Just watched the bit of the Seattle game I missed and I’m surprised no one mentioned the clear cut chance Asprilla had. Evander played a phenomenal ball in that should’ve been at least a shot on goal from three yards out from Asprilla. That should’ve been a goal, he could’ve gone with his head but he used his foot. It was very similar to the goal from Zuparic a month or so ago.
He also had another half chance from a lobbed cross from Paredes (who I thought was pretty good), and Asprilla just mistimed the jump and the header. I don’t think that ball goes over his head, I think he just misses it. He’s got hops, he could’ve gotten to it easily but he barely jumped, if at all. Two good chances (one much better than the other) that should’ve been capitalized on. He was also was strangely unwilling to take players on 1v1, which is very disappointing because we need someone to do that every once in a while, whether it comes off or not. Keeps the defenders on their toes
As for the Dallas match, I think it’s gonna be a very even game. My hope is Mosquera starts on the right and Miller on the left. Evander will have to step up yes, but so will the players around him. His quality seems to drop when the team isn’t supporting him the way they need to. And players need to finish the chances he creates (why wasn’t Niezgoda the one getting on the end of those chances listed above? Why does it seem he’s never getting chances like that? Why isn’t he making runs into the box like that?)
Some nice Timbers news this week. Mora attempting a bike in training, he may actually step back onto the field for us in a month. We’re hoping to sign the CB we tried to sign in the primary transfer window, a short term center mid, and a YDP winger. All good signs. I’m hoping this summer brings good fortunes
I really hope Asprilla doesn't start. It actually makes me less interested in the game.
Also, for the game today, it just seems another game where there are key pieces missing and it hamstrings the team. Bingham doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence and Bravo's absence will be tough to overcome. I'm with you on starting Miller on left back.
The lack of goals means what has been tried for pretty much the whole year aint working, so I will be interested to see if there is a switch in formation, tactics. For example, start two forwards and run a 4-4-2 diamond since we don't have any wingers really. (yes, I couldn't resist saying that). It would mean taking off Asprilla and adding a forward like Niezgoda and pairing him with Boli. Then, run Moreno and Paredes on the sides of the diamond with Evander at the tip and Chara at the other end.
Most likely Gio will keep doing what he has been doing, and we'll see how that goes. If there is a loss, I don't see how Gio will be around come Monday morning.
Bingham has been good, I’m not worried about him (I wouldn’t be surprised if a mistake or two occurs, but that’ll always happen with a backup gk). Not having Bravo has proven to be a huge debilitation in possession so far this year, and I wonder how we will cope with that. Everything will be going through Mosquera, Moreno will have to drop back more to advance the ball, and we’ll need more service to Evander.
A 4-4-2 diamond is a pretty good idea on paper, though we can’t really know if it would work or not since I can’t recall the last time we’ve even used that formation. I expect Asprilla to start and will hope for the best. We don’t have many other options out there. Boy I miss Yimmi
Can’t really overstate how important a game this is. The Timbers are third from last, but with a game in hand. If they win they move up into the group at the bottom of the playoff bracket and hang in there. If they lose they are firmly in the group at the bottom of the table. There would still be time to turn things around but it would be a big hole to climb out of.
It's almost as if the playoff structure creates a promotion relegation scenario, so even super low ranked teams have something to play for towards the end of the season. I kind of like it, we are in 12th place but still have a Fighting Chance.
I think the structure is so stupid that a team can be in 12th place and playing as poorly as PTFC, and people can still consider them as having a Fighting Chance.
Who cares about the season so long as you squeak into the playoffs…. That’s a crappy product to put on the table.
I get where you’re coming from. I like going to games, too. And I get why it’s structured the way that it is — keep teams in the hunt, butts in seats, beers in guts. But goddamn, it allows bad teams to have a shot at it all.
In my mind, it’s clear that Gio doesn’t particularly value the regular season. He tries to keep them close enough to get into the playoffs and make a lucky run. He seems to be a decent tournament coach. But it sure has made for very tedious seasons under his direction.
And we just dropped to 12th place. 🤣 if we lose tomorrow and gio isn't fired by Monday, it means that mp doesn't give a shi about the team and we should start protesting and boycotting till he sells the teams
Unfortunately as long as you show up and give him money, nothing will change. You disrupt his pocketbook. Its the only place most business men care about.
I doubt my $15 per game contribution has any impact on MP's bottom line... Similarly I don't think a drop in ticket sales can diminish the overall value of the team.
That's small picture thinking. 15 dollars from you. Plus another and another and another. Not to mention concessions. Believe me, if people don't show up, things will happen real quick. I am sorry to say but if Portland were still 2012-15 Portland, real fans would be letting it known that last year already had gio on a short string. But this year has cut that string and thrown it in the fire. I remember in 2012 the Timbers players had to carry a sign on the field saying how they failed and will do better. Well this is worse than that year. So where is the accountability? Gio has young talented players and was just handed a 10m dp and he still isnt getting results.
Hell, fuk the results. He can't even put out a good product on the field. When you have been watch as much soccer over the years as I have (I watch all American players abroad in almost every televised league) meaning I watch a ton of soccer from all around the world. What you notice starts to increase. I started to notice strengths and weaknesses of different systems, formations, tactics, players and coaches.
How that correlates to coaches vs roster, means I have a very good understanding of identifying the issues. Because I have watched so much soccer I have noticed patterns. Patterns in what formations and systems are used and what kind of players fail and succeed in certain situations.
Anyways, my point is that this is not a player issue. This is a coaching issue and Gio has to go.
Gio is ruining the confidence of the young players. Not being honest about other players (mabiala shouldn't play at all and should be gone in the off-season) and is not putting players in the best positions for the players to play to their strengths.
We have to make a statement now or we might as well stop watching and look forward to next year.
Oh and BTW you can support the team from your couch whole boycotting or protesting how this club has been handled in all sorts of ways.
Without the fans mp wouldn't have an mls team. Without the real Oregonians who lived in oregon before 2011 and petitioned and got signatures to bring Timbers into MLS, it never would have happened. Sure he might own the franchise but no doubt that he is only a steward of OUR team. If he isn't doing a good enough job than he needs to go and another owner needs to come in.
I generally agree with all that, but I disagree to the effect that in terms of an investment, Paulson is definitely not going to get less of a return if we institute a boycott. In any case, I sincerely doubt it is possible to implement a huge enough boycott to effectively change the coaching staff.
On the other hand, I kind of wonder how effective a protest against Gio himself might work. Imagine if the entire Timbers Army turned out against him, as in a Tifo or just a lot of signs and flags.
Historically, the key that unlocks Niezgoda is Blanco. Niezgoda has languished since Blanco’s injury. Ideally, they would be used as a double sub around the 60th minute after the starters have worn down the opposition defenders.
Niezgoda and Blanco started together plenty last year and Jaro didn’t do much outside of one hot streak in the summer. Weren’t we saying last year that it was Valeri who unlocked Niezgoda?
Just watched the bit of the Seattle game I missed and I’m surprised no one mentioned the clear cut chance Asprilla had. Evander played a phenomenal ball in that should’ve been at least a shot on goal from three yards out from Asprilla. That should’ve been a goal, he could’ve gone with his head but he used his foot. It was very similar to the goal from Zuparic a month or so ago.
He also had another half chance from a lobbed cross from Paredes (who I thought was pretty good), and Asprilla just mistimed the jump and the header. I don’t think that ball goes over his head, I think he just misses it. He’s got hops, he could’ve gotten to it easily but he barely jumped, if at all. Two good chances (one much better than the other) that should’ve been capitalized on. He was also was strangely unwilling to take players on 1v1, which is very disappointing because we need someone to do that every once in a while, whether it comes off or not. Keeps the defenders on their toes
As for the Dallas match, I think it’s gonna be a very even game. My hope is Mosquera starts on the right and Miller on the left. Evander will have to step up yes, but so will the players around him. His quality seems to drop when the team isn’t supporting him the way they need to. And players need to finish the chances he creates (why wasn’t Niezgoda the one getting on the end of those chances listed above? Why does it seem he’s never getting chances like that? Why isn’t he making runs into the box like that?)
Some nice Timbers news this week. Mora attempting a bike in training, he may actually step back onto the field for us in a month. We’re hoping to sign the CB we tried to sign in the primary transfer window, a short term center mid, and a YDP winger. All good signs. I’m hoping this summer brings good fortunes
I really hope Asprilla doesn't start. It actually makes me less interested in the game.
Also, for the game today, it just seems another game where there are key pieces missing and it hamstrings the team. Bingham doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence and Bravo's absence will be tough to overcome. I'm with you on starting Miller on left back.
The lack of goals means what has been tried for pretty much the whole year aint working, so I will be interested to see if there is a switch in formation, tactics. For example, start two forwards and run a 4-4-2 diamond since we don't have any wingers really. (yes, I couldn't resist saying that). It would mean taking off Asprilla and adding a forward like Niezgoda and pairing him with Boli. Then, run Moreno and Paredes on the sides of the diamond with Evander at the tip and Chara at the other end.
Most likely Gio will keep doing what he has been doing, and we'll see how that goes. If there is a loss, I don't see how Gio will be around come Monday morning.
Bingham has been good, I’m not worried about him (I wouldn’t be surprised if a mistake or two occurs, but that’ll always happen with a backup gk). Not having Bravo has proven to be a huge debilitation in possession so far this year, and I wonder how we will cope with that. Everything will be going through Mosquera, Moreno will have to drop back more to advance the ball, and we’ll need more service to Evander.
A 4-4-2 diamond is a pretty good idea on paper, though we can’t really know if it would work or not since I can’t recall the last time we’ve even used that formation. I expect Asprilla to start and will hope for the best. We don’t have many other options out there. Boy I miss Yimmi
Yup, not having Bravo is a huge issue. Ball progression always stagnates when he’s out. Might be the Timbers most important player.
Can’t really overstate how important a game this is. The Timbers are third from last, but with a game in hand. If they win they move up into the group at the bottom of the playoff bracket and hang in there. If they lose they are firmly in the group at the bottom of the table. There would still be time to turn things around but it would be a big hole to climb out of.
It's almost as if the playoff structure creates a promotion relegation scenario, so even super low ranked teams have something to play for towards the end of the season. I kind of like it, we are in 12th place but still have a Fighting Chance.
I think the structure is so stupid that a team can be in 12th place and playing as poorly as PTFC, and people can still consider them as having a Fighting Chance.
Who cares about the season so long as you squeak into the playoffs…. That’s a crappy product to put on the table.
Exactly. I hate that mentality. It's weak and a "everybody gets a trophy mentality"
True but it gets fans into games...
I get where you’re coming from. I like going to games, too. And I get why it’s structured the way that it is — keep teams in the hunt, butts in seats, beers in guts. But goddamn, it allows bad teams to have a shot at it all.
In my mind, it’s clear that Gio doesn’t particularly value the regular season. He tries to keep them close enough to get into the playoffs and make a lucky run. He seems to be a decent tournament coach. But it sure has made for very tedious seasons under his direction.
And I like going to games
And we just dropped to 12th place. 🤣 if we lose tomorrow and gio isn't fired by Monday, it means that mp doesn't give a shi about the team and we should start protesting and boycotting till he sells the teams
I will gladly protest but no way in hell am I boycotting. I still think it's important to show up and support the guys on the field.
Unfortunately as long as you show up and give him money, nothing will change. You disrupt his pocketbook. Its the only place most business men care about.
I doubt my $15 per game contribution has any impact on MP's bottom line... Similarly I don't think a drop in ticket sales can diminish the overall value of the team.
That's small picture thinking. 15 dollars from you. Plus another and another and another. Not to mention concessions. Believe me, if people don't show up, things will happen real quick. I am sorry to say but if Portland were still 2012-15 Portland, real fans would be letting it known that last year already had gio on a short string. But this year has cut that string and thrown it in the fire. I remember in 2012 the Timbers players had to carry a sign on the field saying how they failed and will do better. Well this is worse than that year. So where is the accountability? Gio has young talented players and was just handed a 10m dp and he still isnt getting results.
Hell, fuk the results. He can't even put out a good product on the field. When you have been watch as much soccer over the years as I have (I watch all American players abroad in almost every televised league) meaning I watch a ton of soccer from all around the world. What you notice starts to increase. I started to notice strengths and weaknesses of different systems, formations, tactics, players and coaches.
How that correlates to coaches vs roster, means I have a very good understanding of identifying the issues. Because I have watched so much soccer I have noticed patterns. Patterns in what formations and systems are used and what kind of players fail and succeed in certain situations.
Anyways, my point is that this is not a player issue. This is a coaching issue and Gio has to go.
Gio is ruining the confidence of the young players. Not being honest about other players (mabiala shouldn't play at all and should be gone in the off-season) and is not putting players in the best positions for the players to play to their strengths.
We have to make a statement now or we might as well stop watching and look forward to next year.
Oh and BTW you can support the team from your couch whole boycotting or protesting how this club has been handled in all sorts of ways.
Without the fans mp wouldn't have an mls team. Without the real Oregonians who lived in oregon before 2011 and petitioned and got signatures to bring Timbers into MLS, it never would have happened. Sure he might own the franchise but no doubt that he is only a steward of OUR team. If he isn't doing a good enough job than he needs to go and another owner needs to come in.
I generally agree with all that, but I disagree to the effect that in terms of an investment, Paulson is definitely not going to get less of a return if we institute a boycott. In any case, I sincerely doubt it is possible to implement a huge enough boycott to effectively change the coaching staff.
On the other hand, I kind of wonder how effective a protest against Gio himself might work. Imagine if the entire Timbers Army turned out against him, as in a Tifo or just a lot of signs and flags.
Any word on the lineup? I quit Twitter because of Musk / DeSantis / Alexi Lalas
Why not start Niezgoda?
Historically, the key that unlocks Niezgoda is Blanco. Niezgoda has languished since Blanco’s injury. Ideally, they would be used as a double sub around the 60th minute after the starters have worn down the opposition defenders.
Niezgoda and Blanco started together plenty last year and Jaro didn’t do much outside of one hot streak in the summer. Weren’t we saying last year that it was Valeri who unlocked Niezgoda?