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One expected, one a bit of a surprise. It appears that the Portland Timbers have found where their extra spots are going to come from for the 2013 season.
Franck Songo'o, of course, was completely expected. It was a few weeks ago now that we first heard that the Portland Timbers and Songo'o had been unable to renegotiate a deal. Songo'o was subsequently seen trialing with the Houston Dynamo, who opted not to sign him
Chris Taylor, however, comes as a bit of a surprise. The player was expected to have been waived back in December with the likes of Steve Purdy and Freddie Braun. He was surprisingly kept on despite missing all of the 2012 season and having not seen a single minute in his two years with the club.
Both players have now been officially waived ahead of the MLS roster compliance deadline, essentially the date where MLS teams must be under their 30 player maximum.
What do you think of both players being let go?
Press release:
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced that the club has waived midfielder Franck Songo’o and defender Chris Taylor ahead of Major League Soccer’s upcoming roster compliance deadline.
"We would like to thank Franck for his service to the club last season,” said Gavin Wilkinson, Timbers general manager. “With the salary cap restrictions, there are several difficult decisions the club has had to make and we wish him the best."
Songo’o, 25, was signed by the Timbers on Feb. 16, 2012. He appeared in 27 games during the 2012 MLS season, recording one goal and five assists.
Taylor, 23, was originally selected in the second round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft and played in 16 MLS Reserve League matches during his two seasons in Portland. He led the Timbers Reserves in minutes played in 2011, but missed most of the 2012 campaign due to season-ending hip surgery in July.
“Chris worked hard to recover from his injury last season and we would like to thank him for all he has done for the club. We wish him well,” said Wilkinson.