No problem playing at
home, but when it comes to performing on the road, the Portland Timbers is showing
off a sort of weakness once again, as an encore of last campaign miseries that
lead to missing the postseason by just a mingy point.
In soccer, the meaning
of easy is not an oxymoron, as there is no such thing than an easy foe.
These two games on
the road meant a lot for the Portland squad, after their amazing at home performances
against San Jose and Dallas, giving their conference foes a repass.
With a couple of
matches on the road, the PTFC heading to Colorado and Minnesota, many saw this
as a break of that skid playing on the road and getting back to the plus with a
couple of wins that would built a boosting morale.
The unfortunate had
to happen, first in Colorado the defensive blues and that single goal lead
slipping away after not putting the game when it should and hence that 2-1
loss, now back to the Minnesota match.
A total disaster with
a player ejected and an own goal, this ship is not out of the storm but contrarily
is getting deeper and deeper every time these play on the road, once again the
phantoms of last campaign are back.
The other negative
haunting the Portland squad is the continuance of injuries to its captain and defensive
leader Liam Ridgewell as well depending on just a player or two when this game played
as a team with eleven players in the field.
How can this be when
the start of this campaign was with a bang and now is going down the tubes?
I believe if someone
needs a break, is Manager Caleb Porter despite his planning and strategies well
place, everything goes in chaos in matter of minutes if not seconds and to
point the finger at him will be very unjust.
Call it last minute moves
or improvisations the man wants to deliver results, but so far, no good as a
miracle if this happen can save this campaign that started promising and not
letting it end with a disappointing tone.
This team has talent
and even in its T2 with a few players waiting for that big chance waiting to
come as the way Marco Farfan had the nod and despite his early removal in the first
half in the Minnesota game, the lad has a bright future.
Players and manager
alike are human, but the need to win and deliver is elemental in making a
decent run and at the end of the campaign, with their efforts rewarded with a spot
in the coveted postseason.
Despite the losses,
the Portland squad is still above the red line and in third spot, but this cannot
last if odd results happen as no divine intervention can keep the Portland
squad put in their current position.
With all the talent
this squad has and despite notable absences in the lineup due to injuries, these
should be focusing in their push for the top of its conference and not living the
sorry state they are now.
Very well, the
players need a sort of positive outlook ahead and not giving away their spot
due to accumulation of cards yellow or red, as these players are important for
the attack and the welfare of the club.
At the end, this club
has the way to deliver the points and wins to make a strong stand in what seems
to be another exciting and contested campaign in Major League Soccer, no
miracles needed just sheer motivation and hunger.
Post Contents and Property of Fern
Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
Photos Credit and Property of
Portland Timbers Football Club and Brad Reupel USA TODAY SPORTS 2017
Photos Credit and Property of © 2017
Major League Soccer
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