Martin Nash on Portland; Bryan Little on Next Season

By: Bob Kellett | August 21st, 2008

Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Martin Nash, brother of NBA player and aspiring MLS owner Steve Nash, weighs in on the MLS expansion efforts in Vancouver and Portland:

“Portland’s got great support,” he says. “I think both teams have good solid franchises in this league, and that proves to the MLS that they’re sustainable. If they don’t both get it, there’s a good chance if they stay in (the hunt) they might get one.”

When you watch Friday’s game against the Whitecaps keep an eye on Nash in the middle. He is a heck of a player. One of my favorite players in this league to watch.

A Little Love
Bryan Little in the Trib:

Little has appeared in 13 of 24 matches and played 452 minutes. He has taken three shots on goal and tallied one assist.

That’s, well, little playing time – but he plans on being with the Timbers again next season.

“You’re always disappointed when you’re not playing,” he says. “But when I get in, I always try to do my best, and hopefully I can start more games.”

I’d be surprised if Little is back next season. Not that he doesn’t have some skill, it just seems like he doesn’t fit into Gavin Wilkinson’s system. Little’s strength is pushing forward and in a role of an attacking winger out wide. He doesn’t offer much playing tight in or defensively, which seems to be what the boss wants out of his wide midfielders. The fact that Leonard Griffin, who has never played midfield, has been starting ahead of him speaks volumes.

Playoff watch
While Seattle and Vancouver played to their nine millionth scoreless draw last evening, on the other side of the continent the Montreal Impact had their way with the Atlanta Silverbacks. Montreal’s 3-1 victory puts them level with the Timbers. Montreal has two games in hand. Even with the Impact facing serious scheduling congestion thanks in part to their participation in the CONCACAF Champions League, I think they will end up ahead of Portland when all is said and done. The team I’m keeping an eye on is Atlanta. The Silverbacks are four points ahead of the Timbers with a game in hand, but their schedule has them finishing up with six out of seven away from home, including a nasty back-to-back this weekend in Rochester and Montreal, followed by a midweek tilt in Vancouver. They also have to play red hot at Puerto Rico and at Seattle. Not an easy path ahead for the Apes.

Larry Nutmeg
Not sure why this clip of Lawrence Olum from last October’s exhibition against Toronto FC is just now on YouTube, but here it is….