Feelin’ the Blues

By: Bob Kellett | September 1st, 2008

The Miami FC Blues have won once in their past six games and twice in their past nine games. The Portland Timbers have won once in their past eight games. Both teams have won just six times this season. Both sides have won just two times away from home. When Portland and Miami played to a nil-nil draw way back on May 18 not many people would have predicted that their seasons would be so similar in terms of suckiness (why is this not a Microsoft Word approved word?). Portland was undefeated at the time. Miami already had five losses.

The turning point for Portland was a couple weeks later when the Timbers hosted Vancouver and Miami over Memorial Day Weekend. Portland lost both games and with it the team’s year-plus invincibility at PGE Park. The Timbers went into a deep slide. Miami strung together a few results in June before falling back upon mediocrity.

Now, two months later, the two clubs are level in the table and fighting for the final spot in the playoffs. If the Timbers don’t get a result on Thursday and if they fail to make the playoffs, they can point to their lack of success against a very average Miami side as a big reason why.

Some things are timeless
Timbers Offside City Hall Correspondent Eric pointed me to the above rendering of what PGE Park would look like if the roof and stands were extended to the east side. This isn’t from the yet to be released Paulson MLS Plan but rather from the Central City Plan (monstrously big PDF for those inclined) back in 1988. What do you think? Would you want to enclose the east stands?

Media hacks take notice

WHAT: Merritt Paulson , owner and president of the Portland Beavers and Portland Timbers, Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard and Torre Chisholm, Portland State University athletic director, are holding a news conference to discuss plans to bring Major League Soccer to Portland .

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 3 - 9 a.m.

WHERE: PGE Park , 1844 SW Morrison (Fred Meyer Family Deck)
Media should enter through the gates at 18th and Morrison and proceed to the Fred Meyer Family Deck.

I have no idea what will be said at this (I suspect will get some details but not the full plan), but I like the fact that Portland State is involved. The more players putting pressure on the City Council the better.

Shoulda stayed in Portland
It took 22 games before Josh Wicks made his debut for the LA Galaxy. Wicks came on for injured keeper Steve Cronin in the 46th minute in the Galaxy’s 2-2 draw against New England on Saturday. The former Timbers keeper made three saves and gave up a goal in the contest. It’s worth noting that Brad Knighton did not suit up for New England. I’m still not sure whether or not he will be back in Portland for Thursday’s clash against Miami.

Welfare Winger
After leaving the Timbers in the offseason for a trial with Puerto Rico only to be brought back to Portland before the start of the season before leaving again midseason, midfielder Tom Taylor has found a new home. Taylor has signed with Wrexham FC in Blue Square Premiership in England. That should make Gavin Wilkinson’s agent, who happens to be Taylor’s poppa, happy.