Portland Timbers manager Giovanni Savarese is looking forward to seeing his team stand out during this season after last season’s setbacks saw how many would-be wins turned into loses or draws.
One of the issues addressed in the preseason was to reinforce its defensive backfield, but I must state this team needs to reinforce this area as some notable players left the team in search of new horizons.
Questions have been asked as of why the front office did not search the league’s free agency with some experienced players who were without a team. I see the team needs a center-back, defensive midfielder, and a couple of defensive backs.
In the attack, the Rose City side is not in need of any players while some of the younger players really need to make this the season that can shape their future and very well define their careers.
Sebastian Blanco and Jaroslaw Niezgoda are day-to-day and could soon to make it back into the starting eleven. Still, this team in the preseason showed several players making their case to start and giving it that competitive touch.
I feel that this season the Green and Gold will become once again a contender and competing for the top spots in the Western Conference and be a probable favorite to be in the conference and league finals.
As the Portland side is readying for next week’s game, kicking off in the always competed and difficult tournament in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League against CD Marathon as a visitor on April 4.
Returning to Providence Park on April 13, these games will be a good tune-up for the Timbers to start their adventure in 2021 in Major League Soccer in what looks to be another challenging season. I will be writing a four-part series reviewing and analyzing the Rose City team’s probabilities in this upcoming campaign.
CONCACAF, US Open Cup, and Cascadia Cup competitions will also highlight what is to come for the Portland Timbers this season and for manager Giovanni Savarese to build up a total contender.
I will be exploring the Timbers areas such as defense including its goalkeepers, defensive midfield, offensive midfield, and forwards to highlight this team’s upcoming adventure in MLS’s upcoming 26th campaign and going strong.
End of Part I
