Timbers Tid Bits: John Spencer Edition
by Geoff Gibson on May 18, 2011 9:01 AM PDT
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PrintI love the Portland Timbers current head coach so much so that I'm dedicating this entire link thread to him. I'm not sure the Timbers FO could have found a better man to lead the team, at least in terms of fitting in with who we are here in Portland. Seriously, his quotes yesterday were amazing. Not so much for what he said specifically, but that he was even willing to say that at all. How often do you hear a head coach talk like that?
Anyway, today we have quite a few links devoted to Spencer given his reactions to Saturday's game. But we've also got the regular league news as well. Enjoy!
Timbers Specific News
Bemused Spencer blasts Sounders as full of excuses
The original article where John Spencer gets his quoting roll started. Love this guy!
Timbers coach John Spencer disappointed in Seattle's 'excuses' following Saturday's 1-1 game
The notion that Portland should be an easy home win for opponents does not sit well with the Timbers coach.
John Spencer blasts Sounders FC excuses in Portland press
Quote round up of John Spencer blasting the Seattle Sounders' reaction to last weekend's draw.
Seattle vs Portland Timbers Report
Not sure why they have Darlington Nagbe as "Flop of the Match" I thought he played well enough and he's improving with each game.
Seattle, Portland far ahead in TV ratings for first MLS matchup
Seattle's 3.0 and Portland's 2.2 ratings are more than three times the next-highest-rated city's for the ESPN2 broadcast.
Sounders-Timbers not as progressive as some hope
An argument on why the Cascadia Cup proves that soccer still has a long way to go before being culturally accepted in America.
League News (after the jump)
MLS Designated Player Dissection: The breaking out of the 'lesser DPs'
I just want to point out that Diego Chara is a DP for Portland because of his transfer fee.
¡MLS Futbolito! to make stops in eight cities nationwide
One of MLS's most unusual and successful grassroots initiative returns. Can't wait!
Vancouver Whitecaps and United States international defender Jay DeMerit discusses his adjustment to Major League Soccer and the upcoming Gold Cup
I'm not sure there's anything I can put in this description that the title doesn't say already. Good read for USMNT fans though.
TFC, Whitecaps hope to salvage season
Both teams have chance to redeem MLS shortcoming by winning Canadian championship
GALAXY: Champions League foes await
The Galaxy will know its path to next year's knockout stage in the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday, when the draw will be staged in New York.
International star Marquez helps MLS' credibility, growth
It's actually quite surprising that Marquez is here at all, given he's such an enemy to our USMNT.
Caps get a fresh start against TFC
It was 60 long days ago when the Vancouver Whitecaps defeated Toronto FC 4-2 in a thrilling home debut, can they do it again?
Robert Pires says Thierry Henry wants him in MLS
Ugh, no thanks. I don't want him in MLS at all. We certainly have no need for a retiring 37 year old midfielder.
Could US stars Bradley, Donovan be headed to Roma?
I don't like this. While it sucks playing against Landon Donovan, his being in the league raises the perspective of what were doing here. Essentially he's MLS's most marketable player. I'd rather he stick with LA until he retires.
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Re: Sounders-Timbers not as progressive as some hope
That is one bad opinion piece. His main points are that soccer is not the biggest sport in America and that the Timbers-Sounders game was not as important a milestone as some are making it out to be. The first point is as ridiculous as it sounds. No one is making an argument that soccer is the biggest sport in America and I will give him the benefit of the doubt that some satire slipped into this otherwise serious article. The second point could probably be a foundation for a pretty well-written article, but that didn’t happen.
First, he supports his theory with evidence that the Kitsap Pumas are having low attendance and that fourth tier English league’s attendance is rising. Not sure how the Kitsap Pumas are supposed to be a barometer for the entire sport of soccer in America. How about using youth participation numbers or overall attendance at professional games.
Second, he asserts that most people are talking about the atmosphere of the game and not the game itself. I’m not sure how you gauge what most people are discussing, but even if you could, people that are new to the game will be more likely to be focused on the atmosphere, instead of the game. If a lot of people are focused on the atmosphere, then there are a lot of people that are new to the game. Doesn’t that go against his thesis?
Last, he argues that the spectacle is not the attraction in England, the soccer is. He also states that the vast majority of soccer games in the US are not spectacles. Well, then wouldn’t the soccer be the main attraction at all those games???? You can’t argue both.
This is the kind of article I would expect from Bleacher Report. Sorry for writing a long, useless post. The article really pissed me off though. Vent over.
You certainly can't compare English football to American soccer
It’s pretty much apples and oranges. I agree with that.
the other thing he got sorta wrong
was in his comparison between the Blue Sq Premiership and the Premier League. The fact that the Blue Sq is getting a big attendance bump is almost solely due to the fact that Premier League soccer is rapidly pricing itself out of reach for a lot of English fans, especially for away games. A fan that can’t afford to go to their local/favorite Premier League ground can easily afford a day out at a Blue Square Premiership game.
Me neither
but it has become more of a dire problem now that I think about i. Thanks pdb, great talking point. Man U and Chelsea and even my Merseysiders have been guilty of it for sure, but that problem is the greed with promotion. It’s so much money at that point, but then the eyes go from a well off person’s to dollar sign rich uncle penny bag’s. I don’t really fault EPL teams, it truly is the only game in town, milk it. You give fans the product they get and they will keep coming out. I would never bitch about this if I was a fan, you don’t like it, what other options are there? Having been to England, drinking is about it unless you are a tourist.
by RipCityRhapsody83 on May 18, 2011 7:50 PM PDT up reply actions
“Not so much for what he said specifically, but that he was even willing to say that at all. How often do you hear a head coach talk like that?”
Yes, I agree. I’ve been in love with Spencer from day one. I guess because I thought he was a man capable of being this type of coach. My hope is that he doesn’t take advantage of, or beat to death, this type of interview. You need to reserve these comments for times when they will help your team the most.
Spencer's comment about bringing tissue paper
for their eyes is priceless. Seriously Shittle, give it up. You never supported USL flounders, nothing at all unless WE came up. You made it to MLS because everyone including the fine fans down south here felt sorry about the Bennett/Sonics screw job. Jesus, those fans responding on the Times board are hilarious, especially with the “Spencer just catering to TA” angle. Um, ok, you wish your crap ass field at Qwest had as many fans as JWF. Bravo Mr. Spencer, bravo. Beat the tar out of the Crew this Saturday, can’t freaking wait.
by RipCityRhapsody83 on May 18, 2011 7:47 PM PDT reply actions
I wish i was
as cool as you.
Scoreboards, not billboards.
Regular season, not pre-season.
Might want to update the sig.
Second match has yet to be played, but the table is not in your favor one third of the way into the season. Two games in hand Timbers are level.
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
If you're going to bash a Sounder fan at least get your facts straight please
Um, ok, you wish your crap ass field at Qwest had as many fans as JWF.
Last I checked, 36,000 was a bigger number than 19,000. I’m all for the rivalry, but think it through a bit.
I think he's saying that they have less "fans"
Butts in seats != fans in his argument.
"I have something 95 percent of all those All-Stars only wish they had: a World Series ring. If I had to choose between that and being an All-Star, it would be no contest. I’d grab the gold ring and never look back." -Tim Salmon
It seems like if the fans were really bandwagoners
it would’ve tapered off by now at least a little. And what defines a fan? If someone was not a fan prior to the MLS jump, and now follow the team, does that not make them a fan because they don’t have X number of years of following prior? I don’t get the whole thing about having multiple definitions of fans. I think the whole argument is dumb.
I’m a longtime Sounders fan. I love the rivalry. Timbers have a great thing going, and are further proving Cascadia is the pinnacle of MLS.
by chrisperry1983 on May 19, 2011 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions
I am not sure
The Term Bandwagon fan is really not a term I like to use. Just between you and me, before I knew Portland was going to have a team I watched Seattle with interest.
As a Timbers Fan I want Seattle and Vancouver to win all but 4 games year. Just like as an Oregon State Fan I want the Ducks to win all but 1 game a year. Apparently you and I are in the minority though :)
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
So true!
Sometimes being in the minority sucks. But I appreciate that these SBN blogs seem to be on a different level than most other blogs/fansites. Obviously the rivalry is there as shown in posts on here and Sounder at Heart. But it rarely if ever degrades to trolling, which is refreshing. We can still have civil conversations, imagine that!
by chrisperry1983 on May 19, 2011 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions
“But it rarely if ever degrades to trolling, which is refreshing. We can still have civil conversations, imagine that!”
Yep, that’s why I come here.
To Quote Harry Potter
There is a Troll in the Dungeon!
I have always loved SBN and the writers they get for all their blogs. They really try and keep it professional yet fan based.
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
by Ryan Gates on May 19, 2011 11:23 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
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