Tommy McNamara believes there is plenty of room for improvement for New York City FC, despite the team’s 100% start to the season.
City have won both of their opening games for the first time in Club history but Tommy feels as though there is another level for the team to go to in the coming weeks and months.
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Victories over Sporting KC and LA Galaxy have imbued fans and players alike with confidence but McNamara has warned that there is no room for complacency.
With competition for places in every position, the West Nyack native feels as though the Boys in Blue will not take anything for granted going into Saturday’s showdown with Orlando City SC.
McNamara told NYCFC.com: “We’re happy right now, spirits are high – we had two big wins, one on the road and one at home, so we’re happy but we realize, while we played well, there’s plenty of room for improvement.
“There’s no place for complacency with this group. The good news is that we have a lot of competition in the group, so it’s hard for complacency to brew.”
The pattern of play and the stats suggested that NYCFC’s one-goal margin of victory over LA was narrower than it should have been and Tommy feels this is something for the team to work on.
“LA has talented players with the way they rebuilt their roster in the offseason,” McNamara reflected, “Ideally we do score the third goal or we don’t concede the goal to let them back in but that’s soccer – it’s one of the aspects that we can improve upon, to make sure we see out games, either by scoring more or conceding less.”
One familiar face in the away locker room on Saturday will be that of RJ Allen.
The former NYCFC defender joined up with his old Head Coach Jason Kreis in the offseason but, while McNamara will be happy to see his old colleague and wishes him well, those sentiments will go out of the window when the players cross the white line on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s always good to see people you’ve worked with before having success elsewhere in the league,” McNamara said, “We wish him well, just not when they play us. I’m happy RJ found somewhere else to play and wish him all of the best… after Saturday!”
Saturday also marks St Patrick’s Day 2018 – an occasion that is always circled twice on New Yorkers’ calendars each year.
For Tommy, a man with strong Irish roots, it’s a day of celebration which he’s looking forward to spending with the NYCFC Family at Yankee Stadium.
He added: “It was a big deal when we were younger. Right here in Pearl River, they had a St Patrick’s Day parade every year which we used to march in with the school when we were kids. It’s always a fun time and I’m sure it’ll be a celebration at the game on Saturday.”
