The Timbers return home to face FC Dallas. Can they put in a better performance? Can they score? Come chat & commiserate about the answers to those questions and more in the match thread!
Bingham off his line at least 2 times scooping up balls Dallas players would have gotten too. Putting out those fires. Love it. Parades had a really nice game. Blocked a lot of passes. Played some solid d.
Looked wonderful for the first 15 plus. I don’t like how conservative we came out for the second but it damn near worked a number of times and Dallas’ keep played really well. The last 20-30 minutes were full bunker and I really don’t like it.
Evander showed massive quality again. And there are some solid pieces around him. There should be more stretches like the opening 15.
My best guess on Moreno is that his work rate is extremely high. So he likely runs himself out of the game. He is still young, and hopefully learns to conserve his energy.
One of the best games of the year by Evander, his first half was really good. I think I saw one bad pass in the first, and a lot of passes that opened up the field. I still think he needs to be more aggressive with the ball, but if he plays like last night more often he is going to be just fine.
The Timbers did play very conservatively at the start of the second half. However, as Tony Meola mentioned on the FS1 broadcast, Portland went back to applying high pressure for the last 15-20 minutes, which slowed down Dallas. And for some reason Dallas moved Jesus Ferreira from forward to left back once Portland began pressing again. The press was very effective in the first half, but it’s difficult to press for 90 minutes, especially with the injury list. It was a pretty good game other than not finishing other good chances in the final third. Even so, it was very, very, very much better than earlier in the season, and the defense was generally good. A clean sheet is a good thing.
Yes ‘full bunker’ is the wrong way to describe the last stretch of the game. But as a press goes, it was very defensive and sprung very little forward. Perhaps has to do with taking all our best attackers off as well.
Would be nice to see any of the front four go 90. I’m not huge on Nathan, but I think he makes more sense as a sub than Niezgoda, especially for the tactics yesterday.
I can’t expect the intensity of the first 20 minutes to be sustainable, but I do want to see more possession and front foot soccer. I know we almost scored a few times in that second half, and should have, really. Still. I want more of the ball.
For another week. But let's wait to see if hemakes playoffs. I'm also taking a wait and see to the rumored summer transfers. Like a cb that will be rock steady and put Mabs out to pasture. But nobody should be holding their breath.
Paredes has been playing well for almost the entire season. Like so many Timbers, he needs to clean up his final-third passing and shooting. However, he has been a solid replacement for Williamson (not as strong on offense, but stronger on defense, and he’s battling and passing well over most of the field). Without Williamson and Ayala, I was worried when he stayed down after he was fouled tonight.
Can't believe we managed to hold on. I saw Mabs and screamed. Hell, that final play with Bingham just managing to tip the ball away almost gave me a heart attack. I guess a win is a win but this team is stressing me out every weekend.
I also really thought we’d concede on something cheap at the end. But if there’s any non deep bench use for Mabs it’s this—extra defender for final 8 minutes.
Yeah except mabs is the one they kept them onside on the very last play where they almost scored. Everyone else held a high line. He dropped early. At least I think it was him
I think the substitution was to go to 5 players at the back for extra defense (I know that’s an iffy idea with Mabiala). At least this time it was for a few minutes, unlike some of the longer subs — or starts — he made earlier this season. I wish his skill level could match his friendly personality.
Blanco's availability probably. That and we don't really have a great sub for Asprilla. Like who is really going to replace his agression? Just speaks of how bad our depth is after all the injuries.
I suspect Gio looks at Blanco as Evander's backup. The real question is why he felt the need to sub in Mabs. For love of God, I'd still take Rasmussen over Mabs. Or maybe let Asprilla play the full 9o+
Absolutely not. For like 10 minutes, give me Larrys any day of the week. Rasmussen should absolutely never play for the Timbers again. He's not a has been MLS starter like Mabiala, he's a marginal USL player at his best.
I'm trying figure out why the need to sub out Boli. There's like 30' left on the clock so plenty of time for Dallas to equalize. Goda better score or everyone pray we pull through.
I get you. There is also the matter of the forearm to the throat. I get the feeling Unikel and the VAR ref figured that both players were at fault and split the difference.
Best first half we have seen all year. Let's keep it up and get the win. Still not convinced of gio and think we should move on, but let's see If this goes into the next game, and the next game, and so forth
You sir, have won the day! That is indeed a great question. Someone should ask Gio. Personally, I could like with the lack of sinishing if we did play this chaotic. At least we saw chances being created.
We're going to have to do a lot to keep up. If the league is getting Messi and his pals, there is going to be an arms race for Apple bux players. Hope we're not left behind.
Our other strikers don’t find chances nearly as consistently as Boli does. No matter how many sitters he misses, I’ll always take him because he eventually puts those chances away
Bingham off his line at least 2 times scooping up balls Dallas players would have gotten too. Putting out those fires. Love it. Parades had a really nice game. Blocked a lot of passes. Played some solid d.
Looked wonderful for the first 15 plus. I don’t like how conservative we came out for the second but it damn near worked a number of times and Dallas’ keep played really well. The last 20-30 minutes were full bunker and I really don’t like it.
Evander showed massive quality again. And there are some solid pieces around him. There should be more stretches like the opening 15.
Is Moreno not fit? He’s often the first sub.
My best guess on Moreno is that his work rate is extremely high. So he likely runs himself out of the game. He is still young, and hopefully learns to conserve his energy.
One of the best games of the year by Evander, his first half was really good. I think I saw one bad pass in the first, and a lot of passes that opened up the field. I still think he needs to be more aggressive with the ball, but if he plays like last night more often he is going to be just fine.
The Timbers did play very conservatively at the start of the second half. However, as Tony Meola mentioned on the FS1 broadcast, Portland went back to applying high pressure for the last 15-20 minutes, which slowed down Dallas. And for some reason Dallas moved Jesus Ferreira from forward to left back once Portland began pressing again. The press was very effective in the first half, but it’s difficult to press for 90 minutes, especially with the injury list. It was a pretty good game other than not finishing other good chances in the final third. Even so, it was very, very, very much better than earlier in the season, and the defense was generally good. A clean sheet is a good thing.
Yes ‘full bunker’ is the wrong way to describe the last stretch of the game. But as a press goes, it was very defensive and sprung very little forward. Perhaps has to do with taking all our best attackers off as well.
Would be nice to see any of the front four go 90. I’m not huge on Nathan, but I think he makes more sense as a sub than Niezgoda, especially for the tactics yesterday.
I can’t expect the intensity of the first 20 minutes to be sustainable, but I do want to see more possession and front foot soccer. I know we almost scored a few times in that second half, and should have, really. Still. I want more of the ball.
I’ll take a win though.
Gio keeps his job I guess
For another week. But let's wait to see if hemakes playoffs. I'm also taking a wait and see to the rumored summer transfers. Like a cb that will be rock steady and put Mabs out to pasture. But nobody should be holding their breath.
Paredes had a good game.
The team finally looked liked they gave an F.
Blanco trying to sprint after the ball, it was obvious he just can't anymore.
Dallas was sooooooo bad with the ball. They looked like the Timbers all year with passes going to nobody but the other teams.
Paredes has been playing well for almost the entire season. Like so many Timbers, he needs to clean up his final-third passing and shooting. However, he has been a solid replacement for Williamson (not as strong on offense, but stronger on defense, and he’s battling and passing well over most of the field). Without Williamson and Ayala, I was worried when he stayed down after he was fouled tonight.
Can't believe we managed to hold on. I saw Mabs and screamed. Hell, that final play with Bingham just managing to tip the ball away almost gave me a heart attack. I guess a win is a win but this team is stressing me out every weekend.
I also really thought we’d concede on something cheap at the end. But if there’s any non deep bench use for Mabs it’s this—extra defender for final 8 minutes.
Yeah except mabs is the one they kept them onside on the very last play where they almost scored. Everyone else held a high line. He dropped early. At least I think it was him
3 pts. picked up thanks to Paredes and no thanks to Gio.
I called for his resignation but no one heard me
Can't even blow a lead properly...
We didn't loose!
Larrys almost cost us. Totally lost his guy. Holy jeebus.
And Mabiala in for Asprilla. Might be a nervy final minutes
I think the substitution was to go to 5 players at the back for extra defense (I know that’s an iffy idea with Mabiala). At least this time it was for a few minutes, unlike some of the longer subs — or starts — he made earlier this season. I wish his skill level could match his friendly personality.
Yeah, Gio was definitely yelling at the back line and holding five fingers up.
Larrys Time !!!
And not a good thing, either!!
Oh hell no. 3 mins is too much to have Mabs in.
Mabiala?!?!?
Oh my god..Mabs. Why does Gio do this to us?!
Why Evander off instead of Asprila??
Blanco's availability probably. That and we don't really have a great sub for Asprilla. Like who is really going to replace his agression? Just speaks of how bad our depth is after all the injuries.
Why can't Blanco sub for asprilla? He's playey on the right and left wing dozens of times.
I suspect Gio looks at Blanco as Evander's backup. The real question is why he felt the need to sub in Mabs. For love of God, I'd still take Rasmussen over Mabs. Or maybe let Asprilla play the full 9o+
Absolutely not. For like 10 minutes, give me Larrys any day of the week. Rasmussen should absolutely never play for the Timbers again. He's not a has been MLS starter like Mabiala, he's a marginal USL player at his best.
Who knows?
For a supposed striker, Goda has lousy vision and shot selection skills. Just awful.
He's very good if a rebound happens to fall at his feet.
Otherwise....
Jeez for someone so talented Evander is so casual with the ball
And Loria just sucks
I'm trying figure out why the need to sub out Boli. There's like 30' left on the clock so plenty of time for Dallas to equalize. Goda better score or everyone pray we pull through.
Maybe they listened to my plea for Niezgoda
😏
Yeah, I have a feeling overturned red, missed chances, and bad subs are going to bite us in the butt.
Wtf about that whole thing with chara. He damn near got stabbed
The missed chances really burns. We actually dominated the first half but except for that goal - nada.
And this sub, GIO OUT!
VAR strikes again. This time in our favor.
In our favor? By overturning a red on Dallas?
And adding a red to Chara?
I'm sure some Dallas fans believe that stomp on the leg warranted a red.
Yellow to chara.
Wtf was that bs
So apparently stepping on a player's leg does not justify a red.
I think he elbowed Chara in the neck too
Yep. But stomping on a leg like that, with cleats, after the play, I thought was a no-question, clear-as-day, no-way-to-dispute-it red card.
I guess I am wrong about that.
I get you. There is also the matter of the forearm to the throat. I get the feeling Unikel and the VAR ref figured that both players were at fault and split the difference.
But Diego didn't do anything red-card worthy. He certainly deserved the yellow.
But the Dallas player did two things that are likely red-card deserving. So the situations are not equal.
The forearm to the throat is what put Chara down in the first place. That’s what Ted and the VAR official should’ve been focused on.
WTactualF?
Chara leg lock. LOL
Fight!!!!
Just flabbergastted at Moreno's regression this season. He has no goals this season compared to 7 in' '22. Unbelievable.
Oh that's just painful. Bury that into the sun Moreno. Damn
How?
So bunker and counter for the second half?
Oh snap, what a chance
Best first half we have seen all year. Let's keep it up and get the win. Still not convinced of gio and think we should move on, but let's see If this goes into the next game, and the next game, and so forth
Let’s see if it goes into the second half…
This is insane but fun lol. I am entertained.
Yes. Why don’t we play this aggressive more often?
Probably because our defence is pretty weak and would be attackers need to fall back to support them?
I still don't get why we don't use the 4-4-2 formation, seemed to work back when we creamed Seattle.
I'd say
Evander - Boli
Asprilla - Paredes - Chara - Moreno
Miller - McGraw - Zuparich - Mosquera
Ivacic
You sir, have won the day! That is indeed a great question. Someone should ask Gio. Personally, I could like with the lack of sinishing if we did play this chaotic. At least we saw chances being created.
And we have the answer to that silly question by a poster why not start Niezgoda.
That was me, I see your point
I appreciate Boli;. But RSL just got Arango. This is what we're up against, folks.
We're going to have to do a lot to keep up. If the league is getting Messi and his pals, there is going to be an arms race for Apple bux players. Hope we're not left behind.
"apple Designated Player". I can see the new player spending category.
iDPlayer. (I'm trademarking that Apple!)
Fuck yah
First time I have seen passing with purpose great move
Dime from Evander; just relieved Boli finished. FFinally got paid after all those chances.
Our other strikers don’t find chances nearly as consistently as Boli does. No matter how many sitters he misses, I’ll always take him because he eventually puts those chances away
Just perfect from Evander. And Boli has been very active
Great ball from Evander and nice finish.
Ok
Absolutely no structure to either team. The ball is likea hit spud no one wants to control it
Facepalm...
Dodgy ref
Wait til all the Messi fans watch Unkel in action. Actually, that goes for just about all the refs.
Yeah... Messi is going to get absolutely every call.
Lol. I have no doubt Messi will be treated differently. One set of rules for him. One for everyone else.
Yeah feels like there is always a bad call about to happen
Sigh
Ooh that was baad
Yellow for that? Unkel...dude...you're terrible.
Asprilla playing really well so far
Dairon should shave his head
Timbers look so chaotic in the attacking third. I love the energy, but is there some sort of plan at work? Because it looks insane.
What's insane is the multiple shots we've had and we still can't convert! Paes doing a Guzan. How many saves? Three for four?
We're a great team for opposing keepers. They just save everything in sight. Any keeper. Home and away.
We’re playing with fight and energy? We look sharp and aggressive? This is crazy