We finally open up the Timbers mailbag, as it's been a while since we opened it up for questions or random news and notes. In this edition, we talk about 2013 Timbers Kit Gate, the Chivas USA mess, and numbers with zeroes and commas.
The Portland Timbers made a roster adjustment to add some depth to the center back rotation by signing former Kansas City, Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA defender Raushawn McKenzie. McKenzie had worked out with the team twice this season, but with the myriad of issues at center back, his versatility became a priority.
In big MLS league news announced on May 21, the league announced their 20th team that would be joining in 2015. To the surprise of very few league observers, MLS awarded the team to New York City. Being co-run by the Premiership side Manchester City and MLB's New York Yankees, this new team will change the landscape of the league in many ways.
We have complete player evaluations for every Portland Timbers player that appeared in their dramatic 2 all draw versus Vancouver on the road, plus a composite rating for the coaches and team. The result extended Portland's unbeaten streak to 10 and left them as the only undefeated MLS club on the road.
The Portland Timbers took their nine match unbeaten streak up to Vancouver, B.C. to face the Whitecaps, who were boasting a home unbeaten run as well. Having never lost in two previous trips to B.C. Place, the Timbers overcame goals from Camilo Sanvezzo and Gershon Koffie plus an ejection to Futty Danso to earn a 2 all draw behind goals from Will Johnson and an 84th minute effort from Jose Valencia.
In the first of three road matches in a row, the Portland Timbers head north to battle their Cascadian rivals from Canada, the Vancouver Whitecaps. Portland carries a nine match unbeaten streak into the May 18 afternoon match, but Vancouver has been playing very solid defense recently plus their offense has been augmented with contributions from some of their younger charges.
Here are the player ratings for every Portland Timbers player that appeared in the May 12 win over Chivas USA, plus a composite rating for the coaches and team.
The Portland Timbers were hosting Chivas USA after their midweek battle in Dallas, and it would be the last home match for the Timbers for quite a while as the team will be on the road for the next three matches. They gave the fans quite a show with an offensive outburst to dominate Chivas USA 3 to 0 to run their unbeaten streak to nine matches.
The Portland Timbers will have a quick turnaround after their draw in Dallas with a mid afternoon battle with Chivas USA. Despite their struggles in 2012, Chivas USA won all three matches with Portland although both teams have undergone rather dramatic changes in their roster since their last meeting.
We have complete player ratings for every Portland Timbers player that appeared in their 1 all draw versus FC Dallas earlier this week, plus a composite rating for the coaches and team.
The Portland Timbers were playing their second match of three scheduled in 11 days, a road trip to Frisco, Texas to play FC Dallas. While the stadium has been the site of a few ghastly scorelines for Portland, the team exorcised a few demons with a very balanced effort to earn a 1 all draw away from home.
Two teams that both carry seven match unbeaten streaks will meet on May 8 at FC Dallas Stadium when the Portland Timbers visit FC Dallas in a midweek battle. While the Timbers are a bit testy after their draw against New England, FC Dallas hasn't played since drawing with Vancouver back in late April.
The Portland Timbers have added two exhibitions to an already busy summer schedule for them. They will host Monarcas Morelia on July 3 in the first ever Copa Verde tournament that will become an annual event featuring a first division Mexican team coming to Portland, then English side Norwich City FC visits Portland on July 24 on their final stop of their USA tour.
A by-product of the scoreless draw against the New England Revolution was the unfortunate injury to center back Mikael Silvestre. Silvestre crumpled to the turf in the 57th minute trying to clear a ball with a bicycle kick, and the attempt led to Silvestre suffering a torn ACL in his left knee. Surgery will be completed once the injury is stable, but the situation forced the Timbers to sign another center back.
The Portland Timbers were hoping to build off the good energy from their special match with the Green Machine on May 1 in their next MLS league match, a weeknight affair with the New England Revolution. While the Revs were short handed due to injury and suspension, the scrappy side stuck to their game plan while the Timbers struggled with patience and precision in the final third of the pitch.
The Portland Timbers prepare for their next league battle against the New England Revolution on May 2, a rare midweek match for the team. After their epic win in Kansas City last weekend, the Timbers are hoping to carry the momentum against a New England side that is dealing with various injuries but has also shown some impressive resolve in some recent matches.
We have complete player ratings for every Portland Timbers player that appeared against Sporting Kansas City in the Timbers' 3 to 2 win on the road. We also have a rating for the coaching staff and a complete team rating.
The Portland Timbers have only played at Sporting Park in Kansas City once in their MLS history, and that match was memorable more for other notable events than the result. Continuing the renaissance the club has undergone under Coach Caleb Porter, Portland rebounded after giving up a goal in the first minute to eventually win the match 3 to 2 behind Rodney Wallace's second half strike.
The Portland Timbers head out for another road match this weekend when they visit Sporting Park for a date with Sporting Kansas City. Because of the unbalanced schedule, the teams have only met three times in regular season MLS matches, but the 2012 match in Portland was memorable for many reasons.
Here are player evaluations for every Portland Timbers player that appeared in the team's 1 all draw in San Jose (Ok, Santa Clara to be specific) on April 21. We have ratings for every player plus a composite rating for the coaches and team.
The Portland Timbers were hoping for a similar result against the San Jose Earthquakes from their April 14th home win when the two teams met on the campus of Santa Clara University on April 21 in their next MLS fixture. While the Timbers jumped to a lead courtesy of Diego Valeri's 58th minute goal, San Jose was able to earn a point in stoppage time behind an Adam Jahn goal as the teams played to a 1 all draw.
Two matchups in two weeks in the regular season is very rare within MLS, and the quick turnaround usually makes for an entertaining duo of matches. With all of the outside story lines inside and beyond the match, though, there should be some extra vigor and passion in the Timbers - Earthquake match on April 21 at 8 PM at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
We have complete player evaluations for every Portland Timbers player that appeared against San Jose on April 14, plus a composite rating for the team and the coaches. Suffice to say, the overall effort was impressive.
The Portland Timbers hosted a feisty San Jose Earthquakes team frustrated by some early season struggles, but excited to have some of their big guns back in the lineup. Despite that plus some other oddities in the evening, the Timbers fought exceptionally strong and earned the win behind a Will Johnson free kick in the 78th minute.
The Portland Timbers found a great deal of confidence in securing their first win of 2013 over the Houston Dynamo back on April 6, but they get another stern test when the San Jose Earthquakes visit on April 14. The Earthquakes and Timbers have had a very close, energetic rivalry throughout the MLS years, and San Jose comes to JWF slightly frustrated after playing to a 1 all draw versus Vancouver in their last match.
We have complete player evaluations for every Portland Timbers player that appeared in their 2 to 0 victory over the Houston Dynamo on April 6 at home. It was a very impressive effort, especially considering two starters had to be replaced with the match's first 30 minutes due to injury.
The Portland Timbers have announced further details about the status of defender David Horst and midfielder Diego Valeri after both suffered injuries in the Timbers' 2 to 0 win over Houston on April 8.
The Portland Timbers returned home after a lengthy absence from the friendly confines of JELD-WEN Field, hoping to reestablish the venue as one of the most difficult places for visitors to earn points. Despite losing two starters to injuries, Portland used a brace from Ryan Johnson to earn a 2 to 0 under a driving rain and a sellout crowd.
One of the best teams in the MLS Eastern Conference, the Houston Dynamo, visit Portland on April 6 providing the Timbers a significant test. The Timbers haven't played at home since March 9's loss to Montreal, but they've earned two draws on the road since then. Houston, meanwhile, has been improving each week since losing to FC Dallas in week 2 on a late stoppage time goal.
We have complete player evaluations for every Portland Timbers player that appeared in the 2-all draw in Colorado. The result gave Portland another point while they search for their first win of the 2013 season, but they have shown a resilience to fight back against deficits in each fixture.
The Portland Timbers were hoping for some good luck against a depleted Colorado Rapids team that was missing several key components because of injury or suspension. However, the Timbers followed their pattern of falling behind as the Rapids jumped out to a 2 goal lead. But the Timbers didn't give up and ended up drawing level behind two goals from Will Johnson to salvage the draw.
We have complete player ratings for every Portland Timbers player that appeared against New England in their scoreless draw. We include a rating for the coaches and the complete team.
The Portland Timbers did something rather amazing to help a child who had a special wish. Make-A-Wish Oregon became aware of a child, Atticus, who had a dream for his soccer team and him to play the Portland Timbers in a match. The team not only put that all together, but made it truly a game day experience for Atticus and his Green Machine teammates.
Spurs midfielder Mousa Dembele has effectively let his side's team news out of the bag ahead of tonight's crunch clash with Chelsea thanks to an Instagram photo. The Belgian was subbed off during his side's win over Southampton on Saturday, but the suggestion was that he would recover from his muscle problem ahead of this [.
On-loan 1899 Hoffenheim goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes will not play any part in the final six games of the season after he was diagnosed with a broken left hand following Friday's 3-0 win over Fortuna Düsseldorf, the club have confirmed. The Tottenham Hotspur shot stopper had impressed for the relegation-battling Hoffenheim since signing a six-month loan [.
Borussia Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels is likely to return to the starting lineup for Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg versus Spanish Opposition Malaga. The German international has been out of action since being substituted at half-time in Dortmund's 2-1 Revierderby loss at Schalke 04 on 9 March.
Bayern Munich's 2-0 victory over Juventus on Tuesday night came with one blow – the news that midfielder Toni Kroos is expected to be out for the rest of the season with a groin injury. Toni Kroos was taken off after just 16 minutes during the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie with [.
FC Schalke 04 must continue to wait on the comeback of key central defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos who remains sidelined with a knee injury. The big Greek defender had an operation on his knee in early December after persistent irritation. The 21-year old who played at Euro 2012 has now had to undergo a further operation [.
Mainz 05 have announced there will be no new contract for midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz to sign, meaning the 29-year old is free to leave at the end of the season. The announcement ended media speculation that the Austrian would be leaving at the end of the season. Head coach Thomas Tuchel announced: "We have decided [.
Werder Bremen pair Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Marko Arnautovic clashed during a training session on Thursday. The Green-Whites sit just six points above the relegation zone with eight games remaining and tension appeared to kick in prior to Saturday's trip to Europa League contenders Mainz 05. Austrian forward Marko Arnautovic has cut a frustrating figure for [.
