MetroFanatic: Joel, what made you come to America after a long career in Europe?
Joel Lindpere: Experience... To see something different, to feel something different. To see how it works outside of Europe.

MF: Has anything surprised you so far?
JL: Yes, when I see the facilities that the players have here, I am impressed. Especially with what is happening with our team. It looks to me very very very professional here.

MF: Well, you're lucky because we got a brand new stadium.
JL: Of course. Before I was coming here, I knew about the situation with the stadium. The stadium, when I look at it now, is the best stadium I maybe ever played in. Consider, of course, New Wembley, but... it's really nice.

MF: Now, you were quoted on an Estonian website that you wanted to see all the states. The fans are wondering, do you want to see every state, or just the whole country?
JL: Actually, I'm planning to have a look at all of the states. So I can see what I can do for the next two years... or four. If I miss some places, I will probably make a trip there.

MF: Where have you been so far?
JL: Just Orlando, Miami, and New York.

MF: And New Jersey. So that's only three states. You got 47 to go.
JL: Yes, I have time, but already I'm here, I have a possibility to travel around with the team, maybe in my free time. Even if I don't reach all during my contract, I know I'll come back again. Now I can say that I love to be here.

MF: There were players before who said that they came here to experience America, but they weren't serious about experiencing soccer here.
JL: I know what I can expect. Me, the other players and staff, the coaches, we're all new here. So I can talk about this more after the season. So far, when I look at soccer all around MLS, I hear the news all the time, and in my opinion, the soccer -- I would like to say football, I want to say football -- the soccer is growing here. The players from Europe come here to play, the coaches, it shows that there is possibility in American soccer and MLS.

MF: You say big name coaches. Ruud Gullit was here two years ago. He didn't care. He came for the money.
JL: Yes, but it still gives for the coming players that these big names have been here, so there must be something here. If you look at the past players...

MF: Djorkaeff, Donadoni...
JL: If I take it overall, MLS, three, four years ago I didn't know almost anything about MLS. I knew it exists and that's it. But now, and when I played in my last club, there were players that played in MLS, other teams' players, so I see big potential here.