Steven Taylor and Newcastle taking on Chelsea. By Axel Steenberg from Ripon, United Kingdom – The Toon, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12244161
Thoughts& Questions on Steven Taylor to the Timbers
By Ed Pham
On Monday, the Timbers officially announced that former Newcastle center-back Steven Taylor would be joining the team. The move was announced a week after center-back Nat Borchers was ruled out for the rest of the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. But what does this seasoned EPL veteran bring to the Timbers squad? Can and will he be a solid replacement for the long-time MLS veteran and leader for the rest of this season, if not longer?
We talked to Prost Amerika editor and long-time Newcastle supporter Sean Maslin and asked him a few questions about Steven Taylor to get a better understanding of what he’ll bring to the Timbers for the rest of the season and beyond.
What does he bring to the field?
Experience. Although Taylor is just 30 years old, he has had a rather long career with Newcastle going back 13 years. He has played with the club under all sorts of circumstances, from relegation battles to championship runs in the second division to Europa League. He has played against a variety of opponents, played under different styles with a cavalcade of managers, and under possibly one of the worst owners in all of professional sports. But his play has never really been negatively impacted by any of these scenarios and has made him a better player.
What does he bring to the Timbers?
Given the situation that they are in, I think that his background playing in important seems to fit nicely. The Timbers need players who understand that every point from here on out matters and that there is no room for error. When Newcastle finished fifth in the Premier League in 2011-2012, Taylor’s partnership with Fabricio Coloccini at center-back proved to be one of the key ingredients for their success. When clubs with higher budgets would attack United were always able to hold on thanks to a timely tackle or clear by one of their two center-backs. He also scored twice late in the season to preserve match points for the Magpies.
Oh, and he also has had a few big game moments against Sunderland, Newcastle’s rival.
What are his strengths?
He can track attackers very well and can take good angles on his tackles. He also has a very good understanding of where to place the ball on a clear. Taylor will very often attempt to go to the endline to allow his team to organize.
What are his weaknesses?
He is injury prone. Four out of his last five seasons have been cut short due to injury. In particular, he has had trouble with hamstring injuries, which should be a concern for Caleb Porter. Due to the number of leg injuries that he has sustained, he does not have the speed that made him a target for the England national team.
Is he a better replacement than Borchers?
In terms of his defensive skills, he will be a fine replacement for Borchers. He has no problem getting physical with attackers and is very composed under pressure. He should also work very well with Liam Ridgewell. having played with him at the English National Team at the under-21 level.
The one difference between the two is that Borchers is a bit more active on the attacking end. Taylor is not exactly known for his goal-scoring touch on set pieces. On that end, the club might need to look for other options to help replace Borchers.
It’ll be interesting to see how Taylor holds up in the MLS. His experience and presence on the field will be crucial as the Timbers make their final push for a playoff spot. The question that may be on the minds of the staff, players, and fans is whether he can remain healthy for the rest of the season. If he continues to struggle with injuries, the Timbers may have to continue tinkering with their center-back pairing.
