For a trio of FC Dallas draft picks, the transition to professional soccer has thus far been easier than usual. Midfielder Brek Shea, goalkeeper Josh Lambo and forward Eric Avila were all selected by FCD in this year's SuperDraft, already well acquainted with not only each other, but also a number of players already donning the club's hoops.
The talented trio were all signed to Generation adidas contracts, two taken in the first round (Shea with the second overall selection; Lambo sixth overall) and one early in the second (Avila, the 19th overall choice).
As an example, the 17-year-old Lambo already knew Shea and Abdus Ibrahim, who was drafted by FCD in 2007, from their time playing in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup last summer. He also knew Blake Wagner and Anthony Wallace from their time in the U.S. Soccer under-17 residency program in Florida.
"Just being in an environment where you already know people makes it that much easier to meet people," Lambo said. "I was worried about going into a club where I didn't know anyone and would be afraid to come out of my shell.
"Coming in with Brek (Shea) is awesome. Knowing Wally (Wallace), Ibee (Ibrahim) and Blake (Wagner) and getting drafted with (Eric) Avila as well is great. It's helpful because they know guys and hang out with them. This is a young team and they don't really treat you too much like a rookie. It's so much more comfortable and easier to adapt."
Shea is also 17 and played in last year's U-17 World Cup, and like Lambo has also seen time with the U-20 team. He agrees that already knowing several players with FCD, including Lambo, his current roommate, has helped him immensely.
"It's always easier when you know somebody," Shea said. "I didn't know where I was going to live but when I saw that (Josh) Lambo got drafted right after me, I knew we would live together for sure. Ibee and Wally have been here for a year. I can ask them questions and that has made adjusting here much easier."
At 20, Avila is the oldest player in the group but like Lambo and Shea, he also knew several members of the FCD roster, namely Dax McCarty and Wagner from his time in the Bradenton, Fla.-based residency program.
"It actually helped a lot and made me feel comfortable," Avila said. "Knowing Dax (McCarty) and Blake (Wagner) has helped me a lot. They helped me get to know the city and showed me around. On the field, it was a lot easier for me."
FCD head coach Steve Morrow agrees the familiarity of the players with each other has helped make them more comfortable.
"I think it's been a really big help," he said. "It's not easy for those kids coming in to come into a professional atmosphere like this, training every day and being away from home. Those guys knowing each other helps them settle in off the field as well as on it. They've been able to work together as a group and encourage each other every day."
Morrow has also been impressed with the performance of his rookie class thus far on the field.
"I think they're all pushing each other, which is great," he said. "I've been delighted with the three of them so far. Josh (Lambo) has been great and Brek (Shea) has played in some big games for us. To be honest, Eric (Avila) has sort of surprised all of us with how well he has done thus far. We're pleased with how they've progressed."
Lambo and Shea further ease their lives by living across the street from Pizza Hut Park, making work just a short walk away.
"It's great to be able to walk to work every day," Lambo said. "(Before I got here), I didn't have any clue what was available because I had only been to Dallas a few times. I went to Mexico with the U.S. under-20 team and Steve (Morrow) was generous enough to give me a few days off after that. Brek was already here because he didn't make the trip because he was injured and he got an apartment."
Before finding a place so close to Pizza Hut Park, Shea actually contemplated living with a family member in the area.
"I thought I would live in Addison with my brother," he said. "But I can't drive yet, so living close was easier. It's great that I can walk to practice and not have to wait for Josh (Lambo) to drive me back."
Their apartment is fully equipped with a ping pong table and PlayStation 3, both of which get heavy use. "Brek brought it (the ping pong table) from his house," Lambo said. "When we first got here, we would play a lot of Guitar Hero on PlayStation. Lately, we've been playing a lot of ping pong."
Lambo does the cooking, something that's fine with the Wisconsin native. "The day that Brek (Shea) cooks is the day that I'm a basketball player," he said.
Said Shea: "He's good. It's better when he cooks instead of always going out because I like home cooking and it's better if I don't cook."
Other than playing for FCD, Shea's free time is currently occupied with studying for his driver's test, which he plans to take soon. In the mean time, he has been seen riding around Pizza Hut Park on a mini-moped.
"He got it for his birthday." Lambo said about Shea's current conveyance. "I'm fine in my car (so I don't ever ride it). I have my license so I don't need that thing."
Still, Shea is clearly ready to get his license. "I think I'm going to take it this weekend because my parents are coming up for the game (against Clube Atletico Paranaense)," he said. "Hopefully I will pass it the first time and can start driving."
During FCD's trip to Brazil, while his teammates were reading books or magazines, Shea was seen getting ready for his driver's test. "I've been giving him pointers," Avila said. "He was studying for it in Brazil. I just got my license recently, so I've been helping him out."
Even though Avila is the oldest of the trio at 20, he admits that he has been getting close with his fellow rookies since joining FCD. "I'm actually getting really tight with them," he said. "We bonded a lot in Brazil, when I stuck with them while the older guys went out together."
That closeness has also helped Avila adjust even more quickly.
"I'm enjoying it a lot," he said. "It's a lot different because now I can focus only on soccer, which I like a lot. I feel more confident on the field, feel great and love it here. It's awesome."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
