—by Chris Rifer

Boyd…Boyd…No! Come on! The [freaking] password is Boyd!

So that was fun.

I know there is a tournament coming up and all, but let’s face it, from here until October the Timbers will rightfully be dominating this space. Sure, we’ll spout off about things around the league here and there, but this week represents perhaps our last best chance to cover topics from around the league.

Without much further adieu,[1] then, here are a half dozen predictions – some bold and some not so bold – for 2012.[2]

I. The New York Red Bulls will not make the Playoffs.[3]

Starting off bold – especially considering there will be staggeringly little competition for the five playoff spots in the tepid Eastern Conference. You would think a team featuring Thierry Henry, Juan Agudelo, Dane Richards, Dax McCarty, Rafa Marquez, Kenny Cooper,[4] and Luke Rodgers would figure to do well in its powder puff conference. What’s missing from that list?

Defense. That’s what’s missing. Okay, so the presumptive fullback combination Jan Gunnar Solli and Roy Miller is inoffensive – if perhaps uninspiring. And yes, New York has brought in a few defenders that may be able to step in and be serviceable in the center. But seriously, look at their roster and observe the number of guys on their defense that don’t have a picture. Then consider the guy they will be counting on to anchor their defense – Wilman Conde – is soon to be 30 and coming off pretty serious foot surgery. Uh oh. And don’t get me started on the goalkeeping situation. In the end this is a largely revamped defensive unit full of question marks.

But oh, did you hear they’re looking to add another geriatric DP in the summer transfer window? This isn’t going to end well. On the bright side, the Timbers own their SuperDraft pick for 2013.

II. Montreal will have a rough go of things in their maiden voyage.

I haven’t exactly minced words with what I think of Montreal’s offseason strategy. And as I look at their roster now I see a list of nice players – Davy Arnaud, Mike Fucito, Bobby Burling, Justin Mapp, Sanna Nyassi, Zarek Valentin, and certainly Donovan Ricketts – but nobody that jumps off the page. I think their midfield will be competitive, but they are sorely lacking up top right now.

The amount of youth on the roster lends itself to laying a foundation for the future, but the immediate future doesn’t look all too promising  Montreal promised to bring in a DP during the summer transfer window, but by July things may already be out of hand.

III. The Houston Dynamo will win the Supporters Shield.

I’ve said this before, but the great tragedy of the 2012 Playoffs was Brad Davis going down in the SKC series. I don’t know if Houston would have beaten Galaxy with him, but it certainly would have been a more watchable affair.

The Dynamo return everything of note from the team that caught fire at the end of 2012. Andre Hainault, Geoff Cameron, Bobby Boswell, and Corey Ashe may be the best backline in the league – to say nothing of more-than-capable netminder Tally Hall. Brad Davis will be the best midfielder in the league and will post a fourth-straight double digit assist season. Will Bruin will have a breakout season on the receiving end of Davis’s doorstep service.

All told, don’t be surprised if, after feasting on a platter full of Eastern creampuffs, the Dynamo win the Shield this year.

IV. Kelyn Rowe will be Rookie of the Year.

The MLS’s worst franchise will have its best rookie. Well, sort of. I don’t think Rowe is necessarily the best player of this year’s rookie class, but it appears as though he will be given a spot on the wings in 2012. With a perfectly respectable midfield of Benny Feilhaber, Shalrie Joseph, and likely Clyde Simms, the Revs may have the creative ability in midfield necessary to score some goals. I think Rowe will be the beneficiary of some of that, to enough of an extent that he’ll beat out Andrew Wenger for top billing.

Don’t get me wrong, New England will still stink, though.

V. It’s do or die time for Real Salt Lake. They will (almost) do.

Over the course of the last three years, Real Salt Lake have been the best franchise in MLS. Jason Kreis[5] and company built a core of talent that made RSL the deepest team in MLS. Here’s the problem, though, they’re getting on in years. Javi Morales is 32. Nat Borchers and Jamison Olave are 30.  Kyle Beckerman is about to turn 30. So are Chris Wingert and Alvaro Saborio. This group, though, has one more run in it. If Morales can successfully come back from his broken ankle, the Claret and Cobalt will put together one more deep playoff run before Father Time comes calling. Will they be able to capture that elusive second MLS Cup? No.[6]

VI. The Seattle Sounders will be a one-and-done…again.

After a successful 2011 regular season, many have their eyes on Seattle to make the next step toward being an MLS Cup contender. The Sounders have taken steps in the opposite direction, however. After earning a CONCACAF Champions League berth, the Sounders decided to unload depth in bringing in Eddie Johnson. That, combined with the unsettled status of Steve Zakuani and O’Brian White, leaves Seattle a bit thin for what promises to be a crazy early season full of matches in various competitions.[7]

Seattle has recovered from slow starts before, and they certainly have enough talent in the Starting XI to do so again, but in a West as packed as this one, dropping points early could doom the Rave Green and their customers to an unfavorable matchup in the first round and another early playoff exit.

Timbers Notes

• One interesting development of the past couple weeks has been the flipping of Eric Alexander and Franck Songo’o on the wings. Against Oregon State Eric Alexander reportedly spent most of his time on the right while Songo’o occupied the left. Early reports from training and the scrimmage are positive, although, considering both guys can play on either side of the field, it seems likely they will be moving around quite a bit. Regardless of exactly where they end up, the two of them seem to have developed a pretty firm hold on the two outside mid positions.
• The emergence of Alexander and Songo’o leaves Kalif Alhassan and Sal Zizzo – when he returns to full form – in a bit of a precarious position. Barring injuries, at least one of them will not get consistent minutes. Considering his potential, between the two of them Kalif is likely to get the better of the minutes, but Sal is a very legitimate MLS winger. If this pattern holds true – and Songo’o and Alexander hold down the wings – it’s easy to imagine a scenario in which Portland may shop Sal midseason.
• The second striker position has also become one of intrigue. Before the preseason, I sort of presumed Darlington Nagbe would step into the second striker role if he lost out on the right wing. By all means, that may still happen. But while Darlington has been slowed by a series of nagging injuries, Jorge Perlaza has put together a pretty nice camp. At this point it seems likely that Darlington will start 2012 where he was for much of 2011, as a frequent sub.
• Oh, and in a non-Timbers note, if you haven’t seen this already, read up on how excited Darren Mattocks is to score a preseason goal. He is the early favorite to win this year’s Victor Estupinan Sweepstakes.

Onward, Rose City!

—by Andrew Brawley

Without exploring the fine details of today’s little dust-up over single game tickets being pre-sold to season ticket holders, I think we can discuss one way of returning power to the people:

Ignoring scalpers.

Don’t buy from them.

Don’t sell to them.

Don’t acknowledge them.

I’m not about to start a new Occupy movement over this. I don’t want to start pointing fingers over who’s to blame for these tickets practically evaporating within minutes of release. But I do think that we, as members of the Timbers Army, have a responsibility of ensuring that any tickets we have in our possession (whether you’re a season ticket holder or not) are re-sold to those who are genuinely enthusiastic  about going to a Timbers match, rather than those who are more interested in making a profit at the expense of others.

I understand there’s a marketplace out there for tickets. Despite ticket prices increasing for “premium” matches (home opener, Seattle, Galaxy, etc.), it looks like people are still willing to pay more for those seats. I can’t blame them. It’s a hot ticket in this town, and market demand justifies it.

However, in order to maintain a sense of balance within the community, we must do what we can to ensure the “beautiful game” remains accessible to all. If you look around the world, this game is played by both rich and poor. If we start raising prices on our own tickets, we’re only diluting the quality of experience that we care so much about in the North End.

If you need to sell your tickets, do so by selling to friends, or asking around on Twitter or Facebook. Avoid reseller sites like StubHub. Even CraigsList is becoming a no-no. Put some elbow grease into it, and your effort will be greatly appreciated.

We may make fun of the east stands during games, but if we don’t maintain some order, those in the east stands will soon be joining us in the north.

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

We all bleed Rose City Red; now it's time to bleed for a worthy cause: The Timbers Army Blood Drive, Friday, April 6th, from 2-7 pm at the 18th St plaza outside of Jeld-Wen Field.

No matter the season, the American Red Cross is always in need of blood donations:

• Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
• More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day.
• More than 1 million new people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
• One donation can help save the lives of up to three people.

If you are healthy, at least 17 years old, and weigh at least 110 pounds, you are probably eligible to donate (if you are a minor you'll need your parent's or guardian's permission to donate). Whether you're an experienced donor or you'll be donating for the first time, you can find out more about the donation process here. You can read more specifics about eligibility requirements here.

If you are interested in donating, send an email to: TABloodDrive@gmail.com with the following information:

First/Last Name

Email Address

Phone Number

Preferred Time 1/Preferred Time 2

We will try and give everyone their 1st preferred slot, but it's possible someone may beat you to it. Please wait for a confirmation email with your scheduled time.

We also need volunteers for various things, so if you're interested in volunteering in addition/instead of donating, drop a message to the same address above with whatever times you're available and the best way to contact you.

What about tattoos? If I have ink can I still donate?

Since this was mentioned in a discussion thread, we'll mention it here as well: If you have tattoos, yes, you can donate, as long as you got inked at a licensed tattoo parlor. If you got your tattoo in Oregon you are in luck, as Oregon licenses and regulates tattoo parlors. If you got your tattoo in another state, you will have to check to see if that state regulates tattoo parlors. If you got your tattoo in another state that does not regulate tattoo parlors, you can donate as long as it has been at least 12 months since you got tattooed. For more information, you can contact the Red Cross, or read more about eligibility requirements and blood donation here.

Any other questions, feel free to ask.

Donations and prizes for donors include:

(1) FREE PIZZA AND SODA to all who donate!

(2) A drawing from among all donors for TWO PAIRS OF TA TICKETS to the 4/7 match against Chivas USA the following day!

I know I am, I'm sure I am, Rose City Til I Die. In the meantime, we can give life by giving blood. We invite you to do the same.

This is the week the Timbers Army becomes famous!

OK, maybe not famous. Perhaps a bit more than internet famous, but not quite Lana Del Rey famous. I’m willing to bet we’ll become about as famous as a critically-liked Friday night extended cable sketch comedy show will allow. And that fame will last about a week, right up until next week’s episode hits the air. And that’s fine by me.

The full court press is on for this week’s episode of Portlandia (Friday, Feb. 24, 10/9c on IFC), and Major League Soccer’s own web site kicked it off with a nice piece (and great photo) to preview the TA’s appearance. (Watch for even more publicity around this week’s episode also featuring Trail Blazers all star LaMarcus Aldridge. Apparently the producers of Portlandia felt this season needed an obligatory sports episode.)

Not all Portlanders will admit this, but Portlandia’s a pretty good show. Like most shows, it has its share of hits and misses. But when it hits, it’s REALLY hits. The only people I know who dislike it are those the show tends to mock frequently: people I refer to as “extreme Portlanders.” These tend to be the people who ONLY shop at second hand stores and food co-op’s. (They’re usually vegan, too.) That’s probably not even 1% of Portlanders, but we all know at least one person in town who fits this bill.

I truly believe I’m in the most desired target demographic for Portlandia: married, childless suburbanite who frequents the downtown core. Basically, I’m repeatedly exposed to the wackiness that Portland has to offer, while concurrently able to “breathe suburban normalcy” and view that same wackiness from my front row seat. Trust me when I say most of Beaverton finds nearly every Portlandia sketch to be pretty funny.

The thing that I enjoy most about the TA’s involvement in Portlandia is that it shows we’re not afraid to take the piss out of ourselves. Nothing turns a crummy day around like a clever Twitter meme started by the TA, especially those where we rip our own to shreds for something posted on Twitter / Facebook / 107IST Member Forums / etc. Nobody makes fun of the TA better than the TA themselves. Of course, as good as we are at making fun of ourselves, we’re even better at mocking our enemies (i.e. #LacksSounders).

This is why I tend to get a little frustrated with our Cascadian rivals. Canadians are funny by default (see The Kids In The Hall, Picnicface or Strange Brew). Seriously, it’s in their DNA. I hold the Southsiders to a pretty high standard for being clever. The recent video from the Whitecaps FO to the Timbers FO was pretty good, but they kinda missed the mark with that “Round 2” reference at the end, because this is actually Round 30-something. Plus, that was from their FO, and not the supporters group. C’mon guys and gals! If our own FO did something more clever than us (and remember…we’re awesomely clever), we’d probably have an emergency 107ist board meeting to discuss how to rebound and out-clever them.

As for ECS, don’t get me started. I’m sure they have a few clever apples in the basket, but they tend to be overshadowed by stuff that’s generally unoriginal and borderline offensive. My Sounders-fan friend (who shall remain anonymous) is one of the most clever guys I know, but he’s not involved with ECS. Trust me, he could really help them out, but he has distanced himself from them, and I can see why: they don't have a sense of humor. Even a prominent Seattle-based web site, one that I know numerous TA members read many times daily, missed the overall point of that aforementioned #LacksSounders meme. Nothing riles up the TA like a total misunderstanding of a Twitter meme. If Seattle can give us timeless laughs in the form of Almost Live, then ECS is surely capable of adding some wit to their punchlines and comebacks.

(Side note: I realize I’m feeding the trolls a bit here. But hey, the season starts in three weeks…time to #HTFU.)

As the regular season nears, the Twitstreams will be pinned with smack-talk between all three Cascadian sides. We'll steal each others hashtags. We'll feed the trolls. We'll argue on message boards. It’s all supposed to be in good fun. If you can’t have fun doing it, you’re basically setting yourself up for an online massacre, which is essentially the equivalent of getting an abnormally large amount of junk mail on one day. Yeah, it’s annoying, but it bears no actual burden on your reality, and it’s easy to click “delete” and be done with it.

Watch Portlandia this Friday, and happy trolling!

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

—by Chris Rifer

Last week we looked at a few players who had a lot on the line in 2012. For Bright Dike, Freddie Braun, and David Horst, 2012 will prove crucial to determining whether they are borderline MLS players or can make an impact in the top flight.

The task for this week is to look at the Timbers unit-by-unit, and determine whether its stock has risen, stayed flat, or fallen from last October. For all intents and purposes, it appears as though the roster is relatively settled for the season. This past week, the Timbers officially inked Franck Songo’o. The additional signings of Joe Bendik, former Portland Pilot Ryan Kawulok, and Sebastián Rincón seem imminent, with Stumptown Footy reporting that all three were on the receiving end of a team hug fest at training last week.[1]

With Trencito on the DL, that puts the roster at 30 for the season. If Eddie Johnson is on the shelf long term, then the Timbers may have one more roster spot to play with, but in all likelihood the roster on March 12 will look similar to how it looks today.

So, considering the offseason transactions and the Ouija board-like predictor of preseason games, here is what each Timbers unit’s stock has done over the course of the offseason.

Goalkeepers: ◄►

Additions: Joe Bendik

Losses: Adin Brown

No surprise here. There was never any real question that Troy Perkins would be the starting keeper on March 12, that Jake Gleeson would likely find himself in the backup role, and a new third keeper would be brought in to replace Adin Brown. With Gleeson sidelined by injury – and heading out to play with the Kiwi National Team – Bendik has picked up a few more reps in preseason than anticipated. He seems to have made the most of it, as reports from training and preseason matches have been generally positive.

Center Backs: ▲

Additions: Hanyer Mosquera, Andrew Jean-Baptiste

Losses: Kevin Goldthwaite

With David Horst sidelined by a hip injury, there was some concern about this unit in early January. It only took a couple weeks for the market to turn more bullish on the center of the Timbers’ defense. Eric Brunner seems to have his spot on lockdown. The real competition will be between Futty and El Mosco for the second starting spot. Thus far, Futty seems to have been getting most of the run alongside Brunner, but don’t be surprised to see Mosquera mount more of a challenge as the preseason – and even regular season – wears along. As expected, Jean-Baptiste doesn’t appear to be challenging for first team playing time just yet, but he should get plenty of run in the reserves.[2]

Fullbacks: ◄►

Additions: Ryan Kawulok

Losses: None

By far the most disappointing unit of the offseason. I had this tapped as a very high priority for the offseason, but the result is largely status quo. Lovel Palmer, assuming his hamstring loosens up, will likely hold down the starting spot on the right side, while the less-than-inspiring competition between Rod Wallace and Mike Chabala continues on the left. It seems likely that Rod will be the opening day starter, and he certainly has the greatest potential at the position, but the options are still less than inspiring. Absent a big jump from Wallace, however, a group that was mediocre in 2011 seems destined for more of the same in 2012.

Central Midfielders: ◄►

Additions: None

Losses: None

The Timbers most stable unit in 2011 appears poised to be the same in 2012. The only thing that could change things is if James Marcelin’s development is as promising as the preseason has suggested. If Marcelin is poised for a big jump in 2012, this could be one of the deepest and most effective units in MLS.

Outside Midfielders: ▲

Additions: Franck Songo’o, Charles Renken

Losses: Ryan Pore, Rodrigo Lopez, Peter Lowry

Songo’o has gone from complete unknown among Timbers supporters to the inside track to start on the right wing. If his preseason form holds true in the regular season, Songo’o could end up being the Timbers most complete winger. Renken was an upside pick-up from the beginning, and there hasn’t been anything reported that would dispel such a label. So, Portland picked up one guy who could be an immediate impact player, and one guy who could be an impact player down the road, while losing three guys who weren’t pushing for first team minutes any time soon.[3]

Strikers: ▲

Additions: Kris Boyd, Jose Adolfo Valencia, Brent Richards, Sebastián Rincón

Losses: Kenny Cooper, Brian Umony

The only unit to lose a serious contributor also brought in the most. Kris Boyd – while still having never put on a Timbers kit – is the prohibitive favorite to be the Timbers’ number nine this year. He also appears to be an immediate upgrade over Kenny Cooper. While Trencito will likely be out all year, Richards and Rincón both seem to be high upside signings who will do well to have a year in the reserves to adjust to the MLS game. With a strikeforce that likely includes Boyd, Jorge Perlaza, Bright Dike, Richards, Rincón, and perhaps Darlington Nagbe, the Timbers look poised to blow the middling goal production of 2011 out of the water.

On the aggregate, then, the conclusion that the Timbers have improved over the course of the offseason is unavoidable. The attack looks to be much better than it was a year ago, and the defense should at least be similar.[4]

The Timbers only lost one player they relied heavily upon, Kenny Cooper,[5] and have added three guys – Boyd, Songo’o, and Mosquera – that seem likely to make an immediate impact in 2012. Nobody on the Timbers has shown signs of being past their expiration date, with really only one guy – Jack Jewsbury – even remotely approaching the point at which the twilight of his career would be expected. On top of that, the Timbers have brought in a gaggle of promising greenhorns that can develop while playing with a reserve side that suddenly looks pretty loaded.

All in all, not too shabby.

Notes

• Seattle has made some high-risk moves in the past, but perhaps nothing quite as reckless as trading Mike Fucito and Lamar Neagle to Montreal for an Eddie Johnson who hasn’t scored a competitive goal in nearly two years. Make no mistake, if Johnson can regain form this would be a good get for Seattle. That “if,” however, is way too big to justify sending away two very promising, very reasonably budgeted young players.
• The Brian Ching standoff came to a merciful end this week, as Montreal ended up caving and sending Ching back to Houston in exchange for a 2013 conditional SuperDraft pick.[6] Make no mistake, this is a terrible end for Montreal. They wasted a pick in a loaded Expansion Draft and ended up flipping it for a mid-to-late first round SuperDraft pick. While Jesse Marsch sounded surprised by the outcome, in reality it was inevitable. And give the Impact credit for one thing: they realized what an awful hand they dealt themselves and folded.
• Finally, we only have eight more days until the Preseason Tournament begins! I absolutely cannot wait to see everybody in The North End again.

Onward, Rose City!

PORTLAND, Oregon (15 February, 2012) - Soccer rivalries are known for their intensity, but leadership of soccer supporters groups from across the US and Canada set aside their rivalries last weekend in Portland, Oregon for the Independent Supporters Council (ISC) conference.

The ISC works to promote supporters’ culture in North America, and defend the rights of soccer supporters. Over the weekend, representatives of supporters of 16 of the 19 teams in Major League Soccer discussed issues facing supporters, and revised and ratified the Independent Supporters Council Charter, including the Supporters Bill of Rights.

“By speaking with a singular voice for all recognized supporters groups regarding issues that may be specific to one group, but that affect all, ISC can effectively use the collective leverage of all groups to protect the interests of each individual group,” said Jason Corliss board member of Red Bull New York's Viking Army SC.

“MLS is beginning to appreciate the role of supporters, and aren’t just marketing the game to soccer moms any longer. It’s a step in the right direction, but we want to make certain all supporters can safely and passionately follow their team wherever they travel,” said Abram Goldman-Armstrong, a founding member of the ISC and board member of the Timbers Army 107 Independent Supporters Trust, which hosted the conference in Portland.

ISC initiatives include:

Coordinating an annual ISC conference open to delegations of supporters from all clubs in the United States and Canada, including MLS, lower-league levels and women’s soccer

Tracking incidents and advocating for stadium security trained to understand supporter culture

Developing clear, consistent guidelines and fair ticket allocations for traveling supporters

Organizing the administration and funding of a new Supporters' Shield trophy

Advocating for an MLS schedule that is favorable to traveling fans, especially rivalry games

Working for the adoption of a league-wide Supporters’ Bill of Rights

Groups in attendance who ratified the charter:

• Los Angeles Galaxy (Angel City Brigade)
  
• Columbus (Hudson St. Hooligans)
  
• San Jose Earthquakes (Casbah)
  
• Real Salt Lake (Rogue Cavaliers Brigade)
  
• Vancouver Whitecaps (Southsiders)
  
• New York Red Bulls (Viking Army)
  
• New York Red Bulls (Empire Supporters Club)
  
• Chivas USA (Union Ultras)
  
• Chicago Fire (Section 8 Chicago ISA)
  
• Colorado Rapids (Pid Army)
  
• Colorado Rapids (Bulldog Supporters Group)
  
• New England (Midnight Riders)
  
• Portland Timbers (Timbers Army/107 Independent Supporters Trust)
  
• DC United (Screaming Eagles)
• Houston Dynamo (Texian Army)
  
• Toronto FC (Red Patch Boys)
  

ISC - The Independent Supporters Council was founded in 2009 to advocate for the fair treatment of home and away supporters, promote supporter culture, and oppose racism and bias in the stadium. www.soccersupporters.org

107ist - The 107 Independent Supporters Trust is the not-for-profit organization of the Timbers Army, dedicated to supporting soccer in and around Portland, Oregon, from the grassroots to the highest professional level. www.timbersarmy.org

—by Chris Rifer

Oh, the preseason. The time when as supporters we’re so starved for real soccer that we’ll read everything into anything. The Timbers beat Galaxy 4-1? PTFC is the team of destiny. Portland draws Montreal 0-0? It might be a long year on Morrison Street. Portland tops Houston 2-0? Everything is coming up roses.

In the end, the results mean nothing at all. Remember last year? The Timbers defense looked impenetrable throughout the preseason. The team went undefeated. Then the first half hour at Colorado happened.

So yeah, the point is, the results these next couple weeks mean painfully little. Still, we have to talk about something, right?

Over the next few weeks before meaningful soccer is played we will talk more about what this season means to the club. Unlike last year, this year comes with expectations. In many ways, 2012 is more important than 2011 for PTFC.

There are also a few players staring in the face of a massively important season personally. Here are a few who have a lot of chips on the table in 2012.

Freddie Braun

Impressed in the reserves in 2011, but never could consistently break into the eighteen. While it seems likely the experiment at right back is over, there is some opportunity as a defensive midfielder. Jack Jewsbury is 30. James Marcelin has done well as a Timber, but certainly hasn’t locked down a position as Captain Jack’s heir apparent.[1] Lance Davids is pedigreed, but has seemingly been quiet in the first week of his trial and would occupy a precious international roster spot.

At 23, however, Freddie’s developmental honeymoon is coming to a close. If he wants to establish himself at the MLS level he will have to make an impression early in 2012. Otherwise, Freddie may be headed out on loan to the second division. Once there, it’s a bit of a hill to climb to get back.

Bright Dike

Much like Freddie, at 25 there is a certain feeling of now-or-never for Bright. The season seems to be setting up well for him, though. After breaking through in 2010, and being thwarted by injury in 2011, there is a feeling that Dike only needs a chance to make a name for himself.

It looks like he is going to get it this year, as both Trencito and Eddie Johnson are likely out for lengthy periods of time with injuries. Dike’s best case scenario – barring further injuries to the strikeforce – is likely becoming a consistent substitute. Interestingly, what happens on the right wing may be the most important factor for Bright. If Darlington Nagbe takes up the starting spot on the right, then Bright would presumably occupy the third striker spot. In that case, he would get an awful lot of 70^th minute appearances.

If somebody else – Sal Zizzo or Franck Sango’o – lay claim to the right midfield, then the going gets tougher as Nagbe would likely move up front and Bright would have to battle Perlaza for the opportunity to become a super-sub. I’m not saying he couldn’t win that battle, but it would certainly be tough.

David Horst

This designation seems a little bit cruel considering he is injured, but he faces a mountain to climb to work his way back into the lineup. With Brunner, Mosquera, and Futty looking like they’re in fine form early on, and with the club putting a lot on the development of Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Horst is going to have to get healthy and get back in form quickly if he wants to preserve his spot in the team and the league.

David was a borderline MLS player before coming to Portland, with Real Salt Lake consistently loaning him out to the second division. In 2011, however, Horst seemed to put himself on surer footing by being a very dependable backup center back, including a near-herculean[2] performance at home against Chivas USA. The injury, coupled with the arrival of Mosquera and Jean-Baptiste, seemingly put Horst back on the ropes. Last year he established himself as a pretty rough and tumble guy, though, so it wouldn’t surprise me if we haven’t seen the last of David Horst.

Timbers Notes

• The injury to Eddie Johnson is tremendously disappointing. In a year filled with disappointment at striker, there were a couple times in 2011 where Eddie looked like he might be the lone pleasant surprise. And just as he was rounding into form, the concussions began. I really hope Eddie can recover and bounce back, but the team is taking this with the appropriate seriousness.
• The once loaded strikeforce is starting to look a little bit threadbare now with Eddie and Trencito sidelined indefinitely. Enter Sebastian Rincon. There have been a lot of rumors flying around about Rincon, but it seems very likely he will make the team. Merritt reported last week that Rincon held a green card, meaning he wouldn’t take up an international roster spot. Behind Boyd, Perlaza, and Dike there should be room for another young striker to develop alongside Brent Richards. Plus, considering his relationship with Trencito, having him in the club will also help keep the Little Train motivated and happy in Portland.
• Speaking of Kris Boyd, where is he? This is probably premature, but considering the timelines reported by the club the last couple weeks, it seems like we should be seeing the Scotsman in green by now. Last time the Timbers signed a highly touted player from the British Isles . . . never mind. It’s probably nothing; these sorts of things can take time and are hard to predict with precision. Still, it’s hard not have flashbacks to Kerr . . . ugh, never mind.[3]
• Oh, and can somebody please tell us how Lance Davids is doing? He’s a pretty well credentialed player and has been with the club for a week, and yet we haven’t heard a peep about him. I imagine that may change with Lovel Palmer[4] seemingly sidelined for a good chunk of the preseason, if not more.
• For what it’s worth (next to nothing), Sunday marked John Spencer’s first win over longtime friend and former boss Dominic Kinnear, after two regular season losses and a preseason draw last year.
• Finally, a big happy birthday to Eric Brunner! May somebody appreciate your considerable soccer talents in your 27^th year on this planet.[5]

And with that, enjoy the next few matches – we’ll catch up again before the AIK tournament.

Onward, Rose City!

—by Chris Rifer

Welcome to Wednesday, folks. If you slept through Monday and Tuesday, well, prepare to be welcomed to a whole new world.[1]

Remember a few weeks ago when folks were griping about the lack of signings? Remember when some around Morrison Street were beginning to channel Gunner faithful in pleading for the Timbers to spend some [------] money? Trencito wasn’t enough – after trading Kenny Cooper and drafting thriftily many were demanding fresh blood to help the turf grow at Jeld-Wen Field.

And then Hanyer Mosquera happened. And it was good. But then it got quiet again, and the chants from the Emirates again began to be whispered on the winds through Portland.

And then Monday and Tuesday happened. Holy cow.

Kris Boyd

On Monday Portland got its man. After making clear that they were desirous of a #9 – somebody to hold the ball up, and finish chances – the Timbers landed their poacher in Kris Boyd.

A veteran of John Spencer’s old club, Rangers,[2] Kris Boyd comes to Portland as the all-time leading goalscorer in the Scottish Premier League.[3] From 2006-2010 Boyd logged 101 goals for Rangers in 143 appearances across all competitions. Boyd found the net seven times for Scotland in 18 caps. After a 2010 move to the English Championship, Boyd added 12 goals in 39 total appearances for Middlesboro and Nottingham Forest, including a torrid six goals in a ten match stretch for Forest.[4] Boyd briefly moved to the Turkish Super Lig this season, but apparently his club didn’t pay him.

While there are questions about Boyd,[5] the strong consensus seems to be that he is an upgrade – and perhaps a rather substantial upgrade – over Kenny Cooper. As a true poacher, it seems unlikely John Spencer would deploy him in a 4-5-1-like formation. Instead, he seems best suited to a more traditional 4-4-2, or perhaps an aggressive 4-3-3 with multiple strikers playing pretty high. He doesn’t seem like the type that will function well on his own up top.

Considering Spenny’s tendencies, my guess is we see Boyd as a lead man in the 4-4-2, with Jorge Perlaza running alongside. Darlington Nagbe seems like a more logical fit for right mid now, considering Boyd will need some service and Nagbe is probably the best passer the Timbers have available at that position right now.

Regardless of how the tactics work out, the addition of Boyd provides a rudder to a Timbers strikeforce that last week seemed a bit afloat.

Charles Renken

On Tuesday a player fell into Portland’s lap. After the other 18 MLS clubs turned up their nose at one-time American prodigy Charles Renken, Portland grabbed him off of waivers. What exactly does that mean? Well, nobody seems sure, but it seems likely Portland acquired Renken without losing their allocation position.

Renken is a fixture in the American youth system, having been called to every youth team from U-14 to U-20. Most recently, Renken played for Hoffenheim’s U-19s, logging 10 appearances in his first professional season last year.

There is no doubt Renken is a long-term prospect. Despite being on the national team radar for quite a while, Renken is still only 18. In the last couple years he has been slowed by a few knew injuries – something that is not unheard of considering the amount of soccer he has played while growing.

Nonetheless, Renken now becomes a guy that the Timbers can immerse in the MLS game for a couple years while letting him develop in the reserves. Instead of training with U-19s and reserves in Germany, he will train every day with first team professionals while getting meaningful playing time in the reserves.

While at this point Renken is far from a surefire prospect – as the fact that 18 other teams passed on him demonstrates – he is definitely a very high upside guy.[6] Don’t be surprised if Renken is breaking into the first team in a couple years and making a bit of a splash. Just the chance of that happening is well worth the Timber’s acquisition of him.

What’s to Come

Now folks, the week may not be over just yet.

Yesterday on ExtraTime Radio, Merritt suggested that there were likely two more major announcements yet to be made within the next week or so. First, it is likely we will hear something about the status of Trencito – and his mysterious medical testing – in the next day or two. At this point it sounds probable that the Timbers plan to keep Trencito in spite of some “red flags” that the physical raised, but the Timbers are in the process of negotiating a lower transfer fee from Santa Fe for the young striker.

Second, Merritt suggested that the international signings weren’t done just yet. After Boyd, Portland reportedly has one international roster spot left. For a couple weeks now the Timbers have been linked with Juan David Duque, a young left back from Atletico Nacional in (do I even have to say this?) Medellin, Colombia.

Finally, it is likely the Timbers will have the roster space to sign a trialist or two. Right now, the Timbers have two significant trialists in camp, Frank Sango’o, a Cameroonian winger, and Sebastian Rincon, an 18 year old Colombian striker from Trencito’s former club, Independiente Santa Fe. While Rincon is a recent arrival in Portland, Sango’o has been here all week and has impressed onlookers. Regardless, decisions on these guys will probably not be made until after the Timbers’ preseason trip to L.A., so you will likely have a few days to catch your breath.

Until next time,

Onward, Rose City!

For Immediate Release — January 24, 2012 —

The supporters groups from the three Cascadia MLS clubs have agreed on new rules for the Cascadia Cup after MLS moved to an unbalanced schedule in 2012.

The Emerald City Supporters, Southsiders and Timbers Army agreed that all matches will count towards the Cascadia Cup, even though the new unbalanced MLS schedule means each team will play a different number of home games against their Cascadia rivals this season.

“We all agreed that this was the simplest format, one that all the fans will find easiest to follow,” says Brenton Walters, Southsiders spokesperson.

Portland Timbers will host both Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps twice, Vancouver will see Portland once and Seattle twice at home, and Seattle will only host each team once. Despite this imbalance, the three supporters groups agreed to count all matches equally in order to keep the 2012 Cascadia Cup format simple.

“It’s unfortunate that the league didn’t work out a balanced schedule for the Cascadia teams,” says Garrett Dittfurth of the Timbers Army. “We think the league should fix this for next season so that no team has an unfair advantage in Cup matches.”

The Cascadia Cup will be awarded to the team with the most points after all matches have been played or when there is a clear winner. In the event of a tie, the Cup will be awarded to the team with the best goal differential followed by best head to head performance.

Should the MLS schedule remain unbalanced in 2013, the Emerald City Supporters, Southsiders, and Timbers Army insist that the 2013 MLS schedule will allow for a redistribution of the away/home matches.

“Cascadia is home to the oldest and strongest rivalry in North American soccer, and the value that the supporters put on the Cascadia Cup reflects that,” says Greg Mockos of the Emerald City Supporters. “The league should pay attention.”

In addition supporters’ group leadership has approved the following tie-breakers to apply in the case that two teams finish equal on points:

1. Greater number of points earned in matches between the teams concerned
   
2. Greater goal difference in matches between the teams concerned
   
3. Greater number of goals scored in matches between the teams concerned
   
4. Reapply first three criteria if two or more teams are still tied
   
5. Greater goal difference in all cup matches
   
6. Greater number of goals scored in all cup matches
   
7. Smaller number of disciplinary points in all cup matches (yellow = 1 point, red = 2 points)
   

These new tie-breakers will make it easier for fans to follow the standings and potential scenarios for their club winning the cup. Tie-breakers 1-6 are almost the same as those used in the UEFA and CONCACAF Champions League group stages. The main exception being that we have removed tie-breakers that look into away goals as it would likely not be a good idea with unbalanced schedules.

These new tie-breaker rules will be in effect until otherwise stated by supporters groups from all three Cascadia teams.

Background:

The Cascadia Cup was created in 2004 by supporters groups of the three Cascadia teams, and is awarded annually to the best team in the Cascadia region. Seattle and Vancouver have each won it three times, Portland has won it twice.

2012 Cascadia Cup schedule:

With the unbalanced 2012 MLS schedule, Portland plays four home and two away matches, Vancouver plays three home and three away matches and Seattle plays two home and four away matches.

Format: home team v. away team

• May 19: Vancouver Whitecaps v. Seattle Sounders
  
• May 26: Portland Timbers v. Vancouver Whitecaps
  
• June 24: Portland Timbers v. Seattle Sounders
  
• August 18: Seattle Sounders v. Vancouver Whitecaps
  
• August 25: Portland Timbers v. Vancouver Whitecaps
  
• September 15: Portland Timbers v. Seattle Sounders
  
• September 29: Vancouver Whitecaps v. Seattle Sounders
  
• October 7: Seattle Sounders v. Portland Timbers
  
• October 20: Vancouver Whitecaps v. Portland Timbers

—by Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson

Jelly Helm Studio, the Timbers ad agency responsible for so many awesome displays of love for the Timbers around town, recently sold a run of limited edition T-shirts as a benefit for local soccer. The T-shirt was a tribute to the early days of soccer, or "association football, " including a match that was played at the site that is now JELD-WEN Field back in 1893. The black "MULTNOMAH XI / 1893" T-shirt was sold as a fundraiser, with all profits going to both Operation Pitch Invasion and the Gisele Currier Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Thanks to T-shirt sales, Jelly Helm Studio has donated $185 to the Gisele Currier Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund was established last year in memory of beloved, long-time TA member Gisele Currier, who passed away suddenly last April. In her honor, moneys from the fund support soccer projects in the Portland region, including last year's scholarship recipients. Thanks to everyone who purchased the T-shirts to help raise the money for the fund.

Huge thanks to Jelly Helm Studio for their generous support.

Learn more about the Gisele Currier Memorial Fund, and make a donation to support local soccer.