The coming year.

442 -  What are the prospects for the team this year?

LP - Well, as I said we've lost seven players and we're bringing in some new faces, but it'll be a more youthful side. Every team wants to make the top six. Halfway through the season come back to me and I might tell you top two, depending on where we are. We're still about 15 weeks away from our first game and at this stage we're just getting to know each other again and getting to know the new boys. No-one really enjoys pre-season but I like it. Maybe that's just me, being out for so long with the knee that I just enjoy anything.

442 - How are you feeling about the expanded competition?

LP - I think it's great. You're still playing each team three times but there's more games and I think the public want more games. More home games means more revenue for the clubs, which is what the clubs need. It also gives the players who haven't quite made it a chance to make it because there's another 40 extra jobs available. Hopefully we can bring in more teams and expand the league again.

442 - Are you looking forward to facing Jason Culina and Robbie Fowler? Does it make a difference to play a 'legend'?

LP - Playing against Robbie Fowler would be every player's dream. It'll be fantastic. I used to watch him - I'm a huge Liverpool fan. Barnes, Gerrard - if you didn't notice (laughs). Obviously Robbie's scored some cracking goals for Liverpool. To play against Jason Culina, you'll know where you're at - if you could compete in Europe. Obviously he's competed in Europe for years with PSV and if you can play against him then you can tell whether you've got it or not. It's great that the overseas boys are coming back to the A-League. I think that's what we need. Good quality players coming back and playing in the country where they grew up and learnt their football. I'm looking forward to it.

442 - Does it annoy the players to hear the pre-season boasting of Gold Coast's owner?

LP - What they say is their prerogative. And the end of the day we have to look at ourselves - my team, our team - rather than looking at all the other teams. If their owner wants to come out and say that then good luck to him. He's very confident obviously and if that creates a bit of speculation within the media, the players and the coaches, it's pretty good banter and we just take it onboard. But as I say, at this stage we just worry about what we do as a team and then, when we come up against them, I'm sure we'll knock them off.

442 - Every fan wants to know if we're going to have new strikers for this coming year. Are we? Who?

LP - Not a clue in the world. I can't tell you. Obviously it's been stated in the media that we're looking for a high quality striker. Who that will be I'm not sure but I'm sure the public will know as soon as it happens.

442 - Ok, I knew you weren't going to answer that question.

LP - No, honestly, I don't know.

442 -  Which team do the Reds see as the biggest threat? Is it Melbourne again?

LP - Melbourne's always up there, no question about that.  I guess Sydney have a lot to prove because they had a pretty bad season last year. And of course us. I'm sure we'll be in the mix again. With the two new teams you can't really say anything about them yet. You can look at the individual players but they haven't played together as a team. Melbourne haven't lost many players so you know what to expect from them. I guess Newcastle and Central Coast have a lot to prove. With Newcastle, Premiers one year and bottom the next is pretty bad. Every team has heaps to prove to one another. I'm pretty sure we'll be up there again and you can't but say Melbourne will be around the mark.

The Club.

442 -  We've got a great run of home games to start the season. How important is it that the team gets off to a good start?

LP - It's vital. Looking at our draw towards the end of the season a good start could really help us. Last year we only lost about four games, five games - including ACL - so Hindmarsh was a bit of a fortress. That's very important. The year that we didn't make the finals our home form was still quite good. I think it's five out of the first seven  games at home so it's going to be very important for us to win, if not all, then at least four because towards the end of the season we've got five out of seven away. Time will tell.

442 -  What part do the fans play in motivating the team? If a big crowd shows up does it make a difference?

LP - When we crack the 12-14000 mark, not only does it look good but it also looks scary for opposition teams. When you see a sea of red you're not going to like it. It's the same for us when we go interstate and we see opposition colours. Our crowd's quite loud as well and it does create the twelfth man. It's good when they get stuck into the opposition and it's good when they applaud us when we get stuck into the opposition. I think the crowd is vital to our success and the more we get the better I'm sure we'll be.

442 - Late last year there were rumours of player unrest and factions within the club. A lot of fans were confused and worried. Was it just the end of a tiring, huge season or was there more to it than that?

LP - I think what happened during the finals was just a combination of things. It was a massive year. I mean, the games were fine but the travelling really took its toll. To travel straight after a weekend game to go to Uzbekistan or Japan and then come back and play again, I think it really took its toll. Everyone needed a good break and we've had that now and I think there's nothing to be worried about. The club is still very, very strong. We're still united as a team. There was probably just a bit of steam coming off towards the end, which happens. In this case it happened and it made us perform better against Queensland and Melbourne. Maybe it was needed.

442 - So, it's a happy camp now.

LP - Definitely. The coach, players, staff that we have now - it's all rosy. I guess, come the season, the coaches won't be so happy, it'll be a bit more tense. That's just natural. It's our sport, the game that we play. Come the business of the season everyone gets a bit fired up and that's healthy.

442 - We've lost some experienced and influential players. Will the new boys fill the gaps well?

LP - Of course. The players that we have lost are very, very experienced players in Costanzo, Ognenovski, Agostino, Valkanis.  Those four guys have played over a thousand games between them. That's where the next generation of experienced players need to come in. Players like myself, Travis (Dodd), Paul Reid, Iain Fyfe, Eugene (Galekovic). We have to step up.

442 - Finally, there have been rumours about money troubles and ownership. How do you see the future of Adelaide United. Is it bright? Or dim?

LP - That's up to the owners and the board and what they decide. As a player all I can do is look forward to the next training session. That's the admin side and, I guess, whatever happens, happens. I don't know what's going on. I have to concentrate on playing football.

Thanks to Lucas and Nic Kerber from Adelaide United for agreeing to and arranging the interview. Picture (c) Stephen Daughtry.