I love your optimistic view of a Timbers win for this one! My only caution is that I traveled to see this game (I travel to a new stadium each year for a match) and my record of seeing the Timbers win is far from stellar. So.... You can blame me if we lose this one.
So, we're going up against an anemic offense and a paper soft defense. Sounds like a recipe for a disaster!
A long road trip is probably the biggest opponent here, and yes, you should never take an opponent lightly, nor the fact that it is on the road, but on paper, the Timbers should have an advantage, even without Evander.
Why?"
We just went through a gauntlet the last three weeks, really the last two months, but the last three weeks to be specific. I'd venture to say the two best teams in the MLS in Columbus in the East and LAFC in the West. Columbus plays the best soccer, and LA just plays damn hard. Columbus took Monterey to the woodshed. We had Columbus on the ropes where they had to score a worldy to tie, and LA had to reduce us to 10 both times to get a favorable result. The demise of the Timbers is greatly misunderstood, in my opinion.
To correct this winless streak, they just have to figure out the defense, and in my opinion, just lock in E Miller, even if he is weakened by a stomach bug. Slap a diaper on him if you have to. He's gotta play over Mosquera for some solid defense.
Midfield: Just play Paredes at the six and Moreno at the eight and Evander at the 10 if he is available. That would actually be my first preference. If Evander can't go, then the next best would be slotting in Williamson along with Paredes and Moreno at the 10. I'm not high on Williamson, but that will have to do. Ayala is not the answer, sorry.
Yikes. I hate to be negative, but my worst fear is happening with the lineup being announced:
Ayala, Mosquera and Williamson all starting - and the kicker - McGraw. That's like saying, hey Charlotte, we know you have a low goal output on the year, so, let's help you out. I don't get what is going on.
Hopefully we get 3 points before returning to Providence Park against the flounders
I love your optimistic view of a Timbers win for this one! My only caution is that I traveled to see this game (I travel to a new stadium each year for a match) and my record of seeing the Timbers win is far from stellar. So.... You can blame me if we lose this one.
So, we're going up against an anemic offense and a paper soft defense. Sounds like a recipe for a disaster!
A long road trip is probably the biggest opponent here, and yes, you should never take an opponent lightly, nor the fact that it is on the road, but on paper, the Timbers should have an advantage, even without Evander.
Why?"
We just went through a gauntlet the last three weeks, really the last two months, but the last three weeks to be specific. I'd venture to say the two best teams in the MLS in Columbus in the East and LAFC in the West. Columbus plays the best soccer, and LA just plays damn hard. Columbus took Monterey to the woodshed. We had Columbus on the ropes where they had to score a worldy to tie, and LA had to reduce us to 10 both times to get a favorable result. The demise of the Timbers is greatly misunderstood, in my opinion.
To correct this winless streak, they just have to figure out the defense, and in my opinion, just lock in E Miller, even if he is weakened by a stomach bug. Slap a diaper on him if you have to. He's gotta play over Mosquera for some solid defense.
Midfield: Just play Paredes at the six and Moreno at the eight and Evander at the 10 if he is available. That would actually be my first preference. If Evander can't go, then the next best would be slotting in Williamson along with Paredes and Moreno at the 10. I'm not high on Williamson, but that will have to do. Ayala is not the answer, sorry.
Yikes. I hate to be negative, but my worst fear is happening with the lineup being announced:
Ayala, Mosquera and Williamson all starting - and the kicker - McGraw. That's like saying, hey Charlotte, we know you have a low goal output on the year, so, let's help you out. I don't get what is going on.