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What a challenge, the
Portland Timbers had to endure throughout this past 2014 campaign, as many encounters
that saw this squad rising to the occasion.
By tackling many
obstacles and playing with rivals that looked in part more superior as well
reinforced, Manager Caleb Porter did an all-around feat with his chaps.
Never giving up and
tackling challenge after challenge, very well experimenting since day one with
different lineups in its initial eleven.
The Timbers Boss
never gave up in his desire to contend in this edition of Major League Soccer,
that at times this squad almost touched the infamous cellar of its division.
I do mean taking a
squad that at times many thought suddenly was on the verge of collapse; its
skipper rose to the occasion and lifted its spirits high!
With the arrival of
two experienced reinforcements to face a new campaign, top man Gaston Fernandez
and Norberto Papparato.
Those two became a
part of this Rose City squad and joining the likes of its countrymen in front
man Diego Valeri and Maxi Urruti.
Giving this squad and
attack a bit of Argentinian feel, with hopes of what it was the defense of
their first place finish atop the Western Division and trying for an encore of
their 2013 performance.
That year was the
turning point of the Portland Timbers, by seeing an overall recovery and sudden
climb into their division spots and introducing themselves as one of the new
elite squads of this league.
Something not
foreseen by the Timbers, it was the level of competiveness MLS showed
throughout this campaign, where many players felt the heat and the pressures
from its league foes.
So far many matches
this club showed off a nice record of 12 wins, 9 loses and 13 draws that gave
this club a nice 49 points overall and falling short of the post season by just
one mingy point.
Still a grand
performance this club showed off, by evaluating these campaign ups and downs as
well many of its awesome followers’ having some doubts of this squad.
Seeing a not so
effective defensive backfield, the Timbers Boss really felt pressured to make
up some progress and with a variety of moves, which at times the man at the
helm wasn’t getting anywhere.
The Timbers front
office started taking matters into their own hands and suddenly netting a
couple of of players from two different European leagues along of sending some
players in trades.
As the Timbers
struggles in offense and its defensive backfield, which saw the arrival of
Nigerian giant forward Faneando Adi on loan from FC Copenhagen and Liam
Ridgewell cut from West Brom Albion that gave a boost to its backfield.
Sending a message to
many players in this squad, that there is no such thing than a free ride and it
was time to start producing or face the music.
Suddenly the Rose
City chaps started implementing a new game and suddenly started fighting to be
among the top five squads being the Caps as its Cascadia rival one of its
fiercest competitors.
The arrival of Liam
Ridgewell along his Premiership experience became vital in the Timbers
backfield that all of a sudden turned up to be a wall to opposing strikers.
Suddenly the Timbers backfield
changed the image of wimpy to a respected and determined one in its transformed
foursome.
Seeing the likes of Jorge
Viilafaña renewed career, alongside Norberto Papparato that finally started
producing with longtime starter in Pa Modu Kah and Jamaican sensation Alvas
Powell- giving their longtime goalie Donovan Ricketts a reason to relax.
Very well its
midfield with captain Will Johnson's leading the way and its prime-time
midfielder Diego Chara playing both offensively and defensively in a very
effective way, this club was looking like its previous campaign.
Alongside one of the
Timbers one day legend in its prime-time player and leader of its offense in
Diego Valeri considered a natural in the midfield and leading his club once
again in various sectors.
Another area that
skipper Porter needed his magic was its frontal attack, where Darlington Nagbe
alongside Rodney Wallace were always there and really produced in the clutch.
A winner in Gaston
Fernandez with his experience and leadership saved many matches for the Timbers
seeing his participation being much appreciated and don’t forget Maxi Urruti that
he contributed to the cause and delivered as expected.
Overall Manager Caleb
Porter was a sort of a Dr. Jekyll and nothing to hide miracle men at the helm
of the Rose City squad.
When the going got
tough, he made his boys tougher and really determined not to look back if not
focus on the future and look for top notch results.
At the end, this
squad of the likes of the Portland Timbers is poised for much higher feats and
achievements in years to come, injecting a little of ambition and with the
right formulas put again by boss Caleb Porter.
One day maybe not so
further away, we will see in Rose City a shield if not several adorning the
halls of Providence Park as a tribute to its many die hard follower’s, giving
them a sunshine to make them happy.
If I Root, I Root for
the Timbers!
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Fern Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
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Making an all-around
statement in Major League Soccer is a very serious statement for those boys
from the New England Revolution.
Very well this time
win the always elusive MLS Cup that the Revs have lost in several of their
appearances in the grand finale.
No one imagined the
spirit of struggle and determination showed by this group, when they were
coming as total underdogs and face a start studded Red Bulls squad at home.
