The Troy Perkins trade – what might it mean?

For some this is a tough call; lots of thoughts, opinions, views, many of them polarizing and both sides say they got a better deal with this trade. For me all that is nothing more than the “fog of war”.

In reading through it all there are two things that are clear to me:

1) Donovan Ricketts WANTS to play in Portland and be a part of the atmosphere our Rose City provides during game day! For me that is huge. Relocating to a new city plays a big part in impacting player performance; one only needs to ask Anelka, Platt, Gazza or others about playing in place where you don’t really feel comfortable. To know that he wants to play here will really help him settle in and get comfortable.

2) Portland Timbers have the most avid fans in the country; if there was ever a city that matches the passion and ‘life of living football in Europe’ it is this city in America. So why do I say that? Because however the fans feel now IMHO that won’t matter when Donovan Ricketts walks onto that pitch for the first time as a Timber. I remain steadfastly confident that he will be welcomed with open arms and encouraged to play the best football of his life!

So while this may not be as much as you wanted to read about this trade; it is, what I see, as I look through the ‘fog of war’.

Rest assured though, in our next game one of my What to Watch For (WTWF’s) will be focused on Donovan Ricketts.