Below the red line: Same as it ever was. Fans express their thoughts the last Timbers match
By Matt Hoffman
The Timbers snapped their two-game losing streak but it wasn’t without controversy on Wednesday night. The controversy lay not with the vanquished D.C. United who fielded a decidedly Group B squad (Coach Ben Olsen practically said as much), but rather the homage made some members of the Timbers Army with a sign with a red line at the top and reading “Same As It Ever Was”.
The translation, the Timbers are outside of the playoffs, as usual.
When asked about it in his post-match remarks Caleb Porter testily asserted that he is aware of where the Timbers rank in the standings before finally stating, “We care about our fans.”
Asking the coach for early season struggles might be a new thing in Portland, but it’s a rite of Spring in Los Angeles where beat writers for all and intents and purposes draw straws to ask Bruce Arena if he’s concerned about the slow starts the Galaxy is now famous for.
Last year, following an early season draw against Chivas USA, Arena was asked a similar question to which Arena delivered a trademark blistering response before suggesting that the report who’d ask him, Adam Serrano, “would wilt” if he couldn’t withstand an MLS season.
The Galaxy won the title later in the season and, if you check the standings right now, the Timbers are four points behind the Galaxy with a game in hand.
This weekend is an excellent chance for the Timbers to close that gap as the Timbers head to Colorado, a place they have traditionally struggled. The Rapids stand alone in last place but, until Wednesday’s contest in Seattle, recently had a six-game unbeaten streak.
They however, last weekend, had their first home win since August of last year when they beat Chivas USA. It was Chivas USA’s first game without Carlos Bocanegra.
It’s hard to say this as the calendar still reads May, but points are at a premium. Translation: traveling to the one team behind Portland in the standings, leaving with anything less than three points is not necessarily unacceptable, but not far off.
Three Things the Timbers Must Do in Colorado
1. Get Adi back on track
Fanendo Adi is the team’s top scorer. That should be no surprise. He’s a DP playing in the lone striker role.
But his confidence has waned. He’s not taking players on the way he once did and despite getting good service in the box, his shots have been errant, to put it kindly.
Adi is much more comfortable with the ball at his feet than at his head. Keep it simple, and play to his strengths to get the young player back on track.
2. Have a Plan “B”
Will Johnson played on Wednesday and, like when Diego Valeri returned a few weeks back, gave back a “bite” to the squad. Johnson and Valeri are both questionable for the match–Valeri with a sprained ankle and Johnson having played on Wednesday.
The Timbers can play their style because Johnson and Valeri are special players. In their absence, it’s okay, even preferable to switch to something more conventional. We saw what happened on Wednesday when Gaston Fernandez played in his preferred withdrawn forward role.
3. Be Aggressive. Be. Be Aggressive.
Colorado are a defensive team through-and-through. In order to win, you have to score. No matter who’s running FIFA, it’s the oldest rule in the book. Throwing people forward and keeping pressure in the Colorado final third is necessary to leaving the Rockies with a positive result.
If Portland can do these things today, then that red line will come closer and closer.
