Just for Comparison’s Sake….

By: Bob Kellett | April 10th, 2008

Let’s dig deep into the recesses of our minds and think back to April 21, 2007. That was the day when the Timbers kicked off their magical campaign against a Puerto Rico team that was supposed to be one of the better teams in the league. The Islanders’ players huddled on the bench like they were watching a game in Antarctica rather than a contest in the rain in Portland in April. The Timbers smoked them 3-1 and began what turned out to be an undefeated run of home games at PGE Park. What was the starting XI for that contest, you ask? I have the answer, as well as what I see as being the starting XI when we face Puerto Rico in the season opener next Thursday.

2007 Opening Match Lineup

GK Josh Wicks
D Scot Thompson, D Lee Morrison, D Cameron Knowles D Leonard Griffin
M Luke Kreamalmeyer (Tom Poltl 88), M Andrew Gregor, M Neil Dombrowski, M Troy Ready (Kiki Lara 85)
F Luc Harrington (David Hague 75), F Chris Bagley (Bryan Jordan 88)

2008 Possible Opening Match Lineup

GK Ray Burse
D Scot Thompson, D Justin Thompson, D Cameron Knowles, D Leonard Griffin
M Lawrence Olum, M Andrew Gregor, M Neil Drombrowski, M Shaun Higgins
F Chris Brown, F Takayuki Suzuki

Two of the players who started the opener last season – Luc Harrington and Lee Morrison – are no longer playing professional soccer. Luke Kreamalmayer has been traded twice in the last year. Troy Ready can’t even get minutes in scrimmages. Josh Wicks is the only starter not coming back that I’d like back.

I think I’d take this year’s lineup in a pickup game any day of the week. In fact, I’d love to see a pickup game between the two sides. It would be fun watching Gregor get stuck in against himself.

Photo: Allison Andrews/Soccer City USA

Category: Former Portland Timbers, Timbers Team News

Tags: 2007 Team, 2008 Team, Former Portland Timbers, Portland Timbers, Timbers Team News

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Comments  

• Jon |  April 10th, 2008 at 12:05 pm

  
  
  

  Gregor getting stuck in: there’s a first for everything, I guess.

  The tooth fairy is real, right?

  Posted from United States

  

• Bob Kellett |  April 10th, 2008 at 12:20 pm

  
  
  

  I am living on cold medicine right now and evidently it is causing me to see have delusions, like Gregor getting stuck in.

  Posted from United States

  

• Lucas |  April 10th, 2008 at 12:37 pm

  
  
  

  You guys are just doing reverse psychology like right? So when Gregor reads your snarky little exchange he goes, “Oh yeah well I’ll show them!” and goes and gets a hat trick (like his FK goal to shut up the boo birds at the scrimmage last weekend). Right?

  Otherwise you’re just being mean to our Andrew.

  Posted from United States

  

• Bruce |  April 10th, 2008 at 12:50 pm

  
  
  

  Well, Bob needs to be mean to someone on the team.

  One week to go, gentlemen. Give me a ‘T’.

  Posted from United States

  

• wise |  April 10th, 2008 at 12:52 pm

  
  
  

  what happens when Gregor gets in a verbal tussle with himself?

  oh no, wait, that would be if Gregor the ref calls a foul on Gregor the player.

  Posted from United States

  

• Lucas |  April 10th, 2008 at 1:22 pm

  
  
  

  What about when Gregor grabs his own junk and then…

  yeah I think I took it too far.

  Posted from United States

  

• Barnacle Brian |  April 10th, 2008 at 1:33 pm

  
  
  

  I blame Agnello! Oh wait…

  Posted from United States

  

• bickle |  April 11th, 2008 at 8:20 am

  
  
  

  Okay: Gregor vs. a hurricane…BUT…the hurricane is named Hurricane Gregor.

  Discuss.

  Posted from United States

  

• Jon |  April 11th, 2008 at 8:41 am

  
  
  

  Ditka.

  Posted from United States

  

• Klown |  April 11th, 2008 at 9:05 am

  
  
  

  We don’t need Gregor stuck in — two goals (off of free kicks) and then two assists in the season opener is all we ask.

  Posted from United States

  

Comments are closed