Portland Timbers: a View from the North End

LA Galaxy 3 Portland Timbers 0

2011-04-27T16:54:00.000-07:00

LA Galaxy 3 Portland Timbers 0

I'll leave a breakdown of the LA match to the experts at Slide Rule Pass. I recommend reading the article as it discusses the changes between the 1st and 2nd halves, both in personnel and formation. I'd emphasize that the changes we made were within LA's discretion- that is, we didn't force LA to change their tactics or personnel in response to our changes. And the few questions we asked all came while already down 3-0.

http://sliderulepass.xanderkale.com/?p=522

As reflected in Slide Rule Pass's breakdown, our back 4 frequently gets stretched out of position. I'm often anxious as I watch Wallace stray upfield or fail to cover the triangle with the other centre backs, when space opens up behind Wallace & between Wallace and the CBs.

RSL on Saturday. Onward, Rose City!

Escape from L.A.

2011-04-27T16:19:00.001-07:00

I'll leave a breakdown of the LA match to the experts at Slide Rule Pass. I recommend reading the article as it discusses the changes between the 1st and 2nd halves, both in personnel and formation. I'd emphasize that the changes we made were within LA's discretion- that is, we didn't force LA to change their tactics or personnel in response to our changes. And the few questions we asked all came while down 3-0.

http://sliderulepass.xanderkale.com/?p=522

As reflected in Slide Rule Pass's breakdown, our back 4 often get stretched out of position. I'm often anxious as I watch Wallace stray upfield or fail to cover the triangle with the other centre backs, when space opens up behind Wallace & between Wallace and the CBs.

RSL on Saturday. Onward, Rose City!

Opening Home Weekend: Sights & Sounds

2011-04-18T00:08:00.001-07:00

Just a couple of pictures and video from the Chicago and Dallas games.

What an amazing weekend for the whole City.

A Belated Sal-entine's Day Present

2011-02-17T12:51:00.000-08:00

Timbers trade for Sal Zizzo from Chivas USA. The kid went crazy at the U-20 World Cup in Canada a few years back, then spent a few years in the Hannover 96 Reserves in Germany, making a few first team appearance.

I'm very excited about this trade. Pore on the left and Zizzo on the right- we'll be a dangerous team with speed and dribbling skills down the wings.

Watch his 2 assists against Brazil starting at the 1:25 mark, through 3:00.

Season Tickets Running Out!!!

2011-02-03T12:38:00.000-08:00

I just got off the phone with a Timbers ticket rep. After ordering my season ticket (TA Sectuon), I asked the rep how many season tickets remained.

"Maybe a few hundred."

WOW - Wait to go, Oregon! That's almost 12,000 tickets sold before the first ball is even kicked.

MLS & EPL

2011-01-24T14:47:00.000-08:00

An English Premier League Guide to MLS

I’m one of the few people who enjoy MLS having a summer schedule, largely due to the English Premier League (“EPL”) dominating my Fall to Spring soccer consumption. This way, I’m never without some footy to occupy my weekends.

This year, the Portland Timbers leave the NASL Division 2 and are being “promoted” to MLS, i.e. the EPL. For those of you who follow the Premier League closely and are recently becoming acquainted with the American version, this may be a fun guide to choosing a team to follow.

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed making it!

Portland Timbers . . . Sunderland AFC

The Pacific Northwest is a unique and faraway region of the country, much like the North of England. It’s even close to a northern neighbor- Scotland, which is England’s Canada but drunker.
Sunderland is the neglected smaller neighbor to metropolitan Newcastle; much like Portland to Seattle.
The Tyne/Wear derby is possibly the most passionate in the EPL; the Northwest Derby IS the most volatile and passionate Derby in American soccer.
Personally, I have an affinity for both Sunderland and Newcastle. When Sunderland visited Portland for a friendly a few years ago, I attended the match and enjoyed myself thoroughly with some Mackems (people of Sunderland). Our supporters clubs share a tremendous friendship. The game was outrageously fun. And I’ve since attended a Sunderland match at the Stadium of Light, where I encountered some truly amazing people who recognized my Timbers gear and took kindly to the fact I was wearing a Timbers scarf to the very, very cold game. And the game was fantastic! It was the “beach ball” game where Sunderland beat Liverpool on a shot infamously deflected into the net off a beach ball thrown onto the pitch by the crowd. On a side note, I also attended a Newcastle match on my trip to England and I found the Newcastle supporters to be similarly friendly and the stadium, like the Stadium of Light, was first-class. Perhaps the Sunderland/Newcastle rivalry is so fierce it is unpopular to have affection for both clubs. It reminds me of how much I hate and relish beating Seattle, but being from a similar part of the country - it ain’t nothin’ but a family thing.

Seattle Sounders . . . Newcastle United

The richer, more cosmopolitan city.
Two clubs and sets of supporters with rich history and an even larger sense of entitlement.
I can’t write any more about Seattle . . . UGH.

Vancouver Whitecaps . . . Manchester United

Both share a tremendous youth academy, fine stadium, and a long tradition of trophies.
I don’t like Vancouver. But I respect them, and even envy them. They have an amazing youth academy with a residency, and partnerships with international clubs to allow their youth products to train, play, and sign overseas in Europe.
Vancouver & ManU both have strong commercial front offices.
Both are major port cities with lots of crime (too general?).
I believe Vancouver will be a winner in MLS quickly, but I will relish the big games when 1,000 ‘Caps fans come to Portland.

San Jose Earthquakes . . . Bolton Wanderers

The two teams nobody cares to watch when they’re on TV.
Both feature young American midfielders: Stuart Holden & Steve Cronin.
Both struggle to fill their stadiums to capacity and have financial concerns.
You wouldn’t notice if either weren’t in the league anymore.

L.A. Galaxy . . . Chelsea FC

The two teams who, until recently, bought their success using superstar Hollywood signings with big contracts and even larger personalities. Beckham & Donovan vs. Lampard & Terry & Drogba & everyone else.
The two teams coincidentally share a formal commercial partnership.
Nobody in America likes the Galaxy and nobody in England like Chelsea.
Great stadiums (Stamford Bridge: been there and, though on the quiet side, was a nice stadium).
I can’t STAND obnoxious Galaxy fans, and I can’t say I’ve ever met too many Chelsea fans I get along with either. (Side note: I supported QPR growing up, so it’s only natural for me to dislike Chelsea)
Both consistently compete for domestic and international trophies.

Chivas USA . . . West Ham United

The ugly, poor siblings to rich brothers (Chivas & Galaxy; West Ham & Chelsea).
They share successful and productive youth academies. Chivas is prolific in producing players from their Academy for the 1st team, and West Ham consistently promotes youth teamers to the 1st team. Some names you might recognize: Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Jermaine Defoe, Rio Ferdinand, Mark Noble, and MORE.
Both need a new stadium.
Both traditionally play a very attractive style of football with quick passing, which their vocal supporters demand.

Houston Dynamo . . . Everton FC

A Scot for a coach, and a stable reign of power. Solid defensively and mentally tough, stable squads.
Both are seeking or building a new stadium.
History of winning, though recently without a trophy.
Each has a fierce local rival: Liverpool/Dallas
Good youth academies that produce players for the first team. Houston has signed 3 players in the past 2 years, and Everton’s produced Jack Rodwell, Dan Gosling, James Vaughn recently- along with a player you may have heard of - Wayne Rooney!

Colorado Rapids . . . Blackburn Rovers

Each team has won a single major trophy in the past couple of decades.
Each has a long-time hero at the center of midfield: Pablo Mastroeni & David Dunn.
Both teams struggle to fill their stadium, which is located in the middle of nowhere.
Neither team is fun to watch; they play a lot of “route 1” long ball and bring bags of rough play to every game.
Incidentally, I like both their jerseys.

Sporting KC (Kansas City) . . . West Bromwich Albion

Teams that are fun to watch and attacking sides, but rarely spend time at the top of the table.
When Sporting moves into their stadium, it will be an intimate atmosphere, much like Albion’s homey venue.
You wouldn’t notice if they were gone, but you enjoy watching them when they’re on TV.

New England Revolution . . . Wolverhampton

Cheap clubs when it comes to finances, with a long-ago history of winning any trophy.
Yet, you can’t help but cheer for MLS originals, the Revs, or Wolves when they’re playing bigger teams.

Philadelphia Union . . . Birmingham FC

Both share tough-minded, defensive coaches who enjoyed long and successful playing careers: Nowak with Poland & Chicago Fire; McLeish with Scotland and Aberdeen, under Sir Alex Ferguson - just Fergie, then.
Both can be considered the lesser lights of their areas. Philadelphia will always be in New York’s shadow, as has Birmingham in relation to Aston Villa FC.
Both are great, mid-sized stadiums with tremendous atmosphere.

Columbus Crew . . . Fulham FC

Two clubs who shared an icon: Brian McBride. The pub in Fulham is the “McBride Pub” and McBride is an MLS original and icon of Columbus Crew.
Two unique stadiums with tremendous history and individual character. Craven Cottage has an actual cottage! overlooking the stadium, with a tree-lined walk to the venue. Crew Stadium was the 1st soccer-specific stadium in the U.S. (though Charleston Battery fans will disagree). It’s a significant part of making soccer a stable and permanent part of the American sporting landscape, and is a “must” for American soccer fans.
You can’t help but cheer for their teams, which always seem to be trying to punch above their weight. And each has (until recently, had) a player who could take your breath away with a moment of imagination and inspiration which reminds you why football captures a lifetime of special moments: Clint Dempsey (the chip to beat Juventus!) and Guillerme Barros Schelleto (delivered Columbus’ first MLS Cup trophy and is a legend among the supporters who never failed to bow to him in a “Wayne’s World” homage when he ambled over to take a corner kick).

Chicago Fire . . . Aston Villa FC

Rich tradition of winning trophies, but haven’t done so lately.
Great state-of-the-art stadiums, with knowledgable fans. (Gotta love the Section 8 Supporters, who have a great relationship with the Timbers Army) I’ve been to several Fire games over the years and have always enjoyed my time with the fans and a team that plays with passion and commitment to the jersey.
Both have impressive youth academies. 5!!! Villa players have emerged from the Academy this season, while the Fire has its own residency and a youth team that consistently competes for national championships.

D.C. United . . . Liverpool FC

Iconic stadiums (RFK & Anfield) in disrepair: check. Looking for an alternative but can’t find sufficient financing/land: check.
Rich history of domestic and international trophies: check.
Teams in utter freefall: check.
Also, consider Jaime Moreno and Ben Olsen to be what Gerrard & Carragher will look like in 4 years. See what happened to DC without Olsen & Moreno...?
Two of the most vocal, passionate, and loyal supporters groups in each country. Iconic players are to DC (Etcheverry, Moreno, Olsen) what managers are to Liverpool (Shankly, Paisley, Dalglish).

Toronto FC . . . Stoke City FC

Packed, cold, and windy stadiums.
Red kits/uniforms.
Poor style of play; lots of “route 1” direct football.
Did I mention cold and windy stadiums with loud, intimidating fans?

FC Dallas . . . Arsenal FC

Coaches with a total belief in their philosophy. OK, let’s just say it: they’re both arrogant as hell and believe they’re always right!
A certain unshakeable style of play.
Both clubs believe in promoting youth players to the first team. 5!!! FC Dallas players have been promoted to the first team in the past two seasons - most in MLS.
Both have a state-of-the-art stadium, with “fudged” attendance numbers judging from the stands on TV.
Neither club has won anything in 5 years.

Real Salt Lake . . . Tottenham Hotspur FC

They play attractive, passing and attacking football.
Iconic players: Van der Vaart & Bale vs. Beckerman & Johnson
Fantastic, packed stadiums.
Loud, loyal, and knowledgable supporters.
Recent success for both clubs in the league and cup competitions. Both clubs are enjoying international success this year in the Champions League (CONCACAF & EUFA).

New York Red Bulls . . . Manchester City

They buy success and pay bigger salaries than everyone.
Poor history of winning until recent financial investment.
Ugly jerseys.
It’s impossible to like either club, and yet you can’t help but respect their two talismanic forwards: Carlos Tevez (ManCity) and Thierry Henry (RB NY). Henry is one of the most thoughtful people in the game and remains a class act to enjoy watching on the pitch.

So, Who Ya Got? Does your EPL team match up with your MLS team? Suggestions for what you’d change?

Let’s hear it!

MLS Draft Preview

2011-01-12T23:28:00.000-08:00

Draft day is FINALLY upon us!!!

The Timbers have the 2nd pick in the 1st round. There are several quality players available, particularly:
1) Darlington Nagbe
2) Perry Kitchen
3) Zarek Valentin
4) Kofi Sarkodie
5) Will Bruin
6) Corey Hertzog
7) Omar Salgado

The Timbers have filled out a healthy portion of our roster already. Based upon the statements of Gavin & Spencer, as well as their Expansion draft wheeling-and-dealing, the overall strategy seems to be cheap American defenders with speed on the flanks, a mix of veterans and young prospects in midfield, a couple of unproven young forwards to be supplemented with International-quality players acquired through signings or the allocation process. C'mon, Kenny (Franken) Cooper!!!

How do I see the draft playing out? I can see the Timbers picking a young quality American defender with their #2 pick. A defender will be able to contribute immediately and it fits with Gavin & Spencer's cheap American at the back / international attackers strategy. I also predict the Timbers will use their other picks on risky gambits- it would fit with their track record so far (McCarty trade; Findley; Bornstein).

So, without further ado, the Timbers #2 pick will be:

PERRY KITCHEN, Akron Def/Mid

(Alternatively, we take Zarek Valentin or trade down and pick up a cheap defensive prospect like AJ Soares or Adibaba- hey, I get a second guess, right? Nobody's perfect!)

Timbers Player of the Year

2010-10-21T13:51:00.000-07:00

The guy is quality- he can score with his head, left and right foot. It's amazing to watch his growth over the past two seasons. In the future, I'd want Timbers youth prospects to spend a season or two in NASL or USL-PRO Division II or III soccer to gain the experience and confidence necessary to succeed in MLS. Nimo is another player to make progress over the course of this season. But let's take a few minutes to appreciate our Timbers Player of the Year- Ryan Pore.

Pore some sugar on me!
in the Timbers Green!

Community Club Makes a Wish Come True

2010-05-04T19:15:00.000-07:00

Some view soccer clubs as businesses to turn a profit. I believe that clubs are part of the community, a source of pride in your city, and an avenue to make dreams possible to achieve.

Let's all give the Seattle Sounders credit for setting an example for how to be a part of their community by helping a sick young boy's dream come true. It's a story about how the whole city of Seattle came together to make a dream come true for a little boy who is sick with liver cancer. I'm proud of our Pacific Northwest neighbors for demonstrating the sense of community that makes me proud to live in this area.

Good luck to the little lad. His wish was to be a superhero. His courage is truly (super)heroic.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011740342_electronboy30m.html

Cut of the Day

2010-05-01T16:46:00.001-07:00

I'll get to my early-season observations of the Timbers in a later post. But, for now, here's an incredibly creative video from OK Go, and a pretty good jam to get you through a tough day.

Season Tickets are in!!!

2010-04-08T00:42:00.001-07:00

Season Tickets are in. I'm so, so ready for Opening Night kickoff!!!

Package includes:
-Season tickets
-All Day bus passes for game days
-Discount card for food & drinks
-1 voucher for a friend

Best part is the all-day bus passes. That save some serious cash over the course of a season. Of course, the food & beverage discount is great- so long as it covers beer ($8? Really?!?).

Portland Timbers, Here we go!
Portland Timbers, Here-We-Go!

Cut for the Weekend

2010-03-27T15:48:00.000-07:00

Heading out to watch the Boys play an exhibition at University of Portland.

7pm- see you there.

I know I'll be listening to this song on the way out there.

2 of my favorite artists: The Black Keys & Mos Def

Enjoy

Top 5 EPL Transfers of 2009-2010

2010-03-25T17:54:00.001-07:00

1) Thomas Vermaillen- Arsenal FC, 10 million pounds
What a steal at 10M. He's solidified the Arsenal defense, providing a strong basis for an extended title challenge. In addition to transferring the captaincy to Fabregas, Vermaillen's presence settled Gallas and the two have formed an impressive partnership. Not to mention the 10M signing has popped up for a few clutch goals on set-pieces, normally a weak point in Arsenal's side the past few seasons.

2) Carlos Tevez- Manchester City, 25 million pounds
He gives a defined personality to a disparate squad. With so many newcomers, it is difficult to give Man City's squad a personality. Tevez's competitiveness, will to win, and backing of his teammates (see, his confrontation with John Terry in defense of Wayne Bridge), gives City and identity. This may not save a top 4 finish this season, but will help shape this squad into a possible contender next season. (Not to mention a goal return of 16, so far).

3) Niko Kranjear- Tottenham Hotspur, 5 million pounds
A steal. Clutch goals (see the game-winner against Stoke this past weekend). And in the Fall, when Modric went down injured and Defoe had that lengthy suspension, Kranjear (spelling?) helped carry this team by providing verve and creativity in the midfield. The Tottenham midfield will be stacked next year with Sandro coming from Internacional and Jamie O'Hara returning from his Portsmouth loan.

4) Darren Bent- Sunderland AFC, 14 million pounds
Helped keep Sunderland from the relegation zone. Bags of goals & a constant threat on the field. He provides Sunderland a reliable goalscorer and speed to cause every defense problems. Seems to have adapted well to the Northeast of England. Sunderland lack a reliable partner for Mr. Bent. I'm convinced that Kenwyne Jones simply isn't the answer as Bent's partner. Bent provides Sunderland confidence that a mid-table finish is always possible because he will contribute between 15-25 goals per season. Bent also seems to be thriving, given the reliable confidence Steve Bruce places in the lad.

5) Landon Donovan- Everton FC, Loan
Over the course of 2 months, Donovan won over the Everton faithful. He provided a reliable spark that helped push Everton from below mid-table to challenging for a Europa League spot. Donovan's personality blended perfectly with a squad that is built on a team-first mentality, which requires commitment & pace. Donovan grew in stature over the course of the loan. And his powerful goal in his Everton home finale was the icing on the cake. You could see Donovan's impact on the team in scoring a goal and setting up another, but also the devotion he inspired in some of England's most demanding fans. An unqualified success.

Cut of the Day

2010-03-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

Death Cab for Cutie. "Talking Bird" - Live.

Easy to drift off to this one, from one of the Pacific Northwest's finest.

Cut of the Day

2010-02-26T19:02:00.000-08:00

Elbow: Grounds for Divorce

Great car song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzGIjOJoLUg

Even more new Timbers

2010-02-26T18:06:00.000-08:00

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3968716

Timbers add 3 new players. I like 1, but the jury's out on the other 2.

GK: Matt Pyzdrowski, a recent graduate of Marquette U.

Mid: Derek Gaudet, a Canadian U-23 and recent National Team camp callup.

Fwd: Doug DeMartin, 2008 KC Wizards draftee

I think Gaudet is a very promising signing. He's still developing and his international experience is a big plus. The jury's out on the other 2.

*3rd GK? Adding Pyzdrowski means the Timbers have 3 'keepers: Cronin, Adin Brown, and Pyzdrowski. Why 3 GK? That's a lot of payroll for a position that requires 2 people, at best- when you can find a loanee from an MLS team, in a pinch.

Does this mean Visser is out of the picture? Are the Timbers covering all their bases, in case an MLS team comes in for Cronin (who had a nice loan spell with DC United at the end of last season) or Brown doesn't come back to full fitness?

My prediction: I don't think that all 3 keepers will be on the roster by the end of the season. Either Brown won't come back to full fitness from his injury or Cronin will move on to greener pastures. I hope Cronin stays because he really grew on me last season, beginning with his passion on display during the Northwest Derby.

More Roster Additions

2010-02-25T20:01:00.000-08:00

The Timbers added 2 more to the 2010 Roster:

GK: Adin Brown
Def: Scot Thompson

*Adin Brown: Last I saw him, with the 'Nats, he seemed big, but slow. He's also coming off a knee injury. I'm skeptical of this addition to the roster and would still like to see Brian Visser offered a spot on the roster to continue his development.

*Scot Thompson: excellent. Still a good defender & team leader. S-C-O-T, Scot with 1 "T"!

**I saw Daniel Woolard was released by the Chicago Fire. He's a left-sided defender with speed and foot skills. He started the Fire's 2 playoff games last year and looked good doing it. I think he'd be tremendous competition for Ian Joy, and a possible addition for the 2011 MLS roster.

Pick Him Up, Gav!

Still in need of at least 1 additional forward. Waiting to see who gets unexpectedly dropped from MLS rosters.

C'mon 2010!

How the Roster Shakes Out: Part 1

2010-02-19T03:39:00.001-08:00

It's almost the beginning of March and the Timbers have most of their roster figured out.

Let's take a look at what the team currently possesses, and needs, as the preseason progresses.

-Part 2 will look at some intriguing loan and/or free agent signings whom I believe the Timbers front office should take a look at signing.

Here's the roster from the Team website:

Forwards
Josten, George
Keita, Mandjou
Suzuki, Takayuki

Midfielders
Cameron, Josh
Claesson, Johan
Farber, Brian
Lopez, Rodrigo
Marcelin, James
McManus, Tony
Pore, Ryan
Savage, Keith

Defenders
Danso, Mamadou
Joy, Ian
Keel, Stephen
Kirk, Quavas
Smth, Ross

Goalkeepers
Cronin, Steve

*Cameron Knowles is inactive, but I expect him to be on the roster.
*Keita remains a question mark because I thought he was on loan to an Indian league team?
*Where's Visser- the backup goalkeepr signed from the U-23 team from last year?

What's Missing
-Forwards: This team is clearly in need of 2 additional Forwards. Suzuki is no longer a dangerous forward at his age. I thought he was an incredibly crafty outside winger last year, either to start for 60 minutes, or to come off the bench at the same 60-70 minute mark.

-Midfielders: We are set. 8 (possibly 9) midfielders. And, importantly, Farber & Pore are coming back. Would like to see Nimo on loan again, but not sure if Real Salt Lake has him in their plans, especially after they picked a 2nd crafty Timbers U-23 winger in the recent MLS Draft.

-Defenders: We need an additional defender. Ian Joy is a solid pro and probably our starting left-back. But even assuming Knowles and S.C.O.T. Thompson (if re-signed?) make the Roster, that's only 7 defenders- and I'd feel more comfortable with a backup at each position.

*To solve the extra defender problem: I propose PTFC sign former Timber, Mike Randolph.
The kid has serious game- he played well for PTFC and the Galaxy, even earning a National Team Camp call-up. He'd probably adjust well being back with his former club. He's playing PDL right now in L.A., so he's a free agent. He's also a left-footer with speed to kill, who can also provide cover at left midfield. Is he on Gavin's radar? Who knows, but he should be.

-Goalkeeper: I'd like to see Visser officially on the Roster. Cronin's our guy right now. If something happens to one of my favorite Timbers of '09, then we can loan somebody from MLS in a pinch. But why waste salary space if it's not essential. One backup is plenty.

There you have it. Plenty of midfielders with pace and bite, solid goalkeeping, a sturdy base of defenders (KEEL!), but lacking much firepower up front.

I'm interested to see what Gavin chooses as the last pieces of his Roster puzzle.

You guys like the current roster? Ideas for people Gavin should give a look? Happy to see so many carryovers from last years Division-winning squad?

March 11 waits...

Timbers full of Joy, and others?

2010-02-18T15:35:00.000-08:00

PTFC signed Ian Joy today, a fiesty veteran defender who spent time with Real Salt Lake and St. Pauli FC of Germany (what a club!).

I think it's a solid addition to the roster, especially with the absence of David Hayes.

In other news, the Timbers beat U of Portland 2-0 in an exhibition last night. The 2 goals were scored by a trialist whose name escapes me. The new Haitian midfielder made his first appearance for the Men-in-Green, earning an assist on 1 of the goals. Good work, young man!

*I noticed "Zaher" was listed in the starting lineup. If this is Mike Zaher, who played with San Jose and D.C. United?, then I am pleased. I remember watching him and thinking he had good technical skills, perhaps with time he could develop into a Bryan Namoff for a MLS team. He hits a pretty wicked cross, though he's still learning how to defend at the pro level. I hope there's room on the roster for the Timbers to take a flyer on this kid with potential to come with us to MLS in 2011.

Whose going to the Charity Shield match in Seattle on March 11? Ticket revenue goes to some great causes- Save the Children among them. And Portland's own Mercy Corps. So take the fan bus, regular bus, train, plane, or automobile up to our Northwest Neighbor to the North. It will help the neverending preseason go by that much faster... please?

Haiti

2010-01-22T15:02:00.000-08:00

With the earthquake and human devastation in Haiti, I've been listening to a special version of Wyclef Jean's "Diablo."

I pray for relief in that devastated country. A friend, who's a registered nurse, is going down to Haiti for a couple months to help. I also pray for her safety, and peace.

Gavin Wilkinson the new GM

2010-01-19T13:23:00.000-08:00

The Timbers announced that Gavin Wilkinson will be retained by the Timbers as the new Technical Director, which essentially includes all aspects of the playing field (and none of the business, sponsorship, etc.) He will be in charge of scouting, player contracts, the youth team, etc.

This is an excellent promotion for a dedicated servant to the club. Congratulations, Gav.

I will be especially interested to hear his thoughts on the youth model the Timbers will pursue. I'm happy the Timbers have a U-23 team, with Brian Visser the first graduate. What about Collen Warner? Did the Timbers attempt to offer him a contract? Because he just got drafted by Real Salt Lake in MLS, and soccerbyives.net is talking him up as a projected rookie standout.

But there are several different models for youth programs in MLS. Chicago has satellite teams and a Chicago Fire Academy, with plans for a residential program. Colorado, on the other hand, partnered with Colorado youth teams which will contribute members to the Rapids Academy, while being retained by their clubs. The Rapids offer coaching assistance. And I'm guessing the youth teams contribute to some ticket sales. The Red Bulls have an excellent scouting program, and one of the top youth teams in the country, while contributing several young pros, like Jozy Altidore, Dilly Duka, Matt Kassel (at Maryland), and the Red Bulls first youth signing, whose name escapes me but it sounds like Giorgios.

Gavin's personnel decisions improved dramatically last year. Ryan Pore, David Hayes, and Mo Keita were all great pickups. But the year before that? Let's not talk about that...

Good luck, Gav! You've got my support- for at least 3 years.

PGE Park Renovations + PICTURES

2010-01-05T14:01:00.000-08:00

Hey guys,

I saw the Timbers posted some pictures and plans for the renovations of PGE Park.

http://www.portlandmls2011.com/stadium/pge-park-renovation/

What I like:

-Restaurant: While I enjoy an evening in 103, my Mom couldn't handle all the standing. So, the option of taking her to a game when she visits seems all that more enticing when you can take in the atmosphere from the comfort of a stadium restaurant. Here's hoping it features local beer and food, and doesn't try to replicate some English pub (though I LOVE Charleston's Three Lions Pub in Blackbaud Stadium- I've been there 3 times, and didn't make it out for the opening whistle on any of the visits).

-Sightlines to/from 18th Ave: I always liked seeing people watch the game from behind the fence. And catching a glimpse of the MAX gives the stadium a unique Portland feel.

-Family Areas: Designated family areas in the South and East ends is good for both families & hard-core fans. It's what most European teams do, and allows both groups to enjoy the game.

-Capacity: 20,000 is a solid number. BUT see below, for my main concern.

What I Don't Like:

-FieldTurf: Despite the new generation of fieldturf, I prefer grass - and always will. Even though we will still share the stadium with PSU's football team, I'd rather play on grass slightly torn up, than field turf all year round. I hate to see the ball just keep rolling and rolling across the end line.

-Capacity: only 20,000. It's a good number that provides an intimate atmosphere and sufficient capacity for fans. My main concern is price. Right now, I can easily afford $12 tickets to every game. Large numbers of cheap tickets allow fans like me to come to the stadium and contribute to the atmosphere. I hope that the Timbers emulate teams like Shalke FC (Germany), who ensure large numbers of cheap tickets for hardcore fans are available because they contribute to the atmosphere and are a major part of the club's heart and soul.

-Concert stage: Not sure how many concerts will happen at PGE. Could this be converted to temporary seating for big events (EPL teams, Sounders/Whitecaps games, playoffs)?

What do you guys think of the renderings and innovations?

John Spencer a candidate for Timbers Coach

2009-12-18T11:52:00.000-08:00

The buzz seems to be that John Spencer, former Colorado Rapids hitman and current Houston Dynamo assistant coach, is in the running to become the Head Coach of the Portland Timbers beginning 2011.

The basis of the rumor is that Spencer turned down the opportunity to interview for the DC United coaching position because he wanted to keep his family in Houston.

I'm not sure how credible the information is, but it comes via Bernardo Fallas- a solid MLS reporter in the Houston area.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/soc/6777409.html

I personally like and respect Spencer from his days at Colorado. And he seems to be an integral part of a solid team and organization in Houston. The Dynamo are a tight, cohesive unit, whom, every time they step on the field, it seems like they expect to win. I'd like that sort of mentality to be adopted here in the Pacific Northwest. And, being Spencer's first head coaching position, I'm certain he'd relish the challenge, even if there would be rookie mistakes along the way.

Offseason Wish List

2009-10-22T16:09:00.000-07:00

1) A new Forward
Keita did the business this year, but he isn't the Real Deal- yet. Maybe I should be patient, and give the kid some time. But I want another dangerous forward that defenses are afraid of.

While watching the Northwest Derby, it was clear that Fredy Montero, and even Nate Jaqua, are a class above Keita. If we could add another forward, of Keita's quality or above, I think the Timbers will be playoff favorites next season.

2) Re-sign the Stars
In no particular order, Gavin Wilkinson needs to lock up next year's contracts for:
-Stephen Keel
-David Hayes
-Ryan Pore (who's already locked for 2010, if I'm not mistaken)
-Scot Thompson: After the first couple games, Scot re-entered the lineup, and the Timbers defense was the better for it. He's still the face of the Club.

3) Cameron Knowles, heal thyself!
-We need you for all of next year. It's clear that part of the drop-off at the end of 2009 was because the defense missed you. Be patient, and come back next year healthier and stronger.

4) Arrange solid friendlies
-Liked the Burnley friendly this year, but how about this:
-1st Division Mexican club (who bring their starters)
-European 1st team, with an American on their Roster. I'm thinking... Rennes (Carlos Bocanegra) or Hannover 96 (Steve Cherundolo- a Northwest native, no?)

-Celtic, just a personal favorite

5) Work out the USL vs. Team Owners Association fight, so that I can stop being worried about whether the 2010 season is going to happen at all!

Top 5 Moments from 2009

2009-10-22T15:50:00.001-07:00

1) Northwest Derby, U.S. Open Cup vs. Seattle
This match was absolutely electric in the stands. You could feel the energy as you walked up to PGE Park. A packed house. The Boys played their hearts out. And the crowd was riveted. Despite losing, I was enormously proud of the team for never giving up.

This was also the match that Steve Cronin won me over. I was suspicious of him from his LA Galaxy days. But in the 2nd half, you could see how much he wanted to win this game. I will never forget him giving Sanna Nyassi an earful, while the Seattle player feigned injury on the ground towards the end of the game. Cronin's a competitor, and just couldn't stand seeing a player trying to cheat his way into winning.

2) 0-0 Draw at Cleveland City early in the season
It was a 0-0 draw, but this game showed how different the 2009 version of the Timbers would be. Portland was rampaging down both sidelines all game long, searching for a victory. This was the game where I could tell that I would like this team.

3) The Streak
Is there anything more to be said about the Streak? That's a statement of what this Club is capable of achieving.

4) The Newcomers
Hayes is a cultured left back that added a significant attacking dimension to this year's team.
Pore seems like a model professional, who quietly goes out onto the field to win and run his legs off. And what speedy legs they are.
Keel: my favorite new player this season. Here's a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve. At the end of the season, after we had locked up a playoff spot and probably the division, Stephen Keel was pushing his teammates, getting into scraps, and fighting through every minute of the remaining home games. His performance against Austin made me realize he is the new Captain of this team. A definite Leader.

5) Gavin's Redemption
I was seriously questioning Gavin Wilkinson's credibility as the Manager of this club. A very solid 2007 season merely papered over the cracks in his personnel and tactics. 2008 showed him what a few unlucky bounces of the ball could do for his team in the standings. But credit to Merrit Paulson, who stuck with Coach. Wilkinson took the criticism, and went out and got the players he needed to change the style of this soccer team. After 5 games, we were an attacking, athletic, and agressive team, especially down the spine, and other teams took notice. I'm grateful for Paulson's patience. And for Wilkinson's fortitude.

You guys have any memorable moments from this year you'd like to share?

Won the Division, but Lost the Cup

2009-10-22T15:44:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the Timbers on winning the Division. YESSSSS!!! I wanted to win it. Losing in the playoffs is disappointing, but the 1st place finish and the Streak made this a Timbers season to remember. Not to mention the record-breaking attendance figures for the year.

My Awards:

MVP: Stephen Keel
Newcomer: Ryan Pore
Defender of the Year: Hayes

Gavin Wilkinson deserves tremendous credit for turning around this year's team from the 2008 version. He got most of the personnel spot-on. And put together a tough, winning team that the city can be proud of. Gav-in Wilk-in-son, (clap) (clap) (clap) (clap) (clap)

Northwest Derby

2009-07-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

In an hour and a half, I board the bus to PGE Park to see the Boys take on Disney FC from our neighbors to the North.

I have looked forward to this game for a long time. The fact that we only get to play Seattle once a season (assuming US Open Cup qualification) makes this game even more important.

It's close to a sellout attendance-wise.

I really, really want this win.

I may be a bit different than other Timbers fans. I want to beat Seattle more than any other team in North America- hell, the world. Nothing is so satisfying.

But when Seattle plays anyone in MLS, I have a Pacific Northwest pride that hopes Seattle comes out on top. It helps not being in the same division as the Flounders. But I want people in the rest of the country to know that the Pacific Northwest is the place to be for soccer. (And beer.)

So I will cheer and sing tonight from the top of my lungs, and after beating them, I'll wish them well with the MLS season.

1 hour, 20 minutes and counting...

Mid-term Grades

2009-07-01T16:31:00.000-07:00

I've been out of town until recently, and have only been able to watch games on USLLive.com (which is FREE and is essential to fans of American soccer).

So here are my Midterm grades:

Forwards: B
-Scoring some goals, and Keita is developing. But I'm not quite confident that this is a first-class strike force.

Midfield: A
-GREATLY improved over last year. Now there's pace aplently from Farber, a hometown kid in Nimo, and pace & skill from Pore.

Defense: A
-Solid as a rock. Scot with 1 T is still my favorite player. But the defense has something to contribute this year, in addition to shutouts, and it's the crossing and set-pieces of David Hayes. But Gavin, give the fella a rest once in awhile!

Goalkeeping: B+
-It's nice to finally have a permanent goalkeeper after last year's rent-a-goalie fiasco. Cronin has all the physical tools, and is developing confidence and familiarity with the backline. I just hope he stays healthy, because Visser has potential- but is not a starting USL-1 goalkeeper at this point. (A nice pickup would be Wilmington's GK who looked impressive in US Open Cup wins against Carolina and Chicago).

The Boss: A-
-Great improvement on personnel, especially speed in the midfield (which is a necessity in this division), and the team truly has a winning mentality.

It's been a great start to the season. And I'm happy being back in the Rose City. I caught my first game of the season against Montreal and it was fantastic. The team was confident; the team played like goals were inevitable. And it was nice to be back in the Army atmosphere, rather than staring at a computer screen in the dead of night.

I want the First Division Trophy!

2009 Roster Update

2009-02-23T14:39:00.000-08:00

Let's take a look at how the 2009 Timbers roster is shaping up:

(from portlandtimbers.com)

Portland Timbers Roster »

Forwards »
Jallow, Antou
Josten, George
Keita, Mandjou
McLaughlin, Jason

Midfielders »
Cameron, Josh
Claesson, Johan
Farber, Brian
Guante, Miguel
Lara, Ricardo "Kiki"
McManus, Tony
Olum, Lawrence
Poltl, Tom
Savage, Keith

Defenders »
Dunn, Cameron
Knowles, Cameron
Thompson, Scot
Vua, Dieumerci

Goalkeepers
(None?)

Okay, so there will obviously be some changes before opening day. A goalkeeper or 2 is definitely in order. Gavin Wilkinson may be waiting on MLS Rosters to be finalized before seeing what other talent is available.

The Roster has a lot of size at forward (all 6-footers), short but quick midfielders, and solid starting defenders.

Here are some players I'd be interested in seeing added to the opening day roster:

1) Jamie Watson (FW/Mid/RB): currently on trial at FC Dallas. From the 3rdDegree.net reports (Buzz Carrick's one of the best), it seems that Jamie's having a great spring, but may be cut due to a limitation on roster spots and an abundance of forwards already on the Dallas roster. Watson's fast, can play a number of different positions, and is competitive as hell. He just needs the opportunity to show his stuff for a whole season.

2) Nico Cololuca (Mid): currently on trial at Colorado Rapids. He tried out for a month with RB New York, but was unsuccessful. He's a young and talented midfielder, who may be on his way out of Colorado.

3) Josh Lambo (GK): a Generation Adidas player at Dallas. He wants a chance to get some playing time. Portland doesn't have any keepers on their roster. A more local option would be Austin- but I'm pretty sure they signed their PDL keeper to a contract. He's a young and talented GK for the US U-20s.

4) Kyle Veris (Def): Played for Los Angeles and in Norway; currently on trial with DC United. He's a big defender with decent speed. He could provide depth and competition for our backline.

Goalscoring was a huge problem last year. Has Gavin's roster changes added speed and goalscoring ability to the roster? I'm not convinced. I remember far too many scoreless ties or losses at PGE Park last year.

Still some time before opening day. Anybody you guys would like to see added to the roster? Maybe a Pacific NW product or 2?

C'mon you Timbers!

Timbers beat Puerto Rico 1-0

2008-04-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

Last night was a great night of soccer at PGE Park. There was a buzz throughout the stadium. The Army packed at least 4 full sections of supporters. The enthusiasm was palpable in the season-opener in front of more than 10,900 fans.

5 memorable points I took from this game:

1) Takayuki Suzuki. The Japanese forward is absolutely in the top class of players in the USL. He reads the game so quickly. His touch is near perfect. And he's aggressive- he really plays with urgency and clearly enjoys beating his man one-on-one. Excellent work by the front office in acquiring this classy player. "He came here from Japan. He is the fu**ing man. Suzuki, Oh-Oh! Suzuki, Oh-Oh!

2) In the first half, it seemed like Portland was playing a diamond 4-4-2, with the wide men pinched in. I haven't seen enough of the team to judge this formation's effectiveness. However, when Puerto Rico went down to 10 men, Portland didn't make the immediate adjustment and stretch the width of the pitch. In the second half, Portland was immensely more effective in this regard. There was better possession and the Timbers were looking for the wholes.

3) There remains some work to do in the final third of the field where the link-up play between the forwards and midfielders could be improved. Perhaps some better running off the ball could create more options when the ball comes wide.

4) Ray Burse is an excellent keeper. He controls his area well and communicates with the defenders. He also showed his leadership qualities during the second half: there was an injury and Ray went up to his teammates and urged them on to maintain their intensity. But, Ray needs to check his frustration. There was a moment where Ray threw the ball up the left sideline and was visibly upset with the player for not catching up or anticipating the distribution.

5) The farewell to Timber Jim was emotional and heartfelt. You could see it on the players' faces, especially during the halftime ceremony. Jim has been a tremendous servant to the club and will not be forgotten. I was standing in the Timbers Army and there was genuine affection for this man, from fans new and old. See you around the ballpark. You are our Sunshine.

Up the Timbers!

Supportive Article on Paulson and Timbers

2008-03-18T14:42:00.001-07:00

http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=120578462169321000

The Trib has a feature article on Paulson's ownership of the Timbers and Beavers, his assessment of the Portland sports scene, and the roles that these two teams play in the Portland community.

After reading this article, it seems Paulson is realistic about 2 things: 1) Portland's capacity to support a MLB or an MLS team; and 2) his grasp of the fundamentals of sports ownership- there needs to be stronger marketing and deeper community ties, especially through philanthropy.

Impressive feature article from Todd Murphy.

Can't wait for opening day.

Oka-y, another midfielder

2008-03-08T16:30:00.000-08:00

The Portland Timbers have signed midfielder Arsene Oka for the 2008 season, it was announced today. Oka, a former Ivory Coast youth international, played for the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer in 2007. Oka made 1 appearance for the full squad.

I will be interested to see if Portland claims any new players off of waivers now that MLS teams have released some players from their roster.

Any suggestions, fellas?

Preseason Friendly

2008-02-26T09:55:00.000-08:00

On March 28, the Timbers will play a friendly against San Jose Earthquakes at the University of Portland's Clive Charles Soccer stadium. It's a friendly, intimate stadium and a good chance to see the boys in preseason form.

It will also be interesting to see who's on San Jose's squad, whether they've signed a Designated Player, or a currently overseas U.S. Internation (paging Mr. Feilhaber). Always good to see Joe Cannon between the pipes- a great goalkeeper and interesting interview.

Brown- boyhood fan comes home

2008-02-22T15:01:00.001-08:00

http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=120363667262637100

Gregor & Knowles re-sign; Wicks in Hawaii

2008-02-21T11:11:00.000-08:00

The Portland Timbers announced today that midfielder Andrew Gregor and defender Cameron Knowles have signed one-year contract extensions through the 2009 season. Both players originally signed two-year contracts prior to the 2007 season.
Last season, both Gregor and Knowles were named to the USL First Division All-League first team and helped guide the Timbers to the club’s first appearance in the USL First Division semifinals.

http://www.soccer365.com/united_soccer_leagues/story_21208163024.php

Also, Josh Wicks made an appearance for LA Galaxy last night in the Pan-Pacific Championship, on ESPN Classic. He might make another appearance for the "Stars" (insert sarcasm here) on Saturday. Last night, he put in a solid effort and did not give up any goals, though he was not called upon to do anything spectacular. He certainly appeared more confident than the starting goalkeeper Steve Cronin.

I also had a small gripe with the ESPN Classic broadcast commentator, who referred to Hawaii as "the Sunshine State." Call me a geography snob, and you wouldn't be the first, but Hawaii is the "Aloha State" and Florida (ugh) is the Sunshine State. This useless information takes up brain cells that could be better used in finding women.

Who's House? Wicks' House

2008-02-14T11:55:00.000-08:00

The Portland Timbers announced today that goalkeeper Josh Wicks will return for the 2008 season – his second with the club. After a breakout performance with the Timbers last season, Wicks was named the 2007 USL First Division Goalkeeper of the Year.

I was impressed with Wicks this past year, despite missing the admirable Josh Saunders between the pipes. Wicks won the "goalkeeper of the year" award, which is a good sign that he is at least an above-average USL keeper. However, I always had the sneaking suspicion that the defense in front of Wicks was such a significant contributor that Wicks' statistics flattered him in the end.

Well, we've got another year to look him over and I'm happy that another cornerstone of last year's team is back in place. One thing the Timbers have missed over the years is continuity in the roster. I firmly believe in new blood to stoke the competitive fires for roster spots, but it will certainly be nice to know the general layout of the team before April begins.

I can't wait for the never-ending offseason to end.

THIS is My Country

2008-02-07T22:57:00.000-08:00

2 songs I wish were sung at US National Team Games

1) Chorus from "Born in the U.S.A."

2) America, the Beautiful. Think of that refrain "America, America..."

Local Ownership and USL

2008-01-29T17:57:00.000-08:00

This is a thoughtful article about local ownership, pride, patience, and the USL.
http://www.csweekly.com/weeklyColumns/article/id/126

BY THOMAS DUNMORE world's game
Here come the Austin Aztex. No, it’s not a Northern rebirth of the nation still ticked at Cortes. It was announced this week that Texas’ new soccer team will play in the First Division of the United Soccer Leagues, one rung below Major League Soccer on the American soccer ladder. Unlike in baseball, no minor league soccer teams are affiliated to major league teams, thus offering an organic opportunity for the game to put down roots in the huge swathes of the country still untouched by MLS.
Many USL teams can hang with their MLS brethren on the field—only last season in the U.S. Open Cup, USL’s Seattle Sounders crushed MLS’ Colorado Rapids 5-0 on their way to the semi-finals, a stage also reached by their league rivals the Carolina RailHawks, who beat the Chicago Fire at home. The USL First Division, with locations as diverse as Minnesota and Puerto Rico amongst its 13 teams in 2007, sees average attendances ranging from five figures in Montreal to three figures in Miami. USL teams do best when they develop local support over time. The Portland Timbers are well-known in American soccer for their loyal, passionate supporters who can stand proud with any in MLS.
The Aztex have been launched by an Englishman, Phil Rawlins, who is also an owner and director of Stoke City of England’s Championship, one tier below the Premier League. The Aztex will be officially affiliated to Stoke, so the English club will hold training camps, scout for talent and exchange players with their American cousin.
Austin’s affiliation to Stoke is part of a deliberate strategy by USL founder and president Francisco Marcos to further internationalize the league. Marcos, fluent in five languages and with four decades of experience in international soccer, splits his time between homes in the U.S. and his native Portugal. He sees this latest foreign connection as a key moment in his plan.
“I firmly believe that Phil Rawlins understands, and is fully committed to, the concept of international relationships as the way to speed up American player development and to further the creation of thriving soccer culture in the US. Following in the footsteps of Crystal Palace Baltimore, who began play last season, and of our recently announced partnership with West Ham United, this is a significant moment in the history and growth of the USL First Division.”
The question is whether such internationalization is the best way to build soccer as an embedded culture in the U.S. On the one hand, international expertise could help improve player development practices, and American soccer can hardly be sniffy about people who want to invest in soccer here. On the other, it’s hard to imagine American supporters becoming deeply attached to the likes of Crystal Palace Baltimore, a franchise run for the benefit of a parent club abroad.
Locally rooted USL teams can develop strong support and identity, as we’ve seen with the Portland Timbers. But foreign owned USL teams, as appendages to a higher priority team, seem unlikely to set down roots for long.
One example of this took place in San Francisco last year. The California Victory were an expansion team in the USL First Division under the ownership of Dmitry Piterman, chairman of Spanish club Deportivo Alaves. The Victory developed a small but fervent fanbase centered on a group called the “1906 Supporters” –smartly linking themselves to the city’s history—who created a vibrant atmosphere.
But by mid-July, it had become clear the Victory were being abandoned by their foreign owner, with players wages left unpaid. It was left to the 1906 group, lead by Mike Alonso, to keep the club alive. Indeed, they showed the power of local soccer passion with their own outreach and promotional efforts, as Alonso recently told me:
“People kept coming. Eventually, we went from 500 people a game to over 1900. No money. No corporate support. No Dmitry. The last game was our biggest attendance ever. Sure we lost, but it was magical. Our flares were lit, our songs were sung, our banners hung low and our flags flown high and our smoke hovered over the crowd. After being wrongfully ejected, striker Chuck Kim ran to the supporters’ section, threw his jersey to a fan, and dove into the arms of his loving fans.”
Despite the supporters’ passion, the Victory were left high and dry by their foreign owner, and they’ll be on hiatus from the USL in 2008.
The USL must be careful not to alienate this valuable grassroots passion for soccer. Despite the forced way they’ve stuck “tex” into the team’s name, it’s good news for the Aztex that their English owner Phil Rawlins now lives in the area. He asserted that “My goal is to make the Aztex a community-based club that the Austin area can be proud of.”
Let’s hope so.

Timber Jim...Retired...Say it ain't so

2008-01-24T23:46:00.000-08:00

Timber Jim, a long-time entertainer for the Portland Timbers soccer team, announced his retirement from the club Thursday.
According to the Portland Timbers Web site, Jim Serrill, better known as Timber Jim, will make a final appearance at PGE Park on April 17, when the Timbers host the Puerto Rico Islanders.
Serrill and his chainsaw have been a big part of Timbers matches since 1978, when the club was part of the North American Soccer League. He cuts off a log slab after every Timbers goal . The Timbers are searching for a new icon or mascot to replace Serrill.

In fairness, I found that with the last 3 or 4 games of this past season, when there were crowds of 12-15,000, and the Timbers Army swelled to massive numbers, that I felt Timber Jim's purpose was to help the non-standing fans get vocally involved- still a valuable service. However, I can't remember Jim leading too many cheers in the Army sections during the playoff games. Credit to Jim because the Army would not be as large as it is/can be without his help, passion, support, and leadership.

Timber Jim has been essential to the support from Timbers fans. His service to the club should never be forgotten. Thank you.

Timbers Sign Chris Brown from Real Salt Lake

2008-01-19T11:38:00.000-08:00

The Portland Timbers signed veteran forward Chris Brown to a two-year deal through the 2009 season, it was announced today. The 30-year-old Brown, a Portland native, has recorded 27 goals and 13 assists in 197 matches over the past nine seasons in Major League Soccer.

This is a great quality pick-up for the Timbers on a 2 year deal.

Timbers re-sign 2 more

2008-01-17T19:54:00.000-08:00

The Portland Timbers today announced the club has re-signed midfielders Shaun Higgins and Troy Ready for the 2008 season. Both Higgins and Ready return to Portland for a third season with the Timbers.

This makes about 13-14 players under contract again for this year, adding the necessary stability to make a run at the league championship and hopefully a strong cup run.

2008 Schedule Released

2008-01-14T13:25:00.000-08:00

2008 Schedule has been released. I can't wait for April.

4 matches will be on Fox Soccer Channel, But only 1 home game will be televised on FSC: the August Northwest Derby against Seattle.

Here's the complete schedule:

Portland Timbers
2008 Regular-Season Schedule
APRIL
Thursday, April 17 PUERTO RICO 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 24 MINNESOTA 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 26 SEATTLE 7 p.m.
MAY
Thursday, May 8 ROCHESTER 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 10 @Seattle 7 p.m.
Friday, May 16 @ Puerto Rico 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 18 @ Miami 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 24 VANCOUVER 7 p.m.
Monday, May 26 MIAMI 2 p.m.
Friday, May 30 @ Montreal 5 p.m. (FSC)
JUNE
Sunday, June 1 @Rochester 5 p.m.
Thursday, June 5 MINNESOTA 7 p.m..
Saturday, June 7 @ Vancouver 7 p.m.
Thursday, June 12 ATLANTA 7 p.m.
Friday, June 27 @ Carolina 4.30 p.m. (FSC)
Saturday, June 28 @ Atlanta 5 p.m.
JULY
Friday, July 10 PUERTO RICO 7 p.m.
Friday, July 18 @ Atlanta 5 p.m.
Saturday, July 19 @ Charleston 3 p.m.
Thursday July 24 CAROLINA 7 p.m.
AUGUST
Saturday, Aug. 2 @ Minnesota 5 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 7 SEATTLE 8 p.m. (FSC)
Saturday, Aug. 9 CHARLESTON 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 16 MONTREAL 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 22 @ Vancouver 7 p.m. (FSC)
Wednesday, Aug. 27 @ Montreal 5 p.m.
SEPTEMBER
Thursday, Sept. 4 MIAMI 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 6 @Rochester 5 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 11 CHARLESTON 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 20 @Carolina 4:30 p.m.
Please note: all times Pacific, home games bolded in all caps,
dates and times subject to change.

Alex Nimo signs with MLS

2008-01-11T10:53:00.000-08:00

Alex Nimo, a local product of the Portland FC Academy, signed a Generation Adidas contract with MLS and will be eligible for the 2008 Draft.

Good luck, Alex, and we hope to see you in Timbers green someday.

PGE Park gets new surface, finally!

2008-01-11T10:48:00.000-08:00

Another great sign of Merrit Paulson's stewardship of our club

PGE Park will install FieldTurf in place of the Astroturf/artificial putting green surface.

Initial stages of the project began today, and the new FieldTurf at PGE Park is expected to be in place and ready for use when the 2008 season of events begins.

Timbers re-sign one, acquire another midfielder

2007-12-18T15:03:00.000-08:00

The Timbers re-signed midfielder Neil Dombrowski for the 2008 season. Also, the Timbers signed former University of Portland standout midfielder Miguel Guante for 2008.

Dombrowski returns to Portland for a second season, while Guante joins the Timbers after completing his rookie season with Miami FC in 2007.

Guante was drafted by FC Dallas, but I'm not sure why it didn't work out. Either way, it is nice to have some more depth in midfield.

Timbers Trade Luke

2007-12-05T15:41:00.000-08:00

Portland Timbers traded 2006 USL All-League First Team midfielder Luke Kreamalmeyer for Charleston Battery defender Tim Karalexis

2007 Expansion Draft for San Jose Earthquakes

2007-11-19T16:46:00.000-08:00

Here's a list from Steve Goff for the exposed players in this year's expansion draft. San Jose (who I compliment on the new black-and-blue uniforms) can select 1 player from each team, for a grand total of 11 players.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2007/11/the_full_expansion_draft_list.html#more

Here's who I would choose:

There is some real quality in the 2007 Expansion draft. Here’s who I would choose in the San Jose expansion draft:

1) Ramon Nunez
2) Ivan Guerrero
3) Conor Casey
4) Ned Grabavoy
5) Dario Sala
6) Greg Vanney
7) Ryan Cochrane
8) Jose Burciaga
9) Kelly Gray
10) Andy Dorman/James Riley
11) Andrew Boyens

Casey Nunez

Guerrero Grabavoy Dorman

Burciaga Vanney Cochrane

Gray

Sala

Bench: Andrew Boyens

I think it's a pretty strong starting 11. Certainly there is more talent there than existed in Salt Lake City and Toronto.

CONCACAF Champions League?

2007-11-19T16:43:00.000-08:00

Steve Goff at the Soccer Insider (Washington Post blog) is reporting that there will be a Champions League for CONCACAF countries.

4 groups of 4 teams. There will be group play in the fall, with knockout rounds in the spring.

2 MLS teams automatically qualify: Supporters' Shield winner and MLS Cup winner.
The runner-up in each category enters a qualifying stage for the group phase.

More details soon...

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2007/11/we_are_the_champions_league.html

Houston wins MLS Cup Final 2-1

2007-11-19T16:42:00.001-08:00

Houston beat New England in one of the better Cup finals in recent memory. The final score of 2-1 was a fair result. It took a clean finish from Mr. Dwayne De Rosario and an unbelievable save from Pat Onstad.

Seattle joins MLS in 2009

2007-11-13T18:32:00.000-08:00

Today, MLS granted Seattle an expansion franchise beginning in 2009.

As a Portland Timbers fan, my immediate reaction was disdain- and, admittedly, envy. Anybody who was at the Semifinal game against Atlanta knows that Portland’s fans can compete with any in the country for noise, understanding of the game, and passion.

But, after giving the Seattle MLS situation some more thought (and reading numerous blogs about the subject), I will admit that I have mixed feelings.

On one hand, Seattle Sounders is the team I wanted to beat more than any other team in the league and country. However, there is a possibility that the Sounders name will die in USL, with a different incarnation for MLS. Not that this fact matters all that much.

On the other hand, I feel a Pacific Northwest pride that would enable me to cheer for Seattle, so long as it resulted in pummeling Los Angeles, sticking it to New York, or shoving it up D.C.’s – well, you know.

BUT: I will wait with keen anticipation for the day we play Seattle in the U.S. Open Cup.

I understand and respect the view that Timbers fans will never let themselves cheer for any Seattle team. I just can’t help but feel some divided loyalty to our fellow Pacific Northwest brethren. There is more that unites us than divides us, right?

So, at least today, I congratulate Seattle.

I look forward to the date, sometime soon, when Portland joins the MLS ranks, and things go back to normal.

And please! let us have grass at PGE Park.

MLS 2007 Best XI

2007-11-13T18:19:00.000-08:00

MLS Best XI 2007

GK: Brad Guzan- really came into his own

DEF: Michael Parkhurst
DEF: Eddie Robinson
DEF: Claudio Suarez

MID: Shalrie Joseph
MID: Juan Toja
MID: Sasha Klejstan

MID/FWD: Guillermo Baros Schelleto
MID/FWD: Landon Donovan

FWD: Juan Pablo Angel
FWD: Luciano Emilio

MVP: Juan Pablo Angel

Coach: Preki

Fantasy Football? I OWN a football club: Ebbsfleet United

2007-11-13T09:58:00.000-08:00

Fan website agrees club takeoverBy Alex Perry and John Sinnott
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/low/football/teams/g/gravesend_and_northfleet/7089473.stm

Fans' community website MyFootballClub has agreed a deal to take over Blue Square Premier outfit Ebbsfleet United.
The 20,000 MyFootballClub members have each paid £35 to provide a £700,000 takeover pot and they will all own an equal share in the club.
In a landmark for English football, members will vote on player selection, transfers and all major decisions.
"We are united in believing this is a great opportunity," Ebbsfleet chairman Jason Botley told BBC Sport.
"This extra finance and support will enable our club to progress."
The deal is expected to be completed in a few weeks after a due diligence process and the website will purchase a 51% controlling stake, while also having the option to buy the club outright in the future.
The takeover is unprecedented in English football, given the website's stated intention of involving the members so radically in the running of the club, particularly with team selection.
"Picking 11 players and formations isn't a precise science" Ebbsfleet boss Liam Daish
After the takeover goes through the current board will stay in place, as will manager Liam Daish, although his title will change to head coach.
Daish insisted that he was happy for fans to have an input on team matters.
"Picking 11 players and formations isn't a precise science and luck often plays its part," stated the Ebbsfleet boss.
"During and after matches, Ebbsfleet supporters often give me their opinion on which players should or shouldn't start games. Now they can have their say.
"My job won't change that much. As a club, we'll select the starting 11 players and formation together.
"But just as before, what goes on at the training ground and in the dressing room on the day of the match is down to me.
"It's the supporters' money that finances this club and pays my wages and those of the players.
"So there's a good argument for them having a say in what players they want to see."
Ebbsfleet were formerly Gravesend and Northfleet but the club's name was changed in May in a bid to tap into the regeneration of the area.
They are currently ninth in the Blue Square Premier, six points off a play-off place for entry to the Football League.

And Ebbsfleet's push for a spot in League Two will receive a boost as some of the funds raised by MyFootballClub members will be available in the January transfer window.
MyFootballClub members will be given the option to vote on who the club should buy.
Daish added that he was fully behind the radical model for the club.
"We all agree we need something extra to take us to the next step," he said.
"As a football fan, I think the MyFootballClub idea is fantastic.
"As the coach, I look forward to the challenge of working with thousands of members to produce a winning team.
"My assistant Alan Kimble and myself are 100% committed to making this work."
Since the website's launch in April, 50,000 members have signed up, with 20,000 of those paying the registration fee.
The membership subscription is paid annually so new members can join and become owners at any time, adding to the club's finances.
MyFootballClub was approached by nine clubs and looked into seven of those before opting to take over Ebbsfleet.
The Financial Services Authority has approved the setting up of the MyFootballClub Trust to safeguard members' interests in the eventuality of the club running into financial difficulties.

I (almost) own part of a football club

2007-11-02T17:23:00.000-07:00

MyFootballClub

From the website:

"For the first time in football history, fans have the opportunity to buy and then take control of a professional football club – both on and off the pitch.

Every MyFootballClub member will have an equal say in team selection, player transfers and the running of the club.

Members will own the club through their MyFootballClub Trust, and together they will attempt to guide their football club to success.

Buying the football clubThe most popular club, as voted for by MyFootballClub members, and the one that most closely meets the following criteria, will be purchased:
51% or more of the football club shares can be bought.
There is none, or a manageable debt.
The club has the potential to reach the Premiership.
The size of the stadium and the availability of public transport.
The club is amenable to our approach.

Owning the football clubWhen you pay your membership fee, you will become a member of the MyFootballClub Trust.

Your Trust will purchase a controlling interest in the football club, in effect making you a joint owner of your football club.Your Trust share certificate will be sent to you by e-mail.

The membership fee:
The MyFootballClub membership fee is £35.
£27.50 will go towards purchasing a football club, buying new players and other club expenditure.
£7.50 will go towards the administration of the MyFootballClub Trust and the building and management of the MyFootballClub website.

http://www.myfootballclub.co.uk/

Timbers Army Post

2007-11-02T17:17:00.000-07:00

I was at this game about 30 feet from where this camera was rolling.

As incredible as the atmosphere was against Vancouver, it was even more pulsating the next weekend against Atlanta in the Semi-finals. I haven't been able to find any videos from the match, yet.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=e4WDQELMZvc

Chicago beats D.C. + highlights

2007-11-02T16:50:00.000-07:00

What a great start to the MLS playoffs. Chicago ties D.C. 2-2 at RFK, and wins 3-2 on aggregate.

There was an electric atmosphere, created in large part by a rapid and devoted Barra Brava, Screaming Eagles, other D.C. supporters, and a small band of loyal Fire supporters section.

The play on the field was frenetic. Challenges were flying in, and the cream rose to the top. Gomez was able to control some possession for D.C. Blanco and the Fire looked for the lock-opening final pass. Chicago struck first, through a mesmerizing ball by Calen Carr.

I have to give credit to Juan Carlos Osorio and Blanco, because I can't imagine Calen Carr offering such a sublime pass without their ability to instill confidence and set a great example, respectively.

D.C. showed their heart and fought back valiantly. Their fans demanded it. The players gave their all. But a combination of Osorio's tactical decisions (like using youth and pace to compete with D.C.'s superior technical ability on Fred's side) and solid finishing from Chris Rolfe and Chad Barret, led Chicago over D.C. in a major upset.

Congratulations to D.C. for a great season, Emilio's goal-scoring prowess in particular. They are deserved Supporters' Shield winners and League Champions. Good luck in the Champions Cup next year.

And congratulations to Chicago for putting together a trio (including the L.A. game to finish the season) of performances that puts them in a position to qualify for the League Cup final. I can't wait to see what Osorio schemes for the Eastern Conference final against N.Y./New England.

Highlights:
http://web.mlsnet.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w=mms%3A//a1503.v115042.c11504.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/11504/v0001/mlbmls.download.akamai.com/11504/2007/open/gp/11/110107_chfdcu_gp_350.wmv&w_id=14747&catCode=mls_game_tv&type=v_free&_mp=1

Paulson's Plans in Willamette Weekly

2007-10-31T15:02:00.000-07:00

Our new owner, Merritt Paulson, has plans to renovate PGE Park and move the Timbers to MLS. This will take ~$20M of City/State funds to renovate PGE Park. Paulson pledges to pay (gotta love alliteration) the ~$30M expansion fee out of his own funds. The Beavers would eventually move to their own stadium at an alternative location.

http://wweek.com/editorial/3351/9893/

I like that Paulson answers the question, "Why do we need an MLS team when it's already a professional team?" by mentioning the economic and cultural benefits to the City and region. Not enough people think about what a Club can mean to a city when it becomes part of the community.

A good example of this is the Green Bay Packers. I believe part of that team is owned by the community. And I do believe that there could be more support for the Timbers in the community if a Supporters Trust was part of the investment/ownership, including a place on the Board- but I digress, that's for another post.

Anyway, here's a link to an article by Ian Plenderleith about the cultural benefits that a major league sports team can have in a city. This article appeared in response to a couple of talk radio guys in Portland, who had a less-than impressive interview with MLS Commissioner Don Garber.

http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/exclusives/index.html?article_id=784

Timbers lose to Suckattle 2-1 in U.S. Open Cup

2007-06-27T16:42:00.000-07:00

Portland loses to Seattle 2-1 in U.S. Open Cup action. Garbage refereeing. I hate losing to Seattle. I always want Portland to advance far enough in the Open to compete with MLS clubs. I guess we'll have to wait another year.

Cool Hand Mo Trades for Dunivant

2007-06-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

Transaction: The New York Red Bulls acquire defender Kevin Goldthwaite from Toronto FC in exchange for defender Todd Dunivant and $75k.

Toronto Trades Conor Casey to Colorado

2007-04-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

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.

Power Rankings

2007-04-18T13:18:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-18T13:11:00.000-07:00

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.

Marvell Wynne Traded to Toronto FC

2007-04-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

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.

Timbers final Preseason matches

2007-04-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

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.

Jay Demerit Article

2007-04-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-12T15:28:00.000-07:00

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.

Timbers Management and the Army

2007-04-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-10T10:09:00.001-07:00

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

2007-04-10T10:09:00.000-07:00

Power Rankings

2007-04-09T19:14:00.000-07:00

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.

Week One MLS Games

2007-04-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-08T18:20:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-08T15:18:00.000-07:00

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