The Mystery That Is Mike Magee

By: Dave Martinez | July 28th, 2008

Mike Magee started his career with the Metrostars with a ton of promise heaped onto his shoulders. Before entering the 2003 MLS Super Draft, he tried his hand in Europe with many top club teams. When the attention wasn’t there, he turned his sights on MLS, and Metro saw an opportunity to snatch a diamond in the rough.

Once word came that Magee would drop to the latter half of the top 5 in the draft, Bob Bradley, familiar with Magees play, took advantage. They were so confident in the kids skills, they let Brad Davis loose, another promising prospect, in order to get into position to acquire him. Witnessing the same raw energy, enthusiasm and skill that Coach Osorio initially fell in love with, the 19 year old Magee started in every Metro game, save one. In his first season, starting 29 games, the young Magee scored 7 goals – a feat the current team would love for him to match.

His success continued the next few seasons. From 03-05, Magee played in 80 games, scoring 15 goal. That is nearly a goal every four games for a 21 year old. Not bad at all.

2006 was a turning point in Magees career. Injuries took a major toll on his career, ultimately culminating in a near year long absence from the game. From 06-08, Magees production was noticabley down, playing in 39 games, and scoring only 4 goals (one being a PK earlier in the season which Osorio used to build the young mans confidence). His starting minutes took a drastic turn, his consistant pitch time was reduced to bench play, and injuries hampered his road to recovery for the better part of three years.

Today Mike Magee is a shell of the attacking player he was. Facing San Jose, the supposed “worst team in the league,” Magee had two excellent 1v1 opportunities against veteran keeper, Joe Cannon. Both times, Magee elected to pass off the attack to another forward, whether prudent or not, instead of using his skill and speed to create a goal scoring opportunity. That is not the Mike Magee I knew and loved.

The fact is that spending the better half of the past three years injured or recovering from injuries has hurt Magees footballing psyche. No longer is he playing with the free spirit of a 19 year old, or like the 21 year old that stepped into Amado Guevaras shoes in 2006 to competently fill in a complicated attacking midfield roll on march to the playoffs. The confidence is nearly gone, even with the early support he received from Coach Osorio, who had nothing but praise for Magee in the pre and early season. After yesterdays wasted opportunities, he may find himself in the Coachs doghouse instead.

Keeping things in perspective, he is only 23 years of age. There is still hope. I mean, if Edson Buddle can turn his career around, why not Magee? But I fear if he doesnt do something to prove his worth to the team soon, the Mike Magee era might be a closed book in New York. And like Metros of the past, he will recover just in time to help out another teams efforts.

image credit: mlsnet.com