Why Mike Magee Should Get a Call-up to the US National Team
Posted on March 4, 2013 9:46 am
by Derek Richey
Mike Magee. What a guy. Is there any doubt about his ability to take a ball on the cut or out of the air? Is there any doubt about his skills on the ground? Is there any doubt that he’s one of the best American players to never go overseas?
Is Magee a late bloomer? Sure he is. He’s a fantastic late bloomer. Am I saying all this because he scored a hat-trick against Chicago yesterday? Kind of, but not really. Mike Magee has been amazing when it counts for the past few seasons for LA, even though he’s been over-shadowed by the glowing lights of Landon Donovan, David Beckham and Robbie Keane.
But go ahead, ask anyone on the Galaxy, or Bruce Arena, or talk to anyone around the MLS, and ask them if Magee isn’t one of the most reliable, steadfast, dependable, talented, skilled, and efficient players in the league. Per opportunity, who takes care of the ball better? Bruce Arena would have him on the Nats if he were still coach. Just ask him. Then again, that might not be too convincing for some.
Is Magee as good of a poacher as Wondolowski? Maybe, but he’s not asked to be a poacher like Wondo. Magee doesn’t do all his damage as a poacher like Wondo does. And is being a poacher on the US National team really an asset anymore? I mean, we don’t cross the ball enough to cause poacher-friendly skirmishes in front of the goal for a guy like Wondo to flourish. Oh, but that’s right, Wondo scores goals for an MLS team that plays the OPPOSITE style that the US National team ASPIRES to play. So, why play someone like Magee that fits more into the ball-control framework?–that makes too much sense…
Eddie Johnson as a winger? Sorry Jurgen, but if you’re going to throw someone on the wing, why not someone who has been there and done that for two MLS championship teams? Why would anyone ever choose EJ over someone like Magee to play that role? Oh, that’s right, EJ scores goals for Seattle–and lots of them. But doesn’t he do that in a traditional striker role–not as a winger?
But then there is Mike Magee. His feet are magical. He’s a more skilled player than Wondo is. He’s not as good a poacher, but we already discussed the cons of that in Jurgen’s lair. Magee is a better winger than EJ could ever hope to become on his very best day. Magee is just a special player. Better than that, when the pressure is on, he steps up and performs better. When everyone else is taking a break (Landy Mountain Man) or moving on (Beckham and “gay Pear-ee”), Magee’s the guy you can rely on. He’s versatile. He can play striker, reserved striker, winger, even central midfield… But mostly, he’s a play-maker.
When Landon Donovan and Keane are both around and healthy, he doesn’t get to play much up top, but by-goodness when he does, he scores. And he scores when it matters (at least recently). If we’re going to give a guy like Alan Gordon a reach-around and a chance at camp-cupcake type games, why not CONSIDER a guy like Mike Magee? He has better feet than Gordon and actually fits into Klinsmann’s system… Isn’t that the whole point of Jurgen’s evolution of American soccer? If so, why not choose some players that actually fit into your Barcelona style vision? Players who can hold the ball, pass the ball, shoot the ball, dribble, run, and score when called upon?
Okay, maybe 10 Magee goals in the last two seasons doesn’t blow your mind, but did you ever consider that he hasn’t been asked to be a goal-scorer until the end of last season? And didn’t that work out pretty well for the Galaxy when it was clutch time? And really, wouldn’t you want him on your team if you had the chance? Be honest.
If I’m Jurgen Klinsmann right now, I’d be picking up the phone and calling one of the most unheralded players in the MLS over the past two seasons (unless your a Galaxy fan—-then you know better). If Mike Magee were 22 instead of 28, he’d be a hot property in the world (not just MLS) and god knows he wouldn’t be playing in the MLS much longer. He’d be in the EPL, or Germany.
And if some of those Euro clubs don’t think 28 is too old to become a star player or a major contributor, then maybe they’ll still give him a call soon. It happened to Geoff Cameron (who is 27). In fact, it was just over a year ago I said Geoff Cameron should head abroad to make a case for himself to be a regular on the national team—-and I was right (despite sighs and grumbles from the gallery). That call might not come for 28 year old Mike Magee from anyone overseas or even from Klinsmann, but it should, because Mike Magee has been, and is, a class player.
“He can play striker, reserved striker, winger, even central midfield…”
You forgot posting a shutout as goalkeeper. That was Magee as well, wasn’t it?
Yep. That was him. That’s when he went from “serviceable utility midfielder” to “cult hero”.
I agree that Magee should get a shot. I love his game. But I think the tone of your post is just a little too much. Giving Alan Gordon a call (in which he produced a very critical assist) was a “reach around?” WTF does that even mean in this context? An appearance for the national team counts as being a passive participant in anal sex with simultaneous manual stimulation? Do you see the problem with this analogy? And EJ, despite your criticism, has also produced pretty good performances in his chances. You don’t have to denigrate players that are doing well to make the case for your particular pet player.
I think the reason Magee hasn’t been called is because he lacks the quickness one usually needs at the international level and doesn’t put in a lot of work on the defensive side of the ball.
That said, I’d have no problem seeing him get a shot.
I agree totally with this post.
Hmmm, let’s start with the reach-around context… I used that as a metaphor for a “special favor”… Keep in context as well that Gordon’s critical assist came against regional powerhouse Antigua and Barbuda.
I’m not sure I “denigrated” those players (that seems a wee bit melodramatic), but merely pointed out that they don’t fit into JKs vision for play…and that EJ is by no means a winger. I don’t necessarily object to EJ playing striker–I’m just not a fan of his play in general, but I do respect and appreciate his rebirth as a player and his self-reflection. As a LA Galaxy fan, and having watched MM play A LOT of games, I would disagree that he is any more a defensive liability or positive than EJ on the wing.
Mike Magee doesn’t get a call up to the National Team, the National Team gets a call up to Mike Magee.
This post makes too much sense. Love Magee.
MLS is full of solid players that you can build a decent squad around. Davis, Magee, Wondo, Meyers, Zusi, Demerrit, Omar, Marshall, Gaven, Pontius, John, Rolfe……etc
It’s amazing that he’s only 28, he’s been in the league forever. He was a rookie with the MetroStars in 2003. First trip to the HDC was Galaxy-MetroStars game in the first year of the stadium, and he stood out then.
I also love Magee and concur with this post.
I like Magee too, but he really isn’t as magical as you convey him to be. i mean if I wear on a defender different national team, i wouldn’t lose too much sleep if I had to go against him.
my point is he isn’t going to do too much better than Wondo, or EJ, probably better than Gordon, but still below Gomez, Altidore, or even Agudelo
What the hell is the people’s obsession with Agudelo?… is he young enought that all his faults are forgotten?. Altidores hasn’t shown much either on a National stage.
I like Jozy and Gomez as strikers, but not lone strikers. Again, this is really about JK and his system. A system that seems to turn on of the top scorers in the Dutch league into a mostly useless spectator. I am not sipping the Agudelo Kool-aid either…. I tried it, it started out with a sweet blast, but lately has had a bitter aftertaste. I still hold out hope for Juan though…
As I said in the “Flavors of the Week” thread before the season started, I think he would fit really well in the wide midfield spot in Jurgen’s system. The way Jurgen’s doing it, you don’t really need a speedy guy in one of those slots. It that is the case, the question is could he be better than Zusi or JFT or any of the other slow, wide, mf’s. I think it’s worth checking out. If speed is needed, then I don’t think he should keep Donovan (of course), Beasley, Gatt, or Shea out of the mix. Or maybe Mix, either.
Not to mention he’d be a good emergency fill in at forward or in the hole.
I really like Mike Magee but lets not get carried away here.
I really like him more. I’ll say this much: if you aren’t a Galaxy fan who watches every Galaxy game, then you might know how clutch Magee is… He has that X factor that is hard to quantify. I also think he’s one of the smartest players in the league and has that natural gift of being in the right place at the right time when all the chips are on the table…
I’m a galaxy season holder since 2002. I’ve seen Mike Magee do great hings, but i also remember 2009 and 2010 and his poor finishing (at least 30 clear goals missed). His success had to do a lot on the system we are playing, and the people behind him. And also team chemistry, you can’t develop that in 3 days at USMNT camp.
So much cynicism! I remember 2009 being particularly poor for a lot of guys on the team for a stretch. Same in 2010. Team chemistry is important and might explain the bad runs for the team in those seasons…And for some of the bad play across the roster during those sour spots…
Not getting carried awy. This writer made some great points, ive been saying it all offseason he should of gotten the tryout in january.
I am his cousin also so im gonna have a different opinion, But the writer was spot on with all his facts
I like him for the Gold Cup as our “A” team is more worried about WCQ. If he does well there, then we’ll see.
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