At first training, MLS Homegrown Team impress coaches McBride, Magee

Mike Magee hasnā€™t even been out of MLS for a full season, but on Monday he was talking about the leagueā€™s next crop of stars like theyā€™re from a whole new era and joking about how old it made him feel.


ā€œWhen we were coming into the league I think it was the era of just kick it up the field and run and be physical,ā€ Magee said, after MLS Homegrown Team training at Flames Field on the University of Illinois-Chicago campus. ā€œThese kids are good on the ball and confident and I think some of these kids were born in like 2000, 1999, and theyā€™ve got a better touch than I ever had, so itā€™s exciting for the league.ā€


Both Magee and fellow Homegrown Team coach Brian McBride, Chicago natives who have seen plenty in MLS, left their first training session impressed by the quality, mentality and maturity of their group.  


ā€œItā€™s awesome. These kids are studs and theyā€™ve all got smiles on their faces, which is important,ā€ Magee said. ā€œGood for them to come in here with the right mentality. Itā€™s fun.ā€


On Tuesday, the Homegrowns will face Chivas de Guadalajaraā€™s Under-20 team at Toyota Park in the 2017 MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer (6pm MT | UDN, facebook.com/univisiondeportes; MLS LIVE in Canada).


ā€œIā€™m very honored. We just got done with our first session and very impressed,ā€ McBride said. ā€œGood group of kids ā€“ not even kids ā€“ theyā€™re adults, young players. Technically, very strong. We just have to make sure we get them organized as a team, weā€™re playing a very good Chivas team that has been [together] for a while.


ā€œThe understanding you always see differently in the game, but technically working through the passing I was impressed. Even from back when I retired, our young guys were a lot more mistake-prone, passes werenā€™t as crisp and as accurate, first touch not near as strong. All these guys are sharp.ā€


McBride attributed some of that to the league's academy system and more players being in professional environments.


ā€œAll that, it helps, it puts you in a mindset that prepares you for international stage,ā€ McBride said. ā€œA lot of them have played internationally, whether U-17s or U-20s and that then everything is put under a microscope. And theyā€™ve been under a microscope so theyā€™re ready for this. Itā€™s just we havenā€™t played yet, so working through those little things with expectations for them as players. Theyā€™re a good group.ā€

At first training, MLS Homegrown Team impress coaches McBride, Magee - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/images/7-31-HGTRAINING-coaching.png

While Mondayā€™s session marked the teamā€™s first time together, the players seemed plenty familiar, whether from MLS or youth international competition.


ā€œItā€™s nice to be here with some of the guys Iā€™ve watched on like youth national teams and such, like Tyler and those guys with the U20s,ā€ said Atlanta United midfielder Andrew Carleton. ā€œThe city is pretty nice, Iā€™ve never been to Chicago, first time just kind of floating through and I was telling everybody how itā€™s a pretty nice city walking around a little last night. Iā€™m looking forward to playing with the guys tomorrow.ā€


Jelling as much as possible in the short timeframe ranked atop the priority list.


ā€œWe all kind of know of each other, so it makes it a little bit easier,ā€ Carleton said. ā€œI think weā€™re going to be pretty good and be able to come together as a team.ā€


While the coaches did plenty of praising the players, the young guys also seemed to enjoy being coached by two MLS legends.


ā€œTheyā€™re pretty cool guys,ā€ Carleton said. ā€œThey played too so they know the position weā€™re in, theyā€™re pretty laid back and they obviously want us to do well but they want to help us as best they can to come together as a team. They make it fun for us.ā€


McBride said they considered a few different ideas for team building ā€“ including WhirlyBall, a local activity thatā€™s something like bumper cars-meets-basketball-meets-lacrosse ā€“ but none worked out time-wise and they didnā€™t want to take away from the playersā€™ All-Star Week experience.


ā€œWe understand these guys in a year or two or three we want them to be out there [at All-Star training],ā€ McBride said. ā€œSo give them that little taste of the experience and they deserve it. Itā€™s an honor being a part of this, so we donā€™t want to take away from that.ā€