Beep. Timbers Training Notes. Beep

By: Bob Kellett | March 24th, 2008

Kiki Lara and I are employed by the same school. Both of us are currently on Spring Break. While I plan on catching up on my sleep and generally bumming around, Lara is working his arse off for his other employer, the Portland Timbers. I spent a few minutes watching the lads train today from the perch on 18th Street and witnessed the players taking part in the infamous beep test. It was painful just watching it.

Neil Dombrowski was the first to crash out. Then a couple of trialists bowed out. Suki’s lungs gave out and a number of guys quickly followed. Finally there were three guys left. Lara, Scot Thompson and Troy Ready. Ready missed the beep and Scot with one T’s legs gave out. Lara just kept on running and running. It was impressive and exhausting and I’m thankful that our common employer doesn’t make us do the beep test.

Other training notes:

* There were 21 guys on the field. After the beep test they split into position-specific drills. The players were:

Defenders: Thompson, Knowles, Karalexis, Higgins, a tall trialist who plays in the middle, a trialist who looks like Lara and plays left back

Midfield: Oka, Poltl, Guante, Dombrokwski, Ready, Olum, Lara, trialist who looks like Scot Thompson

Forwards: Brown, Bagley, Suki, Gregor

Keepers: James, Sam Reynolds (I’m fairly sure it was him), trialist

* Three different players were being worked as left back. Karalexis split his time between there and central back. Higgins slotted in and so did the trialist. If there is a position to watch during this week’s exhibitions it is this one.

* Gavin was giving a lot of instructions to the tall trialist playing center back. I don’t think the guy was in camp the last time I went to training. Perhaps this is the new Kiwi?

* I’m hoping Suki is a better finisher in games than he has been during the practices I’ve watched. I’m not worried about Chris Brown in this department. He continues to look great.

* I’m not sold on Oka. I look forward to seeing how he does during a live game. Guante is a nifty little passer. Karalexis knows how to position himself in the back.

* This was the first chance I got to see James being worked in goal. He is tall and wiry. I thought his reflexes looked good. Not sure about his leg strength. Reynolds also looked good. The third keeper looked ordinary.

* The baseball bases were covered over and look a lot better than the previous turf. It was obvious where they were, however. I’m hoping that once the games start they’ll do a better job of washing away the dirt around them.

Photo: Allison Andrews/Soccer City USA