Timbers take on the Silverbacks before taking a Break

By: Bob Kellett | June 12th, 2008

Thursday night ushers in the end of the first half of the Portland Timbers 2008 USL First Division season with a game against the Atlanta Silverbacks. Yes, there is a game on Saturday against Juventus Primavera, but that one is just for fun and to get butts in the seats. Tonight’s contest is the last game that matters until June 27. It is an opportunity for the Timbers to bounce back from the disgraceful loss two nights ago against Hollywood United. It is an opportunity for the Timbers to break their four-game winless streak in league play at PGE Park. It is an opportunity for the Timbers to head into the break on a high note and to give us all a bit of optimism that the second half of the season will be better than the first.

The Last Word about that Hollywood United game
From The Original Winger:

The players that make up Hollywood United come from all walks of life. From well off to struggling, from guys who’ve had a few opportunities to guys that had none, these guys show up twice a week to train and on for games on the weekends because they love the game. They don’t play for money and to be honest, they lose money by making the sacrifice to be a part of this team to play.

Last night we lost our defensive leader Nas Koubourous to either a torn ACL or PCL when Takayuki Suzuki bungled into him just outside the 18 yard box. This morning at 4am, Nas headed to the airport to wait standby for a flight, caught it and by 8am was on site working this morning as a high rise welder.

I can’t even imagine..

Teddy Bear Toss
What could be sweeter than seeing thousands of teddy bears and stuffed animals flying from the stands after the Timbers score the game winning goals against Atlanta? Seeing the smile on a child’s face when she receives your teddy bear at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Do you part and bring a teddy bear tonight.

Being Gavin Wilkinson
Gotta think of an excuse for why we lost to an amateur side. We didn’t take the competition seriously. Our players are injured. No one stepped up. If only we had our starting XI. We have no team speed. Oh wait, I brought in players with speed but they have not been very good. It’s the players’ fault. That’s the ticket. When I field this lineup against Atlanta it will still be the players’ fault, unless we win. Then it is my my work ethic, my competitive nature, my toughness.

Burse
S. Thompson Knowles J. Thompson Griffin
Brown Gregor Poltl Guante
Suzuki Bagley

I’m assuming that Shaun Higgins is hurt and won’t play, and that Scot Thompson is not ill. I also think this lineup will have trouble keeping up with Atlanta’s speed.

Predict the attendance, win no prizes
It is the middle of June and still freakin’ winter, the daily newspaper mailed in its pregame coverage, the club is too busy promoting Saturday’s exhibition against Juventus Primavera to hype this one, the team isn’t playing well enough to attract the curious…all this adds up to another average attendance night. I think we’re looking at 5,923.

Photo: Allison Andrews/Soccer City USA