MetroFanatic: We heard you did pretty well for yourself in terms of getting a new contract this offseason, and I believe the expectation now is that this year you're expected to be an everyday player, with a clearly defined role in the team.
Seth Stammler: Yeah, this year it looks like I'm going to be playing in central midfield, so I'm looking to contribute there but if something happens and I have to go elsewhere, I'll do my best.

MF: You're playing now in a 3-5-2, which is similar to what you did with Mo... how has coach Osorio approached you in terms of your ability, your knowledge of the system? Has he addressed this in determining your role on the team?
SS:: So far it's been pretty consistent in playing central midfield, but there's been a couple different people in there with me due to injuries. Hopefully we can get a consistent lineup out there where we can start to really gel together and get comfortable with one another, be able to read where each player is going to be at certain times.

MF: The criticism that's out there right now is that the 3-5-2 is a formation predicated on having an attacking midfielder to feed the forwards the ball, and that there is not currently a player on the roster who has been determined to be capable of filling that role. With that in mind, it's expected that you and Claudio will have to help to provide service to the guys up front, how comfortable do you feel working with Claudio to that end?
SS:: I think Claudio's had a pretty distinguished career to date, so I don't really worry that finding the forwards will be any problem for him. Magee's played in that role for a couple games this preseason as well and has done well. I think to date, we haven't had any problem finding the forwards or getting the ball out wide to start the attack on the flanks. I'm not real worried about it; if we do find somebody else and Claudio drops into a defensive role I'm sure he'll do fine from there too.

MF: Despite all the turnover, it's been a few years now that a core group of guys has been together, most of you that came in during Bob's time with the team. How well do you think this group works with each other after being together for most of your careers?
SS:: Obviously there's a core group that has been together for a couple years now, and that definitely helps. You learn each person's intricacies: how they play, what they are and are not comfortable with, whether they're comfortable getting the ball on their left foot or right foot, all those things. That's something we need to take full advantage of as a team, and incorporate the new guys into that. I think it's a good start but we have some work in front of us.

MF: We've been asking everyone about your trip to Austria during the preseason, can you give us a couple things you liked most about that trip?
SS:: It was great, I haven't been over to Europe too often so for me it was as much a sightseeing tour as it was a soccer experience. It was cool to see old Europe, the city of Salzburg and it's downtown area where they have the Hohensalzburg castle. It was really impressive, the architecture was beautiful and it was a great experience for me.