Midseason Report Card: The Midfielders

By: Bob Kellett | June 19th, 2008

With the Timbers nearly halfway through their 2008 USL First Division campaign and with the team enjoying a two-week break between games, what better way to pass the time than to hand out some grades? Today’s recipients are the midfielders.

Miguel Guante
In his first season with the Portland Timbers, Miguel Guante has shown signs of promise. He is a player with a creative streak who seems most comfortable when he is pushing forward on the attack. He has spent time on both wings as well as in the middle as a playmaking midfielder. He’s also seen spot duty in the backline. He’s a handy player to have around. My two knocks on him are that after creating goal scoring chances for himself he often struggles to finish and he could use some work on his service when he plays wide. I would love to see what he could do if played for a more creative coach and in a more free flowing system.

Grade: B+

Neil Dombrowski
After ending his season with an injury in 2007, Dombrowski showed up to training camp lighter and fitter than he was a season ago. Even though he is in better shape, it is painfully obvious that he does not have the foot speed to keep up with the majority of the forwards in this league. That is a problem for a holding midfielder. It is also a problem when a holding midfielder works to win a ball and then proceeds to give it right back with an errant pass. That happens to Dombrowski about 70% of the time. A hard worker, a nice guy, someone I want to see succeed, but after a year and half in a Timbers uniform I am largely convinced he doesn’t have the skill to deserve consistent minutes at this level.

Grade: C

Andrew Gregor
I’m fairly certain that when Gregor was born there were people in the delivery room criticizing his entrance into this world. Criticism has followed Gregor everywhere he has played. Throughout his career he has deserved much of this criticism. And much of it has not been deserved. He’s been a petulant, often obnoxious player who has infuriated teammates, opponents and fans alike. Yet, he has also been one of the best players this league has ever seen. For every ten times he has given the ball away or hasn’t run or has picked up a stupid card, he’s delivered a 50-yard cross field pass on a line, the type of play few players can every dream of making. And that’s the rub this year. We haven’t seen that pass. We haven’t seen that brilliance. We haven’t seen the skill that makes up for the petulance, on-the-pitch obnoxiousness and propensity for mistakes. Is it age, is it disinterest or is it something else? Everyone has an opinion, but I think any objective observer would say that with one assist, no goals, little defense, and a boatload of miscues through 14 games, the Timbers captain is struggling to justify his spot in the lineup.
Grade: D+

Shaun Higgins
Every morning, Shaun Higgins should wake up and thank his lucky stars that Gavin Wilkinson is a soccer manager. Higgins is exactly the type of player the Timbers boss likes. He enjoys playing defense, he isn’t afraid to get chippy or even occasionally play dirty, and he gives an effort that exceeds his skill. That isn’t to say that Higgins doesn’t have skill. We’ve seen flashes of it over the years, especially when he pushes forward out wide. But he is a player who probably wouldn’t start on most teams in this league, let alone earn the minutes he has played this year in Portland. Overall, his performance has been up and down. I like him out wide where he can be a little bit creative. Wilkinson likes him at holding midfielder where he can kick shins and constantly crowd Andrew Gregor. Sadly, I haven’t been asked to coach. At least not yet.

Grade: B-

Kiki Lara
Did you know that Kiki Lara played in 19 league games in 2007? I have a hard time remembering even seeing him on the pitch. The minutes have decreased this year with just four league game appearances, largely as a late game body off the bench to his credit. Lara’s game is still the same – unassuming and uninspiring. With some many midfielders on the roster it is easy for him to get lost in the shuffle, especially since he hasn’t had that moment or that game that makes it impossible for him not to receive minutes.

Grade: B

Bryan Little
The left wing position has almost always been a problem area for the Portland Timbers. Think back to the days when Hugo played on the right and a cast of characters went through a revolving door on the left. Jake Sagare was a momentary solution before getting dinged up. Aaran Fuckin’ Lines didn’t do the trick. David Hague wasn’t the answer. And now Bryan Little appears to be the latest failed attempt to plug the hole. Little is not a terrible player. He has nice touch and he can occasionally connect with his crosses, but his lack of foot speed is a huge liability. He rarely has been able to break free enough to create offensive opportunities for himself and his teammates. He also struggles to pretend to look interested in playing defense. How did he score so many goals in New Zealand?

Grade: C

Arsene Oka
It is a bit unfair to evaluate a guy who has played 61 minutes in league play. Oka had the misfortune of joining the team late and he has yet to do enough to stake his claim on one of the outside mid positions. From the brief action he has seen it is obvious that the speed is there. It is also apparent that the skill level needs improvement, especially his first touch and passing. This is a guy who could really benefit from receiving good coaching and consistent action. Too bad Portland doesn’t have a PDL team for him to get some much needed minutes and experience this year.

Grade: Incomplete

Lawrence Olum
During training camp it appeared that Olum was on the verge of having a breakout season. He got a lot of minutes both at right mid and in the center. He started the first two games. In that second game, Guante came in and played his way into the starting lineup. Olum got lost in the shuffle and ended up on the losing end of an unbalanced roster’s numbers game. An injury during training has further limited his impact. What will happen to Olum during the second half of the season? With Chris Brown seeing more time at midfield could he get some action at forward? Will he earn minutes at midfield and if so, where? Or will he be banished to the bench? His talent is raw, but it is there. Will we get an opportunity to see it?

Grade: B

Tom Poltl
Would Tom Poltl start on any other team in the league? Probably not. He just doesn’t have the physical tools or skill to be a really effective holding midfielder. Yet he often is the best option at this position for the Timbers because of his hustle and heart. On an overachieving team like the one in 2007, he is a glue player. On a team that has more skillful players like this year’s team, his lack of skill stands out. And that’s the rub. He has to play but he probably shouldn’t. I think his best role would be as an assistant coach who occasionally plays holding mid when the stud starter needs a rest. Unfortunately there isn’t a stud starter at that position on this roster so we’re left to watch Poltl kick, claw and bulldog his way around the pitch.

Grade: B-

Tom Taylor, Troy Ready
They might be super guys, great practice players and a barrel of fun in the training room, but Taylor and Ready have not received a minute of playing time on the pitch. Ready, who actually started at left wing during the season opener in 2007, has been injured. Taylor, who may or might not be here because his father is Gavin Wilkinson’s agent, has yet to show that he deserves a USL-1 contract. Next year the club should use their salaries for something useful. Like buying us all beer or developing young, local talent.

Grade: Incomplete

Overall
Perhaps the biggest weakness through half a season has been the Timbers lack of possession. This has contributed to a lack of goals and ultimately to a lack of victories. The midfield has been the main source of the problem. Simple passes are not simple. Proper spacing is not proper. The build up has been lacking. It is easy and convenient to point the blame at Gregor since so much of the offense goes through him. He hasn’t done the job, for sure, but the entire midfield has been inconsistent and largely unimpressive. Holding midfield is a weak spot. The new pieces that Gavin Wilkinson brought in to improve the outside have struggled to find their form. The coach has struggled to find the right combination to use, shuffling the players around to the point of distraction. It is telling that he has 11 players listed at midfield and it is a forward, Chris Brown, who now has a stranglehold on one of the midfield position. If the Timbers are going to improve in the second half of the season the improvement will have to come from the midfield. I’d like to say that there is enough talent at the position, but from what I have seen to this point I can’t make that claim.

Overall Grade: C+

Previous report cards
The goalkeepers
The forwards
The defenders