It’s been exactly 150 days since the last home MLS match at Jeld-Wen Field, and it was a tough way to leave things. Within a few points of a playoff spot in our first year in the league, we dropped our last home game of the season 2-0 to Houston. Despite taking draws from the two away matches that remained, we missed the playoffs by four points.
Our second MLS season begins Monday with heightened expectations and new challenges. The Western Conference is stronger than ever, but the Timbers have made some great moves in the offseason to prepare. This season, we aren’t competing with Eastern teams like New York and Houston for a playoff spot, because the top five teams from each conference make the playoffs. We finished sixth in the conference last year. We need to finish fifth to make it in.
Here’s a quick look at what we can expect to see Monday night:
1) The Timbers
PTFC has undergone a number of high-profile changes, both intentional and injury-based, since last season. Kris Boyd is the biggest signing in the history of the club, and is expected to score from day one. Even though he is still adjusting to the club and regaining match fitness, he has already opened his account, scoring the only goal in our last preseason match against AIK. In addition, we have picked up Brent Richards, Ryan Kawulok, Franck Songo’o, Joe Bendik, Charles Renken, Hanyer Mosquera and Andrew Jean-Baptiste.
Almost every position on the team has become incredibly competitive, but the talk this weekend leading up to the match has been on the center backs. Eric Brunner is still our solid starter, but his partner is much less certain. Futty Danso is out for 4-6 weeks, and there are lingering questions about Mosquera’s immigration paperwork, meaning he might not be able to start on Monday. Given that Jean-Baptiste has had some shaky times in preseason matches, he doesn’t look ready for the start. We are all crossing our fingers on that paperwork, because AJB needs some time.
Songo’o has been one of the most impressive players in our preseason. The thought of him being able to finish his great runs with a cross in to Kris Boyd is making the Timbers Army practically drool. Unfortunately, he picked up a knee knock in the meaningless friendly vs. Oregon State University, and is listed as doubtful for Monday.
Troy Perkins is still our unquestioned starter in goal, followed by Jake Gleeson and the new guy Bendik.
Long story short, we’ve made some great moves, but we’re a bit beat up, and the season hasn’t even started. We have a lot of potential, and more than a few positions up in the air.
2) The Union
Philadelphia has endured some of the biggest losses of the MLS offseason. The anchors of both their defense and offense have both departed – goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon and striker Sebastian Le Toux. The Union are the only MLS side that has not played a single preseason game against another MLS side, and so they are the one team we know the least about, in terms of form.
Mondragon has been replaced in the Union goal by last year’s backup and brief starter Zach McMath. On the attack, they have Roger Torres and Freddy Adu, both of which are capable of great moments, and are depending on Danny Mwanga for a lot of their finishing. It’s a very different team from last season and one that is just now beginning to gel together. Even manager Peter Nowak has said “ there’s going to be a mistake here or there”. We need to capitalize on them.
3) The Rest of the League
Monday is our first match, but 14 MLS teams started their seasons this weekend, with an almost clean sweep for the Western Conference. Colorado, San Jose, Vancouver, Salt Lake and Dallas already have their opening wins. Chivas, who are a popular choice for finishing last in the West this year, opened with a loss at home to Houston, just like we closed last year. What that means is that we are already behind five teams in the West. We are in sixth, right where we finished last season. It’s up to us to catch up.
Prediction: 2-1 Timbers without Mosquera. 2-0 if his paperwork goes through today. Boyd and Jewsbury to score our goals. RCTID.
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