Here's a bit of fun for all my (our) doom and gloom. This was a really fun video to watch. Their was more comradery, unity and brotherhood in the 96-05 era that hasn't been replicated yet in the 08-23 era with a very close coming in 2012 only to see it blown up. Chris Henderson, Abel Resino, Bern Schuster, Adrian Paz, Curt Onalfo, and Cle Kooiman were guest players on the tour. Tom Liner attended the tour but was inured so that's why Resino was pulled in. I like their red shorts too. We even got to lift the trophy, the first actual trophy in our cabinet.
Wow! Thanks for posing this Kaitlyn! I never knew about this trip to China and I followed the Clash team closely in 1996-97. I don't recall that any MLS club was interested in the Bernd Schuster so I'm surprised he was allowed to play as a guest player. He was a huge name in Europe throughout the 1980's and early 90's when he was with Barcelona, Real Madrid , Atlético Madrid and at Bayer Leverkusen. At this point in late 1996 and early1997, he was turning 37. At that point in 1997 , I'm sure the Clash could have used a player like him but he ended up going to the Unam Pumas in Liga MX in 1997. Had those "guest players," Bernd Schuster , Spanish keeper Abel Resino, Chris Henderson, Cle Kooiman, and Adrian Paz played for the Quakes in 1997 , I'm sure results will have been different. Laurie Calloway wouldn't have been fired in favor of Brian Quinn and the team could have had a lot better results. Here is a related article I found online.... MLS: Clash wins first match in China by Soccer America , Oct 30, 1996 The San Jose Clash won the first game of its tour of China today, downing Sichuan Quanxing of the Chinese First Division 3-0. San Jose, which is without seven regular players because of World Cup qualifying and other commitments, fielded several "guest players," including German playmaker Bernd Schuster (who had a pair of assists), Spanish keeper Abel Resino, Colorado midfielder/forward Chris Henderson, Tampa Bay defender Cle Kooiman, and Columbus striker Adrian Paz. "I thought we played very well," said San Jose coach Laurie Calloway. "Especially considering a lot of the guys had been together for only a few days." San Jose will face another Chinese First Division club, Beijing Guo'an, Nov. 5. Oct. 30 in Chengdu Sichuan Quanxing (China) 0 San Jose Clash (MLS) 3. Goals: C. Henderson 4, Corrales (Schuster) 20, Bravo (Schuster) 59. Sichuan -- Zhao Lei (Lee Qin Ke, 46), Lee Qing, Xu Jian Ye, Meng Xian Peng, Liu Wen Tao, Wei Qun (An De Lle, 46), Zhai Biao, He Bin, Yang Zhe (Yiao Xia, 50), Peng Xiao Fang, Zhou Yon Gen. San Jose -- Resino (Salzwedel, 65), Martin (Draguicevich, 70), Doyle, Kooiman, Corrales, Bravo (Amaya, 65), Schuster, Iroha (Lewis, 46), Baicher, Paz (Ianni, 65), C. Henderson. Red card: Sichuan -- Wei Qun 18. Att.: 35,000 (est.).
Also, not taking anything away form Tom Liner or Dave Salzwedel, having GK Abel Resino who played 9-10 seasons with Atlético Madrid , may have helped.
Resino and Salzwedel would have been a good combination, but we also wanted Mark Dougherty as a first choice.
I think Laurie Calloway wanted and negotiated Mark Dougherty for both Wynalda and Salzwedel (two best friends) but Peter Bridgwater said no. Wynalda was the marquee player and a good friend of Calloway's successor , Brian Quinn so it never materialized. Looking its too bad the deal never went through. Dougherty left Tampa Bay for the Columbus Crew the following year and Eric went to Miami 2 years later.
What were the results? I saw that San Jose played three games, but I only found the results of two. Sichuan Quanxing Langjiu 0-3 San Jose Clash Beijing Guoan 1-0 San Jose Clash