Three games into the 2017 season, there are plenty of positives NYCFC can take.
The team’s tally of four points from three games could easily be nine if chances had been taken in Orlando and against Montreal but Jack Harrison is generally pleased at the progress being made.
Embarking upon his Sophomore year at the club, Jack is now a regular starter, clearly benefitting from his first full preseason with his first professional club, following an injury-hit start to his Rookie season.
Against Montreal last time out, Harrison was named NYCFC.com Man of the Match following an influential showing on both sides of the ball.
The 20-year old revealed that defending from the front is an expected and important factor in the reason NYCFC are conceding less clear chances than ever before.
He told NYCFC.com: “We’ve put a lot of emphasis on defending together as a group – from David right back to Sean, looking at how we can be more organized.
“I think the coaching staff have done a great job in teaching us to be this way.
“We’ve been trying to play to that structure as much as we can and it’s been working really well. There’s still some things that we need to improve on and we’ll look to do that in this break between matches.”
Harrison and Ethan White have impressed in tandem on the right side for NYCFC in the last two games of the season.
White drew praise from Head Coach Patrick Vieira for his performance against Montreal and Jack has also enjoyed linking up with the Maryland native.
He said: “Ethan has risen to the level and he’s doing really well. He’s communicating well which makes it easier for me in front. He’s adapting to that position really well, he’s doing good.”
The only real criticism that could be leveled at NYCFC through three games is the amount of chances needed to score goals.
For Jack, this is a question of consistency and he’s hopeful it can be addressed when San Jose Earthquakes provide the next test at Yankee Stadium on April 1.
He added: “We try to work on finishing as much as we can in training.
You just have to get out there and perform and that’s the hardest part: how can you be consistent when you’re on the field?
“We work on it as much as we can in training but when game time comes, we have to finish.”
