MetroFanatic: Last year, when we talked, you said that right after the season is over, you'll get the players we haven't seen before. Has that been done?
Mo Johnston: What do you think?

MF: I've seen... No. Honestly, no.
MJ: You haven't seen any?

MF: Let's go through the list.
MJ: We just added Edson Buddle.

MF: That's new today. But we've seen him before. Here's the thing, I thought that you meant is that we'll see the type of players the league hasn't seen before. Yet Edson Buddle is from the league, Chris Henderson is from within the league.
MJ: Peter Canero.

MF: Yeah, but that's one guy.
MJ: At the end of the day, these guys are quality. And you haven't seen them at Red Bull. We had to make changes, and the changes were made, for the good of the team.

MF: So, would you classify your search outside the league as unsuccessful?
MJ: No. We obviously have Peter, we brought in Adrian, I'm ready to add another player from outside the league.

MF: No hint?
MJ: No.

MF: Nationality? Position?
MJ: No.

MF: Continent?
MJ: No. (laughs)

MF: How soon will that go down?
MJ: Depends how negotiations go. Over time, you identify players, but you gotta identify players in MLS, because they are the ones who understand this league. You can and buy the biggest name in his country, but it might not be for the good of the team. For me, adding Edson, adding Chris Henderson, also getting Youri back, bringing Amado back, is vital for this team. And you also add a lot of strength and depth, in terms of Taylor Graham, in terms of Marvell Wynne, Josmer Altidore. It can only be good for the team.

MF: Elie Ikangu, is he in the plans, is he gonna be signed?
MJ: Ikangu is a young developmental player who came through Le Havre youth academy. He's a young kid, he'll play in the reserves, frequently.

MF: He's signed? He's not here.
MJ: He's signed. He's oversees getting his visa. We're working to bring Abbe back, Danilo.

MF: Both Abbe and Danilo? I was told that Danilo signed in Brazil.
MJ: No, he's not.

MF: He's not? And we will see Abbe back?
MJ: Yes.

MF: Because you have five international slots, and two are still open even if Abbe and Danilo come back.
MJ: We're bringing in another kid from Togo. Look, this is still a work in progress. Do we have all the pieces and players right now? No.

MF: Do we have a third goalkeeper?
MJ: Yes, we picked him up in Charleston. He'll be developmental.

MF: What's his name?
MJ: You should know.

MF: I don't know.
MJ: I'm not telling you.

MF: Come on, Mo. It's not like we have detailed reports out of Charleston.
MJ: He's not signed yet, so I can't say anything.

MF: That's a much better answer.
MJ: (laughs). I expect to see Jay Leno coming.

MF: No... still small scale. If this takes off, maybe... So this team is still a work in progress, right?
MJ: Of course it is. Look, I've been in charge for what, three four months, and we've best part of 15, 16 players go. We're still gelling as a group. We haven't had everyone in the squad. And it's important to get people through the doors. But come Sunday, you will see a good product on the field.

MF: A couple of words about Eddie Gaven?
MJ: Very sad to see him go. Wonderful man, wonderful character. Very good soccer player. Vert sad to see him go, and I said to him this morning, he has a coach who wanted him badly. It's nice to be wanted, isn't it? Sigi wanted him, we wanted Edson, it was amicable, and for me, it was vital.

MF: So that burning desire to win, is it still there?
MJ: My desire is to win every game, to win every practice, it'll always be there.

MF: Even every preseason game?
MJ: Look, preseason... At the end of the day, the Charleston Cup, we were failures. But no MLS team has won the championship in the preseason.