Erik Soler on Extra Time Radio

Normally when someone makes an appearance on a podcast or gives an interview to a website or newspaper, you can take the major points and run with them. But when Erik Soler was on Extra Time Radio this week, he touched on a lot of things, frankly, too many to key in on just one. And when a team has as many questions heading into the season as the Red Bulls do, there isn't a whole lot of chaff when your GM is on the "radio."

The most important parts via rough transcription after the jump...

On Luke Rodgers and his visa:

"We have a little struggle with Luke Rodgers still not being 100% cleared for his visa, which makes us a little bit unhappy."

"Luke was so happy when someone called him and told him his visa was on its way so he reacted to the phone call because he's so eager to get back and start going. He was a little bit too early with that. It turns out it still has some work to be done and we're still very hopeful it will be resolved according to our immigration lawyer it will still be another week or maybe two weeks. We hope we can have him ready when we go to Phoenix on the 23rd of February."

On the goalkeeping situation and Ryan Meara, specifically:

"At this very moment, we have two very promising young, American goalkeepers. I think I can say 100% to you guys that we're going to start with an American goalkeeper, either one of those two or a veteran if needed."

"I want to mention our 2 young goalkeepers (as potentially breakout players). I think they're just exceptional talents. ... I have to say I think we found something (in the draft). I think Ryan Meara is going to be an excellent goalkeeper, maybe already this year. He's got very good competition from Jeremy Vuolo."

The above parentheticals are mine.

On Thierry Henry and his loan to Arsenal:

"We're very happy for his success over there. It's amazing to see what amazing impact he's already had coming back for a short period of time. We expect him to be back here on the 17th or 18th. ... I feel confident that's the way it's going to be. ... Our wish is to have him back."

On all the trialists at camp:

"I think at the end of this camp we'll know more about two or three of those guys."

On Victor Palsson, who he said the team hasn't come to terms with:

"It looks like (he's going to join the club). ... Victor is a good talent. he still has a bunch of things to learn. He's very physical, but with very good feet, good size. We think he can develop into something."

"He can play more in the defensive part of the game. We have, of course, Rafa and Teemu Tainio are, of course, very good players ... On the other hand Teemu has a history of other injuries and probably can't play all the games and at the moment Rafa is not in the national team, but you never know when he'll get back there. ... That's the main place we'd like him to play."

On Tim Ream, and his jump to Bolton Wanderers:

"Tim has that special asset that some young people have that he's incredibly team oriented, he does everything he can, when he makes mistakes he takes responsibility for it. He's not the kind of player that runs around and finds excuses for anything. And that makes me confident that he will do well at Bolton."

Soler also noted Juan Agudelo still making his way back from injury.

The rest of the interview is well worth a listen. If you don't want to listen to the guys talk about the Super Bowl, its halftime show or interview the LA Galaxy's new striker Edson Buddle, skip to around 23 minutes in when the interview starts.