Copyright Date: January 15, 2014 All Rights Reserved PWP Trademark
If you're part of the Portland Timbers supporter-base or football organization this (should?) be a picture out your rearview mirror - not a vision on what's ahead. As noted by Porter in his latest post-game presser - there's been some bullets flying... part of them their own making... Getting Hot in Portland For me, even in... Continue Reading →
Normally a headline like this could be attributed to the beginning of summer and the secret heat wave we experience in Portland, or... it could be attributed to Portland Timbers heating up for a mid-to-late season run like they did in 2015. But no, today it's about Caleb Porter and whether or not he's in the hot... Continue Reading →
Many times in a head coaching career you're confronted with situations beyond your control - as in players will be injured or missing and those issues have nothing to do with you or your coaching staff. As such, you make do with the best you have and hope that 'consistency of previous purpose' takes over.... Continue Reading →
Mathematically, yes... psychologically... probably not. The Portland Timbers have two wins, three draws, and five losses in their last ten games with a season goals against average of 1.66; that's higher than last years' record setting 1.55. Last year (after just four games) the Timbers showed some early season trends "Is it too Early to Worry?" that are surfacing again this... Continue Reading →
I've struggled with the title of this article as much as I've wrestled with the best approach on my topic for your consideration this week. In all my indecision, I keep coming back to the one team issue I've had since last year... Goals Against. Last year the Timbers set a record - a horrible... Continue Reading →
I'm sure many feel the Timbers were unlucky this weekend - perhaps rightly so. For now, at least, I'm not convinced. In the post-game press conference Caleb Porter offered these thoughts about missing Darlington Nagbe; they struck a chord with me, perhaps they will with you too? Porter: "And I think today missing Darlington you could see... Continue Reading →
Over the course of a season, in Major League Soccer, it is likely every team will have players and head coaches/managers who make mistakes that cost a team three points or two points. In a league with a salary cap it's almost expected. The critical piece is not making the same mistake twice. In the Portland... Continue Reading →
Portland Timbers visit FC Dallas Perhaps the two most prolific head coaches in Major League Soccer Soccer meet again this weekend for what many are hoping will be a precursor to the Western Conference playoff finals this year. Some will say the gloss and glamour of this match will be lost with Mauro Diaz and Diego... Continue Reading →
With soccer statistical analysis growing daily, a longer headline might be: What do the tea leaves show about team performance measurements in Major League Soccer? Does the goal prevented show greater value, relative to points earned, than the goal scored? Even that's a bit wordy though... maybe it's... Soccer Statistics: What does "right" look like now? If you read The Numbers Game:... Continue Reading →
