NOTE: Click on each of the charts below for bigger (more readable) versions.

Thanks to all who followed the survey link and submitted player ratings for the Houston match. We had another week with over 100 responses. Here is the distribution of your player ratings...

The rest of the charts are after the jump...

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The 2012 Cascadia Cup competition begins this weekend with a very different set of expectations than were present a year ago. Seattle and Vancouver have two of the best defenses in the Western Conference right now, Seattle having allowed only four goals so far. Vancouver barely eke out the rest of the pack with 11 goals allowed, albeit in fewer matches than San Jose and RSL.

Offensively, though, both teams have been a mixed bag. Vancouver has been inconsistent, going for long scoreless stretches, while winning more than their fair share of one-goal games. Seattle, meanwhile, got three amazing goals from David Estrada in their opener but have lost their rhythm ever since. Saturday's derby at BC Place will be interesting, to say the least.

The Portland Timbers have the significant home advantage in this year's competition, but they also have the advantage of a Cascadia schedule weighed heavily toward the end of the season. Right now Timbers can be thankful for that happenstance, avoiding their fiercest rivals during a phase of the season in which they've struggled to figure things out.

Portland starts its own Cascadia campaign at home a week from Saturday; perhaps a fired-up Cascadia Cup atmosphere will help the team find their footing.

The Western Conference Weekly follows the jump.

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Futty Danso received a one game suspension and a fine for an undisclosed amount today for striking Calen Carr in the head while tackling the ball away from him in the Portland Timbers game versus the Houston Dynamo on Tuesday. During the game the play in question was ruled fair play as Futty got the ball before colliding with Carr, but upon review the MLS Disciplinary Committee ruled that Futty's challenge warranted further action.

The Timbers, who have not been given a red card yet this season, will be without Futty for this Sunday's home game against the Chicago Fire. Futty was already questionable for this weekend's game, according to coach John Spencer, as he tweeked his hamstring while tackling Carr and did not practice today.

Also suspended was Brek Shae of FC Dallas for kicking the ball at an assistant referee in Dallas's loss to the Columbus Crew over the weekend.

The MLS press release is after the jump.

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The Timbers ran out for a short training session today as they recover from their 0-0 draw against the Houston Dynamo. After the team's initial warm-ups, practice was closed to the press.

Missing from today's practice were Jack Jewsbury and Futty Danso, both of whom picked up injuries in Houston. In his post-practice comments, John Spencer said that both Futty and Jewsbury would be game time decisions this Sunday against the Chicago Fire. Troy Perkins was also not on the pitch today despite not noticeably picking up a knock on Tuesday.

Warming up with the team was defender Steve Purdy, who missed the last two weeks due to a concussion. Purdy reportedly jogged with the team but worked on a separate fitness routine at the end of last week. Word is that Purdy will not be cleared to play until Monday at the earliest.

Also training today were Kalif Alhassan, who has been working his way back from a knee injury for several weeks now, and Jake Gleeson, who has been struggling with tightness of the IT band since early in the season. Both were still on the field after practice concluded and the press were let back on to the pitch.

Quotes from Lovel Palmer, Sal Zizzo, and John Spencer after the jump.

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The Portland Timbers played against the Houston Dynamo yesterday in their brand new, sparkley stadium BBVA Compass Stadium. The good news here is that the Timbers did not, in fact, lose which is great! A draw away from home is actually an alright thing to get. Granted a win is always better and the Timbers are definitely in need of a solid three points from a game, but given the circumstances with the new stadium and everything I'll notch this closer to the "win" column...

In any case, here are our player ratings for last night's game:

Starting XI

Troy Perkins: 9

Man of the match, as usual. While the defense is definitely starting to shape up, it's scary to think what the Timbers record would look like without this man. Some iffy distribution keeps him from a perfect score.

Andy's Rating: 8 - Two huge game saving save of the week candidates and the resulting clean sheet give him a 10. Not being able to keep the ball on the field when he boots it forward takes two points away.

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