Dave Knows Portland

Tuesday Timbers Tidbits (07/20/2010)

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TimbersThe Portland Timbers did not embarrass themselves Saturday when they faced Manchester City, though they did lose 3-0.

The Timbers, as usual, get little rest now. They travel to Vancouver to face the Whitecaps Thursday, July 22nd, and then play three more matches on the road before returning home to face Minnesota FC at PGE Park on August 11th.

Meanwhile Saturday the U-23 Timbers beat the Kitsap Pumas 1-0 and accomplished an impressive feat – they completed the PDL regular season with a perfect record – 16-0-0, the first time a team has done that since 1998.

Sunshine Trailer T-ShirtIn supporter news, as you learned last week the Timbers Army Sunshine Trailer is sadly, no more. However you can help in the replacement trailer fund raising by buying a nifty, limited edition, t-shirt. $20! Visit the Timbers Army store for more details.

The Timbers Army has increased in size each year of its existence. Next year, as the club enters the MLS, the supporters group will no doubt see the largest increase yet. And someone needs to teach them all the chants. Dropping Timbers has already begun this project – check out their series of Know Your Chants posts.

Portland Timbers Roundup (07/16/2010)

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TimbersThe Portland Timbers are on the road until August 11th, except for a particularly noteworthy friendly being played at Merlo Field this Saturday, July 17th 2010 . . .

Portland Timbers vs Manchester City

Our humble Portland Timbers of the USSF division 2 face one of the richest football clubs in the world, Manchester City of the English Premier League this Saturday, July 17th 2010.The 31 man traveling roster for Manchester City includes three players who represented their countries in the 2010 World Cup finals: Shaun Wright-Phillips (England), Kolo Toure and midfielder Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast). [more]

The Timbers’ virtual venue visualization used for 2011 MLS seat selection has been garnering media attention recently:

A look into the future in Portland by Duane Rollins at The 24th Minute

The Portland Timbers have released a mock-up of the renovated stadium so that people can buy their season tickets with some knowledge of what the place will look like. It’s not new technology. Most pro sports teams are providing a similar service. But, it is some serious stadium porn for the true hardcore North American footy geek. [more]

Timbers fans see future with Virtual Venue by Joe Becker at KGW Sports

PORTLAND — Major League Soccer in Portland is less than 9 months away and Timbers fans will have plenty of options when it comes to tickets.

PGE Park has about two months left before becoming a soccer-only stadium. Construction will begin in early September.

The Timbers were already using the very latest technology to give soccer fans a look into the future. It’s called Virtual Venue and gives fans an accurate view of every seating section available when the timbers begin play in the MLS. [more]

In FO news, Part 2 of Prost America Soccer’s interview with Timbers COO Mike Golub is now up . . .

Golub: No $9 Beers in Portland But You Can Buy Three $3 Beers! at Prost America Soccer

PROST AMERIKA: What have you learned about soccer since you started here?

MIKE GOLUB: I think relative to other sports I’ve been involved in, there’s a real sense of mission and purpose in the sport. There’s just a universal love of the game, a universal intent to keep the sport moving forward in this country. [more]

The John Spencer rumors are rumored to be more than rumors . . .

Report: Spencer to be Timbers first MLS coach by Erik Siemers at the Portland Business Journal

Signs point towards John Spencer becoming the Portland Timbers first head coach in Major League Soccer.

The Houston Dynamo on Tuesday said Spencer left the club after more than four years as an assistant coach, according to a report on MLSSoccer.com, the league’s official website. [more]

Portland Timbers MLS Coach Rumors by paulsepp at Dropping Timber

We knew the Timbers would have a new coach for next season, and the rumors surrounding the decision have been building and now the Portland Business Journal is reporting that the next coach of the Portland Timbers will be the former assistant coach of the Houston Dynamo, John Spencer. Spencer has been in the assitant coaching spot for the past four years and resigned yesterday. [more]

In supporter news, the Timbers Army Trailer is dead, long live the Timbers Army Trailer – with your help!

Timbers Insider: Spencer headed to Portland? by Goeffrey C. Arnold at The Oregonian

The surprise resignation of John Spencer earlier this week had many news outlets reporting that the former Houston Dynamo assistant coach would resurface in Portland.

No. At least he’s not in Portland today. He’s actually in Portugal. But he could end up in Portland as the team’s coach when the Timbers join Major League Soccer in 2011. [more]

Timbers Army Trailer Update at TimbersArmy.org

Our home and transport for both Timbers Army merchandise and 107ist membership items, the Timbers Army Sunshine Trailer, was recently damaged beyond repair. A lot of hard work, time, and love went into the trailer and we are appreciative of everyone who contributed.

While we are actively seeking to replace the trailer with a new and improved alternative, we will still be providing ways for you to collect both orders and membership cards and t-shirts. On Saturday, we will be handing out merchandise on the patio at 4pm at the Twilight Room on 5242 North Lombard Street, Portland, OR‎ (503) 283-5091‎ before the Portland Timbers play Manchester City at University of Portland’s Merlo Field at 7pm. The Twilight Room has also extended happy hour prices and given us a $1 off meals special for the day.

If you just ordered one of the limited edition PTFC vs. MCFC scarves, those will be available at the Twilight Room too.

How You Can Help
Want to help us with our replacement efforts for a new, Timbers Army ‘merchmobile’? We are currently collected donated items and services for an upcoming fundraising event. If you have an item or service to donate, you can post it on talktimbers.com here or send us an email about your offering.

Also, you can donate at anytime on our website here (you can specify ‘TA Trailer Fund’ in the text box during the PayPal checkout process as needed.) If you have any other ideas or donations for fund raising or a replacement, let us know!

At our next home game, we will be in the same location as always, outside the florist shop on SW 20th and SW Morrison diagonal to PGE Park to hand out merchandise.

Match Day (07/03/2010): Portland Timbers vs Vancouver Whitecaps

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TimbersThe Portland Timbers host the Vancouver Whitecaps Saturday, July 3rd at PGE Park. The match kicks off at 7pm. The Timbers Army Craft Brew Tailgate begins at 3pm!

The Timbers began the 2010 season in fine form, with three home wins and a respectable tie on the road at defending champions Montreal. The last win in that stretch was against Vancouver, who Montreal beat in last year’s final. But then, as April came to an end, things abruptly changed. While Vancouver have played themselves to the top of the NASL conference standings, the Timbers went winless in league play throughout May and half of June. Mired in fourth place in the USL Conference, the Timbers need a strong finish to the season to make the playoffs.

Fortunately, the Timbers may have regained their early season form, with two league wins and a series of strong US Open Cup performances. If they still have legs (today’s match is the team’s third in under than a week), they should be able to defend their home field and come away with a good result.

Visit The Timber Mill, the Portland Timbers Blog at The Offside, Dropping Timber, and of course the Portland Timbers website for more match previews!

Portland Timbers Roundup (07/02/2010)

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TimbersThe Portland Timbers played well Wednesday night (especially Dike Bright and Futty Dansou!), in front of a fantastic Portland crowd, but alas after OT, it came down to penalty kicks . . .

Timbers fall to Seattle in U.S. Open Cup on penalty kicks at PortlandTimbers.com

PORTLAND, Ore. – In front of a sold-out crowd at PGE Park, the Portland Timbers battled Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders FC to a 1-1 draw, before losing on penalty kicks 4-3 in a third-round matchup in the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup before 15,422 on Wednesday. [more]

And a few more recaps:

We’re looking to the future though. Like Saturday night:

Timbers battle Vancouver Saturday at PGE Park at PortlandTimbers.com

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers play host to the Vancouver Whitecaps in USSF Division-2 Pro League play Saturday at PGE Park; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The Timbers face their third match in seven days when they take on their Northwest rival Saturday. [more]

Bright Dike answers some questions after the Kitsap hat trick [he has since scored the game winner against Tampa Bay last Sunday, and the goal against the Sounders Wednesday]:

Q&A: Going one-on-one with Bright Dike at PortlandTimbers.com

Bright Dike turned in a productive night Tuesday, logging the team’s first hat trick in three seasons in a 4-1 second-round victory in the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The forward talked about his three-goal night, learning on the job and who he aspires to model his game after in a Q&A. [more]

And plenty of supporter news:

Bitter End Discount for 107ist Members at SCUSA

Starting on 7/3, show your 107ist Membership Card at the Bitter End and enjoy the following specials:

– $1 off Irish Whiskeys
– Happy Hour Food Prices until 10pm
– Daily Pint and Pitcher Special

These discounts will be available every day to 107ist members. [more]

Special Craft Brew Tailgate – 7/3 at SCUSA

As a special celebration of Oregon Craft Beer Month, the 107ist has arranged for kegs from Hopworks, Ninkasi, Rock Bottom, Double Mountain, and Lompoc at the July 3rd Timbers Army tailgate for our 21+ attendees before the Vancouver match at 7pm at PGE Park.

We suggest a $5 donation or $4 + 2 cans of food to donate to the Oregon Food Bank as we will have a collection setup at the tailgate. Clean out your pantry for this good cause!

All proceeds from this craft brew celebration will go towards the 107ist organization to support soccer events and charities in the community. [more]

Tuesday Timbers Tidbits: Everyone is a Critic (06/15/2010)

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Timbers
The Portland Timbers lost to Miami Saturday, but the biggest moans and groans (and boos) came at the Timbers MLS crest unveiling at half time of the USA vs. England match viewing at Director Park.

If you’re a Timbers fan, you’re already aware of the controversy. My stance is that yeah, the new crest is crap. Cartoon shadows and that weird pendulous chevron thing? Really?

Most of the MLS logos kinda suck though. Lots of ahistorical or nonsensical team names, and tenuous grasps at traditions elsewhere. The new Timbers logo does at least tip the hat to the team’s history and previous crest. I can imagine far worse results.

That being said, I didn’t expect the Timbers organization to make such a big change. No doubt they will retain the trademarks to the previous Timbers logos, and use them for retro lines of souvenirs and other ephemera (and if they don’t, they ought to license the previous crests to the 107ist for fund raising efforts).

Timbers Logo 2There are some proposals floating around to jettison that silly triangle chevron thing, but keep the cartoony shadow. Interestingly, the team already has something new that, I think, would be far more acceptable to more of the Timbers faithful. Take a look at the image to the right. I did not mock that up; it’s from an image of a Timber scarf for sale on the MLS Gear website.

Anyways.

Here are few other reactions:

And I’m looking forward to today’s Morning Submission broadcast. Expect a good rant . . .

Meanwhile, the Timbers also announced the season ticket prices for 2011. And they seem more reasonable than the crest choice. Check out this nifty virtual venue thing to see the pricing and compare views from different sections.

And tonight, Tuesday, May 15th the Portland Timbers host the Sonoma County Sol in a US Open Cup match. Kickoff is at 7pm. Tickets are cheap.