149 Comments

About half way through last night's game I thought to myself: it took a while, but this is finally starting to feel like Phil Neville's team.

Expand full comment

I live in Charlotte now, and it was as embarrassing in person as it was on TV. Waited 3 years to see them play here and it was horrible.

Expand full comment
May 5·edited May 5

Damn! I didn't watch the game because I have been sick and tired of being sick and tired watching this team. The last 5 years has just been some of the worst soccer to watch and that includes the 2011 team. Looking at the comments, it looks like I'm the only winner by not watching the game. (I have only missed 9 games since 2011)

I really do think it's time to boycott mp being the owner of this team. Between the off field disasters and the consistent on field disaster, the only variable is mp. It's time to go. We fans deserve better.

Expand full comment

Well, I’m going to hit the movies to try and get this game out of my head. Just terrible

Expand full comment
founding

Thorns are about to kick off, if you want to see a Portland team that understands how to pass

Expand full comment

Some day I'll remember I can get ION via my Roku box...

Expand full comment
founding

Admittedly it’s a little clunky. I use Tubi for Ion

Expand full comment

I look forward to the day when NWSL games are on a single, readily available platform

Expand full comment
founding

They’re consistently on Ion (now), it’s just that I use Hulu for my live tv and they don’t carry Ion, so I have to use the Tubi app on my smart tv (which is a free app).

Expand full comment

Well, I have a dumb TV with no cable / streaming service and I get Ion "over-the-air" with just a simple antenna. Great connection/reception, too.

Expand full comment
founding

Week after week I just think about whoever it was in here that told me to shut up because I said Phil was gonna be trash and some of us knew it as soon as we announced him. Every week I feel a little more vindicated 😂

Expand full comment

I recall people being pretty bent when they announced Neville's hiring. Seemed to be the consensus that he has too much baggage and a terrible record. I certainly don't want to feel vindicated, but here we are! Let's see what happens if PTFC continues this streak through the home game v Seattle... the next couple of games could see us plummet to the very bottom of the table. ...

Expand full comment

Continuing to watch this team is an act of dedication they do not deserve. When they don't have Evander they may well be the most boring team in the world. It's hard to know what's up with Neville but what's for sure is that this roster is a disaster. There may not be a coach who can overcome it. There's just no mesh to this team.

Expand full comment

I was actually starting to root for Charlotte, felt like the home crowd deserved a win more than PTFC to be honest

Expand full comment

Mind boggling that since its inception a team has never figured out its defense.

Expand full comment

Hey that 2015 Cup squad had a great back line. Of course Eidgy and Borchers was just a solid pairing. After that, age took its toll. And GW blew it on player acquisition.

Expand full comment

Guess Dean Smith showed Phil who's the best English coach in the league! Don't know where to start with the defense except to say that it might have been below AYSO standard. Actually, the entire team looked below AYSO.

Expand full comment

How can a 6’4”, 180lb player dribble through our mid-field and back line and get that close to goal?

Expand full comment

My advice is to go watch highlights of Ipswich getting promoted as a palate cleanser. Go get reminded of how inspiring this game can be as this is clearly going to be a soul-crushing season

Expand full comment

I saw that there were back to back NWSL games on the TV and I used that to cleanse my mental palate and help me feel like there's hope in the world after all.

Expand full comment

Or watch Haji Wright and Coventry. Or Josh Sargent with Norwich. Both teams chasing promotion though Norwich still has a shot. And didn't we think last season was a soul crusher? Can't believe we have to go through this stuff again.

Expand full comment
founding

I’m going to chock that up to Charlotte’s elite roster…

Expand full comment

In a season that’s chock full of ugliness, I think this game is the ugliest yet. Nothing on offense, no cohesive possession, and combined with some standard unthinkably awful defending. Timber’s ownership and management should be ashamed but I’m afraid they really don’t care.

Expand full comment

that game was brutal.

Expand full comment

Our passing is horrific.

Expand full comment
founding

It was shocking to see that we had more passing and better accuracy in those final stats

Expand full comment

Has been all season. Tonight is just exceptionally bad with no Chará or Evander on the pitch.

Expand full comment

Does Neville want to win the wooden spoon? It's obviously a trophy he hasn't won yet. Or maybe he wants a top 5 draft picknext season. We need someone from this site or an Oregonian reporter (probably unlikely) to inquire.

Expand full comment

I don't think Neville wants to win anything, from the looks of it

Expand full comment

The upside is with McGraw and Miller being defensive liabilities, Timbers don't need to worry about them being called up for the CMNT...

Expand full comment

That would be addition by subtraction for the Canucks!

Expand full comment

So that's nine points in eleven matches for the Timbers this season, and giving up 2+ goals in each of the last seven matches.

Looking good Phil!

Expand full comment

Actually 10 pts, so yay?

Expand full comment

Yep, I got that wrong. But still nothing to brag about:

Timbers MLS full-time managers through their first 11 matches:

Spencer: 1.54 PPM

Porter: 1.63 PPM

Savarese: 1.82 PPM

Neville: 0.91 PPM

(also, Joseph: 1.7 PPM - 10 matches)

Expand full comment

We're on our way to being out of the playoff race by July at my most optimistic guess. So yeah, this bud's for you?

Expand full comment

Max is probably regretting coming to a team with no back line

Expand full comment

Empty stadium FC sticking to the Timbers.

Expand full comment

to be fair, that's a 60k capacity stadium

Expand full comment

Wow. What was that throw in

Expand full comment

Heck, that throw-in should basically count as an assist smh

Expand full comment

The scoreline is very flattering to us.

Expand full comment
founding

Fixed that for you

Expand full comment

Not anymore.

Expand full comment

Fixed it for ya....

Expand full comment

Not any more!

Expand full comment

The substitution decisions have not made sense other than of course Zupa for Araujo. Not sure what Neville is thinking?

Expand full comment
founding

No need to isolate this comment to a single game, friend 😂

Expand full comment
founding

More what does he have?

Expand full comment

Yellow card for that mullet

Expand full comment

Wasted chances FC

Expand full comment

When I see all of their players bunched together in a wall and just to the side of the wall, I would try a diagonal pass into open space for a point-blank blast. Especially when the free kick is that close - too hard to get it up and down over the wall.

Expand full comment

Hey look, ref finally called one in our favor!

Expand full comment

Moreno having a nice game.

Expand full comment

Bravo was limping, I hope he’s not injured…

Expand full comment

If you put these two kits together you'd have a nice Easter egg basket.

Expand full comment

No one is stepping up for Portland. Missing a clear pitch leader tonight.

Expand full comment

Nice of the Timbers to put some road cones out for Charlotte to dodge on their way to that goal

Expand full comment

Maybe ODOT will be our next kit sponsor....

Expand full comment

This ref is ridiculous

Expand full comment

So I heard Piojo might be available soon. He's nuts and choking and walkie talking incidents aside, he's actually a decent coach. At least his Timbers wouldn't be like the Old Timbers. All we've done is trade the old boss for a newer boss, just a shinier version. They both suck, of course. Not the coach upgrade we had in mind, eh?

Expand full comment

I don't recall hearing anyone think this was an upgrade. I'm just curious to see what happens if PTFC bottoms out and remains at the bottom of the table all season.

Expand full comment
founding

I didn’t think it was an upgrade when they announced it. Wasn’t happy then. Not particularly happy now.

Expand full comment

On the old site we certainly had several threads regarding his hiring. I think just about all of us were underwhelmed. In capital letter.

Expand full comment

I was angry when they announced it and I'm angrier by the week, mostly because I know we're stuck with him for at least a season and probably two. They're not going to cut bait on him this early, and even if they miss the playoffs again they'll probably at least let him have this winter to plan another start to a season before they make a decision. Which means this is who the Timbers are now.

Expand full comment

We could give him next season, sure. Question is if we cut him loose before his contract ends, what's the $$$ owed for early gtermination? His agent would be stupid not to put in some kind of clause if we cut him loose prematurely.

Just more money down the drain. I still think maybe NG needs to also walk the plank. But how much say he had compared to MP??

Expand full comment

Yeah, pretty sure the Timbers would owe him either his full contract or a significant buyout. MP can afford it. I'd be leery of firing a coach and GM at the same time, honestly, there's enough chaos replacing one and this team needs at least a little stability at some point.

Expand full comment
founding

We are not covering ourselves in glory but this ref is bad.

Expand full comment

Great shot by Paredes. I've always felt he's one of our most unappreciated players.

Expand full comment

Boring game, poor cohesion, bad result. Not much to like, honestly.

Expand full comment

Williamson just isn’t a 10. He’s so much better deeper, we see now he’s getting on the ball more and progressing play

Expand full comment

Problem is he sucks at defense. But I agree with you. We miss Evander today.

Expand full comment

I am so over Williamson... Have been a supporter of his since he was on T2, but his give aways and then just watching after he loses the ball is bush league... ship him out.

Zac McGraw has regressed so much I would check to see if he has been making some $$ on the betting sites.

Just awful soccer all around.

Expand full comment

Same re EW. Reluctantly agree.

Expand full comment

At least our chants are better than their endless repetition....

Expand full comment

I've always been a McGraw supporter, but wow, his one-on-one defending is shambolic. Almost as if he needs to go back to school and learn how to defend. Looks like he is implementing the matador method.

Expand full comment

At least the matador occasionally gets in the way of the bull

Expand full comment

I think the Timbers would fit in just fine with Nisa or NPSL. We can have a rivalry with PDX FC. Villafana and Valeri are on the coaching staff over there so it'll be a reunion parrty.

Expand full comment

If you let an opponent play around endlessly in front of your goal and don’t challenge anyone. They will score eventually.

Expand full comment

So you noticed the 1v1? The 2 being our guys failing to play basic defense?

Expand full comment

No possession, no counter-attack. This is just an ugly game from PTFC. But ugly in a different way than the most of the season.

Expand full comment
May 5·edited May 5

Soooooo...they're evolving? Hooray?

sigh I don't even know any more

Expand full comment

Devolving, I’d say. Which is great if you’re DEVO but not so great otherwise.

Expand full comment

THAT'S IT!!!!! Timbers should play in energy domes and yellow jumpsuits. That would solve so many problems. At least the problem of "this isn't fun to watch".

Expand full comment

Seconded. I can't get no satisfaction otherwise.

Expand full comment

I mean, yellow is a team color. Come on, Adidas, let's see that third kit!

Expand full comment

SWIWS!

Expand full comment

I take back what I’ve been saying about McGraw, he’s definitely taken a huge step back. No confidence

Expand full comment

You have to wonder what happened? Did that Canada call up go to this head? Ruin him? Yeah, just a complete reversal. And not in a positive direction.

Expand full comment

Thanks for coming round. Now we need Zac to shake off whatever's plaguing him and come around to last year's form.

Expand full comment

It's so weird. What happened to him? Just psyched out?

Expand full comment

Spank!

Expand full comment

Not surprised at all sad to say

Expand full comment

Such fun defending!

Expand full comment

How was that not a yellow for Malanda's foul on Eryk?

Expand full comment

We should be down two. We have four starters out and Zuparic in who hasn’t been around. We are just throwing balls downfield hoping for someone to run under it. Williamson, who has skills, playing 10 doesn’t touch or want the ball so we can’t control or get the ball out of our midfield. Damn, why did I spoil myself with that premier league game?

Expand full comment

Not that you're wrong but, like, you're just now noticing the gulf in talent there? hahaha

Expand full comment

It's the gulf of effort that is getting to me.... Just compete.

Expand full comment

A classic mistake!

Expand full comment

Andreas is right. Change our name to Dodged A Bullet FC. Can't believe we escaped the half without being down several goals. We're also part of some dubious history...the new rule that states the refs have to make the VAR announcement in stadium and on air actually went into effect today. Already happened in the Orlando game, at least. According to the mls reddit forum.

Expand full comment

I saw it in a couple games last week too, so it's been happening for a couple weeks I think. Either way I'm happy for the transparency. I'm also happy that they have introduced the anti time-wasting rules around substitutions and injuries, too.

Expand full comment

No Chara + no Evander = no connectivity. Looks like pick up soccer, standing and watching the guy with the ball.

Expand full comment

No off ball movement in the middle, we play best when Ayala, Paredes, and Williamson are on the ball in space, but they aren’t moving around enough. More movement, more energy, less long balls. We’re lucky Charlotte isn’t that good otherwise we’d be losing, they’ve gotten in behind too much

Expand full comment

Pro makes the right call?? Be still my beating heart!

Expand full comment