101 Comments

So we got schooled by an undermanned Philly team despite our 'wonder signing'. Can't wait to see Phil spin this one. We never tested their 2nd team goalie very much so all the missed chances feel even more rueful. All in all I'm not very optimistic about this Timbers team.

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One thing that's been refreshing about Phil is he does not try to spin positive. Even in our wins, he was (rightfully) critical of the team.

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Turns out the wonder signing isn't a defensive unit that can defend corners. Rodriguez wasn't anywhere near the problem tonight, and it was great to see him score. He'll be fine. The Timber attack isn't the problem - they created a bunch in the first half, if they can keep doing that, they'll score pretty regularly. But they can't keep allowing three goals a game, particularly to a team who didn't even travel a full squad due to injuries and call-ups.

I said before the game that this was a big test for Phil. He did as well on this test as I did on most tests when I was in high school. (not well)

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Embarrassing performance. Had so many chances and didn’t finish. First half was ok, second half was terrible. Could not pass out of the back. Ayala was awesome when he came in. I cannot wait to get Bravo back, Eric Miller sleeping on the back post is what killed this game

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We're getting Rimando'ed by Philly's backup keeper - not Andre Blake. Timbers stuff, indeed.

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Mar 24·edited Mar 24

Instead of trading for Kamal Miller and keeping Zup - especially when he asked for a trade - we should have been looking at smeone like Witsel. Yeah, he's about Chiellini age and hasn't been prime the last few seasons. but hey, good enought to play for Athletico. If skc could make a run for Ronaldo, we could've tried for a player of Witsel's pedigree. After al, MP said the next two signings were going to make a splash. Yeah, JRod probably does ok? But this back line is killing us.

Yep, you can tell I'm desperate cause I looked at Transfermarkt for Hummel's latest value. And saw Witsel about out of contract. Anyone else have any bright ideas on upgrading the defense, espcially at cb?

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A bunch of folks on here were drinking the Kool Aid after the first few games. I never bought it. The wins were against very poor teams, and even then they were lucky to win. Colorado had a much higher xG-- how many wide open headers did they put wide of the goal? We're regressing to the mean. Fans seem to have overestimated our roster, and people have seemingly forgotten how unimpressive a coach Neville is. I'm sticking with my pre-season prediction that this team is at best a play-in team.

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Well, my confidence level in Neville was low to begin with but I was pleased to see that we were moving the ball well enough to score in that Col match. That said, I was kinda unimpressed that the only addition to the defense was basically Creapeau and Kamal Miller. Crepeau has been the signing of the season so far and Kamal Miller is just a mls vet that teams seem ok with trading for another pkayer or cash.

Bottom line: this defense needs serious upgrade. Like SERIOUS. But Grabavoy stood pat on that front for the most part. I'd like a reporter or just a supporter ask him "So you think this defense is stopping Paintsil?

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Mar 24·edited Mar 24

On paper, this is a decent defensive team. Adding K. Miller was a good upgrade - he's a very good defender - but the whole of this defense is, for some reason, less than the sum of its parts. It needs an upgrade, for sure, but it also needs better coaching. What we've seen so far this season isn't nearly good enough, and more troublingly, it isn't any better than what we saw under Gio.

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Yes those two wins were not signs of things being great. But if they would have put a couple of chances in goal in the first half this would be a different game I think. Same with the game against Houston. A little too soon to give up on the season for me but I have to agree my confidence that the coaching staff is going to turn things around is low. But I will wait and see.

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That's ok if people get excited. They are enjoying their team. I think the jury is still out for Neville. He doesn't have enough of a record to judge yet. He's a relatively new coach with mixed results. What I am seeing from the Timbers is promising. It'll take a while.

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Mar 24·edited Mar 24

Phil Neville coached 90 games at Inter Miami. He was not good. There was no reason to think he'd be dramatically better here, and in the small sample size of five games here so far, he's proving that correct.

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Last year, Neville had a skeleton of a team in Miami while the ownership went without DPs waiting for Messi and his friends. That team was like a team tanking in the NBA.

Portland was not a great defensive team in 2023 and it’s silly to think that Neville and his assistants can fix that in the first few weeks of the season, especially while trying to get the offense going.

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"Last year, Neville had a skeleton of a team in Miami"

Sure. What about the two seasons he coached them before that?

I am not expecting miracles, particularly in five games. I'm expecting signs of progress, and I'm not seeing any. I'm seeing some progress on the offensive side of the ball, and that's great, but this defense, which should be better with the additions it's made, is not, and that's deeply worrisome.

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last night's game featured none of those defensive improvements you mentioned.

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I also mentioned looking for "signs of progress" over let season, and also mentioned not expecting miracles.

I was very much not demanding the latter; and am still very angry at not seeing anything resembling the former.

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founding

Historically he isn’t a new coach with mixed results, he is a long standing coach with terrible fucking results. We’ll finish below the playoff line, and everyone challenging your (very correct) viewpoint with slide into the shadows and hope you don’t remember to call them out.

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I hope you (and I) are wrong, but I fear you're right. And people can have their rosy-eyed view of their favorite team, it certainly can bring comfort. I'm just not built that way and am just sharing my opinion, which is nowhere close to the most credentialed on this forum.

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founding

I’m also not built that way, and it doesn’t help that the building has been on fire for the past few years and every decision maker in the organization seems to be swapping out gasoline for water when fighting the flames.

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When things go the other way can we act all superior to you?

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Yes, absolutely--if this team earns a top 4 playoff spot, you can rub my face in it. But it's not really about being superior, it's just not being starry-eyed simply because you're rooting for a team. I try to take a clear-eyed, dispassionate look my favorite teams' prospects. If I judge them to be small, I'll still be hoping to be pleasantly surprised.

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Paredes is showing how asleep Williamson was in this game.

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yah, that tends to be EW's MO

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Good for JRod to open his account on his debut. Small consolation for the crappy defensive performance tonite.

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founding

moreno needs to benched

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founding

smh

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I keep thinking back to what Grabavoy said about the roster being adequate. Actually, the defense is not adequate. Not even close. We've needed to fix that back line for several seasons now. And instead we've just traded for veterans and project players. Like maybe buy a Chiellini for heaven's sake. It doesn't need to be a b ig name but someone with a better rep than "mls veteran".

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Yup. We have literally have zero fullback depth, and Mosquera's offense is catching up to his defense in its feebleness.

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This is also embarrassing- I read about DaBella when they became the jersey sponsor but I didn't realize there were red flags waving even at that time:

https://www.heraldandnews.com/sports/examining-the-concerns-around-dabella-the-portland-timbers-new-kit-sponsor/article_8a780da6-85b0-11ee-aa97-0f8e2da5a594.html

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Who cares about the stupid sponsors. It's over. They aren't our sponsors anymore. Grasping at straws to be mad about something. This team is again coming out of the second half playing like shit. Be mad about that.

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Yeah, they're done but the saga speaks to their poor management, decision making and current reputation such that they were left with a pathetic sponsor, and the blank space on the jersey weeks later is a continuing reminder of their shortcomings.

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This is your main concern during the game. Will a sponsor’s name make the boys play better? If not, please bring up this discussion with the “We Need Something To Complain About Committee”.

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All right, sorry I brought it up

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Don't apologize. This organization stinks from the head down. We hard-core fans should be the last people to forget that. That doesn't mean everyone in the organization is scum--there are undoubtedly many fine people in the organization on the roster, coaching staff, and beyond. But the team will continue to shoot itself in the foot

on major decisions and team culture until MP is no longer in charge.

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us hard core would disagree.

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Why does this back four consistently look lost? Why are they incapable of just being positionally solid for more than 5 minuates at a time? Why can't we get apple bucks for a bench guy from the top 5 leagues? Oh wait, defense isn't sexy and we're not Miami.

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I do not know what the coaching breakdown is but if Liam Ridgewell is truly there to be a defensive coach, that's where I'd start to look for an upgrade.

"Oh wait, defense isn't sexy"

MLS above most leagues absolutely does not value defense. Almost to the level of the Eredivisie. The whole salary structure of MLS incentivizes teams to spend on buying offensive players, so defense is almost an afterthought. And that's too bad.

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Getting embarrassed at home is not a good look

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Especially against a team who literally only traveled 16 players

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I knew when I saw how many players Philly was missing that this was setting up for heartbreak.

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I'm soooooo fucking tired of this team

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Could this idiot knock it off...you're no andres Cantor.

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I know the game isn't going our way, but some of the build-up play by the Timbers is fantastic.

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Build up and not making it past the 18 is pointless. It just isn’t working most of the time . There is space to play into. All of a sudden we won’t play over the top.

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They've been inside the 6 several times. Just not pouncing.

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Nah. But I like your positivity sir.

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Several times in 76 minutes isn't good enough.

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But when they lose the ball the recovery is too slow

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This. Mcgraw is so effing slow. So is Miller. Mcgraw needs to hit the gym and get lean cause his ass looks like a Sunday league cb right now. He has the potential to be a good cb but his speed is detrimental to the rest of his abilities. Unless we are going to bunker all season, he needs to get better

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Welp, here's the two striker combo. Both Mora and Rodriguez are good at movement and taking shots. We'll see if they get the service needed.

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Those are bold subs. Phil going hard.

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Yep, the wheels have definitely gone off the rails. And to thhink the first 10 min were killer.

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??? We spent the first ten minutes watching our defenders pass the ball to each other. Evidently they cannot recognize a passing lane or even placing the ball is space.

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Killer in the sense that Rodriguez was being active and getting some service. And taking shots. Of course, we didn't convert and then gave up the opener. The rest is hhistory.

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Really missing Tuiloma. He could break the lines.

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Eric Williams just spectating on that goal.

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Do you mean Eric Miller? Pantemis needed to do better handling the shot

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No Williams gave too much space for the long shot. Yes, keeper failed as well.

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Ah, ok

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founding

MLS’s attempt to use “in depth stats” is fucking nauseating.

You mean to tell me that if one team is winning they have a better win probability?! Fascinating. 🧐

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AND two random fans could call the game better than these two announcers. Seriously. Does anyone know if they are in the Park or can they be calling the game from a remote location like Detroit. They seem to not be at the game. Apple…….

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founding

Yeah they were definitely calling remotely, because anything that wasn’t in the camera frame was on delay until the graphic would show (like yellows being shown off screen and stuff)

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I tuned out the Apple announcers before the end of the first half in favor of the local radio team. Almost forgot I could do that! Such a relief.

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founding

Damnit, I forgot that was an option.

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Why is the camera shot so distant? Rodriguez needs to come in from the left and attack the goal, like a Vela. Either as a 2nd striker or coming in from the left. He wasted if he’s just waiting for crosses.

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Did we sign Scott Sterling? Nice face save Pantemis!

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The worst thing about these substitute refs? They don't know Chara's game. Two yellow cards this year on clean tackles.

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Jon has looked good. Williamson and Evander need to find the game more. They have been dangerous on the ball. Masquera has been good at crossing but his combination play has been predictable. Moreno and Antony have been decent. Zuparic makes a big difference on counters. Been very involved. Chara has been a step behind.

Gonna be interesting what changes Phil make. Will we see a mora Jon combo?

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founding

It’s funny how 100% predictable the JDM/Moreno link up has been, and yet… Philly is yet to stop it one time, haha 😂

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They have been stoping it alot. Idk what game you are watching. Evander and masquera need to come out. Move Williamson higher. Move Moreno to the rb position. Bring in Paredes next to chara and bring mora in to play off jon.

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founding

Over 80% of our development during the first half, when I made that comment, was down the right flank and involved the link up play between Mosquera and JDM. That was the game I was watching.

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80% went up the right because E Miller could not make a pass forward

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Actually we had several half chances from that side.

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I'd do a 352 but don't believe the cb corp is capable of it. Could go 442 to get that Mora/Rodriguez combo. And I'd like to see a two strikers, too. The last few seasons with just one man up front hasn't been all that productive.

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founding

Saying we’ve had anyone up top the last few seasons is probably a little too generous 🤣

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Mora has been very legit the past two years when healthy.

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founding

He has scored 7 goals in 22 games spread over the last two years. Comically far off the pace of anyone’s #9. I like him, I cried in Providence when he got the goal in MLS Cup just like everyone else, but pretending he’s a legit, starting-caliber #9 isn’t helping anyone or anything.

But I’m a stats and data guy:

His best season was 2021, the only year he has been the top scorer on our team (although Asprilla had just one less) when he scored 11 goals. That wasn’t even top-20 amongst other strikers in the league.

0.4, 0.14, 0.37, 0.36.

That represents his goals per game over his time with the Timbers.

.64 and .63; .7 and .65; .81 and .68.

Those are the goals per game for the top striker and the average amongst the top 5 strikers for the past 3 years. Even in his best-paced year, it still would have taken him 2.5 games to score a goal, which is FIFTY TWO PERCENT SLOWER than the average productive strikers any given year.

We gotta stop clinging to that magical goal in 2021.

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Has to be the Timbers curse to actually play well enought o several chances and not convert a single one. And then to give up a goal on a set piece. Obviously. Timbers stuff, indeed.

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Yikes. A ton of close up missed chances.

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Damnit, playing so well and we should have three goals. Desperately need to find our finishing boots, because Philly is very capable of getting a second against the run of play. Rodriguez looks really good, we need to get him involved more. 45 minutes left to play, I’m hopeful we can get this done

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I can’t believe one of those chances didn’t go in. Hopefully they do in the second half

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Damn. How many chances from 1 yard out. I get that they are quick reaction goals but fuuuu can one just go our way.

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Would have liked a closer look on if there was a push on Zup, but ugh, set piece defense. We need an exorcism there.

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Someone got beat...Miller? Zup? Whatever. That Philly goal seems so undeserved.

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Against the run of play, for sure. But the Timbers have got to take advantage of their opportunities! I'm sure their xG is well above Philly's ( or it was until that Uhre shot) but actual goals are the only thing that matters.

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At least our new striker is firing every chance he gets. Hopefully, one goes in soon.

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Set piece defending and corners. Ffs

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Philly sved by the woodwork. Rodriguez is looking extremely hungry...like he realizes that the starting spot is his if he just scores...which is why we bought him int he first place.

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Mosquera keep your shot down, this is TBE second time you've sailed over the goal

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Ohhhhh...so close. Jon's movement is really good.

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founding

You know you’re a real Timbers fan when you watch Eryk casually slide, uncontested, for a ball headed toward the touchline and you hold your breath and pray he didn’t injure himself.

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I am in love with Rodriguez’s movement so far, makes a huge different

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Difference*

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Like compared to Niezgoda? Yeah, I don't think Goda would have made it with Neville. Tbh, we need a striker who's a bit mobile and is willing to move and position himself in and around the box. Goda was just too static in his movements, never mind the lack of service.

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Good to see Rodriguez testing Philly early. Fitness seems ok so far given he's been coming off the bench most recently.

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Have we practiced building out against a high line?

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Good to see the match thread up early! I'm also a bit mollified that we'll see what Rodriguez has left in the tank. And nice to see the report that Mora is back. Btw, has anyone else been watching the earlier matches? The reffing has been all downhill since the first week so if the rumor that a new cba has been reached...that's a big relief. But based on what has happened earlier - especially Charlotte-Columbus, I'm worried for us.

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founding

Good to see Mora out there! Need me some Bravo now!

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founding

Sitting at the park dreaming of that magic!

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Rodriguez straight into the starting lineup!! I’m getting very excited to see him, I think Evander and him are gonna make magic

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