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New Dog Food, Same as the Old Dog Food?

10/25/2014 1:36 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)

—by Andrew Brawley

Dear Timbers Front Office Staff,

It's a little after 10pm local time on Saturday, October 25th.

I don't want to even assume what kind of shape you're in right now, but I imagine it's close to what everyone else is feeling right now in Timbers land (if not, more so). Also, like the rest of us, I'm hoping there's at least some kind of consumable alcohol within reach (but not too much).

Anyway, I feel the timing of this week's events:

  • The CCL loss / elimination in Honduras
  • The rivals to the north winning the Supporters Shield
  • Tonight's MLS playoff elimination

all occurring on the same week that this was announced:

THANK YOU Timbers Season Ticket Holders! Just reached 99% renewal rate (a new MLS record) for next yr. You’re absolutely incredible. #RCTID

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) October 23, 2014

calls for a bit of explanation. As one of the 99%'ers, I don't want you thinking you suddenly owe me something for how this season went. My investment as a season ticket holder doesn't justify that. However, I think I need some kind of open reassurance that you are taking the necessary steps toward improving in the future.

The Western Conference will only get tougher in 2015. The Timbers will have to improve year-over-year merely to match 2014's 6th place performance. An even greater amount of improvement will be needed to make the playoffs next year.

I don't need to know all the details around your improvement plan. However, I need to be reassured that you are willing to "eat your own dog food" here, because I'm starting to question why I keep eating it.

Take the weekend to decompress. We all need it. But for the sake of our sanity, please convince me that things will get better, because if this were a professional relationship, I'd start putting an RFP together.

This is an opinion piece and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the 107ist or the TA.

Comments

  • 08/15/2016 9:16 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Johnny Futbol says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 2:53 am

    Get real, the CCL is worthless right now…
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:16 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Kristen Gehrke says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 2:55 pm

    @Johnny Football

    Except for, you know, allocation money that comes as the team advances in the tourney. But, since we’re not actually spending that money anyway, who needs it? I guess.

    But what do I know?
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:16 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Jacob says:
    Monday, October 27, 2014 at 7:17 pm

    @Kristen Gehrke

    Isn’t it like $30k?
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:17 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    PDXMB says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 9:49 am

    Thank god for this. I’m sure the FO was waiting breathlessly for your advice. Without your guidance who knows what they might have done!
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:17 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Bto says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 10:51 am

    I really don’t understand all the negativity. Our boys aren’t out there intentionally throwing games, they’re not asking for anything they don’t deserve… we just got dealt a poor hand this year with some depressing late-game draws, and yes, changes should be made, but a little faith goes a long way (for our team – and for your blood pressure hehe). This and other similar sentiments really sour the season more than any loss or elimination. It’s a game… be proud and look ahead!!! RCTID
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:17 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    STFU says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 1:31 pm

    I think with the exact same team next year we have a good chance of finishing top 3 in Western Conference. And I’m sure there will be improvements. The FO made some great signings over the course of the year (Adi, Ridgewell) and some others that were well intentioned but didn’t quite work out (Paparrato, although he really improved down the stretch). The Timbers 2 USL team is another great move for the future. The TA is a supporters group, so please stop using this website and social media to act like this one opinion represents all of us. RCTID!
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:18 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Wmlucian says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 1:59 pm

    Typical TA bitching. The FO made a lot of changes that clearly caused chemistry issues early in the year. That happens when you tinker at times. The mid-season additions of Adi and Ridgewell clearly made the team better and play has improved drastically in the last couple of months. Powell and Villafana have developed tremendously. Right now you can make a strong argument that Timbers are the 3rd best team in the West, behind Seattle and LA. It’s tough to fight back from such an abysmal start, but they managed to walk off the pitch in their last game above the red line.

    I’m with Merritt. STFU. If you don’t like the dog food, don’t fucking eat it. Go back to your bike messenger job and food stamp scams and leave the rooting to real sports fans. Greatest football supporters the world has ever seen my ass.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:18 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Ryan says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 3:44 pm

    @Wmlucian

    Yeah, Brawley! I’m sick to death of you riding around on your bike all the time, scamming foodstamps, and just telling us what to do. You silly cyclist!
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:18 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Gabriel says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 2:06 pm

    What the heck? Why so much negativity? We just barely missed the playoffs. First some dude mouths off on Twitter, now this? Stop misrepresenting your members.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:19 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    motownptfc says:
    Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    @Gabriel

    yes! the voice of the minority does not represent the majority.

    the FO took all the steps they had available to move forward. a shady back line for much of the season caused a hole to big to dig out from. we scored goals. the mid field possessed. the keeper was sharp. the substitutions brought results.

    what more could you ask for?

    RCTID
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:20 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Seth Hunt says:
    Friday, October 31, 2014 at 5:37 pm

    @motownptfc

    One might conclude that having “a shady back line” means that the FO did not in fact take “all the steps they had available.” Then again, I’m one of those people who are being too negative.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:20 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Marilyn Saxon says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 3:51 pm

    I can not afford season tickets but I will say, “the Portland Timbers are my team whether we win, lose or tie. I wear our colors proudly and when I hear someone say, “When I root I root for the Timbers” I promise I will respond, When I root I root for the Timbers.”
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:20 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Paul says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 3:54 pm

    Since I am timbers army, can I also post some poorly written whine about how life is unfair? This does not belong on the TA website. This kind of lame rant belongs on a private blog.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:20 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Andrew Brawley says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 4:10 pm

    @Paul

    No.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:21 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Jeremy Wright says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 3:58 pm

    I’m going to assume you all are not illiterate cause clearly you ready miss post but what part of:
    “This is an opinion piece and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the 107ist or the TA.” Did you not understand?
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:21 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Pdxblazer says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 4:00 pm

    Stfu. Are you a fan of the timbers just so that you have something else to complain about? We didn’t drop out of the playoffs over the last month, we dropped out not winning a match the first 8 games (they’ve signed two DP players since then) and because we gave up the lead at Toronto (where will Johnson got hurt also hurting our ccl depth). This is a stupid letter, we ended the season on our best run of form.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:21 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    @meddocle says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 4:21 pm

    it’s really about ethics in gaming journalism
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:22 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Kristen Gehrke says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 5:15 pm

    @meddocle

    I love you so hard.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:22 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Paul Schmidt says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 5:46 pm

    @meddocle

    And just when I thought that line was getting old after 48 hours of it on Twitter!
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:22 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Kram says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 4:29 pm

    I’ve been trying to get Brawley to STFU for years.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:23 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Seth Hunt says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 5:08 pm

    Yo Brawley, can I have some of your scammed food stamps?
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:23 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Daniel Wise says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 5:22 pm

    I’m more pissed off that they never brought back Spiced IPA! That stuff was the bomb!!
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:23 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    daytripper says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 5:23 pm

    Where the fuck is Savier when you need him? Let me guess, all you n00bs are the MENSA candidates that post on STF about how great Kalif’s potential is and how Kah blows your mind… #NCGSYW
    #GWOut
    #SGFoodstamps > #SGMoney > #SGBikeMessenger

    PS – BlameBrawley
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:23 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    daytripper says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 5:29 pm

    Can you buy said dogfood with food stamps? Asking for a soon to be out of work GM…
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:24 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    daytripper says:
    Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 7:40 pm

    C’mon, BOTH my comments were moderated?! Fine fine.
    Now, can somebody please clarify the status of Boyd’s contract? If we’re gonna finish 3rd next season we’re gonna need him; Merritt promised the playoffs. Or something.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:24 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Mickey Rivera says:
    Monday, October 27, 2014 at 12:02 pm

    I heard Brawley set an orphanage on fire and used all their SSNs to collect disability. Can someone confirm/deny? I don’t want that kind of person representing me
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:25 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Larry Shaw says:
    Thursday, October 30, 2014 at 2:20 am

    so, how does one go about having their blog posted in the ta blog section? sure, mr. brawley’s “op-ed” is not “official” as it has not been filed under “official ta news” and there is clearly a disclaimer that his opinions do not represent the “official” ta stance. (thank you, mr. wright, for your helpful, snotty response. helpful in the sense i now know who not to vote for in future elections.) but the fact that the piece appears as a ta blog and not in the forums provides a platform and carries weight not provided to all members.

    i eagerly await not only details on how every ta member can have their opinions posted as a ta blog, but also look forward to the disclosure of the name of the person(s) who infamously posted to twitter as well as the names of those who approved of those postings.

    no more stonewalling!

    larry shaw
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:25 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Larry Shaw says:
    Thursday, October 30, 2014 at 3:30 am

    i should note that Scott Van Swearingen, in an earlier response to a posting in the forums, accepted responsibility for allowing the initial tweets to be posted. once he recognized the situation getting out of hand, to his credit he asked those responsible for the communications to reign themselves in. my apologies for not acknowledging this in my original reply to the op-ed. still, i do believe it is important that those responsible for the postings be identified, that an apology for the tone of the tweets be issued to the ta as well as the timbers and that measures be implemented and enforced to. ensure this type of embarrassment never happens again.

    larry shaw
    Link  •  Reply
  • 08/15/2016 9:25 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    stef.nove says:
    Monday, November 3, 2014 at 9:13 pm

    @Larry Shaw

    you don’t need to sign your posts, bro. your name is already at the top of the comment.

    asking for specific apologies from individual board members who tweeted is foolish and indicates that you really should put energy into something a bit more useful.
    Link  •  Reply


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