What Do You Think of the Portland Timbers Off-season So Far? [Poll]
by Geoff Gibson on Feb 2, 2012 1:27 PM PST
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The international transfer window close a couple days ago. This doesn't mean too much, but it is a milestone in that MLS teams can no longer actively seek in-contract trades with other teams outside MLS. Still, the roster freeze date isn't until March 1st so we may yet still see more moves made, even if it isn't Juan David Duque (Franck Songo'o?).
In anycase, so far this offseason we've seen lots of coming and goings:
Going:
- Kenny Cooper
- Peter Lowry
- Adin Brown
- Kevin Goldthwaite
- Rodrigo Lopez
- Ryan Pore
- Spencer Thompson
- Brian Umony
With maybe some of those supplemental draft picks being signed as well. I know there was some chatter about Miguel Ibarra impressing.
In any case, this is what has happened so far. The Timbers dropped a lot of weight and picked up a few key players to bolster their most criticized parts from 2011. Will it work out though? Are you happy with what has been done? Who would you like to see brought in still (keeping in mind the transfer restrictions).
Sound off via the comments and poll below!
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Is the deal with Duque simply in a state of uncertainty, or has the front office definitively said that it will not happen?
by oddcontemplation on Feb 2, 2012 1:39 PM PST reply actions
GA tweeted there isn't a deal
Now….that means the FO is telling him there isn’t a deal. That said, when there’s this much smoke, there is fire. I absolutely will not believe that both the player and several Colombia media outlets are making up all this talk, so some very very advanced deals are/did take place, possibly with a signing happening if he can secure a visa (the last articles out of Colombia seem to indicate that’s what he is waiting on). Maybe he’s already been denied and we are done negotiating (possible, given its been about a week and a half since we thought he might be coming and they didn’t have GA issue a denial until yesterday), its also possible they don’t want to let the cat out of the bag yet, and he isn’t 100% to get here (learning from the Gilbert fiasco). I bet its 50-50 at this point, but I’m not ruling it out.
Thanks. I was wondering if the Arnold tweet was the best information available. That still seems a bit ambiguous to think that it’s totally dead especially since, as you mention, the Colombian reports have so strongly indicated that the opposite is true.
by oddcontemplation on Feb 2, 2012 1:51 PM PST up reply actions
Add a fullback
And this is as close to perfect an offseason as I could have ever hoped for. We kept all the contributors, added significant forward depth, added depth on the wings, and added another CB. Need to add some fullback depth, but thats just gravy, taking it from A- to A++.
Song'o
The Frank Song’o piece on Portlandtimbers.com leads me to think they’re leaning towards signing him as well…though I confess to not knowing all the implications (i.e rules about international players, etc)
Yes, you’d think it’d be a bit odd to put out something like that and then send him away the next day. He seems like a well adjusted young guy. I hope he makes it. I guess MLS needs to increase the squad size to 33 for us. I’m hopeful Valencia will stay signed even if he’s out most if not all of this season. I’d love to see them secure Duque. I’d also love for them to keep Kawulok, but that’s really starting to look like a longshot. Even the chances for King wouldn’t seem to be looking good. And one of these days we’ll still need to fit in a third keeper, Bendik, I suppose. But no doubt, they’ve really been throwing the weights around this offseason.
by oddcontemplation on Feb 2, 2012 1:58 PM PST reply actions
I think King is the longest of shots there
The signing of Renken, combined with Songo’o impressing so much in camp, leads me to think his chances are uphill at best. He wasn’t even a starter at Notre Dame this last year, and most scouts compared his game (unfavorably) to Zizzo…lots of trickery and running, not alot of production. I think Kawulok has to prove he can play more than CB to take a flier on him, and if we don’t sign Duque, has a decent shot.
I’m really starting to wonder if the team might roll the dice and decide NOT to sign a 3rd keeper. Its true Gleeson did see time last year as our #3, but given Brown was always a health risk, I could see them taking a shot to ride it out with 2, giving us the ability to sign another field player. Not sure that the MLS pool keeper would be a HUGE step down from a either Bendik or Herrick, other than familiarity.
I'd add
I think Ibarra also is also a longshot. I have a strong suspicion he’ll catch on elsewhere, but he’ll take an international just like Songo’o, so unless its a salary cap situation, I’d think Songo’o would be strongly preferred.
Nope.
Ibarra is not an international. He was born in the USA.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Feb 2, 2012 2:10 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah. I was strongly considering bringing in the Boss, but it seemed like overkill.
That song is stuck in my head now, though.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Feb 2, 2012 3:35 PM PST up reply actions
Sorry, just looked it up again
Your right, born in Lancaster Cali. I thought I read somewhere that was a reason he fell so far in the draft.
This might be heresy but...
SInce Ibarra is not an international I would honestly rather trade away Zizzo and add Ibarra and Songo’o. From what I have seen and read I think these two guys have more upside than Zizzo, whose main attribute is speed, who just had a serious knee injury that might hamper that main attribute.
His crossing was awful….just head down, hit the line and then dribble in a shit cross.
zizzo is
taking a page out of the roger levesque job security handbook, get the masses to love you and the team is forced to keep you…food cart, bikes around, always talks about how much he loves pdx, he ain’t going anywhere, he may drop the depth chart but he’ll be here awhile
by #1 Leverage Fan on Feb 2, 2012 10:35 PM PST up reply actions
I appreciate your commitment to the lower case e, X-man.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Feb 3, 2012 8:43 AM PST up reply actions
As far as not signing a 3rd keeper goes...
The Timbers know that they will be losing Jake for at least 10 days in march for Olympic qualifying. If NZ actually does get into the Olympics, he will miss a lot of time in the middle of the season. It seems very unlikely that they will plan on using a pool keeper, or even that the league would allow them to do so.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Feb 2, 2012 2:12 PM PST up reply actions
And they almost certainly will qualify...
Unlike the World Cup, they don’t have to win a play-in game against another confederation. They just have to get past Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
I can understand how it would be quite tempting to want to sign another field player. It seems like they’ve got a number of nice options yet in camp. But in the end I think I’d agree with William, it seems a bit too risky, especially with Jake doing some travelling this summer.
by oddcontemplation on Feb 2, 2012 2:21 PM PST up reply actions
GKs
I think MLS rules require 3 keeprs on the roster, could be wrong though.
And take plenty of tissue paper so they can dry their eyes after the game.
Man...mind is letting me down today
I don’t see any specific rule, but every squad did carry 3 keepers last year, though a few sent their 3rd keeper out on loan, so I suppose its very unlikely we won’t, especially with Gleeson’s national team duties.
I think it's more like the NFL and QB's...
Min. of 2 but almost always have 3, sometimes 4 just in case…
Blazers win!
The guys coming in are better or have more upside than those let go.
I think this is true even if Valencia doesn’t play this year. I was hoping for more at wingback and midfield wing, but overall a good off season, especially if Songo’o proves to be as good as the early reports.
That's what she said.
From what I hear they did an awesome job.
There’s really not a great deal of talent leaving either. Cooper struggled all year long last season and they’ve acquired enough scoring to make up for his loss anyhow.
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