Both are looking ok so far. Villareal is a tricky player but looks a little over-matched physically (not that surprising given his age). McBean is a big kid, and is more skilled than I was expecting.
And an excellent one at that. McBean, who had the assist, has filled out quite a bit. I think he'll end up being a Ching type.
Villareal scores but looks like he picks up a injury replay shows he was hit in the face as he scored Mcbean gets the assist
A goal and assist for both Villareal and McBean tonight. LA Galaxy Academy paying dividends. I love that Arena gave the kids a chance tonight. I can't wait to see who's the next player in the Galaxy pipeline; there's just so much talent in SoCal.
McBean impressed me this game. I haven't been a fan but he definitely has some potential. I hope Villareal's head injury isn't serious. He has great quality.
I think he shows alot more talent than Ching did as an 18 yr old. Even though I never saw Brian Ching as an 18 yr old. Very difficult to project talent out many years. Like what I see now but have no idea how that youth talent improves into his better years. I think he does have the potential to be better than Ching. We'll wait and see.
Yeah Ching didn't break into the league until he would have been around 23 years old. McBean on the other hand won't turn 18 until December. He now has 2 goals in 3 appearances (188 minutes) for the Galaxy.
I think McBean has a very good understanding at this age for a target striker (he's 17 days too old to be eligible for 2015 U20 WC). Strong in the air, holds the ball well, and links up well with the MF. As he continues to fill out, going to be just an ox out there when he's older. Hopefully he continues to improve in other areas. And LAG has the HG rights to Gyasi Zardes if he chooses not to go to Europe after the college season (though he's not eligible for this thread).
Absolutely. I mean the kid is 17 years old! Let's cut the guy some slack. He scored one, got into position to score another (earlier in the game on a redirected low cross), and generally gave PR some major problems. I liked what I saw from him. Who knows how much he will improve ... maybe not much at all for all we know. But I'd say that he is doing very well for himself right now and is certainly someone worth keeping an eye on.
I think that you have some good points, but I also think that Peretz48 is a perceptive judge of talent. I think that you both have good points.
Only thing I don't like is comparisons. McBean will progress on his own pace. We don't need to measure him constantly against a decorated US veteran.
Yup. The Galaxy academy SHOULD be top 3 in the country. Arena's a weird bird. He signs a lot of veterans every year for experience on the bench (Noonan on this year's team for instance. Kirovski, Hejduk, Klein, Berhalter, etc. in years before). He does have a reputation as a "veteran's coach" due to it. But when he sees a young player he likes, he doesn't hesitate to install him in the lineup. He's done that at all of his stops.
http://www.fcdallas.com/blog/post/2...lyn-acosta-trains-first-time-signing-contract It should be noted that Kellyn Acosta has started officially training with the first team. Just in case people feel like bashing Schellas for not playing him, he isn't eligible for MLS games until 2013. I'm really intrigued by this kid.
Me too. He has an athletic, supple build, and I think that once he fills out he'll be that much more explosive. He might have the most upside of all the '95s playing domestically. It will be fun following his progress.
Which is one of those MLS rules that leaves our head scratching. We know Villarreal had to wait a full year from the date he joined the LAG Academy to be eligible for 1st team play. Not the best rule but at least we somewhat understand it, but hasn't Acosta been in the FCD Academy pre-Bradenton? And he's been back with FCD basically one year now since the U17 WC ended. He might not even be ready, but still one of those weird MLS rules. One other weird/frustrating thing to think of: Josh Gatt and Sean Cunningham could be members of the Crew had that affiliate started a year earlier, and same with Villyan Bijev and San Jose.