The Case For Marvin Loria

He's been here for 6 years and he has a role to play under the new regime. Will the coaching staff make the switch?

2024 has begun for the Portland Timbers, and with a new season comes a new coach and several new additions. Chief among them are Kamal Miller and Maxime Crepeau, both top-tier players at their respective positions (center-back and goalkeeper). However, there are still some open holes on the roster. The team needs a new winger and a new striker, but there are starting-quality players on the roster at those positions right now. Portland is also in need of a backup left-back, as Eric Miller is much more suited to the right side of defense. With these positions of need yet to be filled, the Timbers held their first open practice of the new season yesterday. I saw some encouraging play on the field, and the team looked pretty good given the early stage of preseason. However, one of those holes I mentioned earlier can be filled by a player currently on the roster. 

This is the 5th installment of my “The Case For” series. I previously looked at Diego Gutierrez (now departed for Charleston, a city with only one Olive Garden, please pray for him), Santiago Moreno, Jaroslaw Niezgoda, and Zac McGraw. Marvin Loria was the first player I ever thought of doing an in-depth dive on, but it never really felt necessary last season. After all, he was a depth winger who showed a ton of hustle whenever he was on the pitch, even if he wasn’t the best on the ball. But now Marvin Loria’s true destiny has arrived. It’s time for him to become a wingback.

Even before Claudio Bravo was ruled out for the first one-and-a-half to two months of the season, this was an idea that has been percolating in the back of my mind for a while. Loria’s greatest moment as a Timber was the brilliant performance he mustered in the 2021 Western Conference Final against Real Salt Lake. With both Sebastian Blanco and Dairon Asprilla sidelined, Loria shone. It was the perfect way to cap off a wonderful 2021, his best year as a Timber. He scored twice and contributed 3 assists in 1,107 MLS minutes. He also added one goal in CCL play that year. Since 2021, he hasn’t been the same player. The goal contributions aren’t there, but he’s been an acceptable squad player. However, he possesses two key traits (arguably his best traits as a player) that allow a transition to wingback to become nearly seamless: his work rate and his cannon of a left foot.

When I was building the Timbers’ best XI last September, I found that a lot of players could fit into a back 3 or back 5 system. However, the coaching staff led by Miles Joseph kept their 4-3-3 approach. Initially I was concerned, but Joseph was able to make some helpful tactical and mentality tweaks that put the Timbers on the front foot. After their Decision Day loss and the subsequent hire of Phil Neville, I began to wonder if the back 3 would ever make a return. Based on my own training observations and a couple of personnel moves, it seems like Neville has come to the same conclusion. However, Bravo’s injury might throw a bit of a wrench in the plan. Here’s how the Timbers could line up against Colorado for the season opener with today’s news taken into account:

Be honest: this doesn’t look too outlandish, right? Although some fans have a frustration with Loria’s inconsistency around the box, no one can question his motor. What is the main purpose of a wingback? To be an attacking threat while also being competent defensively. Here’s Loria’s stats from last season:

Compared to other wingers/attacking midfielders, Loria is excellent at the defensive side of the game. He wasn’t the greatest when it came to creating chances, but that can always be improved. I think that becoming a wingback is the next iteration in the story of Marvin. He’s got the work rate, the ability on the dribble, and a great left foot to send in crosses. It just makes so much sense. 

Loria has a lot to prove this season. He was a favorite of Gio, and he didn’t see the field once under Miles Joseph’s reign. With a new coaching staff in, the rumors flying around seem to indicate a move back to his native Costa Rica. His contract also expires at the end of the season (he has a club option for 2025), but Bravo’s injury may have given the front office some pause. If Neville can successfully implement a back three, it could give Loria a new lease on life. Let’s take a look at another former winger who excelled as a wingback last year. He’s the man who scored the winning goal in MLS Cup: Yaw Yeboah.

Yeboah came to Columbus as a winger, but left a bit to be desired. Wilfried Nancy took charge and made him a left wingback. Here’s a graph of how his stats from 2022 lined up against his stats from 2023:

Here’s how Loria’s 2023 stats compare to Yeboah’s 2022:

Yeboah was OK as a winger, but flourished as a wingback. Loria is not as good as Yeboah, but it isn’t inconceivable that he could make a similar switch. Bravo is expected to be out for the first two months of the season, and the Timbers could be playing in a back three to start out. Bravo would fit seamlessly into a back three, and it would be stupid to change the system if they have a player who could already play there. I do believe that the back three is the best way to begin the 2024, and Marvin Loria, like it or not, should be a key piece of it.

Author’s Note: I’m aware of the Fabra rumors and the team should be trying to get him in on loan. He’s 32, his contract expires in December 2025 and he’s on a TAM salary. A 6 month loan seems like the best option and he can rotate with Loria at that left wingback spot.