by Andrew Rogers

How did the San Jose job come about?

When the new team was started up by John Boyle, I expressed I was going to leave Los Angeles and he had a chance to speak to me and we hit it off, and it went from there. John wanted me to do the job and I really wanted to do the job so there was a match there right away.

Your first time in San Jose was very successful looking back what were the key components of it?

In this league any time you start a team up you have got to be difficult to break down and beat. I think once you have that you have a chance and a platform to start playing, we had that in San Jose in the first time around.

I’m hoping this time with San Jose we are getting around to that now, it’s a little bit different in that we had no players to start with, last time we had sort of 8 - 10 very good pro’s to start with, but its from scratch this time, it started in November. We had the expansion draft, but it wasn’t easy. I feel the platform is building a good unit and making yourself difficult to beat and then adding the players as you go along.

Your first SuperDraft was pretty amazing… can you do that again?

I think the teams hang on to their players a bit more now but we have done well this time around and picked up Bohenkamp, Garcia, Burpo, Corrales, and O’Brien we picked up in a trade, so we got some good players the only thing we are missing is a really good striker.

Looking at any one in particular as a designated player?

The ownership has said we can do anything we want to do in this respect, so to me its more wait and see if we can get a striker that is less expensive then fine.

Any names?

There are no names at the moments as they are all under contract and we can get in a lot of trouble but we do have a list and we are working very hard to try and bring the right player over from Europe. So we will see what happens.

Being a start up franchise isn’t easy, is it tougher now than it was?

I wasn’t involved in any of the start ups. We started 3 months ago with no players and we have built a very good unit. Its not easy filling every spot not just a few, most teams that have a poor season have 5-6 good players already then you just need to change the other ones, we had nobody, so you have to create a core and add players from there.

What ambitions do you have for the season, the play offs?

Thinking it and doing are two different things. Our aim is to make the play offs. I’m not going to say we are going to make it but I’m not going to say were not. For me it is up to the players and myself to get going and see how the season works out.

We have a pretty good squad, and if we don’t get too many injuries which can destabilize the season we will be there or there abouts but lets see what happens, a lot of teams in this league have a chance we have the same ambitions to make the play offs see let see what happens.

England v USA who is going to win?

I think it will be a draw! England will be favourites but the U.S are a good side, and of course I want them to win these days so we will see what happens.

Your record in the top flight was strong 1983-1996, who was the best player you played against in the Premiership and do they compare to Ronaldo?

Eric Cantona was pretty good in the 90’s in the early 80’s Everton were good side but there were no individuals quite like him, Clive Allen scored a lot of goals one year, but Ronaldo is a one off. In this era he is one of the best ever players he is not just a winger he is a great striker he is unbelievable and has many years ahead of him.

Andrew Rogers can be reached at andrew.rogers@amrmedia.co.uk