Portland Timbers 2013 Roster

The Portland Timbers have been arguably the most active MLS team this off season so there has been some turnover but there will still be a lot of familiar faces on the 2013 Timbers squad. The Portland Timbers roster currently sits at 28 players with 8*, possibly 9, international spots taken up, which means Portland can sign 2 more players with the possibility of both of them being internationals.

*Rumors were floating around about the Green Card status of some of the players so the who could be an international is never published anywhere

So here is the Timbers roster put together in depth chart format. I have more than 11 positions because of the possibility of playing either a 4-3-3 or a 4-4-2 Diamond.

More Changes still to come

The biggest worry and something that might be addressed before training camp has to be the Right Back position. Currently Jack Jewsbury is the starting RB with very little depth coming after him. Captain Jack filled in admirably last season and can be a stop gap until the Timbers add someone they feel will be there for quite a few seasons. Or Caleb Porter might see something in Ryan Kawulok and he might be given more playing time to develop this season. Which ever the case this huge hole needs to be addressed sometime this season.

Depth at the Left Back also is cause for concern, especially with Steven Smith not being resigned by the Timbers. Harrington will be serviceable but if an injury or suspension occurs then Rodney Wallace gets the nod again and we all know how well that went the first time. Of course we can't forget the Enigma that is Chris Taylor, who could step in and show us why he has remained on the team. However with only 2 spots left, most likely only one spot, I do not see Portland signing a left back.

Portland's defense was, well, about as shaky as Raleigh Waves and about as fun. With no CB signings David Horst and Hanyer Mosquera are being given another half season to show they can be the strong leader in the back. If either of them falter AJB is ready and willing to take over the positions as well as the possibility of a summer signing. Most likely we will won't be seeing any signings in the CB position.

Finally there is a possibility that Portland keeps one roster spot open for a signing in the summer transfer window but I highly doubt we will see both the spots remain open. Of course one of the spots will most likely be used by Diego Valeri which would give CP another option on the wing of a 4-3-3 or in the center of the Diamond. The last spot will more than likely remain unused until the summer transfer window unless a right back of quality become available over the next 3 weeks.

So with the possible addition of Valeri this will most likely be the 2013 roster until the summer transfer window or a trade occurs.

What are excited about? Concerned about? Who Should start and where?