The Portland Timbers expectations for this upcoming 2023 season- Part III

Photo Credit Portland Timbers FC

Part III

The frontal attack seems to be a bit fractured, becoming a challenge for the Portland Timbers and for manager Giovanni Savarese in this upcoming 2023!

With Felipe Mora on the Injured list and Jaroslaw Niezgoda not too consistent in the Timbers frontal attack, Portland and its manager Giovanni Savarese somehow is in for one challenging campaign!

Still, the Portland Timbers have a couple of prospects in Diego Gutierrez and Teka Ikoba that are in need of getting their skills and talents seriously exploited and up for the challenge not only for five or ten minutes, but in the entirety of a game.

New designated player, Evander da Silva Ferreira
Photo by Diego Diaz

Last season when Nathan Fogaca scored a brace in a game against Sporting Kansas City, many thought that this was to become the team’s third striker and, in the end, he only finished with just two goals. Now, the outlook for this player is that with his new compatriot Evander somehow I can see a new dynamic duo in the Timbers offensive game.

After rumors placed a couple of would be forwards or number 9 players in the Timbers such as Danish player Kasper Junker from the Japanese League Urawa Reds, but this move cooled off and the Dane ended up playing on loan with another side of the J-League. With another possible arrival to build up the team offensive game and occupy this spot was another player of the Croatian League side Rijeka in 19-year-old Matija Frigan.

My conclusion is that Gio should develop players from T2. Sounds easy, but this shouldn’t be a difficult task as the young core of this team T2. The purpose of these players is to improve and grow their skills and overall that’s the purpose of building young players. Wishful thinking of why the Portland Timbers don’t build up an academy such as FC Dallas or closer to home the Vancouver Whitecaps.

With media day today, the Portland Timbers are ready to rock Major League Soccer and overcome that annoying 2022 season and make themselves present in the postseason and maybe make another run to the finals.