McNamara Discusses Injuries, Young Players, And Last 11 Games

McNamara: “So, this year, I think we’re last in the Eastern Conference, but who knows. We have the opportunity to change that, and it’s in our hands."

Photo Courtesy of the New England Revolution

The last two seasons have been difficult for Tommy McNamara because he’s missed extended time due to injuries.

That said, the veteran midfielder has accumulated 193 minutes since Jul. 6, more than he played during all of 2023.

“It was frustrating,” McNamara said of the injuries he’s dealt with this year. “I was healthy to start the year, played down at Club América and played in New York City following up on it, then got injured the following week in training.

“So, it took a while to recover from that one, a couple of setbacks, but I’m happy to be back playing again now. I feel good. I was able to play, started last weekend’s game and started this weekend’s game – 80 minutes – so I’m looking to, kind of, continue to improve my match fitness and match sharpness and hopefully continue to help this team.”

Head coach Caleb Porter complimented McNamara after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with FC Dallas, saying, “The little things that Tommy does you don’t always notice. He doesn’t have the engine that he used to have, but you could see his quality and you could see his confidence.”

McNamara contributed an 82-minute shift and almost had a goal, but Ian Harkes, who offered the cross, was deemed offside.

Deployed as a left winger, the 33-year-old McNamara had some bright moments working with 16-year-old Peyton Miller. He believes that the Revs Homegrown can accomplish big things.

“[Miller] is a big talent,” McNamara said. “He has got a bright future ahead of him. You see how well he took to his debut in Philadelphia, and how well he took to his first start. So, he has got a bright future ahead of him. He’s a really good kid, very mature, so I think he has a long way to go.”

As an older player on the roster, McNamara understands that he can impact those younger than him. As such, he tries to be a role model and offer advice.

“It’s to look out for them a little bit and try to be a good example to them,” McNamara said about how his role has changed over the years. “I try to be as professional as I can be every day, for my own self and maybe it is something that they can look to as an example. That is up to them, obviously.

“And then, to look out for them on the field and look out for them in training to make sure they feel good, they feel comfortable, and they feel a part of this group.”

McNamara has been around long enough to understand that anything can happen in Major League Soccer.

The Revolution are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 7-14-2 record. It’s not where they want to be, but they could still make a run during their final eleven games.

The Revs are five points below the playoff line and have two games in hand over every team above them except the Columbus Crew.

Of course, the road ahead won’t be easy, especially since the Revs play seven of their final eleven on the road.

“Last year we were second in the league at this point in time, and look how, unfortunately, we didn’t finish the season all that well and the playoffs again,” McNamara said.

“So, this year, I think we’re last in the Eastern Conference, but who knows? We have the opportunity to change that, and it’s in our hands, so that’s what we need to have the mentality and the mindset for in the last 11 games in the regular season.”

The Revs won five of six during their most successful stretch this season. Soon after, they experienced a wave of injuries.

Porter has stated that he expects the roster to be healthier when the team visits Montreal on Aug. 24.

“For me, when we won four in a row, and five and six, we were rolling, we were healthy,” Porter said. “We had everybody healthy, so you could see what it looks like. And better, it will look better than that even.”