Timbers Grab Bag 05.06.09

By: Bob Kellett | May 6th, 2009

If the USL-1 Timbers were covered by the media like a major league American sports team, sometime this week you would read an article with a storyline about how they are headed to Cleveland to take on a team led by their former assistant coach. The mentee (Rod Underhood) vs the mentor (Gavin Wilkinson). You’ve read the story before. Can the number 2 guy beat the number 1 guy now that he is number 1? Does he know all the Timbers’ deep secrets? Oh the drama.

While Underwood undoubtedly has a pretty fair understanding of how Wilkinson manages and he likely has learned a Maori curse word or two from his former boss, the one thing he doesn’t really know is this year’s Portland Timbers team. As you know, the composition of this year’s squad is much, much different than the clubs that Underwood coached. It is almost like he will be facing an expansion team himself.

Three for the TOTW
Brian Farber, Ryan Pore, and Chris Seitz all made the USL First Division team of the week. They each will receive a gift certificate to GI Joe’s and a souvenir Calgary FC hat courtesy of the league’s front office.

Checking in with our MLS guys

Bryan Jordan has appeared in all 6 of the LA Galaxy’s games thus far, but has largely been used as a super sub. He has one goal on the season.
Flash Gordon also has a goal in four games played for the Gals.
Leo Griffin has played as many minutes for the LA Galaxy this season and you and I have.
Josh Saunders is 0-1-1 in his two starts for, you guessed it, the LA Galaxy
Josh Wicks has started two games for DC United and has let in three goals in a pair of draws.
Ray Burse is starting for FC Dallas. He is 1-4-1, giving up close to two goals per game
Keeper Brad Knighton is 1-1-2 for the New England Revolution.

Playing with the other, other LA team
Remember Mike Randolph? Nifty little defender who was one of the few bright spots for the Timbers during the Agnello year. He was released by the LA Galaxy this offseason and is now playing for the LA Legends in PDL. Curious. You’d think at least one team in the USL First Division would want his services.

Speaking of PDL…
Mutanda Kwesele is going to have his work cut out for him if he is the only one on the roster for the Timbers U23 game against Victoria on Saturday in Tualatin.

Groundhopping at PGE Park

The Timbers fans reminded me of the German St. Pauli fans, an odd blend of alternatives with a big passion for football. Although there were still quite a lot of girls and women around, the vast majority of members of the Timbers Army are guys between 15 and 35, the usual suspects in European football stadiums.

Timbers Grab Bag 05.06.09

Comments