Generation adidas kicks off tour of Spain

   

The MLS season ended 11 days ago at MLS Cup but some of the league's best young talents are still busy playing. A 16-player Generation adidas squad is in Madrid, Spain for a two-week training tour that includes matches against some La Liga reserve teams.

Current Red Bull Hunter Freeman, former Red Bulls Marvell Wynne and David Arvizu, and former MetroStar Tim Ward are part of the squad while retired Red Bull Mark Lisi, who now works for adidas, organized the tour. Red Bulls equipment manager Craig Chmeil is the team's kit man, so the Red Bulls are well represented on this trip. (Jozy Altidore was originally going to go on this trip but missed it due to other commitments. Needless to say, it would have been a media circus in Madrid if he had made the trip.)

The Generation adidas squad, coached by Houston head coach Dom Kinnear and assistant John Spencer, won its first match on Tuesday, beating Rayo Vallecano's reserves, 1-0, in a testy match that saw Hunter Freeman and Marvell Wynne issued red cards. Real Salt Lake defender Nathan Sturgis provided the goal while Chris Seitz was in net for the shutout.

Here is the breakdown of who played (and more info on their tour):

Generation adidas (1st half): Chris Seitz, Marvell Wynne, Jed Zayner (Nico Colaluca, 65'), Patrick Ianni, Hunter Freeman (Willie Sims, 46'), Jacob Petersen (David Arvizu, 65'), Bakary Soumare, Nathan Sturgis, Tim Ward, Chad Barrett (Amaechi Igwe, 65'), Kei Kamara.

Goalkeeper Brad Guzan is also on the trip but did not play against Rayo Vallecano. He is expected to play 90 minutes when the Generation adidas team faces Real Madrid's reserve team on Thursday.

The team followed up the Rayo Vallecano match with a trip to Sevilla to watch Sevilla's 3-1 Champions League victory against Arsenal.

Here are Patrick Ianni (with his MLS Cup afterglow still showing), Hunter Freeman (still trying to figure out who his next club coach will be) and Brad Guzan at the match (Yes, Guzan has a sad look on his face. Is it because Arsenal, the team he's been linked to, is losing, or is it because he's contemplating having to play in goal with Philippe Senderos in front of him?)

The Generation adidas team is back in Madrid today and will face the Real Madrid reserves on Thursday. Check back in tomorrow for more news and info on the trip.

Comments

[Uncle Dave]

So THAT is what Lisi was doing instead of playing MLS Fantasy Soccer!

[Brad]

Ives, any idea why Lisi left the MLS? I'm assuming b/c Adidas was going to pay him more? He was playing at Clemson when I was there and always wondered what happened to him.

[Brad]

Nevermind. Found it in the SBI Archives.

[Ives]

Brad, Lisi retired to do a chronic injury issue. He's doing well, working at adidas.

[EssEff]

More info:
http://www.rayovallecano.es/03/motor.php?ver=3670&ra=1

Yes, I'm a geek.

[Matt]

Didn't Arsenal just bring in the Polish keeper Fabianski over the summer? I can't see that being a good move for Guzan. Now Spurs - there's a club that needs a decent young keeper.

[Joamiq]

It would make me a very happy USA and Spurs fan if Guzan moved to the good side of North London.

Anyone know more about this game? I'd like to hear more about it, especially the two red cards, and how GA held on despite them.

[Dominghosa]

Too bad about Jozy not being there, would have been another good experience for him. What is he, working on FIFA 09?

[lakaix15]

wait if hunter freeman is generation adidas then why was he protected in the draft if he is saved????

[CRSvideo]

Freedman and Wynne both started? I thought they both played on the right. Who played on the left in the match?

[Ives]

Freeman is a guest player, he WAS Generation adidas but has since graduated from the program. That is why he had to be protected in the expansion draft.

[George H.]

Ives,

LOL on the Senderos line. He had a howler yesterday.

[lakaix15]

thank you Ives you are the man