TFC coach John Carver has warned his staff and players they can't afford to become complacent after securing back to back wins. Carver expects everyone to keep showing improvement and desire. "We have to drive on again this week and keep moving forward," he said.
"I told my staff this morning before training that it's important that we don't ease off now. We have to give everything we can every day. I've been in situations before when the staff think they've cracked it and it rubs off on the players, but we won't do that. We have to drive on and take it forward again, we can't be complacent."
Carver admits that three new players coming into the squad in recent weeks has lifted everyone on the team. "I've seen in training that the standard has gone up, because players realize they have to lift standards to stay in the team and match the new players. It gives everybody a lift." The TFC coach also wanted to thank Director of Soccer Mo Johnston for his hard work in securing new signings. "You won't believe how hard he has worked leading up to the transfer window closing last week, and he hasn't stopped there. We can still bring in players who are free agents or out of contract so his work continues. I recommend players and he does the work getting them in. This combination that we have is a good combination and a very important combination. It is working well."
Carver is looking to add to his coaching staff, and Chris Cummins will spend a few days working with the team this week. Cummins worked with John Carver at Luton Town as Director of Youth Football. "Chris is coming over for a few days so that we can take a look at him and he can look at us because it's got to be right for both parties. Nothing has been agreed yet.
"I need to see if he'll fit in with the players because that is very important," said Carver. "He'll be out there on the training ground so that I can assess him and see if he feels comfortable with the situation. I worked with him every day at Luton but it's a different experience coming out here. He's worked with the reserve team and youth team back in England but it's a different situation working with senior players. I would use him as a link between the first team and the reserves."
"I want continuity through all levels of the club. When I get someone else working with the Academy, he'll also work with the first team as well and that's important because I want the guy in charge of the Academy giving the same signals to the younger players so that as they are coming through the system I don't have to go through things with them that."
Carver believes Marco Velez will continue to improve as a player. The central defender has started the first three games of the season after signing from Puerto Rico Islanders of the United Soccer League in the off season. "He's been under pressure but I thought he did a lot better against Salt Lake and he'll improve as we go on," said Carver. "We've also got Julius James and Pat Phelan pushing for that place and maybe one or two others as well so he'll have to keep improving. He's a player who was playing in a different standard of football last year and he's come into this situation and has had to start because of injuries and he's found it a new ball game. But he's intelligent enough to listen, learn and add to the competition here."
Former Birmingham City and Celtic defender Olivier Tebily is still training with the team. "Until we have his signature we won't announce anything but we are working hard on it and we will see what happens," explained Carver.
