Photo Credit: Craig Hunter
Third match of the season leaves a not so pleasant feeling in the Portland Timbers camp and its manager Giovanni Savarese. Alarming is the ideal ways to describe how this squad defensive miscues are costing this club dearly in the start of this 2019.
After my previous post that I mentioned a little work can make the difference. In spite of the moves made by manager Giovanni Savarese in his initial eleven, these did not make any impact on Sunday’s match.
How can this club make a turnaround or see its defenders step up to the occasion and silence many of its detractors. Forget that at least put on your best game and efforts to rise to the occasion and see a road stand close on a plus.
So far, the club in three matches the defense has allowed 12 goals and with no relief in sight. Other is the way many of the Portland defenders are not closing any spaces or being very overzealous in their mark. Proof is the way Cincinnati three goals came with none of its players being mark or having a defender next to them.
An example that back heel kick in the FCC second goal by Allan Cruz, he made it look very easy.
As defense wins games, in the case of the Portland Timbers these are in need of an immediate solution to this matter. At least not all is lost with their next week bye were manager Savarese will get some time to make some needed changes in his game strategies and see how committed is his current roster.
In blueprint, this project looks promising but in reality is looking a bit sorry. Not for these Portland, timbers were talent is somehow one thing this squad is lacking character and determination to see its success.
Whatever happened to Jorge Moreira that is my question, as Claude Dielna saw some promise but he cannot let players beat him as the case of big boy Kendall Waston taking him and Mabiala to the cleaners?
To conclude the moves made by Gio did not made the difference yesterday with Bill Tuiloma and Cristhian Paredes making the effort, Lucas Melano can be a playmaker and not a forward as he did not had any shoot at goal.
For Diego Valeri and Sebastian Blanco, these two cannot carry the weight of the team, this is teamwork and unity will see uplift in Portland’s game. Now their next match in March 31 is against the LA Galaxy, when the going gets tough you need to overcome your obstacles.
Nine matches to go and these Portland Timbers can rise to the occasion and its defense getting the leadership its needs, forget Liam Ridgewell, the man is long gone. This team has talent in these 2019 Portland Timbers, as I said always state, in Gio we trust!
MLS Western
Portland
