Timbers Tid Bits: Preseason Edition

There's nothing like the beginning of the preseason and the return of the daily training reports to make it feel like the season is really getting close now. Even as teams are starting preseason camps, there is still some roster shuffling happening here and there.

Midfielder Barry Robson moves on
It's not looking like a good off season for Scottish DPs.

Landon Donovan IS returning in 2013. Just not yet.
Donovan was not in the LA preseason camp today, but Bruce Arena says he will be playing in 2013.

Montero Loaned to Colombia’s Millonarios
The Fredy Montero loan deal that has been in MLS news for a while is finally official.

Will Major League Soccer ever have major league television ratings?
It's the rebuttal to every argument about how far MLS has come: the TV ratings are still awful. Goal.com takes a look at the league's ratings problem.

Letter to Union STH
Philadelphia Union coach John Hackworth wrote a letter to season ticket holders in which he addressed several off season changes, including Freddy Adu's status: "At the moment, Freddy has not been sold nor loaned and he continues to be our player, but in reality, while we are paying his salary and while we have his rights – he is not a part of our plans going forward."

Scoring With Soccer: Analytics Come to MLS
Better data analysis is finding its way in the MLS.