2023 - Year of the Rabbit - Will the Timbers Bounce Back??
"If we don’t make the playoffs this year….."
Wait, what? We haven't even seen the team play yet (unbeaten in the Coachella tourney THAT WASN'T EVEN STREAMED doesn't count). The team has made some substantive changes to the roster, some stalwart players are still rehabbing and... And we are getting ahead of ourselves.Welcome to the Timbers $hit Talkers (T$T)! We are a group of Timbers fanatics who are really good at entertaining each other but who wanted to share that entertainment with a few other fanatics (look into the mirror please). We are an array of personalities and professionals who love soccer, love beer, love Portland and what better way to celebrate all three than by being a Timbers Fanatic? (You all do know that is what "fan" is short for, right?)
First of all, yes, we want to talk Timbers with y'all. But we aren't reporters and we aren't going to data mine you to death. We want to talk to the masses and, amongst this group of friends we refer to as the Timbers $hit Talkers, we think we have a pretty good feel for what the masses are wondering...
So we are just a few days away from the season opener. The frigid artificial tundra of Providence Park awaits! We've seen all the reporting from the @StumptownFooty crew from Evander's arrival to Bill's departure (did anyone else feel like they were in that SNL skit with Jodi Foster? "Buh-Bye!"). But there are so many questions that have yet to be answered, so let's start asking!
What we, the T$T are wondering about:
- Will the Timbers get off to their usual slow start?
- What is the projected starting lineup?
- Will Sebastian Blanco bounce back to his "MLS is Back" glory?
- Will Eryk Williamson be a consistent box to box, 90+ minute starter?
- Will Felipe Mora be the finisher he once was (if he makes it back to the pitch)?
- Will Santiago Moreno take it to the next level (and could he end up overseas if he does)?
- Will Evander be the most dangerous Timber ever?
- Will Yimmi Chara be more than one highlight goal per year?
- Will Diego Chara maintain his fountain of youth?
- Will we have the oldest and slowest center defense in the league?
- What will the next Timbers Army vs. Timbers front office $hitshow be about?
- Did you know that "footedness" is a word?
- How does this year's jersey compare against all others?
So do we have answers? No, no we don't, but do we have opinions? Why yes, yes we do, thanks for asking!! And is that a rabbit?? Why yes, yes it is and happy Year of the Rabbit to you as well!
- Will the Timbers get off to their usual slow start?
- T$T (MaTurn): Possibly, we need to figure out how to survive the early season injury challenges. Asprilla, Mora, Ayala, Blanco, Bravo, Ivacic all out so who steps up with many of these guys out and/or limited? Bonilla? Rasmussen? Loria 🤮? Fogaca? Someone from T2?
- What is the projected starting lineup?
- T$T (MaTurn): Not a complete look at the lineup but excited about the Colombian connection on the right with Moreno and Mosquera. This could be the start of something special!
- Will Sebastian Blanco bounce back to his "MLS is Back" glory?
- T$T (Unca Cliffy): Yes, Blanco will bounce back. He is a fighter, incredibly talented and intelligent player, and he has to be frustrated with his performance last season. He could have ended up playing across the pond had he continued his pre/ACL form. To his defense, it takes time to mentally come back from an ACL tear. He has had that time to get past it, so this season he will come back to form and help this team make the playoffs.
- Will Eryk Williamson be a consistent box to box, 90+ minute starter?
- T$T (Goose): Yes? Like Blanco, Williamson is recovering from a fairly major surgery last year but I think his recent inclusion on the national team is a good sign that he is close to continuing that rising star arc of a couple of years ago. Having solid and aggressive skilled distribution as part of the defense to offense transition (aka "counter") will be huge!
- Will Felipe Mora be the finisher he once was (if he makes it back to the pitch)?
- T$T (JimDick): Nope. I unfortunately think Mora’s out. He’s got the same thing as Oden I think (that was a Portland Trailblazer reference for all of you who are unaware of sports other than soccer). It’s super sad because of his talent. He might have an okay year or two but not sure it will ever be the same. 🥲
- Will Santiago Moreno take it to the next level (and could he end up overseas if he does)?
- T$T (jLo): Yes! Moreno will be at the next level and he will head across the pond but hopefully stick around this season to be an mvp candidate for the league.
- Will Evander be the most dangerous Timber ever?
- T$T (MaTurn): Maybe, but let's hope the presence and distribution of Evander make whoever is playing the 9 look way better than last year. Also, will the Brazilian Fogaça/Evander combo make us say "Niezgoda/Mora" who, or do Niezgoda or Mora solidify the striker role? *Editor's note: questions in response to a question are so annoying.
- Will Yimmi Chara be more than one highlight goal per year?
- T$T (Goose Jr): Yes. Yimmy, like others, benefits from the Evander-effect and reminds people why he was signed to a DP. He has a stellar season as a result.
- Will Diego Chara maintain his fountain of youth?
- T$T (Goose Jr): Probably. I think Chara keeps it up this year but he loses a, barely perceptible, step. This however still puts a little bit more pressure on an already shaky, injured, and old defense. Hopefully we will bend but not break. Gio would be wise to maximize opportunities to rest Chara and keep him fresh for the long season.
- Will we have the oldest and slowest center defense in the league?
- T$T (MaTurn): No! Zac McGraw will step up and become the usual starting partner for Zuparic. We also still have to see who Ned brings in to be our "for years to come" center back.
- What will the next Timbers Army vs. Timbers front office $hitshow be about?
- T$T (Macanudo): (Editor's note: one of our members expressed their opinion but we aren't going to publish those sentiments as we realized that might start drawing out differences when really we want to focus on what we have in common - We love our team!
- Did you know that "footedness" is a word?
- T$T (Goose): Absolutely, I once used it to score 24 points in Scrabble.
- How does this year's jersey compare against all others?
- T$T (Goose): I wouldn't know (yet) because I went to the Adidas store to buy one and they were sold out. But I'm an every-other year jersey buy type of guy and so thinking I will go all in on this beauty (liking the look).
If you have more questions that you would appreciate our humble response to, please feel free to add in the chat below. Soccer is life and life is everything so feel free to take that existential route.
Speaking of life, we hope everyone survived PDX Snowmageddon 2023 and here are some fun pics from the snowy adventures!
On our way to 10"+!!! The state of PDX highways
Apparently these things work! Who doesn't love dogs in snow!
Don't drive on the ice Keep it weird PDX!
And finally, there a lot of other good resources out there to get caught up on all the pre-season moves, outlooks, hype and other shtuff that is informative but not nearly as entertaining:
- Timber Joey in the Timbers ticketing office (a video short in the style of The Office)
- Portland Tribune's pre-season take: Season preview: Will 2023 Timbers thrive, be mediocre, or worse?
- Stumptown Footy's pre-season take: Previewing the Timbers’ 2023 MLS Season (this read is probably the most worthwhile and even includes some predictions, also the official preview for MLS)
- The Oregonian's podcast: Soccer Made In Portland
And as another famous rabbit says, "That's All Folks!" See you throughout the course of the season for more questions, more armchair analysis and more, well, entertainment!
Stay Classy Portland!
#RCTID #T$T
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ReplyDeleteAs a timber fanatic exploring the world of soccer, it's fascinating to uncover the unique ways in which timber intersects with the sport. One intriguing aspect is the presence of timber in the soccerlay, the very foundation of the soccer pitch. It typically made of meticulously crafted wooden boards, forms the surface on which the game unfolds. It provides stability, resilience, and a touch of natural beauty to the field. Stepping onto the soccerlay, players and fans alike can appreciate the harmonious blend of the sport they love and the enduring strength of timber.
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