With a bruised ego and last campaign not
making the postseason as the defending champions, the Portland Timbers are a
new team, looking very hungry and determined to rock the foundations of Major
League Soccer.
After a disastrous 2016, this club saw many
deficiencies in the road were they posted a negative record and just earning just
three points and a patch up defensive backfield.
By closing their opportunity to seize the
last spot in the Western Conference playoffs and after competing for just three
spots available, the Rose City Boys just needed a win to advance. And at the
end, they succumbed to a spoiling Vancouver squad.
Still this did not deterred the front
office of this club, looking forward to their experiences in building an all-around contender and as a competitive
squad to front, in what seems to be in this 2017 a very contested campaign.
Among one of the first steps taken by the
Timbers front office headed by an astute and bold General Manager Gavin
Wilkinson, of setting his sights in the off season and during the preseason in building an armada.
By reinforcing many positions in need of attention, especially in its defensive and offensive attack, the
Timbers lacked a player that could deliver the final addition that could make
the difference at the end.
As both general and club managers, went on
the task of netting the ideal players to reinforce many areas of need in its
defensive and frontal attack; with many new faces are to make their debut in
Providence Park this campaign.
This time the club focuses in youth and
experience to reinforce its roster and cover the departure of two valuable
players Nate Borchers and Jack Jewsbury both retired and considered vital in
the Portland initial eleven attacks.
Caleb Porter gave a vote of confidence to
three USL players considered as their academy from the T2 squad in defender
Rennico Clark, forward Victor Arboleda and GK Kendall Mc Intosh, the addition
in the super draft of forward Jeremy Ebobisse and Homegrown D Marco Farfan.
The Timbers manager is betting on youth and
with these prospects trying to compete for minutes in its starting lineup, so
far in training camp you see the stamina and spirits of these lads competing
with the veterans as well outplaying them.
In camp the team, altogether, the feeling
of winning is a new mood in its returning players and newcomers alike, as these
despite their competition for a starting spot, they are aware that every minute
their manager gives them plenty of confidence.
These have to take full advantage of the opportunity
that can bring a very positive outlook for this club and them in the campaign
and with the prospects of seeing a new starter in the Cheesmaster lineup.
The wisdom and keen eye on talent by its
general manager- bringing to town many new faces, that in the eyes of both him
and Caleb Porter; these new players will inject a new dynamic and contribute to
a notable campaign.
By wheeling and dealing in the off season,
the Timbers acquired many talented individuals via trade and on the free
market, the arrival of defender Lawrence Olum, Chance Myers both of these came
from SKC, and keeper Jeff Attinella from Minnesota FC.
Luckily, the Timbers will not have to play
in a CCL tournament, after their elimination by Costa Rican giants Saprissa,
the Rose City squad bought the rights of midfielder David Guzman and defender
Roy Miller from this club, giving the necessary depth the club needed.
In addition to the club, shopping spree the
big coup for the Portland squad came after delivering a big blow to Mexico’s
Club America and Seattle of luring to Rose City and reinforcing their attack, with the likes of
former striker and midfielder from Argentine side San Lorenzo, Sebastian
Blanco.
Still the club, lacking a central defender,
after the season ending injury to newcomer Gbenga Arokoyo who was to be the indisputable starter, and taking the starting role given to Lawrence Olum to
make a one two combination in the center with Liam Ridgewell.
As the former SKC man has made an
impression of his manager to earn the starting spot and with his experience,
Olum will do for now for the Portland Timbers in center back; if the Kenyan
delivers, he can assure the starting spot for the remainder of the campaign.
Still the prospects of getting a center
back, is among the Timbers front office and setting their sights in getting a
man to fill this spot in a long term, for now Olum and Ridgewell are the center
backs and leaders in defense.
For the Timbers all around success in this
upcoming campaign they need to erase the bad year Darlington Nagbe had with
just a single goal in league play and in CCL, he needs to step up and open up
to more scoring.
The team also does not need to count on
just one man in their talisman Diego Valeri, as the Andean has a new companion
in the attack in Sebastian Blanco whom he played in Argentinian side Lanus and these will become the needed lethal weapon in the attack.
Also the arrival of David Guzman to make a formula
in the midfield with Diego Chara is a boost to the Colombian after getting his
ideal play-maker that will give the opposition strikers headaches like no other
in defending and in the offensive as well.
Despite the traditional 4-2-3-1 formation
always used by Caleb Porter, the PTFC frontal attack with Nagbe in the left,
Valeri in the center and newcomer Blanco in the right side, giving Adi a reason
to become the league golden boot winner.
In the defensive side that will give
goalkeeper Jake Gleeson, a serene and calm afternoon under his posts, a
returning Alva’s Powell in the right and possibly Vytas Andrekevicious or Marco
Farfan who can become the new starter in the left flank.
The new defense will have the task of not
allowing the same number of 53 goals received in last campaign and focus in
becoming a brick wall and a stingy one that can become a living nightmare to
opposing squad’s strikers.
Very well, to add up to a great bench is
seeing the return of Dairon Aspirilla, Roy Miller, Jeremy Eboisse, Victor
Arboleda, Rennico Clarke and in what a call the third down man using American
football terms in Darren Mattocks who can be the difference maker.
The mood in Portland is one to celebrate
and with its current and new players, this club will be one of those hard to
beat and a competitive contender in the end.
At the end, the Portland Timbers 2016
campaign is one in the books and they must focus in this campaign and looking
forward to finish among the top six squads and maybe seize the last spot to
play in the knockout rounds.
As Caleb Porter puts it today, let the real
season begin!
Post Contents and Property of Fern Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
Crest Credit and Property of Portland
Timbers Football Club and Craig Mitchelldyer 2017
Photos Credit and Property of © 2017
Major League Soccer
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