Richie Williams, Assistant Head Coach (Former MetroStars, D.C. United and U.S. National Team player):
firstrowidiots.com (FRI): You’ve been around the MLS block, from a training perspective, how does this year’s coaching under Mo compare?
Richie Williams (RW): It’s different. The thing is with Mo, one of the things he stresses, not to say in the past that nobody had fun, but his thing is he wants players to be serious and professional, but at the same time to really enjoy themselves and have fun with it and I’m a proponent of the same thing. If you aren’t enjoying the soccer, if you aren’t enjoying being part of the club.. as Alexi and Mo said that in the beginning of the year, we asked everyone, hey do you want to be here? Is this someplace you’d like to play? If you’re not, we basically don’t want you here. We want guys who are going to be here and enjoy it…who are going to be professionals. In terms of that, we’re trying to make it as professional as possible and as serious as possible, but also not taking ourselves too serious and inject some fun into the trainings and the whole atmosphere of the club.
FRI: As fan of the league, since the beginning, on paper the MetroStars could have arguably been the best team in the league, but a lot of times it’s the heart that wins each and every game and gets you into the playoffs.
RW: Yeah, that’s definitely the truth. You can have a talented group of guys, but in the end if there is no heart or desire, good atmosphere, good play and that sort of thing.. if you don’t have that, you aren’t going to win. Maybe in years in the past, that’s probably been what happened.
FRI: When you were with D.C. United, you won it all. Do you see the passion you saw then now on this team?
RW: Yeah, I think when you look around and see guys like Youri, Chris Henderson, guys who have won, played on national teams.. Youri won the World Cup… Tony [Meola] and Chris both won championships, if those group of guys and coaches can help led the team and show the guys the right way and what it takes to win… we can’t all be a bunch of talent guys, we have to have the desire to win. You have to confidence you are going out there and doing the right thing. That’s what we’re trying to show the younger guys we’re bring along.
FRI: Do you see a big difference since Red Bull took over as far as the attitude of the players?
RW: I think like Alexi said, we had the organization and team going in the right direction. Like all the thing I just talked about, we were trying to get good player…we were trying to get players who wanted to be here..we wanted to guys here who have been winners, wanting some guys who had experience and won championships. I think we were going in that direction anyways and I think the players have just seen that the team got bought and Red Bull is putting a lot of money into the organization, so maybe they feel their responsibility is a bit higher. For me, it doesn’t matter. What I tell them, is it doesn’t matter if Red Bull owns the team or MLS owns the team or anybody owns the team, you still responsible as a player to be a professional and go out there and have pride in yourself and go out on the field every day, play in the games and play well and to do not just yourself, but the team right on the field.
FRI: As a New Jersey guy, any feeling on if the team is called New York or New Jersey?
RW: I really don’t. I know why [the team is called] New York. I know people around the world recognize New York more than they do New Jersey. I remember I use to say, when I was on the team, I’m with the MetroStars, they would say what city are you from and it was always just easier to say New York City because people knew where that was…more people outside the United States knows New York better than New Jersey. I’m have no problem with and I don’t think there should be such an uproar about it, personally.
FRI: As the assistance coach, how many games do you think it will take this team to start playing the soccer we should expected to see through the season?
RW: It’s hard on every team the first couple games, especially with us because [there has been] so much turnover in terms of a new General Manager came last year, a new coach, new players.. it wasn’t clear if certain players were coming back, without naming names, now the team getting taking over and trades at the last minute, so it’s a work in progress, but again, I think we’re on the right direction… I don’t think I can pinpoint one single game when it will be, but we’re going to try right from the beginning to get the team organized, to get the team playing together as a team and try to win every game we go out and play.
FRI: What’s your assessment of Marvell Wynne?
RW: He’s a good player. I like Marvell. He works really hard. He’s very athletic. People have doubted his passing abilities, but I think it’s been fine. He’s a very good defender… very athletic.. he’s a good soccer player overall. He’s going to have a bright feature.
FRI: What’s your best soccer game environment, whether it be U.S. or MLS, best game you ever played in?
RW: I remember the 97 championship, because it was at RFK [in Washington D.C.] and we [D.C. United] were in it versus Colorado, there were 65,000 people. At first it was pouring raining, but the place was still full and packed. We won the game and it was great to play at home and win the championship in front of the fans. I thought that was a pretty special day.
FRI: Thank you.