Yet another most informative and enjoyable article. Thank you so much! You make some very solid points about the team needing to sell players when its in both the player's and the team's best interests. Portland's still a cozy little town and we love to hang onto our sports heroes. The Blazers are another team that acts like the Timbers in this regard. For many years I've said that if a player wants to win a basketball championship they need to go somewhere else to do that. There are multiple examples of that with the Blazers. The Timbers basically operate in the same way.
You didn't go there, but do you think the current GM and owner are up to the tasks that you lay out? Frankly, I don't.
Jeremy wonderful article as always. Wanted to touch more on your last points. Because I think the sell/keep on Santi and Mosquera have been such a lightning rod for fans for a couple years. Personally I don’t think Mosquera is ready for Europe (or at least a higher tier team) because I think his offense is overrated, but I acknowledge he is young and has lots of potential still.
What I think is more interesting is the order you put on selling them. I do think Santi has put in his time and if we get a good offer we need to take the money. But…I think if Santi gets sold, Mosquera value will go down in the short term. Because those two have made a really significant partnership, and I don’t think it’s something you can just replace overnight (especially with this FO). And I don’t think Mosquera can succeed without a partner on the wing like Mosquera. So if Santi gets sold I don’t think we get good value offers on Mosquera in the summer window. He likely is here at least another year, and - again by the nature of this terrible FO - likely goes the route of bravo where he starts to stagnate and no longer reaches the ceiling he could’ve had
Unfortunately the club perpetually seems to lack ambition. Sure, it paid big for Evander and less so for Rodriguez. It ranked 23rd this season in player compensation. The Paulsons, I've concluded, have found a sweet spot they like — that is, spend as little as they can to make a hefty profit. This is also reflected in the stadium experience, mainly in way over-priced, unappealing, and small portions of food. (Trust me, this wasn't the case at MLS, USMNT, and USWNT matches I've attended at six other stadiums in U.S. and Canadian cities, all of them home to MLS teams.)
Thankfully, the Timbers have fielded some very good teams and won a cherished Cup. But so often the club underperforms, even if it makes the playoffs. Why? A lack of quality depth, which costs a lot. Maybe this trend will begin to change in the off-season and beyond.
- An ability to play out of the back and desire to.
- A midfield that can possess and control the game (primarily) or spring the counter (occasionally) and is capable of scoring a few goals.
- An identity in which we don't lose the ball easily or give up easy goals and play with the know how to generate quality chances
If we end up keeping a lot of the defensive players we have already, due to the large investment, then we probably need to go to the three in the back, which is what we are probably better suited for given the defensive personnel. The odd man out would be Moreno, imo, unless he plays as an 8, and I think I'd rather sell Moreno and go find the 8 they are talking about. I would love to see a three man midfield of new DP 8 and Ayala and Evander (if he'll still be around! ). Regardless, we've got to sort out a shape that will help the defense, and a 5-3-2 or 3-5-2 - whatever you want to call it, would be a good place to start.
Reiterating the comments below - another great article as always Jeremy - thank you!
With San Diego coming online and teams needing to 'protect' players, how do you see Phil, Ned, and the Timber's FO deciding on who we protect and who we leave as fair game for the taking? In the past season or two, there always seems to be talk about one day trading/selling Santi, Eryk, and Juan David. Am curious to know if it's beneficial for the Org to protect them for a future sale?
Best Case Dream Fan Scenario: FO and Evander agree on massive contract that makes him happy with a release clause that makes the FO happy. Impact: Evander wins MVP and leads Timbers to MLS Cup title and is sold to international club for 28 million at end of the season.
Worst Case Nightmare Fan Scenario: No new contract is signed and Evander gets "hurt" and doesn't play for most of the year. Impact: Club misses playoffs for fourth year in a row, and Evander loses out on a stepping stone to potential placement on Brazil national team and Timbers lose out on lucrative transfer fee.
Crazy But Could Happen Scenario: Evander is sold this winter for ?? million. I'd like to think he's worth at least 20 million, but what do I know? Maybe the Timbers would sell if an offer came in between 15-20? Impact: The Timbers use that money to go out and revamp the entire roster.
Sidenote: I thoroughly enjoyed Evander this season. He was unbelievable, and he will forever be one of my favorites.
2) Depending on the Evander chronicles, who stays and who goes?
Basically, no one should be exempt, except we're kind of stuck with Rodriguez and Mora. I'm fine with a winter Moreno departure. Mosquera, too, although I like your rationale for a summer exit. If I'm Ned, I'm on the phone 24/7.
C'mon Ned! Let's make this an offseason to remember.
Yet another most informative and enjoyable article. Thank you so much! You make some very solid points about the team needing to sell players when its in both the player's and the team's best interests. Portland's still a cozy little town and we love to hang onto our sports heroes. The Blazers are another team that acts like the Timbers in this regard. For many years I've said that if a player wants to win a basketball championship they need to go somewhere else to do that. There are multiple examples of that with the Blazers. The Timbers basically operate in the same way.
You didn't go there, but do you think the current GM and owner are up to the tasks that you lay out? Frankly, I don't.
Jeremy wonderful article as always. Wanted to touch more on your last points. Because I think the sell/keep on Santi and Mosquera have been such a lightning rod for fans for a couple years. Personally I don’t think Mosquera is ready for Europe (or at least a higher tier team) because I think his offense is overrated, but I acknowledge he is young and has lots of potential still.
What I think is more interesting is the order you put on selling them. I do think Santi has put in his time and if we get a good offer we need to take the money. But…I think if Santi gets sold, Mosquera value will go down in the short term. Because those two have made a really significant partnership, and I don’t think it’s something you can just replace overnight (especially with this FO). And I don’t think Mosquera can succeed without a partner on the wing like Mosquera. So if Santi gets sold I don’t think we get good value offers on Mosquera in the summer window. He likely is here at least another year, and - again by the nature of this terrible FO - likely goes the route of bravo where he starts to stagnate and no longer reaches the ceiling he could’ve had
Unfortunately the club perpetually seems to lack ambition. Sure, it paid big for Evander and less so for Rodriguez. It ranked 23rd this season in player compensation. The Paulsons, I've concluded, have found a sweet spot they like — that is, spend as little as they can to make a hefty profit. This is also reflected in the stadium experience, mainly in way over-priced, unappealing, and small portions of food. (Trust me, this wasn't the case at MLS, USMNT, and USWNT matches I've attended at six other stadiums in U.S. and Canadian cities, all of them home to MLS teams.)
Thankfully, the Timbers have fielded some very good teams and won a cherished Cup. But so often the club underperforms, even if it makes the playoffs. Why? A lack of quality depth, which costs a lot. Maybe this trend will begin to change in the off-season and beyond.
Wish List for me:
- An ability to play out of the back and desire to.
- A midfield that can possess and control the game (primarily) or spring the counter (occasionally) and is capable of scoring a few goals.
- An identity in which we don't lose the ball easily or give up easy goals and play with the know how to generate quality chances
If we end up keeping a lot of the defensive players we have already, due to the large investment, then we probably need to go to the three in the back, which is what we are probably better suited for given the defensive personnel. The odd man out would be Moreno, imo, unless he plays as an 8, and I think I'd rather sell Moreno and go find the 8 they are talking about. I would love to see a three man midfield of new DP 8 and Ayala and Evander (if he'll still be around! ). Regardless, we've got to sort out a shape that will help the defense, and a 5-3-2 or 3-5-2 - whatever you want to call it, would be a good place to start.
Evander talks about the terms of his contract... https://www.reddit.com/r/timbers/comments/1gl9914/evander_details_his_contract_and_discontent/
Reiterating the comments below - another great article as always Jeremy - thank you!
With San Diego coming online and teams needing to 'protect' players, how do you see Phil, Ned, and the Timber's FO deciding on who we protect and who we leave as fair game for the taking? In the past season or two, there always seems to be talk about one day trading/selling Santi, Eryk, and Juan David. Am curious to know if it's beneficial for the Org to protect them for a future sale?
Great read. Thank you
This is going to be a heckuva off season.
No. 1: The Evander chronicles.
Best Case Dream Fan Scenario: FO and Evander agree on massive contract that makes him happy with a release clause that makes the FO happy. Impact: Evander wins MVP and leads Timbers to MLS Cup title and is sold to international club for 28 million at end of the season.
Worst Case Nightmare Fan Scenario: No new contract is signed and Evander gets "hurt" and doesn't play for most of the year. Impact: Club misses playoffs for fourth year in a row, and Evander loses out on a stepping stone to potential placement on Brazil national team and Timbers lose out on lucrative transfer fee.
Crazy But Could Happen Scenario: Evander is sold this winter for ?? million. I'd like to think he's worth at least 20 million, but what do I know? Maybe the Timbers would sell if an offer came in between 15-20? Impact: The Timbers use that money to go out and revamp the entire roster.
Sidenote: I thoroughly enjoyed Evander this season. He was unbelievable, and he will forever be one of my favorites.
2) Depending on the Evander chronicles, who stays and who goes?
Basically, no one should be exempt, except we're kind of stuck with Rodriguez and Mora. I'm fine with a winter Moreno departure. Mosquera, too, although I like your rationale for a summer exit. If I'm Ned, I'm on the phone 24/7.
C'mon Ned! Let's make this an offseason to remember.