I was watching the match on the shootout package. Was it just me, or is this kid a real hot head? I thought he had some decent skills. He was at least able to put the ball on frame. But he just seemed to be "a little punk". It's just a first impression, but somehow, I think he might see a few cards this year. James
What gave you that impression. I watched the game from the 4th row and didnt hear him pipe up once. He actually got hacked a few times and didnt show any form of retaliation or attitude... Maybe I missed something, as I was often in the beer line..
i was not impressed with his shooting. if mathis was in his postion he could have easily had 1 or 2 goals
nothing special in the game... needs to get some muscle... but at the same time, he's 18, and probably still growing... there is a lot of potential, and he showed some poise..
I don't think he was a "hot head" at all... i dont know where you're getting that either. It was his first game. give him a few games to settle into the higher level of play... he'll be right up there soon enough. especially getting at least 75 minutes a game, ... look for more...
He looked a lot better playing in his first game at 18 yrs old than Timmy looked when he first played for us at 19 or so. This guy will be a player. He just needs to fill out and age a little. Let's face it he's right out of high school.
Magee looked a bit nervous but grew in confidence as the game went on. I think hes going to be a key player later on in the season. He and Moreno just need to work together a little more.
I can't identify the player, but I saw him "jawing" a few times. And then in particular, a long ball was played through to him around midfield, right on the sidelines, and he was legally shoulder charged, then the defender kicked the ball out of bounds, on the way down the sidelines, Magee went out of his way to "two hand shove" the guy in the back. The guy just laughed at him, so maybe it was light-hearted, but it didnt look that way. Like I said, it was just a first impression. I could tell the kid had some skills. James
The kid has talent. It was his first game as a professional, and he's raw. He needs to hit the weight room so he doesn't get muscled off the ball, but he's going to be a player. He's got great balance, some speed, and he sees the game well for such a young player. With Guevara starting and Mathis moving up front, it should move Magee to the bench where he can come on late in the game and play against tiring defenders. This should help him notch a goal or two and gain some confidence.
MAgee does not deserve to be on the pitch playing for a division 1 side. I have no idea whether he has potential or not. Maybe in three years he'll be a superstar and sign with Barca. Right now, he needs to be playing A-league teams.
You're a moron and a twit. If only most of our acclaimed forwards of yesteryear had such a solid debut. Magee played a solid game, he will get there. Ten goals this season, if he stays healthy, I see him challenging for that number.
I think he was trying to counteract the roughing-up he was getting from Columbus' big backs. So, if by hothead you mean pushed a couple of people, sometimes after the play, then yes, he's a hothead. But sometimes that's absolutely necessary for a rookie to assert himself.
Hmmmm... after one game I'd rather see a team of Magee's lose than one byron alvarez or martin klinger even show up in the stands.
Do you remember the first game's of Valencia, Pitufo, Comas, or Savarese, to name four that immediately spring to mind. I don't. But Magee is nowhere near the level of any of these players. I won't even use the word "quality", because it's unfair to compare players who are clearly at different levels. True, it's one game, but it's not a matter of "gelling" or a couple of lost balls due to nerves, he doesn't know what he's doing out there on this level, except run like a madman. He got one good shot off, I'll admit that. But otherwise, he doesn't know what he's doing. Perhaps he looked better to you because playing on the same pitch with LeBlank, he looked like an all-star. But I'm just a moron who does nothing other than sit there obbserving the game. I don't have the brains to bang a drum and watch the game like you. And it's funny, I got the same criticism when I pointe out Klinger's deficiencies after only one game. Now he's an official whipping boy.
I was away this weekend and watched the game last night, so I only can comment on what I saw on TV. Clark was better than Magee, which is to be expected -- Clark was the consensus #2 and some people thought he could end up being better than Esky. Clark didn't really assert himself until the second half, but when he did he was dangerous without ever leaving the midfield bare for a counter-attack (thank Bradley as much as Clark for that). Magee, on the other hand, had a bit of a Faria look about him. He wants to pounce on everything, and is always looking for the big break. He was impatient, but I don't think that impatience is a bad thing from an 18-year-old striker playing his first match. With Guevara arriving I'd like to see Mathis move up and Magee on the bench, but that's not a crack on Magee -- I think that both Mathis and Moreno will need bench time often this year, and he would be first sub in more often than not. I think he'll be fine.
Metrogo, I think Magee is going to make you eat your words. I'm inclined to agree with Sweeper on this one. I like Magee to at least equal Faria's rookie goal output. Only time will tell so we should re-visit this thread in a few months and see who is right. Then the "I told you so" comments can be thrown about.
I wasn't that impressed, but then I might have been expecting too much. I thought his biggest fault was being too generous (he'll get over it). He had two half-decent scoring chances in front of goal and in each case tried to make a pass to another player. The problem was that the pass needed to be absolutely perfect and it wasn't, and it would have been a tough pass to execute even for a seasoned pro. He'd have done better to take his chances with the shot. I think that sense of the situation will come with time and experience. As I said on an earlier thread. This team is a work-in-progress. For once I think we have a coach that will fix this thing right, will avoid the temptation of the quick fix or, even worse, the highpriced aging false fix. The team worked for the full 90 minutes and the end was disappointing, but its hardly a nightmare. If I had a heart, I wouldn't be losing it this early in the season.
Isn't Magee the leading scored on the U.S. U-20 team? Even if he's not, I don't know how people can mention him in the same breath as Martin Klinger. I'd almost forgotten about Klinger - wow, did he suck.
Total points in the MLS scoring system doesn't distinguish who is a good player and who is not. That's first off. I don't care that Savarese or Roy Lassiter may have scored more goals than Jaime Moreno did in a given year, because neither of them add as much to a team as Jaime has, at least in the past. Anyway, I don't understand Magee may "prove me wrong". I'm not saying he will never be good at all, I'm saying he doesn't belong on the pitch right now. Third, as for the "I told you so" comments, I think those are for losers. Are you a loser?
Amen, brother. How come we used to lock horns? The only difference between you and I on this game is that my expectations were set very low. The Metros actually exceeded my expectations. Half the roster are rookies or just starting their 2nd year. What's the big surprise? Yes, the loss hurt, but then I never like us to lose. The surprise is that Columbus should have spanked us and they didn't. On paper, they are mostly the same squad as last year and what's new (Hedjuk, etc.) makes them better. McBride has to be at the peak of his confidence, Buddle and Martino stepping into the limelight, a brace of "national teamers" who already have played a handfull of competetive matches. Who are we? Three P-40's in the starting lineup for our 1st competetive match? Mathis not fit, no Guevara, no natural wingers, DiGI with the team for what, ten days or so? The funny thing is it wouldn't have taken much to have gotten the three points. If Magee had scored on his one on one, these boards would have been annointing him Rookie of the year. Or if Jolley had scored off of LeBlanc's cross people would be saying how brilliant Bradley was to find this "diamond in the rough" (it was actually a very nice ball). If you were a Crew fan you would have been pulling your hair out before the final strike. McBride and Buddle were completely shut down after the first twenty minutes. Columbus made a lot of errant passes right to our feet (shame on us for failing to capitalize on any of them). Magee showed classic rookie tendencies. He would make a good move or two, but then get hesitant the closer he got to the goal. When he finally decided to start taking it to the defense, he started to create chances, only to be subbed out just when it looked like he was getting going. I'm glad he got field time. Getting pushed and hacked by the big boys will improve his game faster than anything else. We got 90 minutes from Mathis, which will help his conditioning for future games, but his tank was on empty the last 30 minutes on Saturday. He also failed to support Moreno as much as he should have. That seemed to be the game plan as neither Digi or Ziadie moved up very often. I think everyone saw Clark's talent. When he has played more with this team he will be a real contributor. He really hustled and stopped a lot of attacks. LeBlanc was a late, unheralded draft pick. Interesting on draft day only because of his P-40 status gave him salary-cap pressure currency. His starting is a surprise. Too early to tell how he will turn out. He made some early give ups, then settled down. His problem is that he doesn't yet know what to do with the ball. Give him time. His starting at this point in the season shows our lack of depth right now. Lisi was playing there before his injury. No one we had last year filled that spot either. Bradley has to find a true winger for one side or the other. Depth is what won it for Columbus, not better play. They had the right tools on the bench and we didn't. Let's give them a few more games with Mathis healthier and Guevara integrated before slitting our wrists.
Magee had a good game out there. Yes I can understand that nerves could be shaking for his first pro match, but other than that, he had two to three great cracks at the net, but Jon Busch was in his way, even the offside call that would have disallowed the goal but Busch was there to make two good saves in a row against Magee. Once Guevara comes in and when Magee is used as a sub he is going to get alot of playing time and learn in practice. Also When Clint will be away for Confederations Cup & Maybe also Gold Cup Magee will be able to start a couple of matches and we will see the true scoring machine that Bradley has told us about him. It's only the first match. Get a grip.
Re: Come on Guys Mathis is the captain, and was also jawing the whole game. At the ref, his team mates, other players. I don't expect that from an 18 year old rookie. No mistake was made. James