Five Timbers Firsts For 2012

This is my first post for Oregon Sports News, and as such, I’d like to talk about some other firsts that I hope are coming to the Timbers in our second MLS season. Last season was, of course, our first ever in the MLS, so that was a big one, and along with that came a number of others – first MLS goal, first MLS win, etc. But now that we have one year under our belt, the list of firsts gets shorter and more interesting. Here are five that I’d like to see in 2012:

1. (Duh) An MLS win over Seattle

Let’s get this one over with, shall we? The hated Flounders beat us at home and held us to a draw up in their house in 2011, and so we are still awaiting our first three-point night against them. With two home derbies this season, we can’t blame the schedule if we don’t make it happen at least once.

Degree of difficulty: 4/10 (We do have three tries, two at home)

2. (Also duh) Playoffs

We were still in the playoff hunt in October last season, but were sunk by a home loss to Houston and our inability to win on the road. This season, the Timbers Army expects a top five finish in the conference and the playoff spot that comes along with it, and we are right to expect it. Anything less, and John Spencer will start to feel his seat getting mighty hot.

Degree of difficulty: 7/10 (It’s probably going to be close)

3. A ten-goal scorer

Kenny Cooper led all goalscorers for the Timbers last season with eight, but that only put him in a tie for 21st in the league. Fifteen players in all got into double digits last season, including three from our Cascadia rivals (Hassli and Camilo in Vancouver, Fredy Montero in Seattle). I want to see one of our boys on that list.

Degree of difficulty: 7/10 (I expect our goals to be spread out pretty evenly with every field position pitching in, so this might be tough)

4. A win in March

Last season, we played twice in March to start our MLS career, away at Colorado and Toronto. We lost both those games, by a combined 5-1 margin. That includes a 2-0 shutout against Toronto, who would go on to win five more games all season. Yes, it was our first month in MLS ever, but I say again, Toronto. We play four matches in March 2012, including two at home and one away (New England) that we will definitely see as winnable.

Degree of difficulty: 2/10 (If we can’t win once in four with this schedule, we’re all going to be very sad pandas)

5. Results in LA and Dallas

Of all the away matches that Timbers fans watched through their fingers last season, none were more groan-inducing than our trips to face the Galaxy and FC Dallas. Those two losses accounted for -7 of our -8 goal difference over the season (0-3 and 0-4 respectively), and it will be a significant benchmark of our level of improvement if we can score and be competitive on those very tough road trips. This is especially important since (thank you very much, Mr. Garber), we’re headed on each of these trips twice under the new unbalanced schedule.

Degree of difficulty: 8/10 (These are still going to be very difficult trips, all four of them)

Keep checking in here at Oregon Sports News as the preseason gets underway and we make our way toward the glory of March 12th. Those nine weeks are going to fly by. In the meantime, you can follow me on Twitter at @eunrose, and follow OSN at @oregonsportnews for all the updates.