Last Thursday, as you already know, the Portland Timbers snagged 3 points from the Whitecaps in Vancouver. It was a chippy match, and the first time the Timbers had won in Vancouver since 2004! The win also clinched the Cascadia Cup for the second year in a row.
The Timbers are on the road tomorrow to face AC St. Louis, and then play Tampa Bay on Saturday.
Timbers U-23s midfielders Steven Evans and Ricardo Carrillo had success this week, as part of the Eastside United FC team that won the US Youth Soccer U-18 national championship. Now it’s the whole U-23 team’s turn to prepare for the playoffs. They face the Hollywood United Hitmen in a semifinal match on Saturday, July 31st in Bremerton, Washington. If they win Saturday they’ll play for the Western Conference championship on Sunday, August 1st.
The Portland Timbers 2011 MLS coach speculation continues. John Spencer is at the top of the candidates list. And honestly, I don’t think there’s anyone else on the list. Rumor has it an announcement will occur within the first two weeks of August.
The Timbers Army has been busy lately, expanding its reach throughout Oregon, traveling in Europe, and throwing its weight around enough to be named to the fifth spot in Oregonian columnist John Canzano’s list of influential Oregon sports figures.
5. Timbers Army (NR): Drumming, chanting, scarf-wearing soccer supporters transformed overnight from a band of PGE Park rowdies to an effective and influential political organization. Their political clout ends up greasing the wheels on the effort to bring Major League Soccer to Portland. Two favorite sayings: Rose City till we die. If you want to be in the Timbers Army, you already are.
The NR indicates that the Army came out of nowhere, not having been ranked last year.
And to wrap up this edition of Tuesday Timber Tidbits, check out this nice article about Mason alum and Portland Timbers player Doug DeMartin. Make sure to visit TimbersArmy.org to find out how to pick up your 107ist membership card and to find out how you can get a discount when you bring a new recruit to the next home match on August 11th!
Denis Hamlett also interviewed for the manager’s job, but all indications for months have pointed to Spencer being the guy.
At the last home game, a guy next to me had a conversation with Gavin in the spring. He had stated they were hoping to land Ruud Gullit. We then speculated Ruud may have commitments with ESPN until after the World Cup was over.
I’m not too impressed with any of the folks mentioned, Gullit included. I would rather get a quality coach and then attract players, than have some amazing players and a sub-par coach.
~n