018 Dallas Cup at the Cotton Bowl. (3rd Deegree / Matt Visinsky)

FC Dallas plays on April 13th and 20th during the Dallas Cup. But unless they are needed to start in MLS, Edwin Cerrillo, Thomas Roberts, and Bryan Reynolds should all be released down to the FCD 19s. Only Cerrillo of the three right now seems to be in contention to start for FCD so he's the longest shot to see Dallas Cup action. All three have played for the 19s this season already. Cerrillo 12 games (before he signed Homegrown), Reynolds 7 games, and Roberts 7 games.

Plus there is a chunk of U19s that have been taking part in North Texas training and could feature in their game on Academy contracts: Johan Gomez, Kevin Bonilla, Gibran Rayo, Julian Hinojosa, Imanol Almaguer, and Tanner Tessman. There's a bunch of pro USL and MLS potential.

A potential FCD U19 XI for the Dallas Cup

This lineup too is pretty darn impressive even without Dante Sealy and Beni Redzic.

By the way, anyone I didn't mention by name, discuss, or list in the team shouldn't take offense. These are just hypothetical lineups and this article is long enough already. There's other talent in both these teams I didn't even get to.