MetroFanatic: Seth, you're the longest-tenured member of the team, you've played for years at Giants Stadium and now we're here at the new stadium. Can you tell us a little about your journey to this point?
Seth Stammler: From the first day I was here in 2004, I've heard about this stadium. For most of the offseason I watched the webcam, but I feared it might just be an optical illusion! To finally show up and see everything now that the pitch has been laid down and all the seats have been installed, it's very exciting. To walk out there today in practice was very inspiring and I'm looking forward to walking out in front of a full stadium on Saturday.

MF: As someone who started his career as a draftee at the low end of the pay scale and who has worked his way up to the league's middle class, could you give us an idea of how important it is for the players to receive some of the benefits they're looking for in labor negotiations?
SS: I'm not touching that one -- you can talk to Woly here about labor negotiations.

MF: We're only going to get an answer out of Woly, then?
SS: I'll defer to him on this one. (laughs)

MF: You've got a new coach this season -- you've seen a few of those in your time here -- could you give us an idea of what's changed since he's joined the club?
SS: Hans has confidence in his system and it's important that he does, his confidence will trickle down to the players. The other thing he's done very well is that he has clearly defined roles for each player and position on the field. There's no question marks as to what is expected of you no matter where you are on the field, and that's important because you have to be held accountable for what you do in the game. He's laid the groundwork to make that possible.

MF: Hans recently said he's not going to use a holding midfielder in his system, a position you've become very familiar with over the past few years. How do you think you'll fit into his system?
SS: I think it's been so far, so good in terms of matching the system to the players we have on hand. We've had success in the preseason to date, and I think the system works perfectly as long as we're keeping the ball and creating offensive chances. You might miss that defensive-minded player if you're under attack the whole game, but that's not the philosophy this season. Hans is smart enough and knows the system well enough to make it a success in this league. As for me, in training, I've played center mid as well as outside mid. As the last six years have shown, I need to be ready to play a variety of positions. I welcome that and I enjoy having a new challenge every once in a while. You might see me this year playing outside mid, circa 2006.

MF: The team still has a few mechanisms to acquire new players, and there's been a lot of talk in the past year about one big name or another joining the club this summer. Does any of that talk unsettle the team?
SS: My first couple years in the league, I have to admit that stuff did really get to me. At this point in my career, I realize that there's no sense in worrying about it. You have to fly by the seat of your pants a little bit and hope that the coach likes you and has a long term plan in place for you. I just hope that whoever comes in can contribute to what we're chasing here.

MF: Anything you'd like to say to the fans?
SS: We look forward to your support during the upcoming season, and hopefully we can field a team you can be proud of!