A look at the 2012 roster and some ideas of what to keep an eye on as camp continues

Unlike last year, the team is blessed with a majority of the team returning, which makes it easier to guess what Gavin and John have in mind for the rest of the roster. The following is a position by position breakdown of the roster

Goalkeepers: 1) Troy Perkins 2) Jake Gleeson

Currently the team has 2 signed goalkeepers and 2 unsigned goalkeepers in camp. Last year we carried 3 keepers and while its very likely we will sign an additional keeper, some teams do only carry 2. Joe Bendick, a University of Georgia graduate with some professional experience in Norway likely has a slight advantage over Supplemental draft pick Doug Herrick given his professional experience, though Doug can likely be signed to a developmental contract for a slight cost savings over a league minimum contract Bendick would require. Look to see if one distances himself over the next few games.

Central Defenders: 1) Eric Brunner 2) Futty Danso 3) Hanyer Mosquera 4) David Horst 5) Andrew Jean-Baptiste

One position which we are probably completely full up on. Ryan Kawulok was a standout CB for his UP team and for the U-23s, but given the significant depth we have at this position, would likely need to demonstrate a competent ability to play another position (fullback, dmid).

Fullbacks: 1) Mike Chabala 2) Rodney Wallace 3) Lovel Palmer 4) Chris Taylor 5) Steve Purdy 6) Freddie Braun

Again, some solid depth. Chabala and Palmer are probably likely starters unless Wallace unstraps Chabala in preseason. Chris Taylor and Freddie Braun are some young players with some upside and a lot of question marks and Steve Purdy is a glue guy that can play wide or in the center of defense. There isn't a ton of likely trialists we'll see in fullback, though, if the rumors of Jhon David Duque are real, he could mix up the left back position order a bit.

Central Midfielders: 1) Diego Chara 2) Jack Jewsbury 3) James Marcelin 4) Eric Alexander

A little less depth, but a position we have a few players from other positions that can play here in a pinch (Freddie Braun, Lovel Palmer) or hopefully more (Darlington Nagbe). I have Alexander listed here because I think its is natural position, though we might see him out on the wing more. Logan McDaniel might have a shot to make the roster to try and have a spot on the reserve team, but at this point I have to think his position is similar to Kawulok, he needs to show some extra versatility to make the roster.

Wide Midfielders: 1) Darlington Nagbe 2) Kalif Alhassan 3) Sal Zizzo

The position on the team where we could well see most new faces. With Sal Zizzo out to start the year, we are very thin. Its likely we could see Rodney Wallace, whose shown some good performances as a wide midfielder for Costa Rica, as well as Eric Alexander. In camp, we have Brendan King, a senior from Notre Dame who played almost exclusively as a winger in college and is noted for his dribbling, if not his service into the box. Miguel Ibarra is a Supplemental draft with a lot of upside, but I believe would count as an international player, and Franck Songo'o is a former Barcelona youth player who has bounced around some half-way decent European clubs and has apparently impressed watchers at camp so far. I could see either Ibarra or Songo'o getting signed, but likely not both because of the international slot issue. Songo'o could also have a high wage demand that could mean even if he looks great in camp, may not make the team. King is probably a safe bet to make the team, but if he really disappoints, his spot could be in danger. Many (including myself) would prefer to move Nagbe to forward, but based on our depth up there, it seems unlikely to move him away from a position we have very little depth, to a position we have a lot of depth

Forwards: 1) Kris Boyd 2) Jorge Perlaza 3) Eddie Johnson 4) Bright Dike 5) Jose Valencia 6) Brent Richards

Probably our most stacked position in terms of depth. Boyd figures to be a candidate for the golden boot, Perlaza is supposedly healthy after an up and down year last year. Johnson and Dike are also both back to healthy and again have been impressive in camp according to observers. Valencia has promise, though is knocked down the list a bit due to all the uncertainty surrounding him and Brent Richards looks to tear up the Reserve League and hopefully earn some spot minutes in his rookie year. I would argue our most talent and upside, especially if you add Nagbe to this list, in the team, so it will be exciting to see how this shakes out over the year.

Current Roster

Senior Roster positions (20 max, 4 positions open)

Alhassan

Boyd

Brunner

Chabala

Chara

Danso

Horst

Jewsbury

Johnson

Mosquera

Palmer

Perkins

Perlaza

Valencia

Wallace

Zizzo

Developmental Spots (10 max, includes GA Players, HG players, and league minimum players)

Nagbe

Richards

Jean-Baptiste

Taylor

Purdy

Dike

Gleeson

Braun

Marcelin

Alexander

Thats the 10 players maximum, and with guys like Richards, Nagbe and Jean-Baptiste for sure being developmental players, its likely a few guys like Marcelin, Alexander, Dike, Purdy, and Gleeson (just throwing out likely names) could be counted as senior guys. Basically though, it boils down to 4 total roster spots open, barring any trades. If I had to guess right now, with no other signings (ala Duque), Songo'o, King, Kawulok and the winner of the 3rd Keeper competition (Bednick or Herrick) would the be 4 signed. If Duque comes to Portland, Songo'o might be in trouble if Merritt's tweet about 1 remaining international are true (and we can't trade for another), though I have a suspicion we might lose Kawulok if we can find a way to keep Songo'o. Its also likely that we might see some "interesting" players playing in the midfield, especially wide midfield, if we don't add significant depth (Richards, Valencia?, Wallace).

My blind-in-the-dark guess at the Starting 11 going into camp:

Perkins

Palmer Brunner Futty Chabala

Nagbe Jewsbury Chara Alhassan

Boyd Perlaza

The most interesting position battles for me will be Futty vs Mosquera, Chabala vs Wallace, Perlaza vs ? (Nagbe? Johnson?), Kalif vs Wallace or Songo'o? Will anyone challenge Palmer?