Quick thoughts… Timbers versus SportingKC… Friday night Football

• Facebook
• Tweet
• Pinterest
• Reddit
• Email

Like many I was pretty gob-smacked (surprised) at the article by Ann Coulter that got quite a bit of attention today across America – no comment other than to offer “bollocks” and a shiny example on why I got back into this gig…

Anyhow – on to what really matters; it’s an MLS Regular Season game after a short break from the World Cup; if you’re like me I just don’t grow tired of watching proper football.

Caleb Porter had his mind pretty much made up, about who was starting tonight, earlier this week; the flexibility of a deep squad and a concern in looking to win both games.

Some guys are quicker at recovering than others; we saw that with the USMNT game versus Germany – Cameron was rested that game and Bedoya only came on at the 60′ mark.

In terms of what to watch for…

I don’t imagine that the style of game will be the same here at home; figure Portland will play on their front foot and Sporting will take the approach that the Timbers took – yield penetration and some possession but look to score on counter-attack.

Like last game, the biggest indicator for this outcome will be the defense for both teams; for me it’s unclear if Ridgewell will have his Visa stamped yet and it’s unclear if Paparatto is healthy – according to Stumptownfooty he was not at training on Thursday.

I would venture we will probably see Pa Madou Kah and Danny O’Rourke starting as centerbacks with Villafana and maybe Harrington on the right side?

In attack Caleb has a whole bunch of options and tonight might be the first night we see Rodney Wallace get a start with Diego Valeri, Darlington Nagbe and Fenando Adi.

If we see others Caleb has shown the tendency to run his wingers inverted (left footers on the right and right footers on the left); I like that approach as it gives you two types of crosses you can offer from the wings provided the fullbacks aren’t inverted too…

In all likelihood it’s Diego Chara and Will Johnson returning to pair up in the middle.

In closing…

A sound and solid team that has learned to play simple and can sustain differing penetration styles.

Should be exciting and hope to see a jam-packed stadium; Liam Ridgewell saw the support offered up for the US Open Cup but has yet to feel the real energy from a jam-packed stadium.

It’ll probably be pretty wide open on the Timbers side so the back-four will need to be tight… both in communication and in support for each other.

Best, Chris