(12) Portland Timbers (6,10,8, 26 points) vs (8) Vancouver Whitecaps (8,8,7, 31 points)
Saturday, August 26, 2023 KO 7:30 PM PST/ 10:30 PM EST
Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
Portland Timbers Briefly
The Giovanni Savarese era suddenly came to end and now a new era has begun its course in assistant coach Miles Joseph as the man gladly took the reins and the challenge to try to turn the season around for the embattled Portland Timbers.
This team isn’t living to its expectations and despite the front office opening up the wallet to reinforce its ranks, the Timbers aren’t playing like an all-around contender this season.
The troubles of Giovanni Savarese is that he lost control of the locker room and some of its players rebelling against him as the problems that have surfaces this season with a player or two showing their discontent.
Results speak aloud of the players not being too happy at all with the leadership at the helm of this team, but that’s the cruelty of football and for now Gio has become history as another manager got the ax.
It was very obvious in the game against Houston and playing on the road where this team isn’t too successful and having a very bad record playing away. With a team that didn’t show up at Shell Energy Stadium, that puts it in evidence the way this team doesn’t have a drive for success.
Last weekend against Houston, the team didn’t deliver and its defensive backfield was missing in action, as in that match the Dynamo honored its moniker as the mighty Orange Crush.
Some players are desperately in need of improving their game and this call goes to Mosquera, Moreno, Aspirilla, Niezgoda, Blanco and Bravo as they really need to step up their game to stop that type of playing with a laid-back attitude.
Maybe, we can start seeing a change of mood in this team and start getting on track and on the positive side as this team is looking forward to salvage its campaign and make it into the postseason.
However, Rome wasn’t built in a day or two as the players, mostly all of them, are in need of commitment, determination, and most of all ambition to win. But, will they have that drive to improve?
There’s one way to find out as I don’t think Gio was the problem, but my overall blame is on the players and these need to pledge an all around winning mentality in the remainder of this 2023 season.
Vancouver Whitecaps Briefly
What a heart breaker at BC Place last Sunday when the Caps put on a show and came short of scoring. With a total of 19 shots and with eight at goal, how could they have missed versus only one shot on goal from San Jose that became in the end the difference maker?
For Vancouver manager Vanni Sartini, it is back to the drawing board and looking for ways for his team to score, so they can get a nice win on the road and go up the Cascadia standings over the Timbers.
Man, if that game was a frustrating one for the Caps after playing at home as the home was displayed and embarrassed as the ball never went beyond the Quakes posts as the Silicon Valley side played a great game of defense.
That match is in the past and now it is on to Saturday night when the troubled Portland Timbers are looking to get on the winning side and maybe the Vancouver side can become the victim of debutante manager Miles Joseph.
Meetings
05/13/2023 Portland Timbers 3-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
04/08/2023 Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 Portland Timbers
07/17/2022 Portland Timbers 1-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
Forecast
A new era in the Portland Timbers helm and these looking forward to notable results!
Portland Timbers
