Were expectations going in that high last year? Sure, we had a record signing in Evander but we didn't improve the defense last year and some of our key players were getting up there in age.
I'm glad they improved the defense this year and it should help. But we better nail this DP striker if we truly want to compete.
"Sam: One of the current midfielders on the roster (Evander, Cristhian Paredes, Eryk Williamson, Cristhian Paredes, David Ayala) will get a transfer "
Evander. Is. Not. Going. Anywhere.
I don't know why people are so set on thinking a club record signing is a candidate to be moved, a year and change after he got here, when he's clearly a foundational piece of the team. Yes, he got off to a slow start last year, but he was new to club/country/city/language/culture - he had a LOT to adapt to, and oh also, look at the mess that the 2023 Timbers were. I expect him to be MUCH better this season, with a new coach and a new system around him. Maybe not league MVP-level good, but dramatically improved over last season and a major part of a Timbers team that will not be a chore to watch this year.
I'm still not convinced this team is a deep-playoff-run team (but I think they'll make it in). I'm still not convinced Phil Neville was the right choice for a new coach, but I'm approaching this season with an open mind and at the very least thinking they won't give up nearly as many facepalm goals as they have for the last several seasons. I'm legitimately excited about the defensive corps for the first time in several seasons.
I don't think Evander is the one that will be moved, but someone is going to have to go. My best guess is Paredes will be moved unless the Evander/Williamson pairing is ineffective like last year. Williamson is next, with Evander being less likely than Ayala. I don't think it is impossible that Evander is moved, but the return would have to be incredible so it would be incredibly unlikely.
I wouldn't move anybody given the injury history. Both Ayala and Williamson coming off knee injuries, Chara's age, to name a few. Paredes might be a nice piece for a team looking for a nasty midfielder who likes to pick pockets. I'd rather he stay on the Timbers, especially when after this year he could take over for Chara full time.
I can't second the overall optimistic tone of the piece and predictions, where all commenters have them in the playoffs. This is a side that brought a clearly finished Mabiala and a never-was-anything Marvin Loria back. There is apparently no fullback depth at all except for Eric Miller, who's a nice utility player but not someone to give 10 or 12 or more starts to cover Bravo and JDM's injuries, suspensions and national team duty. The defense should be pretty solid centrally but will hemorrhage dangerous opportunities on the flanks. And Chara turns 38 early in the season. He's still good of course, but not actually ageless-- anyone watching closely the last couple of years has seen him lose a step and falter on occasion. He's getting older, not better. There's not much wing depth: Asprilla and an injured (and useless when he's fit) Loria. Asprilla is a good depth piece obviously, but Antony is unproven and Moreno didn't exactly wow last year. Evander stated he'd rather be playing in Brazil - is he really going to give his all for this club, or repeat the nonchalance that plagued him at times last year? And can he and Williamson actually play together? Where exactly are the goals going to come from? A new DP striker presumably, arriving at some point with the season well underway after the customary sluggish start. But who's going to get him the ball?
And last, but certainly not least, a new coach. Apart from the tone-deafness of the hire for off the pitch reasons, what reasons can anyone give me to expect he'll be any better than Savarese? He's proven nothing in MLS so far. My prediction (which I hope is wrong): Timbers finish with even fewer points than last year and again miss an actual playoff spot (with an outside chance at the not-at-all coveted play-in game).
I honestly think the Timbers will be slightly better than last year despite the coach, just by the nature of the improved defenders. Crepeau and Miller are legit and will definitely shore things up back there and that by itself, even with a coach of less-than-desirable provenance, will make things more stable.
I don't think this is a great team yet, but I also don't think the playoff fate of this team will come down to the final day of the season for a third year in a row - for better or worse, this team's playoff fate will be decided before that. I have a feeling this might be a playoff team, because of the improved defense, but a lot will depend on Evander taking the step forward that I think he will this season, and on Antony being as good as he seems to be.
There's a lot of "what if" pieces up front, but I see a lot of possibility there - whether Phil can do more with them than Gio could is the big question, and I'm choosing to be optimistic for the time being.
It's hard to get a read this year. I think all the teams are better, including the Timbers, but until we see real games and how the team responds, I just don't know. Phil needs to put his stamp on the team right away.
I have a sneaking suspicion that the big signing is Jonathan Rodriguez from Club America. I’ve been hearing that he has signed with an “unknown” club in MLS. The Timbers would make total sense as I’m hearing that we’re signing a goal scorer. He would be a difference maker for sure. Any other rumors worth exploring?
There’s a supposed insider on Twitter who made some interesting noise a few days ago. He said Rodriguez is our “plan C.” Our “Plan A” is REALLY close to being signed but negotiations are difficult because he’s a locked in starter with one of the top teams in the Americas. Mid-20s, played matches against MLS teams last year (I would guess leagues cup). German Berterame from Monterrey and Julian Quiñones from Club America are two names people guessed in response.
I have zero clue how much validity there is to this. I hope it’s real because I don’t think Rodriguez is the right age, he’s too old imo. It’s a silly rumor but silly season lasts until the end of the transfer window, so bring it on!
Were expectations going in that high last year? Sure, we had a record signing in Evander but we didn't improve the defense last year and some of our key players were getting up there in age.
I'm glad they improved the defense this year and it should help. But we better nail this DP striker if we truly want to compete.
"Sam: One of the current midfielders on the roster (Evander, Cristhian Paredes, Eryk Williamson, Cristhian Paredes, David Ayala) will get a transfer "
Evander. Is. Not. Going. Anywhere.
I don't know why people are so set on thinking a club record signing is a candidate to be moved, a year and change after he got here, when he's clearly a foundational piece of the team. Yes, he got off to a slow start last year, but he was new to club/country/city/language/culture - he had a LOT to adapt to, and oh also, look at the mess that the 2023 Timbers were. I expect him to be MUCH better this season, with a new coach and a new system around him. Maybe not league MVP-level good, but dramatically improved over last season and a major part of a Timbers team that will not be a chore to watch this year.
I'm still not convinced this team is a deep-playoff-run team (but I think they'll make it in). I'm still not convinced Phil Neville was the right choice for a new coach, but I'm approaching this season with an open mind and at the very least thinking they won't give up nearly as many facepalm goals as they have for the last several seasons. I'm legitimately excited about the defensive corps for the first time in several seasons.
I don't think Evander is the one that will be moved, but someone is going to have to go. My best guess is Paredes will be moved unless the Evander/Williamson pairing is ineffective like last year. Williamson is next, with Evander being less likely than Ayala. I don't think it is impossible that Evander is moved, but the return would have to be incredible so it would be incredibly unlikely.
I wouldn't move anybody given the injury history. Both Ayala and Williamson coming off knee injuries, Chara's age, to name a few. Paredes might be a nice piece for a team looking for a nasty midfielder who likes to pick pockets. I'd rather he stay on the Timbers, especially when after this year he could take over for Chara full time.
I second Sam's prediction. Stone cold lock that the team will not end the season with two Christhian Paredes on the roster.
I can't second the overall optimistic tone of the piece and predictions, where all commenters have them in the playoffs. This is a side that brought a clearly finished Mabiala and a never-was-anything Marvin Loria back. There is apparently no fullback depth at all except for Eric Miller, who's a nice utility player but not someone to give 10 or 12 or more starts to cover Bravo and JDM's injuries, suspensions and national team duty. The defense should be pretty solid centrally but will hemorrhage dangerous opportunities on the flanks. And Chara turns 38 early in the season. He's still good of course, but not actually ageless-- anyone watching closely the last couple of years has seen him lose a step and falter on occasion. He's getting older, not better. There's not much wing depth: Asprilla and an injured (and useless when he's fit) Loria. Asprilla is a good depth piece obviously, but Antony is unproven and Moreno didn't exactly wow last year. Evander stated he'd rather be playing in Brazil - is he really going to give his all for this club, or repeat the nonchalance that plagued him at times last year? And can he and Williamson actually play together? Where exactly are the goals going to come from? A new DP striker presumably, arriving at some point with the season well underway after the customary sluggish start. But who's going to get him the ball?
And last, but certainly not least, a new coach. Apart from the tone-deafness of the hire for off the pitch reasons, what reasons can anyone give me to expect he'll be any better than Savarese? He's proven nothing in MLS so far. My prediction (which I hope is wrong): Timbers finish with even fewer points than last year and again miss an actual playoff spot (with an outside chance at the not-at-all coveted play-in game).
I honestly think the Timbers will be slightly better than last year despite the coach, just by the nature of the improved defenders. Crepeau and Miller are legit and will definitely shore things up back there and that by itself, even with a coach of less-than-desirable provenance, will make things more stable.
I don't think this is a great team yet, but I also don't think the playoff fate of this team will come down to the final day of the season for a third year in a row - for better or worse, this team's playoff fate will be decided before that. I have a feeling this might be a playoff team, because of the improved defense, but a lot will depend on Evander taking the step forward that I think he will this season, and on Antony being as good as he seems to be.
There's a lot of "what if" pieces up front, but I see a lot of possibility there - whether Phil can do more with them than Gio could is the big question, and I'm choosing to be optimistic for the time being.
It's hard to get a read this year. I think all the teams are better, including the Timbers, but until we see real games and how the team responds, I just don't know. Phil needs to put his stamp on the team right away.
I have a sneaking suspicion that the big signing is Jonathan Rodriguez from Club America. I’ve been hearing that he has signed with an “unknown” club in MLS. The Timbers would make total sense as I’m hearing that we’re signing a goal scorer. He would be a difference maker for sure. Any other rumors worth exploring?
There’s a supposed insider on Twitter who made some interesting noise a few days ago. He said Rodriguez is our “plan C.” Our “Plan A” is REALLY close to being signed but negotiations are difficult because he’s a locked in starter with one of the top teams in the Americas. Mid-20s, played matches against MLS teams last year (I would guess leagues cup). German Berterame from Monterrey and Julian Quiñones from Club America are two names people guessed in response.
Links to tweets:
https://twitter.com/CommonSense503/status/1760740240464203872
https://twitter.com/CommonSense503/status/1760445488053231995
I have zero clue how much validity there is to this. I hope it’s real because I don’t think Rodriguez is the right age, he’s too old imo. It’s a silly rumor but silly season lasts until the end of the transfer window, so bring it on!
"There’s a supposed insider on Twitter"
/homer simpson backing slowly into the bushes dot gif
🤞