The San Jose Earthquakes recently announced the signing of goalkeeper Andrew Weber after his temporary hiatus from the team late in 2010.
Weber started his MLS career with the Quakes in 2009 and was released midway through the 2010 season. However, he's back and ready to contribute. SJEarthquakes.com sat down with the goalkeeper to discuss the 2011 season and more.
SJEarthquakes.com: First of all, welcome back to the Club.
Andrew Weber: Thank you. It’s good to be here.
SJEQ: Can you fill everyone in on what you’ve been doing in the past half-year or so, since the last time you were here?
AW: Well, I was down in Arizona, training with a buddy of mine who was in preseason with Kansas City. Then I was coaching the Salt Lake Academy boys during the week, so I would run training sessions with them and jump in myself to get some work. I also hiked some mountains and just tried to keep my mind fresh.
SJEQ: And how does it feel to be back?
AW: It feels great. I missed it. I was away for a while, so it’s awesome to be back on the soccer field. It’s a good feeling. I love it out here.
SJEQ: What do you expect your role to be during this upcoming season?
AW: I’m going to try and help the team win in any way I can. I have to push the other two goalkeepers to do their best, and do my best. You always push to be your best. That’s all you can do, and then it’s up to the coach to make decisions. But you don’t focus on that, you focus on the team, and then everything else plays itself out.
SJEQ: What are your hopes and goals for the 2011 season, both on a personal and a group level?
AW: I would like to get a few more games under my belt, hopefully, to get a little bit more experience, as that’s always good and always helps. For the team, I would like us to build on last season. Even though I was away, I felt like I was still there with those guys while watching them go through the playoffs.
SJEQ: Before coming to the MLS, you played at the Montreal Impact of the North American Soccer League. What do you feel are the main differences between that level and the level here in the MLS?
AW: I wouldn’t say there’s much difference (between teams in MLS and Montreal). I mean, over at Montreal, the players are very good. We brought a few of them over here — Joey Gjertsen, Tony (Donatelli) was here for a brief moment and Tony Ribeiro. You could say that we have higher profiled players, but I think especially with a market like Montreal, where they’re coming into the MLS, there’s not a big difference there. If you’re looking at some of the lower, bottom-seeded teams in the NASL, then yeah, the level of play and the focus are different. Here you’re on a bigger stage.
SJEQ: Moving away from strictly football questions — being an Arizona native and having played at the University of New Mexico, how do you like the Bay Area, and what do you like most about it?
AW: I like the weather. I love the weather. It’s a bit cooler than Arizona, but the sun is out all the time, which is great. It’s really beautiful here. You’ve got San Francisco and a little bit of everything. In Arizona it’s just hot desert and the same old stuff. You’ve got Spring Training baseball, which is okay, but here you’ve also got great sports teams around with the Sharks, the Giants. We’re right there, close to them all, so it’s nice.
SJEQ: When you’re not on the field playing, what do you like to do in your free time?
AW: I’m mostly hanging out with my friends and catching up on my reading. I just try to enjoy the my free time, play some golf and spend time with my girlfriend, (she’s awesome).
SJEQ: Would you consider yourself an avid reader then?
AW: I wouldn’t say an avid reader, but I like to read stuff that pertains to my sport and talks about the psychology of it.
SJEQ: Who are you closest to on the team?
AW: Well, I’m close with everyone. I think we have a really tight group here. I think Frank’s done really well to bring everyone together. Probably the guys I talk to the most are Jason Hernandez and Bobby Burling. They live right next door, so I’m around those guys a lot. I kick it with Chris Wondolowski, Ryan Johnson, Brandon (McDonald), Joey (Gjertson) — it’s a really tight-knit group in the locker room, so I couldn’t really pinpoint who my closest friends are, but Jason and Bobby are the guys I hang out with the most.
SJEQ: As a junior at New Mexico, you scored a goal on a punt. If you were to repeat that feat in the MLS, how would you celebrate?
AW: Hmm, I don’t know. I think I would just stand there and hope that the guys would rush back and celebrate with me, as opposed to me having to run down and celebrate with them. But if I were down at the end with the Ultras, I think I would jump up and celebrate with those guys. That goal was a freak accident, though. It hit their guy in the head and went in the goal.
SJEQ: Last year, Will Hesmer scored a goal off a set piece for the Columbus Crew. Have you ever experienced a similar play?
AW: Well, I’ve come up in the last minute. I don’t think I’ve come close or done anything like that.
SJEQ: Is that every goalkeeper’s dream, to act as a forward and get to score a goal?
AW: That would be great! When I first came into the league, I played more of my minutes up top with DC (United). I played in three matches up front and got about 54 minutes of playing time. I mean, it’s everyone’s dream to get out there and run around a bit, but my position is in the goal.
