Shaun Goater has today shared his frank reflections on Bermuda Hogges debut season in professional football and revealed his ambitious vision for their long-term future ... as an MLS franchise.The Hogges president is keen to stress the Hogges' immediate remit is to become established in the USL-D2 after finishing rock-bottom of the league in their inaugural campaign with a 3-14-3 record.But as part of an eight-year programme he envisages the Island's first pro outfit becoming a force in American soccer and believes there are no glass ceilings that cannot be shattered as they attempt to elevate from the basement of the USL."As part of our eight-year plan we have ambitions to take the Hogges to as a high a level as we possibly can ; whether that's the USL-D1 or the MLS," said club president Goater. "Maybe one day the MLS and USL will merge with promotion and relegation."The former Manchester City and Reading striker believes valuable, and sometimes harsh, lessons have been learned both on and off the field and will be implemented when the franchise's pre-season preparations begin in earnest early next year.In terms of the cold hard lucre of points, Goater concedes the Hogges have fallen well short of achieving their brief of a mid-table finish after making a inauspicious start to the season, losing eight of their first nine matches.But despite that disappointment he feels extremely optimistic for the club's future and insists they are not a "million miles" from where they would like to be at this infant stage of their progression.;"I thought a halfway finish would be realistic but it's taken more time for our players to understand the professional side of the game the dirty side of the game," he said.;"Although we've played well when we've had the ball we're still understanding how to play well when we've not got the ball <><> it's taken us three quarters of the season to grasp that concept.<>*t(0,0," ")<>"But it must be remembered that the other new franchises Crystal Palace Baltimore and Cleveland City Stars have taken players from all more than the world, whereas our players are solely from Bermuda. Baltimore for instance have taken a lot of players who have already played at this level or higher. Bar Damon Ming this is the highest level our players have ever played."<>*t(0,0," ")<>The backroom staff have continually drawn comparisons between the Hogges struggle and USL D1's Puerto Rico Islanders <><> who blazed a trail for offshore teams when they joined the league in 2004. <>*p(0,12,0,10.5,0,0,g)<><>*t(0,0," ")<>It took the now established Islanders ten games to record a victory and Goater believes that should provide a modicum of comfort as the Hogges look to follow in their slipstream.<>*p(0,12,0,10.7,0,0,g)<><>*t(0,0," ")<>"Puerto Rico Islanders finished bottom of the league in their first season and it took them ten games for their first win <><> the same as us. It's a shame we couldn't have finished a position higher as then we would have then improved upon their first season. <>*t(0,0," ")<>"The games came thick and fast during the second-half of the season and that suited us. We had a stop-start beginning to the season and we had a three-week break while the other teams could continue their momentum.<>*p(0,12,0,10.5,0,0,g)<><>*t(0,0," ")<>"We tried to organise friendlies in Bermuda but they were just not at the same calibre as the opposition we were facing in the USL-D2. All it did was give us a physical run-out, but did nothing from a tactical point of view." In terms of pure technical ability Goater was always sure Bermuda possessed players able make the progression into a professional league and has been encouraged by the team's "ball-retention" with the Hogges rarely looking out of their depth from a purely passing point of view. But in terms of the defensive 'dark-arts' and <>*t(0,0," ")<><>t2<>ruthless goal scoring edge they have been found painfully wanting with Goater revealing some of the current roster may not be involved next year.<>*p(0,12,0,10.5,0,0,g)<><>*t(0,0," ")<>"Defensively we need to start to deal with aerial balls. We need players who are capable of heading a ball 30 yards from a set piece or goal kick. In the first seven or eight games when the ball was coming in the box and if we won it the ball just fell down about four or five yards away. Teams were punishing us on something as basic as that <><> that's one area we certainly need to improve on.<>*p(0,12,0,10.6,0,0,g)<><>*t(0,0," ")<>"We also need players who enjoy tackling and that may sound funny for Bermudians but you have to have those players at the top level. Also up front we need a player who wants to get in behind the defence, has the pace to get in behind, and can score goals.<>*t(0,0," ")<>"Some of the players are capable of improving themselves to fill these voids if they put the work in <><> while some probably aren't.<>*t(0,0," ")<>"I would say we're always looking out for players who can enhance us and take us to the next level and not 100 percent of the players will be here next season. We will be watching a lot of domestic football to see if there are players out there who can improve certain areas of our team.<>*t(0,0," ")<>"At the same time if those who we're currently thinking may not be involved next year implement the things we are talking about throughout the domestic season then they will be retained."<>*p(0,12,0,10.5,0,0,g)<><>*t(0,0," ")<>One player who will almost certainly be inked in when the Hogges look to build on their history-making 2006-7 season will be Omar Shakir, who proved to be somewhat of a surprise package.<>*p(0,12,0,10.6,0,0,g)<><>*t(0,0," ")<>With the Hogges reverting to a 3-5-2 formation in an attempt to damn up their leaky defence after the first four fixtures, Shakir became the fulcrum of the three-man defence and grew in stature as the season played out. "Omar Shakir has done excellently since moving to the defence and has shown he is more than capable of playing at this level. He has been a real rock in our three-man defence <><> I call him Vidic," said Goater in reference to the Manchester United defender.<>*t(0,0," ")<>"We have set high standards for the players and we've been pleased with their attitude and discipline, especially off the field. There have been about five or six real plusses in our season player-wise," <>*t(0,0," ")<>"Robert Wilson had to sit out a few games at first and initially we thought he was way off the mark. But he just grew and grew and made a defensive position his. He actually told us he had another level and with each game he has shown that <><> he has pretty much relished the whole occasion.<>*p(0,12,0,10.7,0,0,g)<><>*t(0,0," ")<>"In midfield Ralph (Gumbo) Bean has done really well. Due to his physical size teams in the first three games knocked him off the ball really easily <><> but you don't see that happen anymore.<>*p(0,12,0,10.6,0,0,g)<><>*t(0,0," ")<>"His ball retention is very high, up around the 90 percent mark, and he very seldom gives the ball away. The only thing I'm sure he wished he had included in his game is a few more goals <><> then he would have had an excellent season.<>*p(0,12,0,10.7,0,0,g)<><>*t(0,0," ")<>"Sammy DeGraff has taken us to another level. He is physical and very fit and has ticked all the boxes when he has played for us. I can't really complain about Sammy and I think he probably needs another challenge and could play at a higher level. From what I've seen of him I've been very impressed. Hopefully we can assist him if he needs any help in organising trials at other clubs.<>*t(0,0," ")<>"Kwame (Steede) has been good. We highlighted that he needed to add penetration to his game and he is slowly doing that and has become a lot better player. He has realised he must start to win a few more balls for us. Sometimes if there's a 50/50 ball to be won he will go and try and scoop it instead of putting in a solid challenge, and if he can improve his tackling he'll win a lot more possession. <>*t(0,0," ")<>"So there's been some real positives for us <><> and generally we have been very happy with all three of our goalkeepers as well."<>*t(0,0," ")<>Messrs Goater, Lightbourne and Scope set up the Hogges to develop the level of play in Bermuda, with the aim of a more competitive national team.<>*t(0,0," ")<>A raft of the Hogges class of 2006-7 are sure to be involved in the Island's World Cup qualifiers next year and Goater is certain the professional environment they have been exposed to more than the last five months will stand them in good stead.<>*t(0,0," ")<>"Those who take more than the national programme will be getting a much more professional player, a more technical player, who understands what it takes at the higher level," he added.<>*t(0,0," ")<>"They will also be used to the regimen of training, travelling and hotels which we just haven't had in Bermuda apart from when it's been a World Cup campaign. These players have been together for four-and-a-half months as part of a professional programme and that will definitely benefit the national set-up."