Information Overload: It is all good

By: Bob Kellett | March 25th, 2008

After watching the news trickle from the Timbers camp the first couple of weeks, today we get a veritable geyser of information coming from all directions. Since we’ve all been wondering about the names of the trialists, a tip of the cap goes to the Portland Tribune for naming names.

According to the Trib, the trialists are

Scott Bolkan - a defender from Salem that played for Stanford. My guess is he is the central back I saw yesterday.

Maurice Hughes - a forward who played for Atlanta. My guess is that he is the one who looks a bit like Scot Thompson (at least from a distance when you have poor eyes like I do). I thought he was more of a midfielder, but whatever. We have a name.

Sam Reynolds - you knew this by now, but welcome back, Sam.

The other big news from the Trib is that the club will announce that Justin Thompson is coming back. That is most excellent. Thompson was a solid force in the back last year. Good to see he is choosing soccer over transporting body parts.

You can also read a bit about Tim Karalexis.

The Thompson signing is part of the bevy of information members of the Timbers Army picked up last night when they went to see Merritt Paulson talk.

1. Justin Thompson signing will be announced tomorrow.

2. In the next week or two, a striker signing will be announced for a player that is in his 20s and has scored multiple goals in the World Cup for his national team.

3. “The starting defense from last season will all be back.” He didn’t specify Griffin, so I don’t know if he forgot about Leo and was simply referencing the impending J. Thompson announcement, but the implication was that we might be getting Leo back from Columbus (on loan?).

4. Four friendlies are in the works. Two Mexican first division teams, one English Premier league team, and Real Madrid (likely their youths, like AC Milan from last year). He said one of the four is already confirmed, but didn’t say who.

5. He’s done his financial and feasibility legwork, and is in ongoing discussions with local politicians, business folk, and MLS hierarchy about bringing an MLS team to Portland. Part of this development would include 1) a permanent stand on the east side of PGE Park, making the stadium a horseshoe for MLS, 2) a cohabitation agreement with PSU football to use the renovated PGE Park, and 3) the Beavers playing in a newly constructed 8,000-10,000 seat stadium somewhere else.

6. He confirmed that Wicks and Jordan have, in fact, signed with the Gals. He couldn’t tell us what the Timbers got in return, but they are definitely gone.

7. We have another keeper coming into camp.

8. Maroon or “Rose” will be the third kit this year

A nice write up of all this can be found on True Fan.

Now the search is on to find out who this World Cup goal scorer from Asia is. I still don’t think it is the one I’ve been calling Suki, but I could be wrong. That appears to be the big announcement for next week so maybe we won’t be getting a Beckham exhibition after all.

What a difference a day makes. I think I need to go take a cold shower….