MetroFanatic: Jonny, are you gonna be ready for the opener?
Jonny Walker: I don't know, it's taking every bit of the five months, which will be April 8th, that will be five months from surgery. It's gonna be close, it's coming along, but to push it further to a game or day, that would be tough. I'm not saying no, I'm not saying yes, but we do not want to do anything crazy with it, the main thing is to just keep the shoulder ready.

MF: When you get back, are you gonna get back your starting job?
JW: Ooooo, I love it! It's Rocky-esque! There are no guarantees in professional sports, and goalkeeping, soccer definitely follows along those lines. All I can do right now is to take cre of my shoulder, get it ready, and from there it's up to the coach, if he wants me to play. That's the question for the head coach, not for me.

MF: How would you classify your overall performance last year?
JW: Love it (the question)! Tell you what, I was disappointed with the way the season went for the team in general, but individually, I wasn't that disappointed. I know certain people were, and they voiced their displeasure. If I was a younger player, I think I'd been much heavier, much more disappointed with myself. But I've been around, and I wasn't all that bad, so that's something I take comfort in.

MF: If you didn't play bad, and you guys allowed two goals per game, who played bad?
JW: 1.7999 or whatever it was. I'm not going to sit and point fingers over something that happened last season. It doesn't really matter, all I know is... Why do you want to cut to the grain? Who is to say, who is to blame. All I know is that a couple of mistakes don't warrant some of the criticism. But, you know, whatever.

MF: With Agoos here, will Metro do better in the middle?
JW: It depends what system the team is gonna use. I really don't know if it's gonna be three in the back, four in the back, we really don't know. Once the tactics are sorted out, it should be interesting to see what the coaching staff does with Jeff, because of his experience. Whether they put him in the middle and have players on his sides, or on the left. It doesn't really matter, he is a very experienced player, a very likeable guy, he is a very important player from the start.

MF: How much longer are you signed for?
JW: It's an option contract, this year and then another one. But they can let you go at any time, so we'll see.

MF: Any message for the fans out there?
JW: The fans here in New York, they always treated me well.

MF: And New Jersey?
JW: (laughs) They don't let me call them "NY/NJ MetroStars" anymore. Of course, New Jersey. They've been great here. They've always given me their support, it's the club you want to play for if you play in the US, and I'm just looking forward to another season. We'll get our things together here, and we'll get up on DC, because I know that's what those guys there look for.