Up Next: Carolina and Atlanta

By: Bob Kellett | June 27th, 2008

Those 12 days off sure were fun but now it is time to get back to business. The Portland Timbers face the Carolina RailHawks Friday evening (Fox Soccer Channel) and the Atlanta Silverbacks on Saturday (USL Live). This is one of those bad-feeling-in-my-stomach trips that long-time Timbers supporters know all too well. It is one of those weekends where you hope they can sneak one in and sit on a lead and come away with some points from at least one of the games. It is the type of trip that will require an exceptional effort from the players who play all 180 minutes in the humidity, a coach who uses his thin bench wisely, and a little luck. The luck really hasn’t been there this year for the Timbers. Maybe this is the weekend it will happen, but my stomach and my head tell me it is going to be a rough trip.

His mother must write the press releases
This sure is a lot of love for a player who has logged 61 minutes for the Portland Timbers and who appeared in a whopping one game for the New England Revolution and who hasn’t made the travel squad very often this year.

The Portland Timbers are currently tied for third place in the USL-1 table and return to action after a 12 day break. They are led by Japanese International forward Takayuki Suzuki and former New England Revolution midfielder Arsene Oka.

Taka Tees
If you wear his shirt, Takayuki Suzuki will score 20 goals in the next 16 games. Fact

Being Gavin Wilkinson
When I last used my magic powers to look inside the boss’ head I saw a lot of concern and signs of panic. It is a couple weeks later and I see the same thing. Scot Thompson and Tom Poltl are sitting in the sin bin. Benjamin Totori and Andrew Gregor are drinking gin in the M*A*S*H unit. A bunch of guys are feeling less than chipper. The number one goalkeeper has been occupied training with another team and will be leaving the team for good after this weekend. A tough back-to-back in heat and humidity lies ahead. Here’s the starting lineup for Carolina on Friday.

Burse
Karalexis J. Thompson Knowles Griffin
Oka Higgins Brown Guante
Suzuki Bagley

A Message from Blog Central
Due to circumstances beyond my control (a birthday weekend surprise), I will not be able to chime in with thoughts after the games this weekend. Despair not, my friends. I will be back on Monday to criticize what I didn’t see.

Match Previews

Portland plays Carolina Friday on FSC (USL Soccer)

Timbers return to action with weekend road trip (Portland Timbers)

RailHawks Host Portland Timbers in First Nationally Televised Game of the Season Friday, June 27th (Carolina RailHawks)

Here we go again (Ax to the Road)

Holding Pattern (Ax to the Road)

Antoniuk: Carolina fine, although the record could be finer (Portland Tribune)