Timbers Depth Chart By Position: John Spencer Edition
by William Conwell on Apr 3, 2025 6:45 PM PDT
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PrintThere have been a few requests in the comments for a Timbers depth chart, so here goes my best estimation of what John Spencer would say. Check it out after the jump.
Keeper
- Troy Perkins (probable)
- Jake Gleeson
- Joe Bendick
Right Fullback
- Lovel Palmer
- Steve Purdy
- Ryan Kowaluk
- Freddie Braun
Centerback
- Eric Brunner
- Hanyer Mosquera (out 2-3 weeks)
- Futty Danso (out 1 month)
- Andrew Jean-Baptiste
- David Horst (out 1-2 months)
- Steve Purdy
- Chris Taylor
- Ryan Kawulok
Left Fullback
- Rodney Wallace
- Mike Chabala
- Chris Taylor
- David Horst (out 1-2 months)
Defensive Midfielder
- Jack Jewsbury
- James Marcelin
- Diego Chara
- Eric Alexander
- Freddie Braun
- Mike Chabala
Outside Midfielder
I am just lumping all of these guys together as most of them switch sides regardless.
- Franck Songo'o (not match fit to start)
- Eric Alexander
- Darlington Nagbe
- Kalif Alhassan (probable)
- Sal Zizzo (in need of more reserve games)
- Rodney Wallace
- Diego Chara
- Brent Richards
- Charles Renken
- Freddie Braun
- Mike Chabala
Central Midfielder
- Diego Chara
- Jack Jewsbury
- Eric Alexander
- James Marcelin
- Freddie Braun
- Charles Renken
Attacking Midfielder
- Darlington Nagbe
- Diego Chara
- Eric Alexander
- Kalif Alhassan (probable)
- Eddie Johnson (out indefinitely)
- Charles Renken
Forward
- Kris Boyd
- Darlington Nagbe
- Jose Adolfo Valencia (out for the season)
- Jorge Perlaza
- Eddie Johnson (out indefinitely)
- Bright Dike
- Brent Richards
- Sebastian Rincon (unsigned trialist)
So this is my best guess off the top of my head. I included all the injured players, but noted who is currently injured. I feel like I probably am missing something (someone) here. Oh well, have fun.
Alright guys, I don't believe I have to say this but, just in case, please do not submit anything racist, homophobic, sexist or otherwise not appropriate for even the younger Timbers fans.
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Starting XI I want to see vs Chivas
Perkins
Palmer Brunner AJB Chabala
Chara
Songo’o Alhassan
Alexander
Nagbe
Boyd
Thoughts:
1. I understand neither Songo’o or Alhassan might be ready to go a full 90 (or even at all in Kalif’s case) and therefore the above lineup might be impossible. We would have to keep Alexander on the left and move Jewsbury to CDM and Chara to CAM and have either Songo’o/Kalif on the right.
2. In the future I do not want to see Chara as a wide midfielder. His skills are used best in the middle of the park. Chara also covers more ground and can stay with guys making runs where Jewsbury sometimes cannot. Winning the ball and starting a counter with a solid pass out of the back is Chara’s forte.
3. In the future I do not want to see Nagbe as a wide midfielder. His skills are used best in the middle of the park
4. I think Alexander on the left has its upside (him coming into the middle on his right foot, his defense on the left side in front of Wallace if he starts) but again I still think Alexander’s skills are better utilized in the middle of the park
5. Many people have expressed reservations with the above lineup because we might get overrun defensively. I share this worry but at home against teams we should beat I want to see this kind of attacking lineup. Maybe on the road you bring Jewsbury/Marcelin into the game and put Alexander back on the left and take out Kalif.
by tgibson24 on Apr 4, 2025 1:09 AM PDT reply actions
Not sure why Attacking midfielder is split out from Central midfield
Given we play a relatively flat 4 midfielders (no clear attacking midfielder), but yeah this is pretty right on.
I do wonder if Kawulok is making a move to be the #2 RB, given thats where he played in the reserve game, forcing Taylor (a LB) to play as the second CB. Seems like they are trying to get him some more minutes there.
by zaggy on Apr 4, 2025 9:53 AM PDT reply actions
Nagbe played as an attacking midfielder against Salt Lake. With him playing centrally the timbers play a 4-1-2-1-2 aka the 4-4-2 Diamond. When Chara plays centrally, the Timbers play a 4-1-3-2. Different positions with different responsibilities.
As far as the defense ion the reserve games goes…
Purdy has experience as both center back and right back and has gotten games recently (plus he has consistently made the 18 for the Timbers). It seems very unlikely that he would be passed by Kowaluk, but with the injuries to the back line it is hard to say.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Apr 4, 2025 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Not sure I agree we play a
4132 when Jewsbury is out there. He’s not playing that far back. Its a pretty straight 442 with a flat 4.
And I think (and backed up by Spencer’s comments) Nagbe at the top of a true diamond seems like it was more of a tactical decisions against RSL. We haven’t seen that in the past, nor is there any guarantee we’ll see it again.
Not disagreeing about Purdy, just seems like Purdy is Purdy, they know what they are going to get out of him. If they were really trying to prepare him to be #2 RB, than why not have him play RB against SJ and Kawulok, a player whose experience is all CB, play CB. The fact they didn’t makes me think they are at least taking a long look at whether he (Ryan) can play that position.
by zaggy on Apr 4, 2025 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions
If you take a look at the chalk board on mlssoccer.com
You can see the heat maps, distribution, and possession stats. Although both Chara and Jewsbury pop up all over the field, Chara is more often in the opponents half of the field while Jewsbury is primarily in the Timbers half. Although they are often side by side, I see their differing styles of play and responsibilities as putting them in different positions.
Early last year, Jewsbury and Chara were both covering much more ground. However, it was when Jewsbury was reigned in and started focusing on defensive responsibilities while Chara still covered thenwhole pitch that the Timbers defense started to suck less.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Apr 4, 2025 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions
But
In a 4-1-3-2, that dmid is playing behind ALL of the midfielders. Jack is staying central, which, is far more like a straight 442. He does drop a little back, but I’d argue the main point behind a 4-1-3-2 formation is to have a single defensive minded midfielder cleaning up messes behind the rest of the midfield, so that they are free to go forward more often. While Jack isn’t ranging forward as often this year, he’s not a capstone on top of the defense the whole game. But really, we’re just arguing semantics
by zaggy on Apr 5, 2025 8:52 AM PDT up reply actions
This may be a dumb question
but why are they all listed as #1?
by pdb on Apr 4, 2025 1:45 PM PDT reply actions
?
Do you mean it says 1. for all of them? I see them listed in numerical order.
Managing Editor at Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
by Ryan Gates on Apr 4, 2025 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions
The first person in each list is not numbered
and then below that, indented, every other person in the list is numbered 1.
(Caveat: I am using an ancient work browser that doesn’t always play well with SBNation sites, or any other modern tech)
by pdb on Apr 4, 2025 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't see that at all..
It’s a basic numbered list to me.. Must be your browser..
"I'm not blind, I'm deaf, I'm halfway to a ref!" (Well technically I'm 1/3rd of the way since I can properly call offsides, but that doesn't sound as catchy..)
by Half-Ref on Apr 4, 2025 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Merritt was just tweeting about Rincon and Trencito
Feel like it bears mentioning as they both have the potential long-term to really shake up our depth chart at forward. Not in the next few weeks, but by this time next year, it might look a little different.
MP was saying Rincon’s getting his loan deal worked out in South America with an option to buy, and that Valencia’s “recovery is very positive” and will “know more in two weeks.” I have loved what Rincon’s been bringing every time he’s on the pitch. He really impressed me during the preseason and sounded like he was just as electric in the SJ game. At 18, he feels like he brings a lot of what Perlaza does with the darting runs and quick speed bursts at several years younger.
And from all reports: Trencito has potential to be really special. Here’s hoping he continues to a full and speedy recovery…can’t wait to see what our young DP brings to the pitch.
by Chill503 on Apr 4, 2025 4:02 PM PDT reply actions
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