Monthly Archives: March 2013
Preview – Portland Timbers travel to Colorado
Barring blizzard conditions the opportunity probably couldn’t get any better for Portland in this away game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Colorado have taken just 1 point out of their first four matches and for two of those games it looked (based on statistics) like they didn’t even show up. And the tale of woe […]
Possession With Purpose – The Holy Grail of Soccer Team Statistics?
Possession With Purpose – the search for the holy grail of statistical indices that might have value or goodness in tracking team efficiency in attack and defense. If you recall my intent at the end of this year was to try and establish an “index” (of sorts) that had more value than the MLS Castrol […]
Cascadia Cup Clash – Timbers Player Evaluations
An interesting side offered up by Caleb Porter in his inaugural Cascadia Cup clash – not quite what we saw at home against New York or Montreal but just as effective when looking at the final result in comparison to the game against New York. So what was different and why and how did it […]
Wallace late equalizer Soundly Sinks Sounders hopes of Three Points
To be sure – this team is NOT like the team from last year. Wallace summed it up best for me in all the post-game match quotes provided in the Portland Timbers Official Press Release On what coming back to tie means to the team… “It’s a huge win for everybody involved with the Portland […]
Preview – Portland Timbers vs Seattle Sounders
Huge game coming up this Saturday against Seattle Sounders; for me it’s not so much about who plays for Seattle but about what formation and who plays within that formation for Portland in this maiden away game of 2013. To date we all know Portland has opened the new season with Caleb Porter at the […]
Timbers Player Evaluations vs Montreal Impact
Game 2 has come and gone and the Timbers have only 1 point to show from their first two home games. It is what it is… Like my first Player Evaluation offering I’m inclined to offer up some initial conditions before getting into the details. Here’s the link to my definitions in how I grade […]
Portland Timbers – Evaluating the Impact of Montreal
Defense First; this is a tried and true method to minimize risk and maximize opportunity for at least one point in any game of soccer. John Spencer advocated he would leverage direct attacking football to get three points. He failed and got sacked last year because of that. Caleb Porter has come in and advocated […]
Portland Timbers – Anticipating the Impact of Montreal
Game two of Port-er-land Timbers football kicks off tomorrow night. In preparation for the game here are some thoughts and observations for your consideration as PTFC prepare for Montreal. 1. How might this game take shape? For me I don’t see the same level of ‘nervous’ energy unfolding in the first 30 minutes like the […]
Portland Timbers Player Evaluations
Portland Timbers FC took on New York RB in a blinding game this past weekend where Timber Taka put its stamp at JELD-WEN field. No more giving up like the slap in the face against FC Dallas last year. When PTFC took to the field in the second half it was clear Porter’s influence had impacted on […]
Crackin’ game – PTFC 3 – NYRB 3
I certainly hope each game this year doesn’t have the drama of this game… woe to the feint heart in Port-er-land if it does. In hearing the beat of the drums and hearts pounding last night it sure did sound like Timber-Taka has arrived. To be faithful to my prognostication earlier last week here’s what […]