Portland Timbers take on the Atlanta Silverbacks

By: Bob Kellett | July 17th, 2008

It is the third and final encounter between the Portland Timbers and Atlanta Silverbacks on Friday evening in the Georgia (Watch online or Listen online or stop by one of the viewing parties at Slabtown, 1033 NW 16th Ave, or Beulahland ,118 NE 28th Ave). The Timbers have had a bit of success this season against the Silverbacks, picking up a 2-0 win in Atlanta and a 2-2 draw at home, despite ending the game two men down. The Backs (5-4-5) have followed the same route as the Timber$ this year, lining up a bunch of international friendlies to keep their players busy in July. They haven’t played a league game since July 3. They are a point behind Portland (5-6-6) in the table with three games in hand. They also have a grueling August to look forward to — Atlanta will play 11 games in one month! Despite playing the fewest number of games in the league, the Silverbacks have scored the most goals. They’ve also conceded the most goals. They’ve also given up two goals to Chris Bagley. Chris Bagley doesn’t score against anyone other than Atlanta.

A defense so bad it makes a bad offense look good
Timbers goals scored in 2 games against Atlanta: 4
Timbers goals scored in the other 15 league games: 10

Can you hear the beer garden sing?
Observation from a Korean de Tocqueville who recently took in a Timbers game at PGE Park:

Second thing interesting was setting of stadium. There was the space in the playing field where people drinks beer. In the place, there were lots of people because the price of beer was half in the day. The people in that place seemed not to be interested in the soccer match. They only drank beer and talked to each other! It was unimaginable situation in the Korea soccer stadium.

Being Gavin Wilkinson
Life is fanfuckingtastic — even sitting in the middle seat of an airplane for eight hours wedged between Cameron Knowles and Justin Thompson can’t wipe the smile from my face. That win against those Mexican Tigers sure proved that my team can beat any team in the universe if we just stick to the basics: beat up the opposing forwards, kick the midfielders in the shins, and bring in ringers at forward to score our goals. I feel like the pressure has been lifted from my shoulders. Now we can have a fun trip. To put too much importance on it is wrong because it’s a very, very difficult road trip. In saying that, we put enough pressure on ourselves to have expectations and get something out it. It’s important, but it’s not do-or-die. All that said, here’s my lineup:

Knighton
S. Thompson Knowles Karalexis Griffin
Guante Poltl Brown Higgins
Olum Bagley

Bags is the Gorilla Killa, as my Oceanic brethren would say. He always scores against them Silverbacks. He’ll slot one home and then I’ll throw in that Walker kid for the final 35 minutes while I stand on the sidelines yelling at the referee about every little call he makes.

Being a smart ass
With a tough humidity-filled, back-to-back on tap this weekend, it is good to see that the Timbers are still carrying four keepers. Someone has to keep the water bottles filled.

Being a smart ass part 2
Some clubs provide their fans with information about who is on the travel squad for away games. The Portland Timbers are not one of those clubs.

Every MLS expansion campaign needs a website
Or two

Match Previews (updated when they become available or when I feel like it)

Silverbacks Host Portland Friday in Return to League Play (Atlanta Silverbacks)

Timbers three-match week begins with Tigres (Portland Timbers)

Timbers face high-powered duo on road trip (Portland Timbers)

Friday Night Football in Atlanta (Gruffgoat’s Football Blog)

Back in the A-T-L (Ax to the Road)

Photo: Allison Andrews/Soccer City USA