Two weeks off, two games in two nights, too many games

By: Bob Kellett | June 23rd, 2008

After playing a whirlwind schedule that featured 14 league games, a US Open Cup match and an exhibition over the period of 47 days, the Portland Timbers are now easing into the lightest portion of their 2008 USL First Division schedule where they are set to play six league games over the course of the next 36 days. The team gets back into action with a back-to-back trip to Carolina and Atlanta on Friday and Saturday. Makes a lot of sense to take two weeks off and then play on consecutive nights in the humidity of the southeast, right? What makes equally less sense is the persistent rumors that the club is trying to schedule another friendly over Fourth of July weekend. This one will either be against Monarcas Morelia in Boise or the Tacoma Tide in Washington. With the two Mexican friendlies confirmed and a possible match against Lyon in the works, the light schedule in July is suddenly getting crowded. Even if they are just exhibitions, I can’t help but think that all this extra work could come back to hurt the Timbers late in the season. Too many games in too little time.

Who makes the trip?
It seems like a lifetime ago, but it was only a week and a half ago that Scot Thompson and Tom Poltl picked up red cards in the Timbers 2-2 draw against Atlanta. That means that both players will not be able to suit up against the Carolina RailHawks on Friday. Traditionally the Timbers have brought 18 players on road trips and by league rules they are only able to suit up 18 players each game. With a match the next evening in Atlanta, does Gavin Wilkinson bring both Poltl and Thompson and go with a short bench against Carolina or does he bring some other players and give the two veteran players the weekend off? I could see Poltl not making the trip, but I think Thompson will be there. The depth is simply not there in the backline and Scot’s speed is a necessity against Atlanta.

In their last five league games….
Carolina 0-4-1
Atlanta 2-0-3
Portland 1-2-2

Speaking of heavy schedules…
Atlanta plays 11 league games in August. That just seems cruel.

Speaking of cruelty…
It took me 2.5 hours to cross the US-Canadian border on Sunday.

Photo: A Timbers Army scarf hangs in Mayor-elect Sam Adams’ office. Credit