Three games, Six nights

By: Bob Kellett | June 9th, 2008

No rest for the weary or teams that are licking their wounds. The Portland Timbers will play three games this week, each with a different level of importance. On Tuesday, they take on what is shaping up to be a dangerous amateur team, Hollywood United, in the US Open Cup. Win, and they move on to face either the Seattle Sounders or Arizona Sahuaros in the next round of the competition. Lose, and they are eliminated and the national story becomes how they lost to a bunch of celebrities (even if Hollywood United is made up of USL and MLS castoffs). On Thursday, the Timbers face Atlanta, a team they will probably end up near in the USL-1 table. And then to cap off the week they play Juventus Primavera in a game that is basically designed to draw a big crowd and to let the reserves see if their uniforms fit. A busy and unique week in these parts before a long break in the schedule.

The math is scary
The Timbers have 17 points from 13 games. That works out to 1.31 points per game. Project that out over a 30-game season and that translates to 39 points. That translates into a team that will be fighting tooth and nail for one of the last playoff spots in the USL First Division. Currently the Timbers are seventh in the league in points per game. There happen to be seven playoff spots this year. In 2007 when the league played a 28-game schedule, the Vancouver Whitecaps finished in seventh with 39 points. No wonder I’ve been chewing on my fingernails the past few weeks.

It isn’t rocket science
The Oregonian’s Ryan White can’t quite figure out the US Open Cup. I’ll admit that the competition is difficult to follow and not particularly well known to the general population in this country, but if you do two minutes of research you can pretty much understand what he does not. I happen to love the US Open Cup and love seeing obscure amateur teams get a crack at the professionals.

A Greg Howes sighting
Former Portland Timbers midfielder Greg Howes is now playing for an amateur team in Chicago. He’s getting up there in age and he certainly wouldn’t add any speed to the lineup, but a part of me thinks that the Timbers could use someone like Howes, an excellent passer, in the middle of the pitch.

Through 13 games
2007: 8-2-3, 27pts, 19GF, 6GA
2008: 4-4-5, 17pts, 10GF, 11GA

The 13th game in 2007 took place on July 13. I think it is fair to criticize the club for scheduling too many games in the early months this year. It is also worth noting that three of those wins in 2007 came against the California Victory. Merritt Paulson should have bought that club just to help Portland out in the table.

Stadium meeting
From the Foster Area Business Association:

Those who are particularly interested are cordially invited to attend the Foster Area Business Assn. Board meeting next Tuesday for the following discussion:

After a brief presentation about the PCC Bond Measure, Greg Peden, who is working on the possibility of a AAA baseball field at Lents Park, will present and ask for our feedback. A venture of this nature could be a great economic engine for the area.
The meeting will be on
Tuesday, June 10th at 4:30 pm at the
Junior Achievement Board Room
7830 SE Foster Rd.
(There is significant parking in the back, if the front spaces are full.)

If you have the chance to attend, drop me a line – timbers [at] theoffside [dot] com. I’d love to learn about the discussion.

Photo: Allison Andrews/Soccer City USA