On the field, Tony McManus means business. The hard-working midfielder is eager to return to the pitch following offseason surgery and make his mark on the league. He talks about his recovery, his favorite Timbers Army chants and more in a preseason Q&A.
After multiple seasons in Atlanta, what was the biggest adjustment to becoming a member of the Timbers and adopting the city of Portland has your current home?
TM:
I don't actually think that it was one single thing, but a combination of things. First, I had really established myself within the team, the organization, and the community in Atlanta and now all of a sudden I was going to a city and team that I didn't know almost anyone at all. I was separated from my family and friends by thousands of miles and knew I wouldn't be able to see them as often as I would like. Lastly, I was transplanted from a region in which I was so engrossed in the life and culture to a city that is so different from any I had ever lived in. Those were some big adjustments that I had to make in a short period of time. Now, I am in love with the team, city of Portland, and culture that makes Portland so unique and special.
You had surgery on an injured shoulder over the offseason. How has the recovery process gone?
TM:
I would have to say that the first two weeks were pretty miserable. But as time went on, I was gradually able to do more and more in and out of physical therapy and it got much easier. It was a long and arduous recovery, consisting of lots and lots of rest and no work or exercise whatsoever. We added a little bit more to each PT session until we reached five months post-op. I am ahead of schedule, so for the most part the recovery process is pretty much complete with a little work that will be mostly maintenance for the next few months. We are expecting a complete clearance any day now which will be a relief, and I can now focus on really getting after it on the pitch with the rest of the boys.
How is preseason going for you as you prepare your body and mind for the season, while still taking care of your injury rehab?
TM:
The first thing that I have had to realize is that I am not in the same position as the other guys who came into camp fit and healthy, and that has been hard for me to accept. It has been a wake-up call stepping into practice with guys who are up to speed physically and mentally on the ball and the field and I catch myself getting frustrated with where I am at. I am trying to accept that I have to take it one day at a time and just improve in every area each and every time I step on the field.
There seems to be mixed feelings on preseason – some like it, others don’t. Where do you fall into this debate?
TM:
I am not a huge fan of preseason, but I know that it is one of those necessary evils, especially when our preseason is only a month long to get everyone up to speed. When you have so many new faces and guys who aren't fit and aren't up to the speed of play, like me, then you need to spend some hard hours and days training and getting all the rust and the kinks out so we can play at our full potential each time we step on the field.
What are some of your personal goals for the upcoming season? What do you hope to achieve in 2010?
TM:
I have two sets of goals for myself – success of the team and personal honors. I want to win the league and the championship bar none. Last year was such an unbelievable year for everyone involved on the team, the organization, the city, and the entire league itself with what we were able to accomplish. While we set a standard that will be hard if not impossible to duplicate for us or any other team, it was so bittersweet with the loss in the semifinals. While we may not be able to go on another 24-game unbeaten streak, we have a team filled with talent and potential so there is no excuse for us not to win the league and win that first championship for the organization. That is the first and most important goal.
Second, are my individual accomplishments. I hold myself to a high standard and ask 100 percent effort every time I touch the pitch whether for practice or games. Because of my offseason surgery and my long layoff from conditioning and game play, I understand I am behind the other guys in my position and to be honest everyone who plays on this team is talented and has done so well through preseason that I have to work twice as hard to show I belong on the field. My number one personal goal is to play myself back into the team.
With that, I want to improve in all aspects of the game and be more consistent from game one to game thirty. I want to not get complacent with where I am at as a player and there is always room for improvement no matter how well I am doing. There is that ever-elusive all-league honor which is one that any player wants to get. It shows how much players and coaches around the league take notice of your contributions to your team and each game. This is something that I really want, and will have to try to contribute a little bit more to each game so I don't leave any doubt in anybody's mind that I am deserving of it.
Looking ahead to the 2010 campaign, what is your favorite chant that the Timbers Army and fans sing during home games at PGE Park?
TM:
There are actually a couple that thinking about them right now just gives me goose bumps, and those are "Hey Portland Timbers," “Portland Boys Are Here" and as weird as it sounds The National Anthem. When you walk out of the locker room and hear the chant in unison, you feel like you are in a dream and never want to wake up. Our fans are so incredible and so creative with the individual ones too. It is so awesome to hear when they do a chant for you because you feel like you have really earned their hearts and respect; it is something that each player needs to hear once before they hang up the boots or their career wasn't complete.
