Right about now is when you should get excited. It might not feel like spring, but the USL season is just over a month away. The squad is rounding into form, we have some real preseason games to watch, and great new ways to follow the Timbers on radio and TV! Fans of the Mighty Portland Timbers just can't think of much else right now, and who can blame them?
was that a good hook? I can never tell. Check out all the news, below the fold.
Preseason for the Timbers and the fans!
Preseason isn't just for the new Timbers squad to get their fitness up, it's for the fans to get those vocal folds torn up and ready. Many of the ultras went for a run out to support the University of Portland Pilots in a friendly with the Shittle Sounders, which I mentioned in the last go-round, but we have real preseason matches to watch!
Preseason Schedule as of today:
@ San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) 3/14 — The SJ Earthquakes had a better than expected season last year on the back of ex-Norwich City midfielder Darren Huckerby. the Quakes added occasional US International Bobby Convey this winter, who spent the last 5 seasons with Reading FC (west of London) as the club hopped into and out of the Premier league. Should be a great match for the Timbers, a week before the Quakes kick off the MLS season.
vs Red Bull New York (MLS) at Merlo Field 3/20 — The Red Bulls will get in a run-out for their bench against the Timbers after slaughtering the underwear models up north to the tune of battle hymn of the republic or whatever stupid shit the Seattle Marching Band will play. The Red Bulls are pulling talent from South America at a frightening rate, and look to be better than the team that struggled to stay competitive in the Championship game last season.
vs. U of P at Merlo Field 3/27 — A preseason match against U of P is becoming tradition. This year it happens after , so perhaps a number of Pilots will have made that squad. Last year it snowed, which made 'Timbers wonderland' especially fun to sing.
@ Whitecaps 4/3 — Rehearsal for opening day game, up in the Canadian wilderness.
We may see a few more games added in April, but this is the current list.
Roster News. Who will you see?
Not Lawrence Olum. Larry larry Larry OOOOOOO's contract was sold to the Minnesota Thunder, instantly pissing off pretty much every Timbers fan I know. It was also a fabulous way for the Timbers to show off their new twitter account. While Lawrence was inconsistent at times, he is young, fast and creative, and the announcement that the Timbers shipped him off while bringing back under-performing geriatrics Shaun Higgins and Takayuki Suzuki, makes this move extra special stupid. Bad move guys, bad move.
Goalkeeper Steve Cronin, a veteran of 4 LA Galaxy seasons (even a few as a starter) jumped off the bottom of the Galaxy roster and packed his bags for Portland. Cronin the Barbarian's veteran leadership will be a welcome change from last year's never ending round of goalkeeper musical chairs.
Speaking of Defense, David Hayes, a veteran USL defender last seen in uniform for the now extinct Atlanta Silverbacks has signed with the Timbers. Another aging but solid defender means that we have enough power in the back to make Cronin the Barbarian's job a little easier.
So, the squad as it stands looks like this:
Predictions of and wagers over the starting XI are encouraged.Keepers:
Steve Cronin
Defenders:
Cameron Knowles, Scot Thompson, Cameron Dunn, Dieumerci Vua, David Hayes.
Midfielders:
Miguel Guante, Kiki Lara, Johan Claesson, Tony McManus, Brian Farber, Keith Savage, Josh Cameron, Tommy Poltl, Shaun Higgins.
Forwards:
Takayuki Suzuki, Antouman Jallow, Jason McLaughlin (m/f), Keita Mandjou, George Josten.
Trialists trialists trialists!
Times are tough out there, and everyone is clinging to a job if they have 'em, or doing whatever they can to find something to keep the cash flowing in. In soccer, the 'just gimme a chance coach' class of player come in for preseason trials, in the hopes of landing a just slightly above minimum wage job playing soccer. The list of trialists is here. We'll see who wins those last few spots.
Local coverage
As I prophesied in the last column, the Timbers have struck a small broadcast deal with the local Fox Sports Net. FSN will broadcast 7 home games this season, which are mostly watched on repeat by timbers fans who want more exotic angles of a game they witnessed in person.
April 30 — vs. Carolina (7 p.m.)
June 4 — vs. Montreal (7 p.m.)
June 28 — vs. Montreal (5 p.m.)
July 23 — vs. Puerto Rico (7 p.m.)
Aug. 22 — vs. Miami FC (7:30 p.m.)
Sept. 13 — vs. Cleveland (5 p.m.)
Sept. 17 — vs. Cleveland (7:30 p.m.)
95.5fm 'The Game', Portland's newish FM sports radio station, has inked a deal to broadcast all Timbers home and away games, which will lead to every Timbers fan trying desperately to sync the USL Live video feed with John Strong and Andy Mac on the radio to drown out the opposing announcers, who have triggered more than a fewTourette-like episodes from me in the past. I especially hate the motormouth fat ass in the houndstooth blazer who does the Rochester matches. DO NOT WANT.
Tune in Monday for my final thoughts on the MLS2PDX effort. The Task Force will present their recommendation to the City Council on Wednesday, March 11th. Until then, compadres.
