A versitile player, Jeremy Hall was acquired from FC Dallas at the end of November for a second round draft pick in the 2013 SuperDraft. Originally an 11th pick overall by the New York Red Bulls in 2009, Hall was a mainstay for his first two seasons before being traded to the Portland Timbers. In Portland, Hall also saw plenty of time on the pitch before being sent to FC Dallas midseason. As was the case throught the 2011 campaign for Toronto FC, it is not much of speculation that Aron Winter must have liked what he saw when TFC went up against FC Dallas and has looked to bring in another piece of the puzzle.
Armen Bedakian (AB): First off, Jeremy, welcome to Toronto and to Toronto FC.
Jeremy Hall (JH): Thank you very much!
AB: How did you find out about the trade?
JH: Well I think it was just, maybe a couple days before the expansion draft, I had met with the coaches here in Dallas and I was basically told I wasn’t going to be protected. I guess, you know, before the expansion draft Toronto wanted to pick me up and Dallas wanted to get something for me. I think I found out Tuesday morning before the expansion draft.
AB: Are you excited at the chance of playing in Toronto?
JH: Yeah, definitely, Toronto is a beautiful city. I’ve been up there numerous times throughout my time in the league, and always enjoyed it. Fan-wise they’re great up there, top, if not the best, and the team with their coaching staff is starting to turn things around last season, putting some really big wins together. One of them being the Champions League when I was here in Dallas against them.
It’s a good team, some good players like Frings, I’m excited to get up there and play with those guys.
AB: Have you had a chance to check out the team’s facilities yet?
JH: I haven’t, I’ve looked online and saw they’re building a pretty sweet training facility that looks really nice, the stadium’s amazing, good location, fan-wise it’s good.
AB: Have you had a chance to talk to any of the players about Toronto FC? We hear you’re good friends with Tony Tchani?
JH: Yeah, really good friends with Toni and Danleigh [Borman] roomed with them when I was in New York so I talked to them about it. I’m very good friends with Avi [Eric Avila] when I was on the youth national team with them and Peri as well.
I’m really looking forward to getting up there, they’ve had nothing but good things to say about Toronto. I’ve had a few friends who lived in Canada, and in Toronto, and said nothing but good stuff so I’m excited to finally get up there and get all adjusted.
AB: It seems like there has been a trade agreement established between Dallas and Toronto, with the likes of Eric Avila and Peri Marosevic making their way up north. Does it make the transition to a new team easier having guys like them in the locker room with you?
JH: Yes, definitely, it always makes it easier when you know a few people, you can get comfortable in your surroundings. I’ve known Avi and Peri since we were in High School so we have a very good bond. I know that they’ll show me the ropes up there and take care of me as I settle in.
AB: As part of the rebuilding process under head coach Aron Winter, specific players are actively being traded for as the squad establishes a 4-3-3 system. Are you familiar or comfortable playing in this system?
JH: Yeah, I think in any system, professionals need to adjust to different formations and environments. It’s definitely a good formation when you have the good, key players in it. It’s a very position-oriented and I hope that fits my style when trying to keep the ball and move the ball. I’m looking forward to getting acclimated with the guys, and we can do that in the preseason.
AB: You’re listed as a midfielder or a right back – what position do you play most comfortably in, or do you prefer?
JH: Before I came into the league, I was an outside midfielder, a box-to-box, two-ways, left or right. I came into the league and played a lot at Right Back. I get asked this question a lot. I definitely love playing in the midfield, that’s my favourite position. I haven’t played there a lot in this league, I’ve been getting a lot of games at right back and left back. If I can get into the midfield and play here and get into the system and get comfortable I think that I can do really well there as well.
AB: Have you had a chance to talk with Aron Winter about your role in the team?
JH: Yes, I’ve talked to him, when I got traded he called me and he was excited to have me up there, looking forward to me getting up there at camp. He asked me, because he’d seen me playing in different positions, which ones I was most comfortable in and he’s going to put me in different positions in pre-season and see which ones I’m best at.
AB: Toronto FC advanced further into the CONCACAF Champions League this season, and will face the LA Galaxy in March. Having played for the Dallas side that Toronto went up against, how do you rate your new teams chances of defeating Los Angeles?
JH: In this game, anyone can beat anyone on their day. In the last round, Toronto came into Dallas and whooped us up pretty bad. It could go either way. Everybody’s going to be excited. I think we’re going to have a good chance at beating a very good LA Galaxy, the MLS Champs, I’m sure everybody’s going to be excited and raring to go.
AB: It’s currently the off-season – what have you been up to during this time?
JH: I’ve still been here in Dallas, working out at the gym, trying to stay fit and keep myself healthy. I’m going home to Florida tomorrow, so I’m excited about that, spend the holidays at home with my family and continue to work out.
AB: Are you looking forward to playing with players like Torsten Frings in the midfield?
JH: Yeah, I really am. You see these guys playing in World Cups and Champions Leagues at the highest level. I was very fortunate and lucky to play with Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez at New York. When you get to play with these world-class players it definitely elevates everybody else’s game, so I’m looking forward to playing with another world-class player.
AB: On a bit of a lighter note, Barcelona or Real Madrid?
JH: Oh, Barcelona, I’m so happy they won! It was a good game. I actually like Real Madrid a little bit more, but Barcelona have a lot of good players and plays the best soccer so that was a very exciting game.
AB: What was your favourite childhood team, growing up?
JH: Well I’m from Tampa so we had the Tampa Bay Mutiny. I used to follow them before they left the league. I’ve always been a Manchester United!
AB: Do you have any pre-game rituals?
JH: Not really, I just like to relax and visualize the game in my head. Nothing in particular, I don’t eat certain things or anything, I just like to relax and watch TV, lay around.
AB: What’s been your favourite moment in your career thus far?
JH: Favourite moment? I think getting drafted was big for me. I didn’t really expect to go pro until I was in the youth national team and in college so that was pretty big for me.
My first start in the league, we played Seattle, in Seattle’s first game in the MLS. That was crazy, in front of all those fans. We did lose in that game but it was pretty good.
AB: Finally, who’s the toughest player you’ve played against in the MLS?
JH: That’s good. Toughest player? Hmm…there’s a lot of really good outside mids. I would say, when playing in the back, going up against guys like Brek Shea, who’s really tough to play against, or Robbie Rogers, who’s always tough with his pace. When I’m in the midfield, going up against Marvell Wynne a couple times, he’s just so hard to get past, he’s a great athlete and he’s just so strong! I’m sure there’s a lot more but those players come to my mind first.
AB: Thank you so much Jeremy. Good luck at Toronto FC.
JH: No problem, any time!
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