Dave Knows Portland

Portland Timbers Roundup (10/22/2010)

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Timbers ArmyThe Third Saturday is upon us! Celebrate the end of the Timbers’ time in the lower divisions Saturday, October 23 with the Timbers Army at the Farewell and Good Riddance USL Extravaganza at Beulahland (118 NE 28th), from 7pm until closing.

Your 107st membership gets you happy hour (i.e. $3.25 micros, $2.00 PBRs and $1 off food orders) all night!

And now back to the roundup . . . let’s start with the latest news – the first signings!

TimbersPortland Timbers Sign First MLS Players by me, at Dave Knows Portland!

The Portland Timbers provided a surprise today at the press conference introducing the first four signings to the 2011 MLS Timbers roster: English forward Eddie Johnson. Johnson played this past season for the Austin Aztex, where he scored 14 goals in the regular season, finishing one spot behind Portland’s Ryan Pore in the race for the Golden Boot. [more, including multiple photos!]

Looking further into the MLS Timbers first player signings by Kip Kesgard at OregonLive

It’s time to take a deeper look into the recent signings for the Portland Timbers MLS club, and for that, we bring back the infamous Kip and Evil Kip interview format used to talk about the World Cup. [more]

Highlights of the Newest Timber: Eddie Johnson by Dan at Dropping Timber

[A collection of videos featuring Eddie Johnson showing us what he’s got]

And of course, more to come

Timbers Insider: Expansion draft scheduled for Nov. 24 by Geoffrey C. Arnold at The Oregonian

The Portland Timbers’ next move in the player acquisition market will be revealed when they make the first selection in the Major League Soccer expansion draft, scheduled for Nov. 24.

Portland will choose first in the draft, with the Timbers and fellow expansion team Vancouver Whitecaps alternating selections. The Timbers and Whitecaps will each select 10 players in the 10-round draft. [more]

Still wrapping up the USL stuff

Pore’s winner over Islanders voted Goal of the Year at PortlandTimbers.com

Following a week-long vote at www.PortlandTimbers.com, fans have selected midfielder Ryan Pore’s game-winning goal against the Puerto Rico Islanders at PGE Park on Sept. 2, 2010, as the Timbers 2010 Goal of the Year. [more]

Timbers Insider: Pore named league MVP by Geoffrey C. Arnold at The Oregonian

The awards and accolades continue to roll in for Portland forward Ryan Pore.

The high-scoring Pore was named as the USSF Division 2 Pro League’s most valuable player Thursday, just one day after he was recognized as the league’s scoring champion. Pore and new teammate Eddie Johnson were named to league’s Best IX team. [more]

On to the MLS

Free kicks: MLS attendance competitive with some NBA teams by Geoffrey C. Arnold at The Oregonian

As Major League Soccer enters its final regular season games this weekend, the league is reporting increased attendance for the season.

In fact, the attendance in some cities with MLS teams is better than their counterpart NBA teams. Half of the league’s 16 teams are averaging at least 15,000 fans a game, which is similar to some of the NBA’s teams. [more]

Tuesday Timbers Tidbits (10/05/2010)

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TimbersThe Portland Timbers completed a hell of a regular season with a 2-2 tie at Vancouver (Burnaby actually). Many Timbers fans made the trek north into Canada for the final match, including Kip Kesgard of the Timbers blog at OregonLive.com. With the draw the Timbers, undefeated in their last 10 matches, climbed into the 3rd spot in the the USL Conference and league points standings. They take the fourth seed in the playoffs however behind the Carolina RailHawks, who topped the NASL Conference. The seeding means Portland will face long time rivals (and MLS-bound as well) Vancouver Whitecaps in the first round.

The first leg of the two-leg, aggregate goals playoff series kicks off on Thursday, October 8 2010 at Vancouver.

Watch the match at a Portland Soccer Bar – I’ll be at the Cascade Brewing Barrel House watching the match with Timber Jim!

Sunday, October 10 2010 the teams face off in the second leg at Merlo Field on the University of Portland campus. Kickoff is at 6pm. Merlo Field holds fewer than 5000 fans – so if you want tickets your best bet might be to ask a season ticket holder (who have access to an exclusive pre-sale). There will be a small number of tickets available at the Merlo Field box office Sunday, however.

And in player news

Go A-to-Z with Steve Purdy at PortlandTimbers.com.

Curious about everything Ian Joy? Visit Dropping Timber: The Joy of Soccer: Part 1 of 4, and The Joy of Soccer: Part 2 of 4 are currently live.

Portland Timbers Roundup (10/01/2010)

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TimbersGame 30: Vancouver Whitecaps v. Portland Timbers by mao at Portland Timbers USL Blog at The Offside

The fourth and final Cascadia Cup match of the 2010 season will take place at Swangard Stadium on Saturday as Portland Timbers travel north to face Vancouver Whitecaps. The match is the final regular season tie between the old rivals before both make the move up to Major League Soccer in 2011. A lot is on the line, though mainly for Vancouver, as their playoff position hangs in the balance. The Timbers are guaranteed to finish in the top four regardless of the result. [more]

If you’re not lucky enough to be making the trip to Vancouver for this final regular season game, watch it with your fellow Timbers fans at a Portland Soccer Bar!

The playoffs

Timbers Playoff Dates Unveiled by mao at Portland Timbers USL Blog at The Offside

With construction already underway at PGE Park, Portland Timbers will host their quarterfinal round playoff game at Merlo Field at the University of Portland. The combination of the Timbers’ win in Baltimore last weekend and other results around the league has guaranteed the Timbers a top-four finish and thus the choice of schedule in the two-legged playoff rounds. In the quarterfinals, though their opponents have not yet been determined, Portland will play away on Thursday October 7 and host the return leg at Merlo Field on Sunday October 10. [more]

Portland Timbers want to win final game without revealing too much by Geoffrey C. Arnold at The Oregonian

The Portland Timbers on Saturday finish the regular season at Vancouver against the Whitecaps, a team they could face again next week in the first round of the USSF Division 2 playoffs.

Portland coach Gavin Wilkinson isn’t about to give the Whitecaps any clues about his strategy for the playoffs, which put some limits on Thursday’s practice. [more]

On to the MLS

Timbers aim to overcome sports’ economic doldrums by Andy Giegerich at the Portland Business Journal

When the Portland Timbers begin Major League Soccer play next spring, team officials hope to avoid the fan malaise plaguing the four other primary sports leagues.

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber and Portland Timbers soccer team owner Merritt Paulson believe Major League Soccer’s operational strategies insulate the game from economic pressures and other attendance-slashing factors. [more]

MLS Timbers announce addition of seven staff members at PortlandTimbers.com

PORTLAND, Ore. – In preparation for their debut Major League Soccer season, the Portland Timbers today announced the addition of seven new employees as the club prepares for its ascension to North America’s top flight starting in 2011. The Timbers have added staff members in the marketing, ticket sales, accounting and partner services departments. [more]

In player news

Q&A: Thompson talks Portland-Vancouver rivalry at PortlandTimbers.com

As the 2010 regular-season winds down and the Timbers prepare for the playoffs, defender Scot Thompson shares his thoughts on the Portland-Vancouver rivalry, playing at Swangard Stadium and the showdown this weekend in a Q&A with PortlandTimbers.com. [more]

US starlet trains with Toffees at Sky Sports

The 17-year-old is rated as one of their brightest prospects and he shone in the recent Milk Cup. . .

He is now tipped to be one of the top picks in the forthcoming MLS draft, and has been training with Portland Timbers [more]

The Clean Sheet: The most important part of the season by Matt Pyzdrowski at PortlandTimbers.com

Hello Portland!

The regular season may be winding down but the most important part of the season is just beginning, the playoffs.

This past week of training has included some of the most spirited sessions the lads have put together this year as a whole. [more]

And finally, in support news

It’s Our Game. Fans Must be Allowed to Attend Derbies – Prost Amerika Special Comment at Prost Amerika Soccer

Yesterday top executives from Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps met in Seattle to discuss an issue that for many fans and for this website, goes right to the heart of how football is to grow in this country.

They were discussing ticket allocations for away fans for the six derby games in the Pacific Northwest next season. [more]

Know Your Tifo: Yesterday, Today, Forever by Dan at Dropping Timber

After the Star Spangled Banner on the 9/2/2010 match, the Timbers Army held a tifo display featuring a large banner which read “Yesterday, Today, Forever” to honor the players on the last division two Timbers squad. Two-stick banners were also held up for each player on the roster, with their jersey number and last name. [more]

Portland Timbers Roundup (09/24/2010)

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TimbersNext up

Game 29: Crystal Palace Baltimore v. Portland Timbers by mao at the Portland Timbers USL Blog at The Offside

An eight-game unbeaten streak goes on the line on Saturday when Portland Timbers travel across the country to face Crystal Palace Baltimore. The two clubs have met three times earlier this season with Palace claiming the first two and the Timbers winning 3-0 in the most recent edition. Those two victories for Palace are fully one-third of their season total, leaving them tied for the least number of wins in the league. Baltimore have lost six straight, including being outscored 0-16 in the first five of that run. [more]

Looking ahead to the playoffs

Timbers playoff tickets on sale Friday by Geoffrey C. Arnold at The Oregonian

The Timbers announced that playoff tickets will go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. The tickets will be sold through the club’s ticket office.

The first-round playoff series will be a two-game, aggregate-goal series, with the winner advancing to the semifinals. The Timbers’ playoff game will be played at the University of Portland’s Merlo Field. First-round games will be played the week of Oct. 4 and the date for the Timbers’ first-round playoff game at Merlo Field will be announced at a later time. [more]

The Rose City Project by Timber Jim at SoccerCityUSA.com

Soon our beloved Portland Timbers will be finishing their U.S.L.
regular season play on the road.

Upon their return I respectfully request that The Timbers Army welcome The Portland Timbers Football Club home with “A day in the Sun for the Rose”

Please bring a Rose of your choice for ALL remaining Portland Timbers matches for our run for the USL League Championship. more]

Looking ahead to 2011

Fifteen season ticket sections sold out for 2011 at Portland MLS 2011

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Timbers today announced that season tickets in 15 different sections are sold out for the team’s inaugural Major League Soccer (MLS) season in 2011. Additionally, all but one suite for the team’s first MLS campaign have been sold on a multi-year basis. [more]

Stadium renovation ground breaking, and Don Garber, news

MLS commish optimistic for Timbers success by Paul Danzer at The Columbian

PORTLAND — Dignitaries shoveled some symbolic dirt on Tuesday at PGE Park.

Addressing gathered media and invited supporters, Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson talked a little about the “long, strange trip” it took to get the deal that will transform PGE Park from a multi-use facility to a soccer-specific venue. [more]

A Conversation with MLS Commissioner Don Garber by Brian Costello at Portland MLS 2011

Amidst all the hubbub and activity yesterday around the Timbers stadium renovation groundbreaking ceremony, Timbers Digital Media Director Brian Costello managed to sit down with Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber to chat a bit about his thoughts on Portland’s debut in MLS, regional rivalries, and season schedule challenges. While the 2010 season is still in full swing, Garber has very strong ideas about what 2011 and beyond shall bring for the Timbers and for the league. [more]

Portland Timbers stage ceremonial groundbreaking at PGE Park by Kip Kesgard at OregonLive.com

The transformation of Portland’s PGE Park from a multipurpose facility into a premier soccer and football venue has already begun in earnest, but the Portland Timbers took time on September 21 to celebrate the beginning of this new era. In front of over 300 people, Timbers owner Merritt Paulson, MLS Commissioner Don Garber, and Portland City Commissioners Nick Fish and Randy Leonard participated in the ceremony and ushered in the launch of the new stadium. [more]

Visit Dropping Timber and The Nerd is the Word for PGE Park renovation photos and updates.

Team news

Timbers Lend Support To Grant High Fundraiser at KPTV.com

PORTLAND, Ore. — Grant High School officials and student athletes said the northeast Portland high school’s athletic fields are in desperate need of renovating. Now, a group named Friends of Grant Athletics is trying to raise money to fix them. [more]

Player news

Go A-to-Z with Bright Dike at PortlandTimbers.com

In his first professional season, forward Bright Dike has steadily become one of the Timbers’ highest scoring rookies in modern franchise history. Get to know more about the Fighting Irish alum off the field in a special edition of the feature A-to-Z. [more]

Tuesday Timbers Tidbits (09/14/2010)

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TimbersThe Portland Timbers tied Carolina 0-0 on the first of four Saturday road matches in a row. Next up, Puerto Rico.

The Timbers clinched a playoff berth the week before, so the team will now be jockeying for playoff position the rest of the season – the top eight teams make it to the playoffs with conference champs the top two seeds. Currently the Timbers are in 3rd place in the USL Conference, behind Rochester and Austin.

Timbers blog Dropping Timber has a new look. And check out the relatively pristine message board!

Check out the great story at KPTV about the 107ist‘s efforts to help the Jefferson Democrats‘s soccer teams.

Over at PortlandTimbers.com, Futty Danso talks about his recent national team experience. The Gambia called him up for help qualifying for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations against Namibia.

2004 A-League rookie of the year with the Portland Timbers, Alan Gordon, received MLS Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career. He had a couple nice assists in a 2-0 Chivas win over the Revolution.

And of course by now you no doubt have heard about the cheeky Portland Timbers MLS billboard in Seattle?