Dave Knows Portland

Tuesday Timbers Tidbits – A Farewell? (1-March-2011)

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TimbersI posted the very first Timbers Tidbits on July, 26, 2007 – a Thursday. I quickly realized the alliteration was better with Tuesday, and since August 27, 2007 I’ve been publishing my Tuesday Timbers Tidbits semi-regularly.

Timbers coverage was sparse in those days. There was occasional coverage (notably the inspiring work of Bob Kellet, aka Roberto, on the OregonLive Timbers blog and in the message board precursor Tails From the Shed, and Allison Andrew‘s fantastic game coverage at SoccerCityUSA.com), but weeks would go by with nary a mention of the Timbers by any local newspaper, and there were no fan sites dedicated to regular Timbers coverage.

I like to think my Roundups and Tidbits have provided a valuable service to Timbers fans (at least the Timbers fans who didn’t already frequent SCUSA and obsessively set up Google alerts for anything vaguely Timbers or Portland soccer related). But times have changed. We now have a half dozen or so blogs 100% dedicated to covering the Portland Timbers. The Oregonian, in Geoffrey C. Arnold, has a reporter covering the Timbers beat. The national media, now that the Timbers have joined the MLS, deigns to discuss our local team. I do believe it’s not that difficult any more for a Timbers fan to find out the Timbers news.

So I am bidding adieu to regular Timbers Tidbits and Timbers Roundup posts . . . for now. I’ll still be covering Timbers and Timbers Army related events. I still plan on posting a 2011 Timbers Primer soon. And I may have a few other projects up my sleeve . . .

Meanwhile you should have no trouble keeping up with the Timbers if you make note of a few sites:

Soccer City USA
Timbers Blog at The Offside
Timbers Army Blogs
Dropping Timber
Timber Insider
Timbers Blog at OregonLive
Stumptown Footy

And Podcasts!

mao’s Football Show
Shed Culture With Hermes
Popinski

Portland Timbers Roundup (25-February-2011)

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TimbersPlayer News

Jorge Perlaza adjusting to Timbers by Geoffrey C. Arnold at The Oregonian

Even with the language barrier, the Timbers head coach and the prized unsigned Colombian forward have managed to communicate and connect through the universal language of soccer. [more]

Brian Umony works his way into discussion for playing time by Geoffrey C. Arnold at The Oregonian

Few would have predicted that the 5-foot-7 Ugandan forward would have even a chance of making the roster when training camp started in January. But Umony scored the Timbers’ goal and nearly netted a second one in the Timbers 1-1 draw against the Los Angeles Galaxy Feb. 8. [more]

Coach

Accent on victory by Stephen Alexander at the Portland Tribune

When John Spencer began as an assistant coach with the Houston Dynamo in 2006, the players knew that one day he would be leading a club himself. [more]

Team News

Portland Timbers Midfield: Is This Our Weakest Link? by Geoff Gibson at Stumptown Footy

I think it’s safe to say at this point that our mystery midfielder who was supposed to be “best in the league” is a no-show. [more]

Preseason Play

Exhibition: Montreal 0 – Timbers 1 by mao at the Portland Timbers blog at The Offside

The game’s only goal came in the seventh minute when trialist Roberto Merino sent a cross toward the back post where Eddie Johnson headed in for his first goal as a Timber. [more]

Ambassadors

Timbers name four former players as ambassadors by Geoffrey C. Arnold at The Oregonian

Former players John Bain, Bernie Fagan, Lee Morrison and Mick Hoban were among the five individuals named as alumni ambassadors for the 2011 season. Former Timbers goalkeeper coach Jim Brazeau was also named as an ambassador. [more]

Supporter News

POSTPONED: 2nd Annual Timber Harvest at TimbersArmy.org

Due to the likelihood of inclement weather on Sunday, we are rescheduling the second annual Timber Harvest expedition for the weekend of March 12-13. We’ll have more details soon. Thank you for your patience.

Last year, we had a great crowd of over 50 supporters take part in the Great Timber Harvest and it was a truly memorable way to start the season… so let’s do it again! [more]

Oh, and go check out the new TimbersArmy.org blog. Some highlights so far:

Tuesday Timbers Tidbits (22-Tuesday-2011)

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Timbers

As part of their Better Know A Supporters Group series, the Free Beer Movement examines the Timbers Army. And at USSoccerPlayers.com Jason Davis contrasts the Timbers way with that of our Northern neighbors.

For a blast from your bellbottom past, go check out the Kick Magazine from 1976 at Dropping Timber. Remember, the best country in the country deserves the best beer: Blitz Weinhard beer.

The MLS Timbers have announced the creation of a state wide youth academy system.

I hope you didn’t buy plane tickets already – the 2011 match schedule was tweaked a bit last week due to the Fox Soccer Channel deal. The good news is more matches on TV.

Go check out Nevets‘ blog, Soccer Watcher, for his curated collection of No Pity Axe Bootleg sketches (including my wife’s contribution!).

Kip at OregonLive.com has the run down on last week’s three new signings and the 2011 U.S. Open Cup structure. And Rick Curwen recaps Timbers Army volunteer efforts with Friends of Trees.

Portland Timbers Roundup (18-February-2011)

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TimbersPlayer News

Perlaza expected to rejoin team in Arizona by Geoffrey C. Arnold at The Oregonian

The heralded forward from Colombia never appeared on the field during the Timbers’ four-day training stint in Portland that ended Tuesday. However, Portland coach John Spencer said Perlaza is expected to re-join the team during its nine-day stay in Casa Grande, Arizona. [more]

Sal Zizzo Joins Portland from Chivas USA by mao at the Timbers blog at The Offside

Portland Timbers today traded for Sal Zizzo, a winger from Chivas USA in return for allocation money. The 23-year old (24 in early April) has featured for Hannover 96 in the Bundesliga, Chivas USA in Major League Soccer and has a single cap with the US national team. [more]

Timbers Sign Midfielder Freddie Braun, Goalkeeper Jake Gleeson at PortlandTimbers.com

The Portland Timbers announced today the signing of midfielder Freddie Braun and goalkeeper Jake Gleeson. Both are products of the Timbers’ development team, the Portland Timbers U-23s. [more]

Purdy Ready For Competition by Kelly McLain at Timbers Insider

Steve Purdy knows that if the Timbers had a real match today, he would likely be the starting right back. But he also knows that the imminent arrival of Englishman Kerrea Gilbert means that some very tough competition will be arriving shortly. [more]

Stadium News

Timbers conversion of PGE Park takes shape by Geoffrey C. Arnold at The Oregonian

The transformation of PGE Park continues. [more]

Fight averted: New PGE Park scoreboard won’t block Multnomah Athletic Club views by James Mayer at The Oregonian

Neighbors can be pesky for any developer, but this is one neighbor you probably don’t want mad at you. [more]

Club News

U.S. Open Cup Format Revealed, Portland Timbers Vie for 1 of 2 Spots by Geoff Gibson at Stumptown Footy

. . . the NASL (provisional D2 soccer in America) will not be participating in this year’s tournament. While the official reason remains that “there wasn’t enough time to schedule them in,” most believe there are other factors at play here. So, the current line up is as such: [more]

Timbers U-23 Schedule Announced by paulsepp at Dropping Timber

The Portland Timber U-23 will kick off the defense of their 2010 title on Friday May 6th. The venue is yet to be announced. The 2010 Timbers U-23 squad went undefeated all the way through the regular season and playoffs. [more]

Fandom

Behind The Axe: More observations from practice, and Timbers Fan of the Day by Kip Kesgard at OregonLive.com

I’ve been extremely pleased to see more of the Portland Timbers practicing this season, as the club has gone to great lengths to give media the chance to see the progress. [more]

Check out the Timbers Fan of the Day feature at OregonLive

And don’t forget – the last Timbers Army 3rd Saturday of the off season is this Saturday, February 19th!

Quizzy Trivia Timbers Trivia with Sabrina Miller!

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TimbersQuizzy Trivia quizmaster Sabrina Miller visits the Bitter End Pub (1981 W Burnside) Tuesday nights for Timbers Trivia!

Think you know your Timbers? Prove it. Not 100% sure? Who cares, come learn about them anyway – It’s free, what do you have to lose!

$5 bar cash to each person on the winning team (up to 5 people) and of course the 107ist discount applies.

It’s free to enter, so what do you have to lose? Quiz starts around 7pm.