That really sucks for Williamson. To have to go through an ACL again so soon is simply brutal. I felt like he was settling in this year, finally able to trust the body to do what was needed and he has to go through it all again. Here is to a speedy and full recovery Eryk! Hope to see you back on the pitch as soon as possible.
It seems like very Timbers injury is a really bad injury that keeps players out of the lineup for a very long time, often after surgery. Tough for Eryk to have to go through again.
Looks like we're officially in a "rebuilding year", no expectations and lots of playing time for the young and less-talented. Like surfing, the past is behind you, the future is unknown, and in the present everything is exploding all around you.
The "grass v. turf" debate in soccer is about as productive, and every bit as tedious, as the "stats v. scouts" debate in baseball. Grass causes injuries! Turf causes injuries! Sports causes injuries! There have been any number of studies that reach entirely contradictory, yet completely supportable, conclusions on whether one is worse than the other.
As with anything personal-health related, though, there's not ever only one answer to "why", and that is compounded when you're talking about a group of people. Every body is unique, every person's system is unique, so it's really hard to point at one thing and say THIS IS IT. THIS IS THE PROBLEM.
I mean, there's all kinds of factors:
- Personal physiology
- Training methodology
- Training staff
- Recovery philosophy
- Luck/right place right time (The Mikael Silvestre injury, let's not forget, happened to his leg that happened to be in the air at the time, so the ground had absolutely zero bearing on that particular career-ender)
I'd love for there to be one thing we could point at as The Problem, because that'd mean an easy fix. But there is no easy fix here. It sucks but all teams go through it - Seattle went through it last year, and this year that whole roster is fully healthy, and Seattle have probably the deepest bench in MLS right now because all their good players are competing for minutes.
Yeah he's done with the USMNT and he's not going to Europe, not because he's a bad player but because he will have aged out and have an injury history that everyone will be wary of. Hopefully, he comes up the realization like Asprilla did that Europe is not happening and works to become a Timbers legend.
I mean, you could have the best doctor in the world, but that doctor can't prevent you from stepping on a broken piece of pavement and shredding your ankle. It's the same in sports - the best physio team in the game can't prevent a guy from taking a wrong step or planting his foot funny, or getting stepped on, and then getting hurt.
They definitely play a role in recovery, and that's where there are definitely questions to be asked, but it's a pretty big stretch (no pun intended) to blame the injuries themselves on the medical staff, I think.
Man, so sorry to hear this, both for the team and Williamson personally. Just a gut punch for a season that looks like a total loss so far. I am hopeful for Evander, but with nobody to back him up or with a Williamson like approach to the game also out there in the middle, I don't think he will be successful this season.
It's official - The Timbers are cursed. The curse will be lifted once MP sells.
Also, I bagged on Eryk a ton this year, and to think he might have been playing through pain makes me feel really guilty. Sorry Eryk! I wish you a full and speedy recovery. You are a good character and member of the team, and I hope you are gliding down the field next year like we all know you can do.
That seals the deal for me - this year is cooked. I wonder how it will play out:
A) Train wreck
B) Plucky squad earns playoff bid with 0-0 draws and a few 1-0 wins
This is 'funny.' The same, "we are cursed" is spoken loud and often by Blazer fans after another fabulous year of injuries. Maybe Portland is now cursed. Sigh...
The Timbers never once intimated they were "set to burn" an amnesty on Blanco. Most of us on the outside wanted/want them to, but I would be very surprised if they bought out the contract of Blanco (or Niezgoda for that matter) at this point.
They'd have to replace Blanco on the roster and pay that player's salary, while also paying Blanco the $1.7M he's owed for this year. While MP could easily afford to do that, not many clubs want to pay two salaries for one roster spot, especially when the bought-out salary is as high as Blanco's.
I'm not sure why we all think that amnestying is a thing teams will do regularly, because it's very much not. The last time the Timbers amnestied a player was Kris Boyd in 2013, and there have only been 12 amnesties overall in MLS since 2021 according to data from mlssoccer.com (2021 is as far back as I could find data without googling team by team).
Should the buyout be used more as a tool? Maybe. But it's not - it's pretty much the nuclear option, so it's probably not something that we should count on as a regular way to maintain a roster, or a silver bullet to get the Timbers out of the mess they're currently in.
The question now becomes, where do we go from here? Our midfield is not in a good place, and while we have young players going forward, their heath has to be taken into consideration. Both Paredes and Williamson have missed a lot of games the last few years, and I worry that will continue going forward. Its good to have Ayala back, but I was hoping that he wouldn't be a part of the regular rotation until next year. Chara is a legend, but should be no more than a rotational player next year. I hate to say it, but the midfield is an area of high need right now.
The good thing is that Mabiala, Blanco and Niezgoda all come off the books the end of the season. Not sure about Yimmi but he signed the same year as Niezgoda. Regardless, that's a significant amount of $$ opening up. Like you said, we've got good pieces. It might just need to be a play the kids year and see what we have. Things look dour now, but next year we'll have cap space. Just hope they get the scouting director filled because Ned can't do double duty for much longer.
They rebuild. Almost from scratch. About the only area that isn't an area of need is goalkeeper. It won't be easy and it's gonna be a painful couple of years, but this team needs a complete overhaul of both coaching staff and playing personnel.
I don't know about that. I would definitely hold onto the following players for the next two years - Moreno, Mosquera, Evander, Bravo, McGraw. I would likely hold onto Ayala and Ikoba for development purposes. Getting a high quality CB to pair with McGraw is a must, and the defense should be stable with some quality backup players. I feel it should be easier to find attacking pieces to work around Moreno and Evander. The Midfield is just a mess and requires a lot of change.
I get the team isn't playing well, but I think there are good pieces to work with. We are seeing the work of the Timbers right now. We aren't going to win the Supporters Shield, but the potential still exists. I do question if Gio is the right coach to bring out the best in the players anymore. It has been seven years and the product remains mediocre (but with the potential for periods of greatness).
yeah, I was being a bit extreme and apocalyptic. There are good pieces to build around, for sure.
"It has been seven years and the product remains mediocre (but with the potential for periods of greatness)."
See, that's just it for me. I don't want "periods" of greatness. I want sustained quality, and the sustained expectation that this will be a top 5 team in the conference more often than not. I don't expect them to win MLS Cup or Supporters' Shield every year, but I would like them to be in the Supporters' Shield conversation every year, because that would mean they take the entire season seriously, and not just the last three months.
The Timbers should be a top-tier team in MLS, they're wasting that potential, and that makes me very angry.
I'm a fan of Gio, but I do think we are seeing what he can do for a team. He isn't a bad coach/manager, but he isn't a great one either. This year has been difficult to watch, and while I place a lot on the injuries, there just isn't a plan to attack another team right now. Find a weakness and exploit it! The players have been playing the game for years, and I just don't see a buildup to create a mismatch that happens on a regular basis. To get nothing on the attack against Vancouver just doesn't cut it. And now we lose Williamson who was one player who could create a mismatch by being on the ball. It's tough.
Well, shit.
I guess we’re just lucky part of the ligament didn’t fly out and take one of Diego Chara’s eyes.
That really sucks for Williamson. To have to go through an ACL again so soon is simply brutal. I felt like he was settling in this year, finally able to trust the body to do what was needed and he has to go through it all again. Here is to a speedy and full recovery Eryk! Hope to see you back on the pitch as soon as possible.
LMAO
https://www.thenutmegnews.com/current/2023/4/11/what-has-someone-else-done-to-cause-this-states-baffled-and-distraught-merritt-paulson
Hoping for an independent investigation with results to be published by fall 2025.
I knew it! It's the OUIJA board's fault!
Damn, I put that on my Timbers calendar cover this year too. So it's my fault too...
"I guess if nobody wants to play for the Timbers, I'll do it"
That is pretty damn funny, but also a little sad. Mostly funny though. Some serious Onion level humor!
Every Saturday around the 85th minute I tell myself, "Well, it can't get much worse."
And then the following week happens
It seems like very Timbers injury is a really bad injury that keeps players out of the lineup for a very long time, often after surgery. Tough for Eryk to have to go through again.
Looks like we're officially in a "rebuilding year", no expectations and lots of playing time for the young and less-talented. Like surfing, the past is behind you, the future is unknown, and in the present everything is exploding all around you.
Yeah but we are “rebuilding people” and not the team.
It's obviously because of the grass in Dallas. If only they had played that game on turf!
_________________
J/K, but not really because this is how people respond to injuries that happen on turf....
The "grass v. turf" debate in soccer is about as productive, and every bit as tedious, as the "stats v. scouts" debate in baseball. Grass causes injuries! Turf causes injuries! Sports causes injuries! There have been any number of studies that reach entirely contradictory, yet completely supportable, conclusions on whether one is worse than the other.
As with anything personal-health related, though, there's not ever only one answer to "why", and that is compounded when you're talking about a group of people. Every body is unique, every person's system is unique, so it's really hard to point at one thing and say THIS IS IT. THIS IS THE PROBLEM.
I mean, there's all kinds of factors:
- Personal physiology
- Training methodology
- Training staff
- Recovery philosophy
- Luck/right place right time (The Mikael Silvestre injury, let's not forget, happened to his leg that happened to be in the air at the time, so the ground had absolutely zero bearing on that particular career-ender)
I'd love for there to be one thing we could point at as The Problem, because that'd mean an easy fix. But there is no easy fix here. It sucks but all teams go through it - Seattle went through it last year, and this year that whole roster is fully healthy, and Seattle have probably the deepest bench in MLS right now because all their good players are competing for minutes.
Well, good news is that Paredes and Loria are both not on the injury report for this week!
*yet
Don’t even say that
Timbers did something really bad in a past life
Getting news that players are returning to full practice and even Blanco walked off the field with a smile, per Ryan Clarke.
And now this....
My expectations weren't that high this season. Now, I think I'll just focus on guys like Juan and Zac continuing develop.
Feel so badly for Eryk. Guy was hoping to get back in the USMNT rotation and that's probably over.
Yeah he's done with the USMNT and he's not going to Europe, not because he's a bad player but because he will have aged out and have an injury history that everyone will be wary of. Hopefully, he comes up the realization like Asprilla did that Europe is not happening and works to become a Timbers legend.
At this point I would like an explanation of how these injuries are not due to our Physio team... Wtf?
Well, the surgery is going to be performed by one of the Doctors Jake Gleeson is suing. Let's hope it's not a repeat.
I mean, you could have the best doctor in the world, but that doctor can't prevent you from stepping on a broken piece of pavement and shredding your ankle. It's the same in sports - the best physio team in the game can't prevent a guy from taking a wrong step or planting his foot funny, or getting stepped on, and then getting hurt.
They definitely play a role in recovery, and that's where there are definitely questions to be asked, but it's a pretty big stretch (no pun intended) to blame the injuries themselves on the medical staff, I think.
Wtf is up with the constant stream of knee injuries?
Man, so sorry to hear this, both for the team and Williamson personally. Just a gut punch for a season that looks like a total loss so far. I am hopeful for Evander, but with nobody to back him up or with a Williamson like approach to the game also out there in the middle, I don't think he will be successful this season.
The team is a mess.
Naw... While I wish Eryk a quick recovery, he's not what is needed for Evander to be at his best. Paredes is a much better fit.
Wow that sicks for Eryk. Best of luck to him healing up.
It's official - The Timbers are cursed. The curse will be lifted once MP sells.
Also, I bagged on Eryk a ton this year, and to think he might have been playing through pain makes me feel really guilty. Sorry Eryk! I wish you a full and speedy recovery. You are a good character and member of the team, and I hope you are gliding down the field next year like we all know you can do.
That seals the deal for me - this year is cooked. I wonder how it will play out:
A) Train wreck
B) Plucky squad earns playoff bid with 0-0 draws and a few 1-0 wins
C) Tryouts for next season's squad
Noel Caliskan looks promising for T2. i think 2 goals & an assist in 3 games. Put him in, we got almost no one else to play
Yeah I didn’t think he was trying hard enough, maybe that just his nature or maybe he was still playing a bit nervously.
Might need a a sports psychologist to work on that side of recovery with the guys.
This is 'funny.' The same, "we are cursed" is spoken loud and often by Blazer fans after another fabulous year of injuries. Maybe Portland is now cursed. Sigh...
Is the amnesty clause up for debate now? I think we were set to burn one on Blanco this year, and I wonder how this affects that....
The Timbers never once intimated they were "set to burn" an amnesty on Blanco. Most of us on the outside wanted/want them to, but I would be very surprised if they bought out the contract of Blanco (or Niezgoda for that matter) at this point.
They'd have to replace Blanco on the roster and pay that player's salary, while also paying Blanco the $1.7M he's owed for this year. While MP could easily afford to do that, not many clubs want to pay two salaries for one roster spot, especially when the bought-out salary is as high as Blanco's.
I'm not sure why we all think that amnestying is a thing teams will do regularly, because it's very much not. The last time the Timbers amnestied a player was Kris Boyd in 2013, and there have only been 12 amnesties overall in MLS since 2021 according to data from mlssoccer.com (2021 is as far back as I could find data without googling team by team).
Should the buyout be used more as a tool? Maybe. But it's not - it's pretty much the nuclear option, so it's probably not something that we should count on as a regular way to maintain a roster, or a silver bullet to get the Timbers out of the mess they're currently in.
Thanks for clarifying that.
The question now becomes, where do we go from here? Our midfield is not in a good place, and while we have young players going forward, their heath has to be taken into consideration. Both Paredes and Williamson have missed a lot of games the last few years, and I worry that will continue going forward. Its good to have Ayala back, but I was hoping that he wouldn't be a part of the regular rotation until next year. Chara is a legend, but should be no more than a rotational player next year. I hate to say it, but the midfield is an area of high need right now.
The good thing is that Mabiala, Blanco and Niezgoda all come off the books the end of the season. Not sure about Yimmi but he signed the same year as Niezgoda. Regardless, that's a significant amount of $$ opening up. Like you said, we've got good pieces. It might just need to be a play the kids year and see what we have. Things look dour now, but next year we'll have cap space. Just hope they get the scouting director filled because Ned can't do double duty for much longer.
I did find this: https://www.spotrac.com/mls/portland-timbers/cap/2024/
If this is accurate, it does look like Yimmi contract is up at the end of the season.
well that sure is a shame gosh you'll be missed I wish you well in your future endeavors
I would be okay bringing back Yimmi at the right cost. He shouldn't be a DP, but he helps the team.
The problem for me is the "right price" for what he brings to the table is probably far less than he would accept given his salary history.
We don't really have many kids to play though given that T2 was fucking TERRIBLE last year.
They rebuild. Almost from scratch. About the only area that isn't an area of need is goalkeeper. It won't be easy and it's gonna be a painful couple of years, but this team needs a complete overhaul of both coaching staff and playing personnel.
I don't know about that. I would definitely hold onto the following players for the next two years - Moreno, Mosquera, Evander, Bravo, McGraw. I would likely hold onto Ayala and Ikoba for development purposes. Getting a high quality CB to pair with McGraw is a must, and the defense should be stable with some quality backup players. I feel it should be easier to find attacking pieces to work around Moreno and Evander. The Midfield is just a mess and requires a lot of change.
I get the team isn't playing well, but I think there are good pieces to work with. We are seeing the work of the Timbers right now. We aren't going to win the Supporters Shield, but the potential still exists. I do question if Gio is the right coach to bring out the best in the players anymore. It has been seven years and the product remains mediocre (but with the potential for periods of greatness).
yeah, I was being a bit extreme and apocalyptic. There are good pieces to build around, for sure.
"It has been seven years and the product remains mediocre (but with the potential for periods of greatness)."
See, that's just it for me. I don't want "periods" of greatness. I want sustained quality, and the sustained expectation that this will be a top 5 team in the conference more often than not. I don't expect them to win MLS Cup or Supporters' Shield every year, but I would like them to be in the Supporters' Shield conversation every year, because that would mean they take the entire season seriously, and not just the last three months.
The Timbers should be a top-tier team in MLS, they're wasting that potential, and that makes me very angry.
I'm a fan of Gio, but I do think we are seeing what he can do for a team. He isn't a bad coach/manager, but he isn't a great one either. This year has been difficult to watch, and while I place a lot on the injuries, there just isn't a plan to attack another team right now. Find a weakness and exploit it! The players have been playing the game for years, and I just don't see a buildup to create a mismatch that happens on a regular basis. To get nothing on the attack against Vancouver just doesn't cut it. And now we lose Williamson who was one player who could create a mismatch by being on the ball. It's tough.