MLS Insider Exclusive: 2010 Generation adidas Players Revealed
December 18, 2009 
16 Comments
BY JASON THE PRODUCER
The MLS Insider has learned that MLS fans should expect an official announcement very soon with the first of this year’s Generation adidas signings. Teal Bunbury, a forward from Akron, who was named Soccer America’s Player of the Year for 2009, is one of the players expected to be on that list. The 6’2” sophomore is an imposing physical specimen with excellent skill. He scored 17 goals for the Zips this past season and could make it two Akron University products going with the first overall selection in consecutive seasons (Steve Zakuani was drafted #1 last year by Seattle).
Bunbury is likely to be joined by a teammate from this season’s remarkable Akron squad, Blair Gavin, a junior midfielder from Louisville, Ky. He recorded 5 goals and 3 assists this season. Gavin was a member of the U-18 National Team pool and attended high school at the IMG Academy.
The third Generation adidas signing expected is one that had been out in the blogosphere for a little while now. Dilly Duka, the 20-year old midfielder, who impressed at the under-20 youth world championships for the U.S., has also signed with MLS.
There are two more player signings that should be announced next week. Both are college seniors. The first is Toni Stahl, the holding midfielder from UConn, considered by many to be one of the top players in the draft pool. Also expected to be on the list of signees is UNC midfielder/defender Zach Loyd who has played all over the field for the ‘Heels, including a notable performance in 2009 as a centerback for one of the stingiest defenses in the NCAA.
Keep checking back at the MLS Insider for more updates as we anticipate more 2010 SuperDraft news prior to the end of the year.
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Is size the most important characteristic? Bunbury “is an imposing physical specimen with excellent skill.” San Jose flopped terribly as it was focused on big target forwards and big physical specimen defenders, It seems the small speedy skilled guys ran circles through and around them. Maybe we Americans still think of other sports like the NFL when looking for talent. Should the order be 1. skill, 2 speed, and last 3. “big.” Maradona, Messi, Robinho, etc. are not big. I wonder if Bunbury would do better as a wide receiver in the NFK.
I hope Castillo does well with DC
Great info dude!!
WTF it is only 4 guys so far we need them more in MLS.
so… what about this kid?
Dustin Corea
http://www.sounderatheart.com/2009/12/20/1210008/draft-profile-dustin-corea-if-he
he keeps showing up on the lists of people that could play, but not on the list of people that MLS wants.
I have had the opportunity to have watched Mr Bunbury play over the last decade or so and here are my observations :
** Teal seems like a very nice young man and appears to have been well raised in Minnesota.
** He is fortunate to be “well-connected” in soccer circles thanks to his Dadand that has proved to be very useful indeed.
** In terms of pure soccer ability, I have always viewed Teal as a decent “front man”, no more, no less. He has always been able to “hold the ball up” pretty well and has for the most part been able to pass it OK (albeit mainly in the direction of his own goal).
** I never, ever thought of him as a natural striker as my experience was of him being put “clean thru” on numerous occasions only to miss the intended target by a big margin. That probably explains why he did not take any part in the two penalty shoot-outs in his last 2 games of the season (that isa little bit like
I have had the opportunity to have watched Mr Bunbury play over the last decade or so and here are my observations :
** Teal seems like a very nice young man and appears to have been well raised in Minnesota.
** He is fortunate to be “well-connected” in soccer circles thanks to his Dad and that has proved to be very useful indeed.
** In terms of pure soccer ability, I have always viewed Teal as a decent “front man”, no more, no less. He has always been able to “hold the ball up” pretty well and has for the most part been able to pass it OK (albeit mainly in the direction of his own goal).
** I never, ever thought of him as a natural striker as my experience was of him being put “clean thru” on numerous occasions only to miss the intended target by a big margin. That probably explains why he did not take any part in the two penalty shoot-outs in his last 2 games of the season (that is a little bit like Ronaldo or Beckham or Donovan saying they will sit in the stand and watch the shoot-out, and that troubles me a bit considering he is a sriker )!!!
** I was fortunate to be able to watch the last 2 games of Akron’s season, up to and including the final, and was not surprised with what I observed :
- Teal played like what I came to expect from him ……. OK !
- There were many, many better players on the field from both teams and it doesn’t seem that many of them are getting the same exposure as Mr Bunbury and that’s a pity.
** Teal Bunbury has always enjoyed great exposure thanks to his carefully choreographed PR machine (his Dad) and good luck to him, it’s not his fault and I hope he takes advantage of it as not many kids get that kind of advantage.
** Now here is my prediction of what will happen next :
- Teal will advance to the MLS and he will continue to be an OK player and dedicated to improving his game and that’s good.
- He will find that at the next level, it is a little different, and he will need to be at least a good finisher and will have to advance and pass in the other direction in order to be successful(not back toward his own goal).
- The fact that he is not an exceptional player will be a severe handicap in respect of the fact that he is a striker. In that position you have to be one of the best, not just a bit above average !
In summary, I really like the kid but I am seriously troubled that he is being built up into something much bigger than what he really is (remember Freddy Adu )? I just hope that he has the character to handle some of the disappointments that are surely headed his way, based on his lack of true natural ability.
Let’s hope he surprises us all, me included, as Minnesota needs a soccer success more than most (witness the last half dozen or so “Mr Soccer Minnesotas) and you will start to get the picture. Time will tell, but good luck Teal !
Yours in sport.
To Soccer Nerd,
Statistics are facts. Your opinions are not.
Teal didn’t participate in the first PKs because his quads were cramping.
“The fact that he is not an exceptional player.” -That is not a fact.
In fact, one could say your comments are asinine in nature. Teal is a leading candidate for the Herman.
You are an idiot.
Zach,
I think your assessment of Soccer Nerd’s comments is both rude and objectionable. While his analysis on the reason as to why Bunbury declined to take a penalty may not be accurate, yours is hardly more veritable. The decision came to down the coaching staff, who regarded Bunbury’s chances at a penalty as NOT in the best interests of the team. ” ‘The fact that he is not an exceptional player.’ -That is not a fact.” Are we disputing pure semantics here? The meaning of exceptional?! Really? By any standard or commonly held definition, exceptional refers to a quality of being particularly unique or outstanding in some manner. In one respect, Soccer Nerd has a point. All season long, Bunbury made a name for himself. Come College Cup, however, he squandered several opportunities and was shut down the entire weekend. A prolific season up to that point amounted to nothing… quite unexceptional. And yet, on the other hand, you, Zach, have a point. Bunbury, as just a nineteen year old sophomore, was a starter and leader on one of the best squads in college soccer history and led the nation in goals. No less, he is a Finalist for the Hermann. On this note, he is quite exceptional.
Here’s to a little more respect and accountability in debates on this page. After all, we’re all just trying to facilitate a healthy, cordial argument.
Cheers.
If I remember correctly, Akron did not score in the run of play in the final 4 against two quality ACC teams. If Bunbury was exceptional he would have scored against quality opponents (like Marcus Tracy did in 2007)on a big stage. Akron plays in a weak conference so unless Teals statistics are phonomenal (like Zakuani)his average stats dont really mean much. In the end, he is not ready and should have stayed in school one more year. He could have received a bigger GA contract next year. Herman Trophy? Come on.
dilly duka is by far the best player in the draft…skills, vision and the whole package..watch out mls trust me he will be on the rise to greatness
i also am not blown away by bunbury, time will tell, but i think he’ll be very avg. in mls. hope i’m wrong ’cause my ‘Quakes might take him and we need a lot of help. besides damani ralph no forward has done much coming in from college. hope i’m very wrong, not just for my ‘quakes but for the kid in general.
Bunbury is 6′ 2″ speedster with most tech skilled (Ives), MAC Herman Trophy winner, Mid America Player of Yr, Soccer America’s Player of yr, and Player of Yr by Goal.com. The kid must have something besides a PR machine or soccer father.