Power Rankings Roundup: Timbers on the rise

If you’ve been paying any attention to the Portland Timbers for the past week and change, then you know they’re having a good go of it as of late. They’ve won three in a row — including two clean sheets — and are tied for first in the Western Conference.

You might think that the Timbers are starting to put it all together, but what does the rest of media landscape think? Here’s what some outlets are saying.

Jonathan Sigal of mlssoccer.com ranked the Timbers sixth in his latest list. While it wasn’t a move up the rankings for the Timbers, Sigal noted that the Timbers are utilizing their depth well in Sebastian Blanco’s absence.

Winners of three straight, the Timbers are coping decently well as Sebastian Blanco recovers from a torn ACL. Toss it up to squad depth, especially in the final third, where one game it’s Yimmi Chara stepping up and the next it’s Felipe Mora (like last week’s 1-0 wins).

While there was no movement up or down Sigal’s list for Portland, other media outlets had the Timbers now among the five best teams in the MLS. Soccer America’s Paul Kennedy had the Timbers in his top five while ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle and Austin Lindberg also ranked them fifth.

ESPN gave Portland the biggest boost of the week, moving them up from eighth. Carlisle and Lindberg noted that rotating the squad while also beating a rival always feels sweet.

A couple of tense 1-0 wins — including an always-satisfying triumph over the Sounders — have the Timbers tied for the top spot in the West. Gio Savarese was able to rotate his squad, too, which is always a nice thing.

Agree or disagree with these rankings? Let us know in the comments.