Timbers Grab Bag 03.26.08

By: Bob Kellett | March 26th, 2008

My apologies for the late start today. After the avalanche of news on Tuesday I felt the need to sleep about 16 hours. So I did. I wish Spring Break was year-round. Anyway, here are a few odds and ends that came to mind while I was dreaming of kissing the USL First Division trophy in September (that doesn’t constitute as cheating, right?)

* The Galaxy and the Timbers both went to lengths not to mention what Portland is getting in return for Bryan Jordan and Josh Wicks transferring to LA. This could mean a few things. It could be a straight money deal where the Timbers got some cash from a team that has deep pockets. It could mean the two teams will arrange a friendly in the future. It could mean that LA agreed to loan a player or two to the Timbers in the future. It could mean all of the above or none of the above. The more I think about it the less likely I think it will involve a Beckham friendly. That is the Galaxy’s one trump card and they have demanded a lot of money from clubs around the world to have Beckham visit. On paper the value is much greater than a back-up keeper (at least he is for now) and a developmental player.

* The one good thing about Jordan signing a developmental contract is that it increases the chances he could be loaned back to the Timbers later in the season. Of course, the dude could also pull a Mike Randolph and earn himself first team minutes and never step foot in USL-1 again too.

* Josh Wicks is Rose City till he Dyes. From the LA Times: He threatens to rival David Beckham for tattoos and already has nine such adornments. Wicks told Galaxy staff members that his goal is to get one in each city in which he plays, which means that as MLS expands, he might have to do the same.

* While I was frantically looking around for information about our new striker Takayuki Suzuki, I learned that he and Gavin Wilkinson once played against each other. Suzuki was on Japan’s team for the 2003 Confederations Cup. Wilkinson played in that tournament for New Zealand. Suzuki got the better of his new boss with Japan winning 3-0.

* Suzuki (Japan), Justin Thompson (Canada), Lawrence Olum (Kenya), Arsene Oka (Ivory Coast), Justin Knowles (New Zealand)…the league rules allow a team to carry seven international players, but only five can suit up for a game. The Timbers still supposedly have another Kiwi coming their way so if that is the case the new Kiwi or one of the guys above will have to sit out when they are all healthy.

* From the MLS combine scouting report on trialist Scott Bolkan: “Nice in the back. Big, fights to win high balls against a strong opponent.” The guy was a biology major at Stanford so you and I will be working for him some day.