I attended practice and was able to get some thoughts from Ian Joy, Will Johnson, and Coach Kreis. Here is the first segment with Ian Joy.
KIR: How is the hammy?
Joy: Doin’ alright. Recovering good. It’s been a tough weeks training, so it’s all about finding the right time to recover. It’s been a good week’s training and hopefully we can get a bit of rest before the big game next week.
KIR: So you expect to be ready to go?
Joy: Of course. All the guys carrying injuries are preparing themselves right for next week, and taking the proper precautions.
KIR: What are your thoughts of the team as the season gets close?
Joy: The team is in great condition. We worked hard in preseason and the boys are starting to get confidence behind them. I don’t believe all of the hype that they say on the internet and in the newspapers and all that shit that we’re one of the favorites to win the championship. We can’t tell anything until the season starts. So we are just going to go into that first game and concentrate solely on that first game, and at this moment all we are concentrating on is tomorrow’s game (against the Aztex).
KIR: You were a little bit unsettled in the offseason looking at Fortuna and other options, how is that now?
Joy: Nothing changes. I think with the contracts you have in Major League Soccer I don’t think you can be relaxed at any time. You always have to be trying to perform to keep your job status as well. Everybody’s trying to perform to stay in the top eleven but you are also performing to try to keep your job. I’m no different. I’ve just been playing in Germany so long it just creates opportunities. You just never knows what comes around the corner. The only thing that I can worry about is the next game and then worry about whatever is going to happen afterwards.
KIR: I assume you got your first look at your first opponent (Seattle). What are your thoughts?
Joy: I thought Seattle looked good. I thought they were very, very impressive. I thought New York were very poor and made it an easy game for Seattle to be honest with you. I think the fans, the atmosphere, the stadium and the team – it was a perfect beginning for them. But I think it’s going to be a different game completely when we come to town.
KIR: Do you look forward to go into that kind of atmosphere?
Joy: Yeah I mean I heard them say on TV that it’s like Europe. It’s nothing like Europe. But it was a fantastic atmosphere and you can’t take that away from them. I think it will be the same next week and I’m really looking forward to it. I want to play in front of as many people as possible. That’s why we’re hear – we want to play on the big stage. I definitely want to do it again and again.
