PORTLAND, OR – JANUARY 8, 2018: The Portland Timbers new coach Giovanni Savarese presentation (Photo by Diego Diaz/ProstAmerika).
The need to finish games is something Portland Timbers manager Giovanni Savarese needs to focus on. Evertime the club has come within sight of their first win, suddenly the Portland backfield disintegrates horribly. This is something Savarese needs to address. Especially after letting go what could been back-to-back wins at the Chicago Fire and Orlando City SC. The Portland Boys need to seal the deal in every match and within its ninety minutes of play regardless of the time of injury added. In addition they cannot always blame the referee despite a controversial and the always argumentative Baldomero Romero, having the PTFC number. Especially in that play in the second half where he awarded that doubtful penalty kick in favor of Orlando. No VAR these time to analyze this play as Dom Dwyer convinced the game official with his theatrics.
Anyway, so far in the campaign the Rose City squad has faced a scoring drought in its strikers not producing any goals. The leader of the pack is so far Sebastian Blanco leading with three, Diego Valeri with two and Bill Poni Tuiloma with one. For two midfielders and a defender at the top of their scoring leaders, not the forwards, we have a problem. Portland heading to its sixth match of the campaign with just six goals scored versus twelve received. Suffice to say this is a serious issue that the club has to address.
For the likes of Samuel Armenteros, Fanendo Adi and Dairon Aspirilla they need to step up their game. By taking advantage of their open opportunities to convert as well, the team needs to have more hunger in the final third. For manager Savarese really needs to step up his strategies. One when the opposing teams start their pressing the need to make some necessary moves. The need to make the right moves is imperative when you have players in need of a substitution. The replacement of players in the right time and is one of the moves that a manager shows off his top of the line strategy. At the end makes a whole lot of difference in a match. Not in a way seen as a little too late, as fatigue can play a role in a match in its entirety almost won.
To conclude the change of formation became a factor in this match. With the 4-3-2-1 used in the Dallas and Chicago, as this one showed off more of a more tight defending with three defensive midfielders. In this game, it looks like the 4-2-3-1 is not working in the Savarese book and era. As the need to be more defensive in the Timbers the gameplan is to apply that above-mentioned pattern.
Although results haven’t been exactly desirable, the Portland Timbers can turn around their campaign. The need of improvements in this initial eleven and game strategies are always welcome for the best. A little patience and persistence can really bring up the best game of this 2018 Portland Timbers squad. As the going gets tough the tougher need to step it up, this is what this squad is in much need of to turn the tide.
Orlando City
Portland
