Thursday, April 19, 2007

Toronto Trades Conor Casey to Colorado

Mo just can't stop! He trades Conor Casey to Colorado for Canadian draft pick Riley O'Neill and an allocation ($). It's no secret that Casey wanted to return home to Colorado, so good for Mo to send him home. Colorado is quickly becoming a force in the West. They've got a great home-field advantage and tremendous depth in midfield and forward, but not defense (except for Pablo as cover).

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070419.wspttorontofc19/GSStory/GlobeSportsSoccer/

This situation does bring to light the stupid MLS policy of allocating returning National Team players to the next team in line for allocations (see Soccer by Ives for this crazy process). I believe that more national team players would come home if they had the option to choose where they would play, especially if they were given the option to play for their hometown/state club.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Power Rankings

1) Houston: added midfield depth and experience with Mulrooney, with Kelly Gray sticking to the back line from now on.

2) New England: will be a contender once they resolve Shalrie Joseph's contract situation.

3) Kansas City: their team looks decisive on the attack, like everyone has bought into the system and knows exactly what to do in order to attack the defense. However, it will be interesting to see them at home against a team who bunkers more than DC United (at RFK). That will be a situation where signing Marinelli may help unlock a stubborn defense

4) Colorado: Great home team who looks solid from front to back. I love their ability to maintain possession, until somebody gets red-carded.

5) DC United: shaky defense with no depth. What happens if Boswell gets called up to the Nats?

6) Chivas: Still looking for a break-out game from Galindo to legitimize his partnership with Razov. Suarez looks old.

7) FC Dallas: This team will take some time to click with the new coach, players, and formation.

8) L.A. Galaxy: I thought Yallop was suprisingly tactically out-classed by Morrow in the Dallas match. Yallop never adjusted his formation to go around the clogged center midfield. Albright is not the answer on the right flank.

9) Chicago: Two 1-goal games is a tough start. Barrett and Rolfe haven't quite merged their partnership up front, and besides Mapp there isn't a strong link through the midfield.

10) RB New York: Great goals against FC Dallas. I'm looking forward to seeing Reyna pull the strings in an offense that is accumulating weapons all over the field. Richards is emerging as a constant threat when he's on the field. I don't see the defensive depth every team in MLS needs over the course of the season. Can't wait to see Juan Pablo Angel terrorize Toronto's shaky D.

11) Columbus: Will Scheletto help them find a goal? Big home game against New England on thursday. 3 games without a goal spells doom. Why is Herron playing as a flanker? Pull Garey and throw Ngwenya on the left flank, with Gaven/Scheletto on the right. Let Grabavoy dictate the pace of the game with Szetela/Oughton and Nails behind him for protection.

12) Real Salt Lake: 2 home games without a win isn't a great way to start the season. Adu's still trying to figure out his position. I think I'm one of the few who hopes Ellinger gets the first half of the season to let his attack gel. So much for that game-changing Tejada? what a waste of a press conference.

13) Toronto FC: Upgraded their defense this week with Goldwaithe and Wynne. Here comes the attacking 4-4-2, especially once O'Brien comes back to add some fire.

Mulrooney Traded from Toronto FC to Houston Dynamo

Soccer by Ives is reporting that Richard Mulrooney has been traded to Houston for Defender / Left back Kevin Goldwaithe and a 1st round pick. I think this was originally reported at http://tfcmls.blogspot.com/2007/04/mojo-picks-up-another-defender.html (TFCMLS), a great website for Toronto fans.

Mo is simply wheeling and dealing. His players have to be wondering if they're gonna be next.

Timbers News

Willamette Weekly article on the Timbers upcoming season that mentions a new "official" supports club of the Timbers, which is affiliated with the club's management including a code of conduct, appropriate songs, etc. The article also mentions the security officials will "crack down" on foul language and inappropriate gestures. Let's see how that turns out. I don't know many businesses who actively work against their core, loyal customers.

http://www.wweek.com/editorial/3323/8840/

Also an article in the Oregonian profiling David Hague, a new addition to the team.

http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1176863122187920.xml&coll=7


The Timbers weblog (link on the side) has been doing some solid profiles of the GK, Defenders, Midfielders, and soon the Forwards.


See you all at the game this weekend: 7 pm PGE Park. Be there wearing green. Lots of places to get drinks before the game. See you all there.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Marvell Wynne Traded to Toronto FC

Holy crap. The day Juan Pablo Angel's signed, New York trades Marvell Wynne to Toronto for draft picks, allocations?, etc.

Arena must not have rated the defender as an immediate contributor, especially with the work Hunter Freeman did on Kenny Cooper over the weekend.

This was reported by MLS Underground and Soccer by Ives.

Instant upgrade for Toronto, but Wynne is still a somewhat unproven commodity. Let's see what kind of freedom Mo gives him in Toronto.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Timbers final Preseason matches

The Timbers finished their preseason with a 0-0 draw against Vancouver and a 2-1 win over the University of Portland. Not a whole lot of goalscoring for the boys, but I'm gonna hold my reservations until after the season begins.

In other USL news, Puerto Rico (who on paper look like they will be a force this year) beat Rochester 2-1, and Rochester beat the Romario-less Miami FC 1-0 in Miami.

Juan Pablo Angel coming to MLS

Big Apple Soccer is reporting that Juan Pablo Angel is coming to MLS. RB (Red Bull) New York signed the 31 year old to a reported 2 year contract and he'll be awaiting his visa.

JPA was/is an outstanding player for Columbia and Aston Villa. He fell down the pecking order this season at Aston Villa with the signings of John Carew, Ashley Young, and the emergence of Aghbenolahar (spelling?). He is an instant upgrade to the thin New York front line, and will bring flair, skill, and speed to the league. Awesome use of the Designated Player Rule. Also, he'll surely form a strong connection to the Columbian population in the New York/New Jersey area as well as other fans with his bilingual skills.

www.bigapplesoccer.com


Great work by "Soccer by Ives" writer Ives Galarcep to follow this story with every emerging detail.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Jay Demerit Article

Here's a link to an excellent article on Jay Demerit, the American central defender for Watford in the Premier League. They call him the "Rocky" of English football. I'm certain there are hundreds more like him out there, that with an improved professional youth setup (thru MLS and USL clubs- like Crystal Palace USA), they won't fall through the cracks of the American soccer system.

Good luck in the FA Cup semi-final, Jay.

http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/news/article2444379.ece

Player Signings and Not-Signings

Portland lists Muamba Chisoni on their club roster. I hope they have indeed signed him because he brings a lot of quality to the midfield that we were only able to see in glimpses last year, due to injury.

Real Salt Lake waived Joey Worthen, and replaced him with a 22 year-old midfielder/defender named Jean Kipre, from the Ivory Coast. Preseason reports had Kipre making an impact during Real's spanish preseason tour. I always considered Worthen a solid USL midfielder whose entering his prime. I hope the Timbers make a move and add him to the roster. If anybody remembers Richmond's championship run a couple years ago, Worthen ran the midfield for that team.

Kansas City signed Carlos Marinelli, one of many future Maradona's from Argentina. He briefly played for Middlesborough and other teams around the European continent. KC will lean on his ball skills and creativity heavily.

Chivas USA signed Laurent Merlin, who was the last Survivor of the LA Galaxy open tryouts.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Timbers Management and the Army

Since the new "ownership" group took over the Timbers, there's been a very uneasy relationship between the management and the Timbers Army. At times, the management will publicly denounce the Army's language and antics, while using the Army to get press for the team. This uneasy relationship seems to be escalating, in large part due to a weak understanding by the organization as to how important football supporters clubs are to the sport and team. I cannot wait to see a true ownership group takeover the Timbers, and I dream of a general manager like Peter Wilt, who understands that there must be a cooperative relationship between the organization and its most loyal and passionate fans.

This message was taken from the Timbers weblog on the Oregonian.


A Letter from the Timbers Army
Posted by bkellett April 10, 2007 10:19AM
Categories: Supporters News
I'm off to media day at PGE Park in a bit and will be interested to see whether the letter below illicits any questions from the media folks. I will report back later on today and hope to have lots of interviews, etc if I can find the time to type them up or figure out how to post audio.


The following letter was sent earlier this morning via email to the Oregonian (Steve Duin, Boaz Herzog, Mark Hester, Jonathan Nicholas, John Canzano), the Portland Tribune (Steve Brandon, Kerry Eggers), and Willamette Week (Hank Stern), and was then subsequently forwarded to the Timbers office (Brad Nicholson, Ripper Hatch, Marc Kostic)...


Dear local media,


Do the Portland Timbers want to silence their most rabid, loyal, and fastest growing fans? A group that started in 2001 with about 10 people, and now numbers about 1,000 strong, grown exclusively through their own actions, time, and money, is increasingly being alienated by the very team and organization they so strongly support.


This morning is Portland Timbers open media day at PGE Park from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, and as a supporter of the team, I'd like to bring to your attention a recent general development trend, as well as a specific event of the past 24 hours.


Timber Jim is the most recognizable icon of the organization, not only an employee, but a true fan, and a friend to many in the Timbers Army. The Timbers Army, in return, has a long standing personal relationship with Jim as both ambassador of the team, but also a diehard fan just like us. The relationship is not confined to game days within the borders of PGE Park. Jim appears at Timbers Army gatherings, and the Timbers Army has donated long, deep, and selflessly to help Jim through extremely difficult personal struggles in recent years.


The relationship certainly extends beyond mutual support of a soccer team. Part of that relationship manifests itself on the very active Timbers Army message board ( www.talktimbers.com ). Jim participates on the board, and is one of the few connections many fans have to the inside of the organization, a valuable link between organization and fanbase.


Yesterday afternoon, however, the organization instructed Jim that he is no longer allowed to post on the board. The Timbers organization is under new management this season, and it has increasingly become clear over recent months that the Timbers Army are seen as a group that needs to be contained, curtailed, silenced, and dealt with. Restrictions on language and flag poles are in place for the coming season, which opens April 21. Many fans are growing increasingly apprehensive about the management tactics and lack of communication, and the decision to force Timber Jim's silence with the fanbase is likely the tipping point for some. Fans are now actively discussing an economic boycott of the team, either through the discontinued purchase of concessions on game days, or by not purchasing game tickets at all and simply watching our team from the fence on SW 18th Street.


It appears that within a couple hours of their decision, the front office may have told Jim he could continue to post on the message board, likely due to immediate and widespread negative reaction their decision caused, but that doesn't change the fact that the organization's initial thought was to treat their own fans like outcasts and sever Jim's ability to interact with us.


And maybe that's the ultimate end game of the new management -- the end of the Timbers Army and the disappearance of 1,000 diehard fans from the north end of PGE Park on every game day. But we don't know because the organization would rather put restrictions on us and curtail our behavior instead of communicate with us, even through the face of the organization, Timber Jim, on a fan message board.


Besides helping Jim in our own little way through his tragic family events a couple years ago, the Timbers Army has raised thousands of dollars for various charities, volunteered together for Habitat for Humanity, raised money to help other Timbers Army friends through medical struggles, and immediately raised money recently to give to a Vancouver, Washington couple who had been scammed out of thousands of dollars by an ex-Timbers player. The Timbers Army, as a group, are active and supportive members of the community, not just a group of people who sing, swear, and wave flags for 90 minutes every week during the summer. Additionally, the Timbers Army has appeared on the front page of the Willamette Week, the cover of the Oregonian's living section, and a two-page color spread in a prize-winning edition of the Oregonian's A&E section. Three years ago, former General Manager Jim Taylor was asked to speak at the league's annual meeting specifically on the topic of the Timbers Army, how it works and has grown, and how to start similar support for other clubs in other parts of the country.


And finally, under three consecutive management regimes, the organization has used the Timbers Army in their marketing and promotional efforts (via photos on their website and t-shirts promoting the Timbers Army sold in the team store), so they must feel this fan group has some value to them, yet at the very same time they then turn around and clamp down on the group. It's hard to tell what the organization wants: if they want a vibrant, passionate fanbase, then the increasing efforts to silence that group make little sense; if they want the Timbers Army to go away, then it's hard to justify the continued use of the Timbers Army name and image from within the organization to promote the team.


The organization has shown they can't generate a fraction of the public goodwill and publicity the Timbers Army has created within the community, yet they continue with their efforts to halt our growth, and now even our communication with Timber Jim.


- Why is the fanbase that everyone in Portland and beyond associates with the team being made into pariahs?


- Why is the man who most people in Portland and beyond identify as the symbol of the team not being allowed to interact with the very same people who have worked long and selflessly with him, not just as a team representative, but as a personal friend?


- How is the loudest, most visible, most passionate, and most envied section of the fanbase a detriment to the club's operations and public image?


- Is management's ultimate goal the elimination of the group, which consists of approximately 20% of game-day attendance?


- If the team hadn't immediately back-peddled on their ill-conceived effort to quiet Timber Jim, what would have happened to Jim if he said "no" and continued to communicate with the team's fanbase?


Again, the open media day event is today at PGE Park from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. We hope you will have the time and interest to pursue this event and story.


Thank you for your time and consideration.


Trask Russill

A supporter of Portland Timbers Football Club and the Timbers Army

Breaking News: Columbus using their Designated Player Spot

MLS Underground is reporting that Columbus will use their designated player spot on signing Boca Junior legendary midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The deal is expected to be for two years with Columbus paying Schelotto between $1-2 million a season. For those unfamiliar with Schelotto, he is a legend of Argentine soccer. He has won more championships than any other player in that country. Considering the success and quality of Argentina and its league, that is saying something. Great stuff for Columbus fans if it's true.

Breaking News: Columbus using their Designated Player Spot

MLS Underground is reporting that Columbus will use their designated player spot on signing Boca Junior legendary midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The deal is expected to be for two years with Columbus paying Schelotto between $1-2 million a season. For those unfamiliar with Schelotto, he is a legend of Argentine soccer. He has won more championships than any other player in that country. Considering the success and quality of Argentina and its league, that is saying something. Great stuff for Columbus fans if it's true.

Monday, April 9, 2007

Power Rankings

This Week's Power Rankings

1) Houston Dynamo
Biggest strength: Still the best "team" in MLS. They use their flanks, have a creative force in De Resario, and a solid- if reckless- backline.
Kelly Gray performed admirably in place of Ricardo Clark. Simply hard to beat.
Big question: who scores the goals once Brian Ching gets called up by the National team, or worse, gets hurt.


2) Chivas USA
Biggest strength: A dynamic midfield. Guevara, Mendoza, Marsch, Klejstan. Any team in the country would take that lineup.
Biggest question: It will be interesting to see them up against a team who will pressure their backline.


3) LA Galaxy
Biggest strength: Donovan. Every team's has to constantly track him. His glaring weakness: not finishing his chances.
Biggest question: Who steps up besides Landon? Lots of candidates- Findley, Jaqua, Quaranta?


4) Colorado Rapids
Biggest strength: the Big Johnson. Huge field, high altitude, and loyal (perhaps quiet?) fans.
Biggest question: Is either keeper up to the task?


5) DC United
Biggest strength: attacking trio of Moreno, Gomez, and Emilio.
Biggest question: their flanks. Olsen is not a solution. They have to at least miss Adu's creativity on the left flank to maintain possession with Gomez, Moreno, etc.


6) FC Dallas
Biggest strength: best forward tandem in the league in Cooper-Ruiz.
Biggest question: a shaky backline without much experience.


7) Chicago Fire
Biggest strength: Justin Mapp, enough said.
Biggest question: Forward depth. Who will finish Mapp's brilliance?


8) New England
Biggest strength: Solid core of players through the middle of the park: Reis, Parkhurst, Joseph, Dorman, Twellman.
Biggest question: Joseph's contract uncertainty, and Noonan's health. He's hurt every year, but for how long?


9) Real Salt Lake
Biggest strength: Jeff Cunningham. He just scores goals. 92 of them to be exact.
Biggest question: Nick Rimando's decision-making. Goalies get better with age and experience, but for a keeper who relies on his leaping ability, he needs to rapidly develop his mental game.


10) RB New York
Biggest strength: Reyna. They're a different team when he's on, as evidenced by his first half against the Crew. He knows how to pace the game, be in the right spots defensively, and get his teammates involved.
Biggest question: Reyna. The second half he wasn't nearly as effective after picking up a wicked knock on his thigh. The Bruce's put a lot of faith in Captain America.


11) Columbus
Biggest strength: Midfield depth. A young, talented midfield with a couple of players who look eager for a breakout year: Gaven and Grabavoy, in particular.
Biggest question: Who scores the goals.


12) Kansas City
Biggest strength: Their backline. Burciaga, Garcia, and Conrad have to be the envy of the league. They are smart and cohesive, without Houston's red card habit.
Biggest question: More than Eddie Johnson, K.C. needs a link through the midfield.


13) Toronto FC
Biggest strength: BMO field. Let's see if the Red Patch Boys, U-Sector, etc. can make it the toughest, and perhaps only, fortress in Canada.
Biggest question: the lack of creativity in the midfield, without the serves of Mr. O'Brien.

Sunday, April 8, 2007

Week One MLS Games

Colorado 2 - D.C. 1: Colorado's stadium looks amazing, though not as intimate as Toyota Park. I love the roof and the fans who came out in 30 degree weather. Their Rapids did not disappoint. Their possession, especially in the first half, was spot on. I think I counted over 15 or 20 passes in a row at one point, which is pretty amazing considering D.C.'s 5-man midfield. Luciano Emilio looks class, and Brown looked impressive, too.

Chicago 1- New England 0: Chicago pulled out a win, thanks in large part to a stellar peformance from their new franchise goalkeeper Matt Pickens. He pulled out an unbelievable save to push away a well-placed shot from Andy Dorman. The Fire didn't look too dangerous for large parts of the match. They seem to be missing a link between the midfield and the forwards. The Revs' rookies emerged with considerable merit, especially Cristman. Once Noonan, Joseph, and Parkhurst get health, New England will be just fine.

FC Dallas 2- Real 2: There were a couple of lucky goals from both sides in this one. Each team still looks they are trying to find the right lineup tweaks. Dallas looked instantly better when McCarty came on. For Real, Adu and Ballouchy will cause teams headaches all season long with their creativity. Real might feel hard done by from the scoreline, but to be fair, they should have done more with their early possession.

Chivas 2- Toronto 0: Chivas looked confident in possession, and their midfield will cause teams problems with Guevara pulling the strings. Toronto couldn't manage much of anything in the second half. Buddle fazed in and out, looking generally listless in the last 20 minutes. Conor Casey gave the team a spark with his ability to pressure the backline and maintain possession, but the midfield lacks a creative spark. A rough first game for the team from north of the border, but they should improve over the course of the season as the team gels. Chivas found a forward in Galindo who will cause Center Backs problems all season long.

Columbus 0- New York 0: In tough conditions, the bright spots in this game came in the midfield engines from both squads. Claudio Reyna is total class, pacing the game with steady passing and knowing where to be on the field. Nobody can doubt that Guevara wouldn't have run back to block that cross at the end of the game, when Reyna had run 40 yards to cover the near post. Grabavoy has surely staked out his place in the crowded Columbus midfield, as his creativity and daring were what drove Columbus forward. He looks much improved and more confident than at any point in the last couple seasons.

Houston 0- L.A. 0: Couldn't watch this one, but the scoreline can't be satisfying for either team. L.A. probably thought they could steal one from a tired Houston side, but there's no underestimating Dom Kinnear's team, no matter the circumstances.

Biggest Highlight of the Weekend: The opening of Colorado's stadium. Anything is better than watching the Rapids in cavernous Invesco Field. But the fans finally have the cathedral they deserve.

Biggest Moan of the Weekend: The Refereeing, with possibly the exception of the Chicago-New England game. I thought that the referees in all the games let too many cheapshots go. If this continues, it will result in several injuries throughout the course of the season. More importantly, it makes MLS look like a 2nd-tier league where common thuggery and cheapshots run rampant and the players aren't protected. Although the referee in Colorado-D.C. issued some early yellow cards, that wasn't the solution. He needs to learn how to calm the players down and not give out early cards because his only recourse after that will be to eject the player.

Most Humorous Moment: As someone else pointed out, when the players walked out in line with the kids at the beginning of the match (which I love, thank you MLS), the players were wrapped up in their warm jackets while those tiny, freezing kids looked like the tough-guys.

Until next week...

MLS coming to Portland

http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1175225143168950.xml&coll=7

A group of investors, led by Ben Stutz of JB Equities of Portland, are trying to bring MLS to Portland. It seems like a solid ownership group. I'm not sure whether the stadium issue will be a problem because PGE Park, despite its ideal downtown location, needs a grass field (instead of the turf carpet it currently uses), and other minor tweaks. The $30 Milllion price tag for an ownership stake in MLS seems prohibitively expensive, with the league also asking the new ownership to build a brand-new soccer specific stadium.

If Mr. Stutz, and others, can bring MLS to Portland, they will have a tremendously passionate and knowledgable fan base to build the club on. Also, there isn't much competition in the city, despite the relative merits of the Trail Blazers and the always-awesome Roller Derby.

Welcome

Welcome to the PortlandTimbersMLS blog, dedicated to MLS and America's greatest football club, the Portland Timbers.