Houston Dynamo: Tommy McNamara solid addition

The Houston Dynamo selected savvy midfielder Tommy McNamara, formerly of New York City FC, in Stage 2 of the MLS Re-Entry Draft. He is another solid addition to the squad.

During the same week in which they acquired experienced defender Chris Duvall, 27, via trade, the Houston Dynamo selected former New York City FC midfielder Tommy McNamara, 27, in the second stage of the Major League Soccer re-entry draft.

By selecting him in the Re-Entry Draft, the Dynamo obtained the exclusive right to negotiate a contract with McNamara for the 2019 season. They have since signed him to a contract, and he will be an important member of Wílmer Cabrera’s squad. For what it is worth, McNamara’s 2018 base salary was $199,999.92.

McNamara’s story is fascinating, and it comes as no surprise that he is regarded by many as a cult hero within American soccer. He started his collegiate career at Brown University, where he earned a bachelor’s in economics before transferring to Clemson University to obtain his master’s degree. He was then selected 20th overall by the now-defunct Chivas USA in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, just a few days after Wilmer Cabrera was appointed as the head coach.

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After Chivas USA ceased operations following the 2014 MLS season, McNamara was selected by D.C. United in the 2014 MLS Dispersal Draft. However, McNamara was left unprotected ahead of the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft and became an original member of NYCFC. The 2016 season was the most noteworthy of the four that he spent in New York; he set career highs in appearances (30), starts (28), minutes (2,229) and assists (nine) and tied a career-high with five goals.

Much like Duvall, McNamara brings incredible experience and versatility to the table. Although he has primarily played in the middle of the park during his 92 regular-season MLS appearances (72 starts), the West Nyack, New York native has also been used extensively on the left-hand side.

While McNamara will compete for a starting role in Houston, he is most likely to be a bench player. Even with such a designation, it is still incredibly likely that McNamara will play significant minutes for the Dynamo this season.

As I have said before, while Senior Vice President/General Manager Matt Jordan had stated a desire for the Dynamo to get ‘younger’, it is clear that the Dynamo have also prioritized acquiring experience and versatility this offseason, which is by no means a bad thing, considering that they will be competing in three competitions (MLS, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and CONCACAF Champions League) next season.

When necessary, McNamara could deputize for Romell Quioto, 27, or Tomás Martínez, 23, and it is not outside the realm of possibility that he could slot in alongside Juan David Cabezas, 27, or his deputy, in central midfield. Martínez and homegrown talent Memo Rodriguez, 22, would do well to learn from McNamara, who compares favorably from a technical standpoint to Eric Alexander, 30, whom the Dynamo lost to FC Cincinnati in the most recent Expansion Draft.

McNamara’s technical ability can be attributed, in part, to the fact that he would play with Latinos when he was growing up, who, according to McNamara himself,  ‘added some flavor to his game.’ McNamara’s technical ability was clear for all to see in college, and it is one of the reasons why he was adored by the New York faithful. Every now and again, McNamara conjured moments of magic.

The addition of Tommy McNamara is another savvy piece of business by the Houston Dynamo, who are showing a clear desire to return to relevance within Major League Soccer. This has been an offseason full of sensible, sound moves. The addition of McNamara is chief among them.