Speaking personally.

442 - In the past there have been injuries for you to deal with. How have you coped with being out when injured?

LP - 2006 was a tough year. I did my ACL so I had to have a total knee reconstruction. That was probably the toughest nine months of my life. After nine months, that's when I started joining the group and training again. Then last year, I was happy with the way I started and then I hurt my groin. I was out for about six weeks then came back from that and hurt my knee again and was out for another six weeks. That's when you just have to have faith in your medical staff and do what you're told and look after yourself. That's all you can do. Just pray that, with each session coming back, you're getting closer to regaining your spot in the eleven and playing again.

442 - Do you still love to play?

LP - Of course. Having had that 12 months out of the game made me realise how lucky I am as a person to have this as my full-time profession. It's something that you love. Not many people get to have that in life. Each session and each game that I play, first and foremost I have to enjoy it. That's how I look at it. Then there's the winning and losing - I hate to lose - but that's secondary. It's a great job and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

442 - You're 27 this year and pretty much in your prime playing years. How are you feeling about your game?

LP - I feel better than ever. I feel fresh. We've had a six week break after the final and we've got a long pre-season ahead. It's early days but I feel great. I just can't wait for August 7 and the first game.

442 - What goals have you set yourself for the coming year/season?

LP - To stay injury free. I think every player's worst nightmare is to get injured during the season. If I can stay healthy I just want to cement my spot in the eleven. Then - as a team - we want to make the four....

442 - You mean the six?

LP - Is it six this year? Oh, ok. (laughs)  Wow. We've got a totally different team this year. We're missing seven players from last year and we've got a very young squad. If we can help the younger ones through and make the...six, then come finals time I believe it's anyone's game. Whoever finishes first to sixth, everyone's got a chance. Finals football is totally different so we'll see how we go and then worry about Asia.

442 - Who are the players that inspire you? Or that you model your game on?

LP - That's a tough one. I guess I look at players in my position - left or right sided players. I don't model myself on people like Cristiano Ronaldo. I think he's just a class above everyone else. In the old days I used to admire (John) Barnes from Liverpool, I think he was such a creative player. These days, probably more Steven Gerrard. He's a class act. Even if they're not playing in the same position as me... they're just consistent every single game and are so professional. You look at the way they perform over nine or ten months of the year with a game every three or four days. It's just amazing.

442 - A lot of people spend a lot of time talking about the standard of the A-league. How do you feel about that?

LP - I don't think the standard is that far off. I'm not talking about the Premier League or Serie A or the Spanish League - I think the A-League is a little far off that. I think the rest of the European countries, like the Swiss, Danish, Greek or Turkish Leagues; I don't think we're far off. I think the only difference is that we don't play as many games. I think that's where people do criticise the A-League. Now we have the addition of two extra teams and that'll push us to 27 games so it's a little bit better - but it's still nowhere near what they play in Europe. They're playing 38 games a year. Also, in Europe they have Champions League or UEFA Cup and your FA Cup type of competitions so there are even more games. That's probably where the difference lies.

442 - Would you like to see an FA Cup style competition in Australia and just have the Premier win the League?

LP - I don't think that would suit the market in Australia. I think Australians crave finals football. That's just the way it is. I'd like to see a cup competition but I don't know how that's going to work with only ten teams. In Europe you might have 50 teams spread across three or four divisions.

442 - If we brought in State league teams?

LP - I don't see how the economics would work for local teams.

442 - Does the success of some former Reds like Nathan Burns and Bruce Djite inspire you? Have you thought of going overseas yourself or are you a happy Red?

LP - I'm a happy Red, but in saying that, every player - be they 19 or 30 - if you get a chance to play at a higher level, well, it's every player's dream. At 27, as you said, I'm probably in my prime and the next move is critical. I'm happy here and I've got a year left on my contract but if a move to a better place comes up... I guess I'd look at it. But at this stage I'm very happy here.

442 -  You've seen some of your teammates called up for the national team. Any thoughts of a Socceroos call-up yourself?

LP - Most definitely. I mean, to see your teammates get called up, it's not only great for them but it's great for the club and it makes you wonder if you're not that far off as well. It's great to think that you can make the Socceroos. Gone are the days when it was just European based players, now the A-league players are getting a look in and it gives us a real incentive to play well knowing that if you do play well you'll get rewarded.

442 - There's been a lot of criticism of the A-League based team Pim chose for the game against Kuwait, some saying that A-League players just can't cut it. What do you think about that?

LP - I think the A-league players can do the job for the national team. No question about that. I think that it's always hard for the national team to get enough preparation time. Don't just look at the last result. It's a one-off. It was a bad performance by the boys and they know that. Just talking to a few of the boys here they know that it wasn't a good performance but I feel the A-League players can do the job if asked.

Continues on next page...