What are the Portland Timbers aiming for this upcoming 2021? That is a question many of its followers are asking in the preseason. So far, the team has guaranteed the return of forward Felipe Mora from Pumas UNAM after his loan expired at the end of the year along with center back Larrys Mabiala.
The Timbers have assured a couple of important players in the roster and now looking forward to building upon one of its most vulnerable areas in its defensive backfield with another center back and a defensive midfield. Should the Rose City team aim for free agency? As you recall in a post that I mentioned several names, among one that stands out is Eriq Zavaleta formerly with Toronto.
However, during this time, rumors may take over and the speculation on whichever players may be coming to play for the Rose City squad is among the many novelties. For instance, the way many were speaking of a probable move of Radamel Falcao from Galatasaray was among one the several rumors reported.
Another was that of a Cameroonian defender as well the negotiations of another top prospect from Liga MX coming from Chivas on loan to play for the Timbers as announced by ESPN’s Spanish Bureau.
A team of the likes of the Timbers so far, trading players such as Marco Farfan to LAFC, Julio Cascante to expansion side Austin FC, and recently Jorge Villafaña going to LA Galaxy are among the novelties of the team with a limited payroll to make space to newcomers.
Very well not getting too excited about the new prospects selected in the recent SuperDraft is because where will these play when T2 will not operate in this 2021. Among the main solutions, in the long run, are to build a solid academy to develop players and make it as successful as other teams such as FC Dallas or Philadelphia Union to mention a few.
The need to purchase players somehow must come to a halt and depend in its entirety in its Homegrown crops, such as the South American and European teams and then the Timbers can capitalize in the sale or some of them to other leagues.
The Whitecaps netted a whopping $22 million dollars on the sale of Alphonso Davies. Not bad for an academy prospect, something that team owner Merritt Paulson and its GM Gavin Wilkinson should be looking into very seriously.
Big deal to the B+ given to the Timbers in the past SuperDraft when some of these players maybe they will make the grade or not. So far, Jeremy Ebobisse has become the only success story and Eryk Williamson was acquired in a trade from DC United.
Yes, a trip to Argentina or Mexico can give a solution in a short period, but at what price? Especially when a club has a limited budget in its coffers. The need to develop players and not buying them is a solution in the immediate and long run. The team’s current crop of young players in the club should be getting more playing time to develop their skills.
The need to solidify the defense is a must and if the Van Rankin deal goes thru, we maybe will have a top-rated defense in the season, as Pablo Bonilla needs a little more time and experience to make the breakthrough!
In the attack, the need to be finding the substitutes for team talisman Diego Valeri and Sebastian Blanco is imperative as these players are getting into their thirties along with Diego Chara despite always displaying his best game in every match.
In the end, the team given to Caleb Porter in Columbus was an example of a team willing to open its wallet and build up a contender and with visible results, why not have the same results here in Rose City?
