FanPost

The GW and CP Watch Begins.


The conundrum that is Caleb Porter.

Two seasons ago he was a godsend.

A season ago he was unlucky.

This season?

Well, uh, how do I begin?

The Timbers are, essentially, in last place in the western conference with a third of the season behind them. They've lost two games in a row and are starting to look at the outside of the playoff picture. Yes, the season is still young, and they've had injuries to deal with.

But last place?

The team looked horrible against both Houston and Toronto. If not for some outstanding Kwarsay saves, they could have lost 3-0 or even 4-0. Toronto had far, far more opportunities and looked far more dangerous.

Maybe it's to be expected to give up points on a BRUTAL road trip, but this is where those losses to Vancouver and Los Angeles (games they should have won) will really start to hurt.

Once again they controlled possession, and once again they lost.

I'm starting to wonder if Porter only knows how to coach one way, and can't make tactical adjustments either before or during the game? He seems to be the only one in soccer who still tries to utilize a possession based, tiki-taka style of play based upon the Barcelona system of five years ago. Easy to use that system with guys like Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, and Pedro at your disposal who grew up in the Barcelona system and could perform a 1-2 in a phone booth.

The team looks toothless and lost. They seem completely rudderless without Diego Valeri manning the mid-field. For all the hype around Darlington Nagbe, he has yet to register a goal and has just two assists this season. Rodney Wallace plays like he's going through the motions. The defense actually looks formidable, it's the attack that is benign.

The link up place between the mid-field and forwards has been predictable and lacking. No creativity. No courage. Standard passes and plays that can be read by any decent defender.

Again, Valeri seems to be the only one capable of making a pass that isn't predictable and using mis-direction to confuse the defense.

If the Timbers aren't careful, this season can get away from them. If it does, after five seasons, the Gavin Wilkinson Experiment should come to a hasty end. I've always felt that GW was in way over his head in this position. He never played in MLS, or at any top level, and he carries the manner of a man who is both arrogant and ignorant of his capabilities.

Caleb Porter has been an outstanding college coach. But I'm starting to wonder if Erik Wynalda was onto something last year when he pointed out that Caleb didn't play in MLS either and has never won anything at this level. College is one thing with young, amateur players. Coaching pro's is an entirely different matter.

Having a coach and general manager, neither of whom has won anything at the MLS level as player or coach, is difficult. Yes, John Spencer carried with him the perfect resume or a player who won at Rangers and then played at Chelsea and won with Houston. He had an impressive reserve record as a head coach. But, this was his first head coaching position, and it's far different than coaching some reserves. The pressures are different and I don't think he understood how to deal with an executive leadership that demanded transparency.

I've said for some time that the Timbers need someone up front who knows how to win. Adi, Urrutti, Wallace, and even Valeri haven't won much in terms of trophies. Nagbe won a college championship, but obviously nothing at the professional level. I have to wonder if bringing in a Ricky Lambert (currently at Liverpool) might be the smartest move. A veteran who knows how to close out games.

The Timbers could still turn things around. They've played well in nine out of twelve games, but at some point it boils down to results. The excuses that they played well enough to win are wearing thin. The next four or five games will be very critical to their season. If they continue to drop points, the playoffs could become a distant dream.

I hope that Caleb, and this team, figures it out and they can start winning.

This FanPost was written by a Stumptown Footy community member and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the site or its staff.

In This FanPost

Players

Trending Discussions